Friday 11/20/2020
Over the past couple weeks, Llewellyn Stars have focused on GRATITUDE. A recent Google search comes up with this as a definition: Gratitude is one of many positive emotions. It's about focusing on what's good in our lives and being thankful for the things we have. Gratitude is pausing to notice and appreciate the things that we often take for granted, like having a place to live, food, clean water, friends, family, even computer access. With a District and school focus on Social Emotional Learning while living in a pandemic that is affecting every aspect of our lives, this definition seemed spot on. During Morning Meetings and in lessons from the counselors, students have been listening to books and music, thinking deeply about what they are grateful for and finding ways to express their gratitude by sharing with others who and what they are grateful for in words or art.
Throughout this Pandemic I have found it beneficial to start each day with affirmations and gratitude. Perhaps some of you have done this for many years or have adopted this practice recently too? Here is a resource you may find useful to use with your children (see image). Their thoughts and feelings can be written in a journal or to inspire an art project or be a great dinner table conversation!
This year has been challenging in so many ways. The Llewellyn Staff and I are extremely grateful for all you do to support your children with learning at home. We know that it is not easy to balance your family’s needs, schooling, and your professional lives. We can’t thank you enough!
Here is a Gratitude Slideshow prepared by each classroom. I hope it brightens your spirits and lets you know how much your children care about others and the world around them.
I want to personally wish you well during the Thanksgiving weekend as you take time away from computer screens and enjoy special moments with your loved ones.
Be Safe! Be Well!
⭐Principal Pam
⭐Fall Parent Teacher Conferences are Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24! We are looking forward to having this time with you to reflect on how school is going for your child, to share your child’s progress, and to discuss any important other information you may want to share with your child’s teacher. There will be no regular school on these days.
Our specialist (Music, PE and Movement teachers) will be available to speak to you as well.
Miss Hartle Movement Conference Schedule Sign-Up
PE and Music will have the following Open Office Hours during Conference days.
9-10, 1-2, 4-6 both Monday and Tuesday
PE Google Meet: bernardo2020
Music Google Meet: zwb2020
If you would like to schedule an individual meeting time, please email to schedule a time. Sincerely, Anna B and Lavonna ZWB
⭐ From the Llewellyn Counselors
Hello Llewellyn community -
First, I am so excited to give a big WELCOME BACK to Miss Brittany! She was busy taking care of her beautiful new baby boy, but now she is back part-time and will primarily serve grades 3rd - 5th.
We know distance learning is challenging. We wanted to offer some resources to help ease the stress of distance learning, please check out these At Home Strategies for Distance Learning.
This month in class, students have been talking and learning about gratitude. We have discussed the importance of taking time to reflect on the things that we appreciate in life such as: thanking someone or letting them know you appreciate them, being thankful for a delicious meal, or even small things like sunshine and fresh air! These are all great ways of practicing gratitude daily. We have also discussed some of the difficulties and challenges they are facing with learning from home. We know that when things are challenging, it can be really hard to focus on gratitude. However, it is important to stop and refocus our brain to look at the positive things we also have. Remember, the more we practice something it will soon become a habit! :)
As the holiday season approaches the Llewellyn counseling team has been thinking about how to best support our community during this time.In Miss Brittany’s last message she shared a link to a confidential survey, which is an optional questionnaire that will help us decide how to best utilize our funds to support our community. If you are in need of support this season, please let us know!
Below are some additional resources specifically related to holiday help:
PPS meal distribution sites are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. For more information, click here .
Please feel free to contact either Ms. Allie (apenix@pps.net, primarily K - 2nd grades) or Miss Brittany (bsill@pps.net, primarily 3 - 5th grades) if you need assistance or would like to connect.
⭐ Star Flier - The deadline is looming!!!!!! Do your children love to write? Do they have great stories, poems, messages already written? Please invite and encourage your child to send a piece of writing (doesn’t have to be long) to Mark Robb (mrobb@pps.net) by December 4th. We’d love to have a picture (photo) of the author or that goes with the story as well. Thanks for helping to revive this school tradition! We hope to put out this year’s first edition in December.
⭐TAG Nomination Forms are on the Llewellyn website under the Academic Tab. Any parent that wishes to nominate their student/s for TAG must complete the nomination form first. Then our TAG Coordinator, Lauren Herrmann, will send the students’ teachers their forms. This nomination period is for any 3rd grader this year that received a postcard stating their student could be nominated based on their last year's 2nd grade CogAT test. Ms. Herrmann will contact parents whose students qualify under the MAPS test from last year with the form. Nominations are due by Dec. 4th!
Thank you! L. Herrmann (lherrman@pps.net) CB 3-5 Teacher @ Llewellyn Elementary & TAG Coordinator
⭐Library Book Bag distribution cancelled (for now):
Due to the recent hold or "freeze" on activities declared by the Governor, PPS has decided to err on the side of caution and cancel Book Bag distribution from the school libraries, effective Thursday, Nov. 19 through at least Monday, Nov. 30. We are sorry for the inconvenience. Please, stay alert for notifications when our Book Bag pick-up is back and running after break,
Nancy Gilkey ngilkey@pps.net Teacher Librarian
⭐Limited Child Care Available
Good Morning,
My name is Sierra Warren, I support Nancy Hauth as the Child Care Coordinator. As you may know, we have successfully reopened child care programs in partnership with our child care organizations in a phased approach this Fall. One of our contracted programs, Art4Life, has plenty of open spaces in their school age program at Winterhaven E.S.. Because child care is a much needed resource for our PPS families, it is crucial that we spread the word about availability.
Many families at this time, especially our underserved, are in need of financial support. Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) is a program offered by the state to help working families cover most or all child care fees. This process can be challenging to navigate for families, so I have included a reference guide for community agents when assisting families access this subsidy. It is important to note that ERDC eligibility requires two parents to work.
For more information on emergency school age child care, locations, 211 and more, visit our child care flyer (other languages attached below) or our webpage. Please share with your counselors, social workers, families, secretaries, and other supportive staff to spread the word about child care availability at Winterhaven. I have copied the Program Director, Erin O'Regan, to this email. She will be happy to take any of your questions about this program.
If you have any general child care questions, feel free to email me or direct families to our child care team at: childcareservices@pps.net.
⭐PARENT WORKSHOP ON EARLY READING SKILLS
The Humanities Department is offering a virtual workshop in collaboration with Read by 4th, Drexel University School of Education, and AIM Institute designed to help parents grow their grade K-3 students into strong readers. This workshop will have ideas for making reading fun with the ultimate goal of reading by 4th grade. Parents will receive a workbook to use during and after this workshop.
Sessions will be offered in both Spanish and English with translation available during the English session. Sessions will be recorded. Administrators, please share with teachers and include in your family newsletters.
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Friday, December 11, 2020 (4:00 pm-6:00 pm) - English with translation
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Saturday, December 12, 2020 (10:00 am - 12:00 pm) - Spanish
Registration link English flyer Spanish flyer
Jennifer Hernandez, Assistant Director, Humanities, OTL, jhernandez1@pps.net
⭐REBEL WISE - STUDENT WORKSHOP OPPORTUNITY
Rebel Wise are a local Hip-Hop collaborative who are currently offering student workshops that combine music videos with interviews of indigenous Elder teachings, lead talking circles, and guide students through a creative undertaking. Click here to learn more.
Tarehna Wicker, Program Associate, Humanities, twicker@pps.net
Important Dates:
November 23-24 No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
November 26-27 No School - Thanksgiving Holiday
December 1 Parley with Principal Pam 6:00 PM meet.google.com/xyu-xzhd-kgv (code: xyu-xzhd-kgv)
