Robert M. Martin Elementary
Robert M. Martin Elementary 2342 N. 159th Street East Wichita, KS 67228 316.218.4720 www.usd385.org
Bi-Monthly bulletin Volume 1, Issue 12 February 27, 2015
Dr. Crystal D. Hummel, principal
District Goals - Fiscal Responsibility As you have heard, the State of Kansas is having financial challenges. Kansas is $600 million short on revenue and due to this shortfall, our district, among others has been affected. We have already received a $272,000 reduction to this year’s budget based on current legislation, but there is a chance of more reductions on our current year’s budget and this also leaves the uncertainty of possible reductions to next year’s operation budget. We may not have answers about our state funding until June, but we cannot wait that long to plan for next year. We continually re-analyze our budget with emphasis of looking for possible efficiencies. Recently, several sub-budget committees have been formed with student, parent, and staff representation on each committee. The committees are charged with coming up with possible suggestions to provide our Superintendent to consider if reductions are needed. Committee members are charged with maintaining a professional, thoughtful and proactive manner while coming up with possible cost-savings. As the budget committees continue to meet through the end of this month and beginning of next, it is important to remember that the things coming out of these committees are all ideas at this point. In the future some of these ideas may become realities, but everything right now is a brainstorming process. Meanwhile, staff members are urged to continue to do what they do, at their best, because what we are doing is outstanding! We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. I will be sharing more information about this at our next Site Council Meeting in our library, which is on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015 @ 4:00-5:00 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend this meeting, even if you are not a Site Council Committee member. District Goals - Student Achievement Our 3rd-5th grade students will soon be taking the Kansas State Assessments. Results of these assessments will not be available until Fall 2015. The schedule for these assessments is as follows: th th March 10 -12 Science Assessment – 4th Grade th th March 30 -April 10 English Language Arts Assessment – 3rd-5th Grades th th April 20 -24 Math Assessments – 3rd-5th Grades As we know, when students perform at their full potential, accurate information will result. Parents are asked to help support their child on all tests in the following ways: Attendance is extremely important these days (if your child is well). Please schedule appointments at times other than these days. See that your child receives a good rest each night followed by a solid breakfast in the morning. Let your child know that you are aware of the tests and that you expect him or her to put forth his or her best effort. Send your child off to school with a smile and a hug or a pat on the back. A contented and relaxed child will do his or her best on the test. If you have any questions concerning the test, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher. District Goals - Culture & Climate Thank you PTO!!! We greatly appreciate you providing snack bags for teachers during parent/teacher conference night on Thursday, February 19th. continued on next page
Goal: Communication - Kindergarten Round-Up If you are planning to have your child attend kindergarten next year, please call the school office. We need to get an estimated enrollment count as soon as possible to assist us in making staffing decisions for next year. Please call the school office to get your child’s name on the list. If you are unsure of which attendance center your child is to attend next year, any school office can help you with that information. Kindergarten Round-Up will be held at Robert M. Martin Elementary on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, from 6:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. Parents may begin arriving at 6:00p.m. to turn in completed paperwork, immunization records, and statecertified birth certificates. This is a business meeting with the purpose of distributing information to parents, so we ask that you do not bring your children. A special visitation day has been scheduled on Friday, May 1st, for future kindergarteners that will allow the children to meet our teachers and experience a kindergarten day firsthand. Current kindergarten students will NOT attend school on Friday, May 1st, in order that we may facilitate the visitation day for upcoming kindergarten students.
Important Dates The events listed below are events that affect a whole grade level - not individual classroom activities. Please use the class calendar given out by the teacher or the Martin Elementary family calendar found on the Martin Elementary webpage at www.usd385.org for a complete list of events. Every Friday—Spirit Day (wear blue and white) March 2-6 - National Breakfast Week March 2 - Dr. Suess’ Birthday, Read Across America March2 - 4th grade recorder practice, 9:35am-10:20am March 2 - Trojan’s Children’s Choir, 4:30pm-5:30pm, AMS March 3 - 4th grade recorder practice, 9:35am-10:20am March 3 - 4th grade recorder concert, 6:00pm-6:30pm, RME gym March 4 - The Big Idea student assembly, 8:35am-9:25am, gym March 5 - FAA to Andover YMCA, 10:30am-12:00pm March 5 - 3rd grade career presentations, 12:45pm-1:15pm, library March 5 - 1st grade career presentations, 1:40pm-2:10pm, library March 5 - Site Council meeting, 4:00pm-5:00pm, library March 6 - 5th grade students to Wichita Art Museum, 10:00am-12:30pm March 6 - Circle of Friends group 2, 1:45pm-2:15pm March 8 - Daylight Savings Time ends, spring forward 1 hour March 9 - Trojan’s Children’s Choir, 4:30pm-5:50pm, AMS March 9 - Board of Education meeting, 6:00pm, district office March 10 - STUCO meeting, 8:00am, room 202 March 10-12 - 4th grade state science assessments March 10 - PTO meeting, 6:30pm-7:30pm, library March 12 - end of 3rd quarter March 12 - Papa John’s Pizza night March 13 - no school, professional learning day March 16-20 - no school, Spring Break
Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 8th. Be sure to set your clocks ahead 1 hour!
