A note from
the Principal
Here we are, once again welcoming in a new month and ready to start Dashing Thru December! We have some special days planned for our last week before break. Keep reading to see what we have planned!
I’d also like to take this time to thank our families for making time to come in for conferences and allowing us the opportunity to share your child’s learning progress with you. It’s always nice to reconnect in person with parents and partner with you in the educational process.
Sincerely, Mrs. Holtz
Winter Recess
As the weather continues to drop and we prepare for the potential of snow, please keep the following in mind:
• Recess is held outdoors as long as the real feel is 10° or higher.
• Students can ALWAYS use encouragement to wear their coats, gloves, and hats outdoors.
• When snow begins to fall, students will need both boots and snow pants to go off of the concrete during recess.
• Once winter break arrives, we will take a break from using ripsticks, rollerblades, and scooters in order to prevent injuries on slick surfaces. Please plan for your child to take their “wheels” home over break. They may return to school after spring break when the weather is warmer and ice and snow aren’t a concern.
As the weather turns colder, we do have more indoor recess days due to the colder temperatures. We are currently brainstorming some options for students to pick from. If you have any of the following items you’d like to donate for indoor recess please send those to the main office.
Thank you, in advance, for your generosity!
• Chess set (5-10 would be amazing)
• Playing cards (5-10 decks)
• Uno Cards
• Embroidery floss (two sets)
Thank you, PTO!
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our PTO for the delicious meals provided to us during parent/teacher conferences. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and kindness! It means so much to us all!
Sincerely, SIS teachers and Office Staff
Recess Equipment
Special thank you to those families who donated money to help provide additional recess balls, corn hole bags, and bases for organized games! Students will certainly get their use out of these items!
Meet our Long-Term Subs!
SIS is grateful to have found long-term subs for a couple of teachers. Both Mrs. Walden and Mrs. Meyers will be welcoming a new bundle of joy to their families. Mrs. Walden is due on Feb. 1 while Mrs. Meyers is due March 4. We look forward to meeting their beautiful babies later this year. While they are gone,
Mrs. Liz Rowles will fill in for Mrs. Walden, and Ms. Madysen Hess will sub for Mrs. Meyes.
Welcome Mrs. Rolwes – “Hi everyone! My name is Liz Rowles, and I am excited to join the SIS family as a fourth grade long-term sub. I received my Elementary Education degree from the University of Northern Iowa and also have a Reading Specialist Master’s Degree. I spent the last four years teaching fifth and sixth grade.
I live in Solon with my husband, Pete, and our three daughters, Ava, Katherine, and Victoria. They keep us busy, and I highly enjoy attending all of their activities. I love to read, snow ski, go for bike rides, and kayak in my free time!”
Welcome Ms. Hess – “Hello Solon Community! My name is Madysen Hess. I will be subbing for Mrs. Meyers during her maternity leave. I am graduating from the University of Iowa with my Elementary Education degree later this month. A couple of my hobbies include reading and knitting. I have a pet corgi named Winnie and she just turned two. I went to Solon schools growing up and love the community!”
5th and 6th Grade Winter Band Concert
If you have a student in band, please mark your calendars for Thursday, Dec. 14 at 6:15 p.m. Students will showcase their hard work for you in a winter concert.
Winter Fun!
Check out what we have planned!
As we welcome the holiday season and close out the first semester, we want to provide students with some special days and memories!
Fridays in December – Music at Lunch
Monday, Dec. 18 – Ugly Christmas Sweater & Mad Libs Fun: Students will enjoy some time to complete some seasonal mad libs with their class while decked out in their ugly sweaters.
Tuesday, Dec. 19 – Spartan Squads, Cozy Socks, and Flannels: Students will meet with their Spartan Squads and have a chance to cozy up by the “fireplace” to color and enjoy a candy cane. Throw on a pair of seasonal socks and a flannel for good measure!
Wednesday, Dec. 20 – Holiday STEM, Wear Red & Green: Classes will complete a holiday STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) challenge. And don’t forget the title says it all! Wear red and green!
Thursday, Dec. 21 – PJ & a Movie Day
Library News from Mrs. Sutton
Students did a wonderful job on their posters and book covers. I hope you had a chance to stop by the library and see all their hard work! We also explored some databases and talked about reliable sources for our research. This month we will be learning about our digital footprint as well as having some fun practicing our typing skills.
As the snow starts to fall, please make sure that students are transporting their library books separate from their boots and other wet clothing in their backpacks. If you have any questions regarding missing or damaged books, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected].
SOLON SWAP – Give Spartan Spirit!
SHS senior Mia Stahle asks, “Do you have Spartan gear that you no longer use, or that is too small?
“For my NHS project, I am collecting used Solon gear from now until winter break. You may drop items off at any of the schools or at the Booster Club Store – Room 412 in the Community Center. If you have items that you would like me to pick up for the SOLON SWAP please text me at 319-499-7350 or email me at [email protected].
I plan to organize the Solon gear and hold an open house “Solon Swap” event with all of the merchandise collected in January. People can then take what they want at no cost. Those wanting to give a donation toward items should know that any money raised will go to the Solon Food Pantry, to restock their shelves after the holidays. Looking forward to Spartan Spirit being passed on throughout our community.
Happy Holidays and Go Solon!”
December Guidance Focus: Empathy
Empathy Overview — This month’s focus is on empathy. One way to think about empathy is “understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings.” Empathy is a practice that can help us grow strong relationships.
Empathy is one of three traits we will focus on throughout this year that helps students Be Kind. Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like perspective-taking, conflict resolution, and leadership.
Conversation Starters – What does empathy look like to you? Is it hard for you to share how you feel with others? Why or why not?
Purposeful Pursuits – Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing empathy. Here are two “Purposeful Pursuits” you can complete together:
1) Empathy is understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings. Schedule a family movie night so that you can specifically watch for feelings and emotions. Let everyone know that you’d like them to point out how the characters in the show are feeling and that you will pause periodically to discuss empathy. As emotions are identified, invite one another to empathize by sharing about a time felt that way or imagining how they might be feeling in that moment.
2) Review the definition of empathy as a family! Remember that empathy is understanding and connecting with other people’s feelings.
Find a time to sit in a circle together and celebrate all the ways you have seen each other practice empathy. Take turns sharing responses to the following prompts or make up your own. Remember to practice empathy as you listen to each other.
• What is one way a family member has shown you empathy lately?
• Share about a time when you felt like someone really listened to you.
November School-wide Celebration of Gratitude
During the month of November our Spartan Squad groups and our guidance lessons focused on respect. 4th graders learned about using positive self-talk and expressing gratitude to others while 5th graders learned about using gratitude as a means to manage their stress.
We wrapped up the month at our school-wide assembly Thursday, Nov. 30 by practicing gratitude. Students each made a turkey feather and wrote one way to show gratitude. Then, classes competed for the orange chair using those feathers to create the most impressive gratitude turkey.
Our SIS Stand Out Students this month were recognized for completing their gratitude calendars that they made during our monthly Spartan Squad meetings. What a great way to end the month!
Mark your Calendars
Thursday, Dec. 21 – Two-hour early release (1:32 p.m.)
Friday, Dec. 22 – Tuesday, Jan. 2 – Winter Break
Wednesday, Jan. 3 – Classes resume
Monday, Jan. 15 – No school – Professional Development Day
Monday, Feb. 19 – No school – Professional Development Day
Contact Info
Email – [email protected]
Website – www.solon.k12.ia.us
Address – 200 West 5th St., Solon, Iowa
Phone – 319-624-3401
Twitter — @theholtzfamily4