Port Barre Elementary School

Constructive criticism starts with positive comments Your child shows you a draft of a report for school, and the first thing you see is a misspelled word. Instead of just pointing it out, think PNP (positive-negative-positive). Start with a positive comment: "You have such an interesting first sentence." Then, mention the misspelling. Follow up with something positive: "I think this is a great start." Your child may be more willing to ask for your feedback again! https://tpitip.com/?15dO17376

🌟 Staff Appreciation Week is almost here! 🌟 We’ll be celebrating our amazing staff May 12–16 and we need your help to make it extra special! 🙌💙 Let’s come together to show our incredible team just how much we value all the love, energy, and dedication they pour into our students every single day. Whether it’s a kind note, a small treat, or a thoughtful gesture — every little bit counts and means the world! If you own a business or know of a business that would like to donate to our staff for this upcoming appreciation week, please have them contact the school. We’d love to partner with our community to make this celebration unforgettable! Thank you in advance for your support and generosity!

Congratulations to last week's Positive Office Referrals!!

Inspire the courage that leads to success Many activities in school, such as reading aloud or expressing thoughts in front of others, can take courage. Explain to your child that courage isn't about being physically strong, it's about having inner strength. Make it clear that it is OK to express feelings and fears, and praise your child's everyday acts of bravery. Encourage your student to try new activities and not to worry about failing. https://tpitip.com/?15dN17376

Please check out this week's newsletter for important information. https://secure.smore.com/n/pqzus8 Read more about: - 3rd grade students begin DIBELS testing tomorrow and Tuesday. Please encourage students to get a good night's rest, eat breakfast at home or school, keep a positive mindset, and do their best on this assessment. Attendance is very important for testing. Please have your child arrive on time each day. -Fun day shirt order forms went home with students. The cost is $15 per shirt. Orders are due no later than April 16. - The Kona Ice Truck will be on campus Thursday, April 17, 2025. Find those refillable cups and put them in your bookbag. Prices range from $3 - $7. - As a school, we made the 95% attendance this week. Thank you for assisting us with reaching our attendance goal by ensuring your child attends school daily. Let's keep it up!

Use the weather forecast to practice geography skills A newspaper weather page (in print or online) gives you the forecast. But you can also use it to build your child's geography skills. Look at the weather map together. Help your child find states where relatives live. Or, play Name That State by giving your child clues like, "I'm thinking of a state that starts with an M. It's near the nation's capital." Then, read a news article together and find the location mentioned on the map. https://tpitip.com/?15dM17376

🎉 As National Assistant Principal Week comes to a close, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate someone truly special — Mrs. Tatman, our incredible Assistant Principal! 💖 Your leadership, compassion, and dedication make a lasting impact on our students, staff, and school community every single day. Whether you're supporting a student, encouraging a teacher, or keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes — you do it all with grace and heart. 💪📚 Thank you for your tireless efforts, your positive energy, and your commitment to making our school the best it can be. We are so lucky to have you on the team!

Just like sticks and stones, words can hurt Kids have called each other names for centuries. But it's wrong to think that there's nothing families or schools can or should do about it. Persistent name-calling, and name-calling with an intent to hurt, are forms of bullying. Teach your child that this behavior is hurtful. Don't accept "I was just joking," as an excuse. Voice your disapproval when you hear your child or someone else putting another person down. https://tpitip.com/?15dL17376

Congratulations to our 3rd nine weeks Third Grade Kiwanis Kids - Justin C., Genesis E., Riley R., Alex D., Samyra A., Maddex M., Camille V., and Tanner L. Keep up the great job!

Small steps take the stress out of big projects As students reach the upper grades in elementary school, they begin to receive long-term assignments. Time management is key to success with these projects. Remind your child to get started right away and to do a little work every day. Together, break the assignment down into small parts, and set deadlines for each part. This lets your child focus on one part at a time and not get overwhelmed by a big project. https://tpitip.com/?15dK17376

Fun day shirt order forms went home with students. The cost is $15 per shirt. Orders are due no later than April 16.

We will have a popcorn sale on tomorrow, April 11, for $1.00 a bag. Please send money with your child in the morning.

Bring your family together at regular family meetings Weekly family meetings let family members share news and feelings, offer support and stay close. To make your meetings productive, let each person suggest issues they'd like to put on the agenda. Start each meeting by praising accomplishments. When discussing an issue, agree that everyone gets to talk without being interrupted. Be sure to hear your children out, but make final decisions yourself. https://tpitip.com/?15dJ17376

Set your child up for test success Many elementary schoolers face important tests in the spring. Three things families can do helps set students up to do their best on testing days. First, help your child get a good night's sleep before a test and get up a little early in the morning to avoid a hectic rush. Next, feed your child a nutritious breakfast. Finally, make sure that your child starts school on time. This preparation helps students give tests their best effort. https://tpitip.com/?15dI17376

Teach your child to visualize goals Kids who can picture themselves achieving their goals are more likely to do so. Have your child focus on a goal, such as getting ready for school on time. Next, have your student picture following the steps to reach it: getting dressed, having breakfast and grabbing an organized backpack. Encourage your child to imagine how good it will feel to reach the goal. Then, say "I know you can achieve your goal." https://tpitip.com/?15dH17376

Make read-aloud time exciting for older kids Reading aloud is not just for young children. Students who can read to themselves still benefit from it. To make reading aloud more fun for an older child, look for chapter books that have plenty of plot twists and interesting characters. Then, with your child, take turns reading to each other. Stop at an exciting place in the story. Your child will want to read again soon to find out what happens! https://tpitip.com/?15dG17376

Please check out this week's newsletter for important information. https://secure.smore.com/n/sykw3 Read more about: - 3rd grade students continue LEAP testing tomorrow and Tuesday. Please encourage students to get a good night's rest, eat breakfast at home or school, keep a positive mindset, and do their best on these assessments. Attendance is very important for testing. Please have your child arrive on time each day. - 2nd grade students DIBEL test on Wednesday and Thursday. - Popcorn sale on Friday, April 11 for $1.00 - As a school, we made the 95% attendance this week. Thank you for assisting us with reaching our attendance goal by ensuring your child attends school daily. Let's keep it up!

Help your child stop clowning around in class A sense of humor is great. But not if it causes disruptions in class. If your child has been playing the class clown, work with the teacher to identify when the behavior started, what might have triggered it and how to handle it. Talk to your child, too. Explain that there are times when acting clever or silly is disrespectful. Be clear about behaviors that are not allowed, and suggest appropriate behaviors your child can do instead. https://tpitip.com/?15dF17376

A review sheet promotes test success Making a review sheet helps your child maximize study efforts before a test. Have your child write down the test date, the type of questions (multiple choice, true/false, etc.), the material to be covered and the days and times set aside to study. Then, have your student write down study strategies to use, such as using flash cards and making and taking a sample test. After the test, your child can note whether the plan was effective and what to do differently next time. https://tpitip.com/?15dE17376

Meeting Notice: Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) Meeting ~Date: Tuesday, April 8th at 4:15 PM ~Location: St. Landry Parish Pupil Appraisal Center ~ We invite all community members to attend. A detailed agenda can be found at https://5il.co/3cpji.