School will not be in session on Friday, March 13th, due to a professional learning day for all district staff. School will not be in session Monday, March 16th through Friday, March 20th, due to spring break. Have a safe and relaxing week!
continued on next page
RME Staff Spotlights Jill Hairgrove
Bailey Kearney
Vickie Olsen
Hello, I am a health clerk. This is my 8th year as a health clerk, all with the Andover School District. I believe that children have the ability to light up a room with a smile or laugh. I bring to RME my medical background and a love of working with children. When not at school, I enjoy reading, running, puzzles, and games. My candy is a Heath Bar and my favorite color is neon green.
Hello, I am a para in the FAA classroom. This is my 2nd year being a para in the Andover District. I believe that children are the future. Teaching them new things is exciting and rewarding. I bring to RME energy and patience. I enjoy being outside, kayaking, traveling, and shopping. My favorite colors are red, purple and teal. My favorite candy bar is a Snickers.
Hello, I am the Extended Learning Program teacher. This is my 12th year as a teacher in the Andover School District, but I have a total of 27 years of teaching experience. I believe that children want to learn and be challenged. They will find extremely creative ways to meet expectations if given the opportunity. I bring to RME a willingness to share and a positive, cheerful attitude. My hobbies include traveling, reading, and playing games. My favorite cake is chocolate and my favorite colors are purple and blue.
Pam Egger Hello, I am an office assistant. This is my 8th year in the Andover School District. I believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe and secure environment. I bring to RME kindness and the ability to work with others. I enjoy canning, biking, and being outside. My favorite treat is frozen yogurt and my favorite color is blue.
Ethel Overstake Hello, I am a para. I have been a para with the Andover School District for 10 years. I believe that all students deserve an opportunity to learn and become better citizens. I bring to RME a willingness to try different approaches and my creativity to make learning tools. I enjoy loom knitting, reading, crossword puzzles, and watching movies. My favorite candy is chocolate and my favorite flower is a daisy.
Upcoming Staff Birthdays The following staff members will celebrate a birthday in March: 3/3 - Erin Coym
3/6 - Mathilda Chang
3/3 - Stacy Huffman
3/14 - Mary Anne Ostrum
3/5 - Lesli Whitney
3/15 - Vickie Olsen 3/29 - Jamie Alfrey
Bi-Monthly bulletin Volume 1, Issue 12 February 27, 2015
Dr. Crystal D. Hummel, principal
District Goals - Fiscal Responsibility As you have heard, the State of Kansas is having financial challenges. Kansas is $600 million short on revenue and due to this shortfall, our district, among others has been affected. We have already received a $272,000 reduction to this year’s budget based on current legislation, but there is a chance of more reductions on our current year’s budget and this also leaves the uncertainty of possible reductions to next year’s operation budget. We may not have answers about our state funding until June, but we cannot wait that long to plan for next year. We continually re-analyze our budget with emphasis of looking for possible efficiencies. Recently, several sub-budget committees have been formed with student, parent, and staff representation on each committee. The committees are charged with coming up with possible suggestions to provide our Superintendent to consider if reductions are needed. Committee members are charged with maintaining a professional, thoughtful and proactive manner while coming up with possible cost-savings. As the budget committees continue to meet through the end of this month and beginning of next, it is important to remember that the things coming out of these committees are all ideas at this point. In the future some of these ideas may become realities, but everything right now is a brainstorming process. Meanwhile, staff members are urged to continue to do what they do, at their best, because what we are doing is outstanding! We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond. I will be sharing more information about this at our next Site Council Meeting in our library, which is on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015 @ 4:00-5:00 p.m. Anyone is welcome to attend this meeting, even if you are not a Site Council Committee member. District Goals - Student Achievement Our 3rd-5th grade students will soon be taking the Kansas State Assessments. Results of these assessments will not be available until Fall 2015. The schedule for these assessments is as follows: th th March 10 -12 Science Assessment – 4th Grade th th March 30 -April 10 English Language Arts Assessment – 3rd-5th Grades th th April 20 -24 Math Assessments – 3rd-5th Grades As we know, when students perform at their full potential, accurate information will result. Parents are asked to help support their child on all tests in the following ways: Attendance is extremely important these days (if your child is well). Please schedule appointments at times other than these days. See that your child receives a good rest each night followed by a solid breakfast in the morning. Let your child know that you are aware of the tests and that you expect him or her to put forth his or her best effort. Send your child off to school with a smile and a hug or a pat on the back. A contented and relaxed child will do his or her best on the test. If you have any questions concerning the test, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher. District Goals - Culture & Climate Thank you PTO!!! We greatly appreciate you providing snack bags for teachers during parent/teacher conference night on Thursday, February 19th. continued on next page
Goal: Communication - Kindergarten Round-Up If you are planning to have your child attend kindergarten next year, please call the school office. We need to get an estimated enrollment count as soon as possible to assist us in making staffing decisions for next year. Please call the school office to get your child’s name on the list. If you are unsure of which attendance center your child is to attend next year, any school office can help you with that information. Kindergarten Round-Up will be held at Robert M. Martin Elementary on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, from 6:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. Parents may begin arriving at 6:00p.m. to turn in completed paperwork, immunization records, and statecertified birth certificates. This is a business meeting with the purpose of distributing information to parents, so we ask that you do not bring your children. A special visitation day has been scheduled on Friday, May 1st, for future kindergarteners that will allow the children to meet our teachers and experience a kindergarten day firsthand. Current kindergarten students will NOT attend school on Friday, May 1st, in order that we may facilitate the visitation day for upcoming kindergarten students.
