AUGUSTA RANCH’S RATTLER NEWS September 2013

1. Principal: Ms. Kreitzer Dean of Students: Mrs. Mulliken AUGUSTA RANCH’S RATTLER NEWSSeptember 2013 Principal’s Note Thank you all for an awesome start to the 2013-2014 school year. The Augusta staff appreciates all your support. Please note: November 5th is the Gilbert Public Schools override election. Please review the facts we’ve enclosed in this newsletter and vote on November 5th or by early ballot. Augusta will continue to send you information about the override and forums held to help you understand the impact of the outcome of this. Gilbert Public Schools Mission and Vision Ensure exemplary education that inspires excellence and success within every learner. World-Class Teachers World-Class Education World-Class Graduates

2. Love and Logic - Insider's Club LoveandLogic.com What's the very most important Love and Logic skill? EMPATHY! Understanding why is fairly simple. Consequences delivered with empathy create responsibility. Consequences delivered without empathy create resentment. So we have a choice: Will we raise responsible kids…or resentful ones? Yes. Understanding why empathy is the most important skill is simple. Empathy preserves the relationship and makes it very hard for our kids to blame us for their poor decisions. Really using sincere empathy…on a consistent basis…is the hard part! We've spent over two decades studying people who've been successful with this. What do they have in common? They use just one empathetic statement…regardless of what consequence they must provide. That's right. They keep it simple! They also pick one that fits their personality and culture. Some folks always precede consequences with, "That is so sad." Others prefer, "Oh, man…" Some parents say, "What a bummer." Others prefer, "Bless your heart.” Try writing down your empathetic statement and taping it on the bathroom mirror as a reminder. Learn more about empathetic statements in The Love and Logic Tenth Anniversary Journal Collection. Read the article in Chapter 8 titled: Love and Logic "One-liners." This book is packed full of stories and solutions that parents and educators will find entertaining and helpful. Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible. If this is a benefit, forward it to a friend. Dr. Charles Fay

3. IMPORTANT NOTICE CONCERNING 3RD GRADE STUDENTS: ARS§15-701 Move on When Reading Beginning in the school year 2013-2014, Arizona will implement an innovative new policy that will create multiple opportunities for 3rd grade students to master reading at the grade level. Students who score Falls Far Below on the AIMS reading test may be retained in the 3rd grade to meet the rigorous reading standards set forth in the  Arizona English Language Arts Standards. The law does provide for exemptions under certain circumstances. Those include students who have disabilities and did not take the AIMS test; those who are English Language Learners or Limited English Proficient and have received less than two years of English instruction; and cases in which a district or charter governing board approves a parent’s request. The law will provide for extended time, intervention and remedial strategies for students who are not promoted. Those include providing summer school reading instruction; requiring the student to be assigned to a different teacher for reading instruction; online reading instruction; and intensive reading instruction during the following academic year either before, during or after the regular school day.

4. Gilbert Public Schools wants you to know…The Special Education Policies and Procedures are available for review on the District Websitewww.gilbertschools.net BAND & STRING INSTRUMENTSPlease help us by encouraging your students to be responsible by remembering their own Band or String instruments. It’s very important that you label the instrument case with your student’s name.A lot of unnecessary time is being taken away from class instruction for students to call home or to come to the office topick them up. Calls home will no longer be allowed and the office will not be storing them for student pick up. Parking around Augusta Ranch neighborhoods… We understand that parking is at a minimum especially when dropping off and/or picking up students. Please do not block someone’s driveway in our Augusta Ranch neighborhoods. It is not only illegal to block an exit but it is inconsiderate to the homeowner(s). Thank you for your cooperation.

5. EXCITING UPCOMING EVENTS • Book Fair September 16-20 • Fall Pictures September 17 & 18 • Reading Night September 19 5:30pm-7:00pm • Costco Night September 21 7:00pm-9:00pm • Science Camp September 30-October 2 • Parent/Teacher Conferences October 17-18 • Pictures Retakes October 23 • Red Ribbon Week October 23-31 • Sock Hop 4-6 grade October 24 6:00pm-7:30pm • 4th Gr. Recorder Concert October 29 3:00pm Release @ 2:40pmADK - 6th Grade September 18 * September 25 October 23 * October 30 November 6 * November 13 * November 20 * November 27 December 4 * December 11 January 8 * January 15 * January 22 * January 29 February 5 * February 12 * February 19 * February 26 March 19 * March 26 April 2* April 9 * April 16 * April 23 * April 30 May 7 * May 14 Release @ 12:40pm ADK - 6th Grade October 4 October 17 & 18 December 20 March 7 May 22

6. Put on your dancin’ shoes! SOCK HOPOctober 24th 6:00pm-7:00pm Augusta Ranch is having a Sock Hop It’s free to the public (grades 4-6) We will have a Photo Booth, pictures will be $3 Miss Krein will be the DJ spinning the tunes. Popcorn&Bottled Water will be sold for $1 each

7. What causes all the itching’??? Female mosquitoes feeding on our blood, the males do not! As a biting mosquito fills itself with blood, it injects saliva into our skin, proteins in the saliva trigger mild immune system reaction that results in the characteristic itching and bump. Mosquito bites may cause a LARGE area of swelling, soreness, and redness referred to as SKEETER SYNDROME  most do not. Caused as a result of an allergic reaction to proteins in mosquito saliva. No blood test to diagnose, simply a history of previous reactions. See a doctor should there be associated fever, headache and body aches. What can be done?? Most mosquito bites stop itching and heal on their own without medical treatment. Apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to bites. A cold pack or baggie filled with crushed ice may help too. If the itching is a problem, over-the-counter antihistamines may help: Benadryl, Clor-Trimeton, Claritin, Zyrtec (always follow label directions). How can we prevent a bite?? Wear light colored clothing / hats to cover all areas of exposure Remove standing water around your home by: Changing water in birdbaths weekly Emptying outdoor flower pots regularly Draining fire pits should water collect there

8. LIBRARY NEWS The Scholastic Book Fair is back!!!! September Sept. 16th through Sept. 20th 8:30am-12:00pm & 1:30pm-3:30pm Reading Night is Thursday, Sept. 19th 5:30pm-7:00pm This is a “super” night for families to shop the book fair, listen to readers, take AR tests if enrolled in AR, wear their jammies & read with parents.

9. PTSO 2013-2014 Visit the Augusta Ranch Elementary PTSO webpage: http://www.augustaranchptso.com/