Greetings Stallion Families!

I hope you all had a restful and rejuvenating weekend! As the new principal, I am thrilled to join this incredible school community and partner with you in supporting our students' growth, learning, and success. I look forward to building connections with each of you and fostering a positive, inclusive environment where every child can thrive.

It was wonderful to see so many families in the building on Friday, meeting with teachers for parent conferences. Teachers will be hosting additional conferences on the Teacher Workday this Tuesday, November 5th. Please refer to communications from your child’s teacher to schedule a time if you haven’t yet had the chance.

I’d also like to express my gratitude to our interim principal, Ms. Lavery and Assistant Principal, Mrs. Mariella., for their exceptional leadership in keeping the Stallions moving forward during the first quarter. Their dedication has been invaluable, and I’m excited to build upon the strong foundation they’ve helped create.

As we begin the second quarter, let’s continue working together to make this a fantastic year for all our students! Below, you'll find important dates and events for this month to help keep everyone informed and involved. This week, I’ll be out in the carpool in the mornings and afternoons and hope to meet many of you there. Additionally, we’ll be hosting a more formal meet-and-greet event later this month. Look for details in next week’s message!

Let’s make it a great week, Stallions!

Important Dates: 

 

 

• November 3, 2024 - Remember to turn your clocks back at 2AM!    

• November 5, 2024 - Election Day - Teacher Workday - No School for Students.

• November 8, 2024 - Quarter 1 Report cards go home

• November 11, 2024 - Holiday - No School 

• November 14, 2024 - P2 Assemblies (more details below)

• November 15, 2024 - Fun Run

FAMILY ASSISTANCE RESOURCES: 

Family Support Services

Our student support team is here to help with any needs your family may have this season. If you’re seeking assistance with holiday support, clothing, food, or other resources, please let us know by filling out our confidential survey. This information will only be seen by our student services team, who are dedicated to connecting families with the support they need.

Complete the survey here: https://forms.gle/dGYwL9LzcxhhxTiA9 

We’re here for you and ready to help however we can.

POSITIVITY PROJECT:

This week, our school community will focus on the character strength of Bravery. Bravery means you act with mental, moral, or physical strength, even when you know things are difficult or scary.

Practicing Bravery at Home!

Help your child build the character strength of bravery by exploring The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families resource in the Family Newsletter. Together, you can watch a short video, discuss a meaningful quote, and reflect on three questions designed to encourage thoughtful conversations.

Exciting News: Our First P2 Assembly of the Year!

We’re thrilled to announce the date for our first P2 Assembly, where we’ll celebrate students who have demonstrated outstanding character strengths in Quarter 1. The assembly will take place on November 14th, with award times designated for each grade level.

For our kindergarten and new student families, P2 Assemblies are a special way for our staff to recognize students who consistently show the character traits we’re learning about through the Positivity Project (P2). If your child is selected for a P2 award this quarter, you’ll receive an invitation from their teacher, including the specific time for your child’s grade-level assembly. We warmly welcome parents of award recipients to join us in celebrating this achievement on November 14th!

FALL PICTURES: 

Fall Picture Makeups and Retakes on 11/19 with Strawbridge Studios

On November 19th, students will be called down by grade level for makeup or retake photos. This session is for students who were absent on the original picture day or those needing retakes.

GLOBAL FESTIVAL:

We want to celebrate the many cultures represented at Stough by holding a Global Festival on Thursday, December 12th from 5:30-8:00 pm. All students will have the opportunity to perform on stage. 

Additionally, we invite you to come and share your culture with our school community!  You are welcome to share food, a craft, a popular game/sport, a dance, music, or other traditions. How you share your culture is entirely up to you!  If you want to participate, you will be given a table or performance space to share. 

If you would like the chance to represent your culture at this year’s Global Festival, please complete the Google Form by Friday, November 15th. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Zhao at jzhao2@wcpss.net.

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Quarter 2: Building Great Attendance Habits!

One of our key focuses in our School Improvement Plan is student attendance. Regular attendance helps students stay on track academically, develop positive habits, and build strong connections within our school community. When students are on campus, they have the opportunity to engage fully and benefit from valuable instruction; when they are absent, they miss out on essential learning experiences.

We’re thrilled to share that, thanks to your support, we ended the first quarter with zero students having 10 or more absences! This is a fantastic achievement, and we couldn’t have done it without the commitment of our families.

As we begin the second quarter, let’s continue working together to support your child’s success by encouraging strong attendance habits. Regular attendance keeps students engaged, helps them stay on top of their learning, and builds a sense of connection in the classroom. Thank you for partnering with us to lay a foundation for success by promoting good attendance every day!

PTA UPDATES: 

Get Ready for Fun Run!

• Don't forget to check those backpacks from Thursday! Fun Run donation envelopes went home with students on Thursday. View our Fun Run Flyer HERE and check out the FUN RUN PAGE on the PTA website to learn more about Fun Run, why it is important and how you and your family can participate. 

• This is our largest fundraiser of the year and is always a hit with our Stallions!  Want to keep it simple? Share our direct DONATION LINK with your families, friends, social media and more. Remember every student who brings in a donation of ANY amount will be eligible for daily prize drawings beginning Nov. 12!

• Questions? Email stoughpta@gmail.com 

 

Proud to be a Stough Stallion, 

 

Dr. Shantel Summerfield, Principal  

Stough Magnet Elementary School