Important Dates The events listed below are events that affect a whole grade level - not individual classroom activities. Please use the class calendar given out by the teacher or the Martin Elementary family calendar found on the Martin Elementary webpage at www.usd385.org for a complete list of events. Every Friday—Spirit Day (wear blue and white) March 2-6 - National Breakfast Week March 2 - Dr. Suess’ Birthday, Read Across America March2 - 4th grade recorder practice, 9:35am-10:20am March 2 - Trojan’s Children’s Choir, 4:30pm-5:30pm, AMS March 3 - 4th grade recorder practice, 9:35am-10:20am March 3 - 4th grade recorder concert, 6:00pm-6:30pm, RME gym March 4 - The Big Idea student assembly, 8:35am-9:25am, gym March 5 - FAA to Andover YMCA, 10:30am-12:00pm March 5 - 3rd grade career presentations, 12:45pm-1:15pm, library March 5 - 1st grade career presentations, 1:40pm-2:10pm, library March 5 - Site Council meeting, 4:00pm-5:00pm, library March 6 - 5th grade students to Wichita Art Museum, 10:00am-12:30pm March 6 - Circle of Friends group 2, 1:45pm-2:15pm March 8 - Daylight Savings Time ends, spring forward 1 hour March 9 - Trojan’s Children’s Choir, 4:30pm-5:50pm, AMS March 9 - Board of Education meeting, 6:00pm, district office March 10 - STUCO meeting, 8:00am, room 202 March 10-12 - 4th grade state science assessments March 10 - PTO meeting, 6:30pm-7:30pm, library March 12 - end of 3rd quarter March 12 - Papa John’s Pizza night March 13 - no school, professional learning day March 16-20 - no school, Spring Break
Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 8th. Be sure to set your clocks ahead 1 hour!
School will not be in session on Friday, March 13th, due to a professional learning day for all district staff. School will not be in session Monday, March 16th through Friday, March 20th, due to spring break. Have a safe and relaxing week!
continued on next page
RME Staff Spotlights Jill Hairgrove
Bailey Kearney
Vickie Olsen
Hello, I am a health clerk. This is my 8th year as a health clerk, all with the Andover School District. I believe that children have the ability to light up a room with a smile or laugh. I bring to RME my medical background and a love of working with children. When not at school, I enjoy reading, running, puzzles, and games. My candy is a Heath Bar and my favorite color is neon green.
Hello, I am a para in the FAA classroom. This is my 2nd year being a para in the Andover District. I believe that children are the future. Teaching them new things is exciting and rewarding. I bring to RME energy and patience. I enjoy being outside, kayaking, traveling, and shopping. My favorite colors are red, purple and teal. My favorite candy bar is a Snickers.
Hello, I am the Extended Learning Program teacher. This is my 12th year as a teacher in the Andover School District, but I have a total of 27 years of teaching experience. I believe that children want to learn and be challenged. They will find extremely creative ways to meet expectations if given the opportunity. I bring to RME a willingness to share and a positive, cheerful attitude. My hobbies include traveling, reading, and playing games. My favorite cake is chocolate and my favorite colors are purple and blue.
Pam Egger Hello, I am an office assistant. This is my 8th year in the Andover School District. I believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn and grow in a safe and secure environment. I bring to RME kindness and the ability to work with others. I enjoy canning, biking, and being outside. My favorite treat is frozen yogurt and my favorite color is blue.
Ethel Overstake Hello, I am a para. I have been a para with the Andover School District for 10 years. I believe that all students deserve an opportunity to learn and become better citizens. I bring to RME a willingness to try different approaches and my creativity to make learning tools. I enjoy loom knitting, reading, crossword puzzles, and watching movies. My favorite candy is chocolate and my favorite flower is a daisy.
Upcoming Staff Birthdays The following staff members will celebrate a birthday in March: 3/3 - Erin Coym
3/6 - Mathilda Chang
3/3 - Stacy Huffman
3/14 - Mary Anne Ostrum
3/5 - Lesli Whitney
3/15 - Vickie Olsen 3/29 - Jamie Alfrey
