January Principal Message 2023

Dear Elms Families,

Happy Holidays & Warm Wishes to our Elms Students and Families! 

On behalf of all the Elms staff and faculty this holiday season, we wanted to send our gratitude and appreciation for the hard work of our students, and the support from the families behind them this school year so far! It has been such a pleasure seeing the students back in the classrooms alongside their teachers and peers, continuously developing their skills, and overcoming any challenge thrown their way; their resilience is truly commendable. Our Elms community continues to grow and flourish and we can't wait to see what they accomplish in the new year! May you all have a healthy and restful Holiday and Winter Break, and we look forward to having everyone back in January. 

 

Celebrating Success:

Congratulations to the Elms 2022 - 2023 Educators of the Year, Elizabeth Sernotti and Marilyn Kish..  Ms.Sernotti, MD teacher, and Ms Kish, special education paraprofessional, are veteran staff members  whose compassion and commitment to education is to be applauded.  Congratulations again to our amazing educators of the year!!  You make Elms proud!

 

Elms’ 2nd Annual Outdoor Winterfest:

In the spirit of celebrating success, Elms Elementary would like to thank our PTN volunteers for their efforts in making our first outdoor Winterfest a huge success!.  Special thanks to Mrs. Haber and Mrs. Nyman and our Winterfest volunteers.  On December 2nd, Elms families kicked off the holiday season here at the Elms campus by participating in numerous seasonal activities.  Games, crafts, contests, food trucks, hot cocoa, and so much more were offered to all involved.  Families could be observed taking a train ride, chatting with friends, and enjoying the spirit of the season.  Elms Tigers were “All Aboard” for the holiday festivities! 

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day & Black History Month:

In the coming weeks, the Elms School will be joining the Jackson School District in celebrating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Teachers across grade levels will prepare lessons and activities highlighting Dr. King’s message of peace and tolerance.  We will continue studying Dr. King and spotlight other prominent historical figures during February/Black History Month.  Lessons on Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Jesse Owens, and many more are being prepared.

 “Soup”er Bowl”:

Super Bowl Sunday is around the corner, which means the Elms Annual “Soup”er Bowl Food Drive will soon be underway!  Beginning February 6th and continuing through February 10th, students are asked to bring in a canned food item and place it in the corresponding barrel of the team they think will win the big game on Superbowl Sunday (February 12th).  We are proud to support our community with the “Soup”er bowl as all canned food items will be donated to a food pantry.

Please remember during the winter months, students still go outside for recess, weather permitting.  The building is climate controlled, but we suggest layers so that the students can be comfortable in any setting.  

 

PAWS-itive Character Education:

“Everyone in society should be a role model, not only for their own self-respect, but for respect from others.” - Barry Bonds

 

At Elms, we make it our  priority to recognize students for demonstrating strong and positive character.  Our character education initiatives promote, model, and recognize students that strive to make Elms a welcoming, rewarding, and safe environment.  Our PAWS-itive Program encourages students to grow and develop into upstanding Elms community members.  Elms faculty are asked to fill out PAWS-itive Behavior Coupons to acknowledge students who act as respectful, caring, trustworthy, fair, and responsible citizens in school.  The coupons are brought down to the guidance office mailbox for monthly recognition.  Students who are selected will receive a certificate, small prizes, and a group photo which will be proudly displayed in the hallway.  Our goal is to create more rewarding lives and a positive culture for our students and school.  With this initiative we can:

 

• Teach children how to reach out and express love, respect, and appreciation of others.

• Help children become less self-centered and more considerate of others 

• Create more positive home and school environments and connections

 

Looking and Planning Ahead:

 

Please note…..Schools will be closed on Monday, January 16th in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Schools will reopen on Tuesday, January 17th.

Once again, Happy New Year and best wishes for a successful and healthy year ahead.

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael Burgos

Principal, Elms Elementary