Port Barre Elementary School

Truth and understanding help kids cope with death Losing a loved one can affect all parts of a child's life, including schoolwork. To help, be honest with your child about the death. Clearly, you'll tell a sixth-grader more than a first-grader, but your child should know you can be counted on to tell the truth. Explain your family's beliefs about death. It may comfort your child to look at photos, and hear and tell stories about the deceased person. Then, also be sure to discuss people who are working to keep your child (and you) safe and healthy. https://tpitip.com/?15eX17376

Books can help children learn to manage feelings and frustrations When your child faces a challenge, such as an unfriendly classmate or a difficult sport, books can help. Look for stories your child can learn from. As you read a story together, help your child identify with a character. What feelings or experiences do they share? Understanding what the character is going through can help your child express feelings and realize that other people face similar problems. https://tpitip.com/?15eW17376

Our amazing Port Barre Elementary staff is incredibly thankful for all the love, thoughtful gestures, and generous donations shared with us during Teacher Appreciation Week. Your kindness made all of us feel truly valued and celebrated. Thank you for supporting our incredible staff! 🌟📚

Grab and Go meal pickup begins June 2nd! Online registration is now closed. You can still register onsite.

Make outdoor learning part of your child's routine Many children spend most of their time indoors. They are isolated from nature. But positive outdoor experiences enhance both learning and quality of life. Try to go outside with your child every day. Provide tools for investigating the environment, like a magnifying glass, a bucket, a shovel and a rake. Then, help your child learn about nature by touching and experiencing it. Focus on what interests your student. https://tpitip.com/?15eV17376

Put reading material wherever your child will read it It can be hard to get very active children to sit down to read for long stretches of time. So make the most of short chunks of time to encourage your active child's love of reading. Keep lots of interesting reading material around that your child can pick up quickly, especially in the kitchen. Active kids eat often. Your child could read a short article while heating something in the microwave, for example. https://tpitip.com/?15eU17376

Wednesday, May 21, is an Early Dismissal Day. Bus riders will begin boarding at 11:50 am and car riders will follow once buses leave campus around 12:00 noon.

Focus discipline on the Dos, not the Don'ts When it comes to establishing discipline, it's more effective to tell children what they should do than what they shouldn't. "Please gather up your schoolwork and put it away before dinner" is more likely to get a positive response than "Don't leave your homework all over the table!" That's because it gives your child a chance to do the right thing and be praised, rather than scolded. https://tpitip.com/?15eT17376

Please check out this week's newsletter for important information. https://secure.smore.com/n/e6m1g Read more about: - Awards Day ceremonies: Monday, May 19 - 2nd Grade at 1:00 PM and 3rd Grade at 2:00 PM - To celebrate the last days of school, students will enjoy Free Dress Days on Tuesday, May 20 and Wednesday, May 21. Students may wear school-appropriate shirts with jeans. Let's finish the year in style - Last day is Wednesday, May 21, which is an Early Dismissal Day. Bus riders will begin boarding at 11:50 am and car riders will follow once buses leave campus around 12:00 noon. - Final report cards will be mailed out on Friday to the address in JCampus. - Have a great summer!

The arts add to your child's education Research indicates that studying music, theater and other fine arts can improve children's achievement in school. There are lots of ways to add the arts to your child's life: Sing in the car. Keep a box of art supplies handy. Visit local museums together. Check out books about art and artists at the library. Watch TV programs about the arts with your child. Look for listings of local arts events for kids, too, and attend together. https://tpitip.com/?15eS17376

Help your child see the meaning of the reading Some kids work so hard to read individual words that they lose the meaning of the passage. To help your child with comprehension, pause from time to time as your child reads aloud and ask, "Does that make sense?" Suggest that your student reread the passage slowly. How does it relate to material your child already knows? https://tpitip.com/?15eR17376

Give chores a positive spin Doing chores helps kids develop responsibility, and that pays off in school. But how do you get your child to do chores? Kids love to plan and to carry out their plans. So, involve your child in deciding what to do when. Each week, let your student choose two or three chores from a list. Schedule a "family chore time," then follow up with fun: Fill a jar with activity suggestions your child can pick from when chores are done. https://tpitip.com/?15eQ17376

Spin the dial to encourage responsible study habits Here's a creative way to motivate your child to do schoolwork: On sticky labels, write small rewards your child would like, such as choosing what's for dinner, skipping a chore or reading an extra book together. Then, get a spinner from a board game and apply the labels to it. When your child completes assigned work without being reminded, offer the chance to spin the dial for a reward. https://tpitip.com/?15eP17376

To improve behavior, explain, encourage and set an example The way families communicate with their children has a lot to do with how the kids behave, both at home and in the classroom. To encourage positive behavior, explain why rules are needed, and involve your child in setting rules and consequences. Then, offer lots of genuine praise and encouragement, and give your child more attention for appropriate behavior than misbehavior. Set an example by showing your respect for rules and the rights of others. https://tpitip.com/?15eO17376

FUN DAY 2025 was a huge success!!! I want to send a big thank you to all the parents who supported the fundraisers throughout the year and donated snacks, water balloons, hoses, and other items. Thanks to all the parent volunteers who ensured the sun and spent the day with us. The day would not have been a success with our parents support! I would also like to thank the PB police department and fire department volunteers that helped in our dunk tank!! Also, let's not forget our rockstar staff that helped the students have a wonderful day. Thanks everyone for all that you do!!

At family meals, make conversation the main course Shared meals strengthen families. Family meals also help children build vocabulary and social skills. Try to make eating together a regular habit. While you eat, engage your child in relaxed conversation by asking specific, open-ended questions. "What was the funniest thing that happened today?" will probably get a more detailed response than "How was school?" Never use mealtime to criticize your child. Then, keep the conversation going as you clean up together! https://tpitip.com/?15eN17376

Kindness changes everything! Mrs. Keys, Ms. Aymond, Hayden M., Sophia C., and Brinleigh R. participated in a donation event cutting at least 8 inches of their hair to donate to the organization Children With Hair Loss. Students learned the importance of giving and how giving just a little can go such a long way. 💇‍♀️❤️✂️

Brush up decision-making with a decorating project Redecorating your child's bedroom can be a great way to help your child practice reasoning, planning and decision-making skills while expressing personality. Begin by brainstorming ideas. How would your child like the room to look? Next, set a budget, and figure out together which of your child's ideas are realistic. Then, work together on a step-by-step plan of action. It's OK if you don't like the results; the goal is for your child to make choices and live with them. https://tpitip.com/?15eM17376

Friday Fun: Seeing Double! 👯‍♂️👯‍♀️ Last Friday, our amazing staff was twinning—and we could hardly tell them apart! It felt like double the talent, double the fun. 😄 The celebration doesn’t stop there! This week, we are keeping the good vibes going. Help us show our staff some love and appreciation—they deserve it!

Congratulations to last week's Positive Office Referrals!!