Mount Pulaski Grade School

Just a reminder tomorrow 2/17/23 is an 11:26 dismissal day! And there is no school on Monday 2/20/23 for President's Day! Enjoy!!

Parents please help us out by taking the 5 essential survey!!! We would love to hear from you. To take the survey, please visit http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

Parents - You're invited to register for the IL ICAC Webinar titled "How to Recognize, Report, & Prevent Sextortion" on Feb 21st @6:30 pm. Please register in advance for this webinar: https://ilattorneygeneral-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VcpzQtWGSVmzxuHVnDhQ9w

Today we read our books to stuffed aniimals.

Today, genius hour classes had a guest speaker, Dawn Kruse. She is a volunteer for MADD and shared the story about her daughter, Maddie Kruse, dying from a drunk driver in 2015. Mrs. Kruse also shared facts about drunk driving and the services that MADD provides.

The Student Council is proud to sponsor the 2023 Junior High Valentine's Day Dance taking place Friday, February 10th from 7-9pm in the Grade School cafeteria. Cost is $5 per student. Age appropriate semi-formal attire is encouraged. Tickets will be sold at the door only.

Safer Internet Day: Please register in advance for this online webinar (Feb 7th 6:30-7:0pm): https://ilattorneygeneral-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__NSjP3loSkK_1OdQhhHnUw You are also invited to attend "Self-Generated Content and Sextortion Awareness and Prevention" provided by the ICAC Task Force and the National Criminal Justice Training Center (NCJTC). Don't miss these important opportunities to learn and protect our youth! Please register in advance for this webinar (Feb 7th 2:00-3:30pm): https://icactaskforce.org/training/TRI0359792/self-generated-content-and-sextortion-awareness-and-prevention

Some more images from "Kiss the Pig"

Over the past few weeks, students at MPGS raised money to benefit Eli Maynard and his family as he battles cancer. Staff volunteered to "kiss the pig" if they were the top money earner. PE teacher, girls basketball coach and Athletic Director Ryan McVickers raised the most money, thanks to a "viral" video! After the initial goal of $2000 was reached, the goal was raised to $2500! Superintendent Lamkey, Principal Lora & SRO Josh Pharis were pulled into the fun and in total, our students raised a whopping $4,186.13 for the Maynard family. Well done MPGS!! Best of luck, Eli!

Parents: Please take a moment to take the 5Essentials survey. It takes less than 10 minutes and it helps us determine next steps in helping students. We use the data from the survey to set goals. Your opinions matter! http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/ The survey opens Jan. 24, 2023 and closes March 31, 2023. If you have any questions, please call 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874. Thank you in advance for your participation.

If you are attending the junior high volleyball tournament this weekend at the high school, the west "Gym Entrance" will be the only entry point. All visitors should park in the west lots.

Parents across Illinois have an opportunity to participate in the statewide Illinois 5Essentials survey by visiting http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child's school. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child's school. On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success: effective leaders, collaborative teachers, involved families, supportive environments, and ambitious instruction. Mt. Pulaski Schools will use this data, along with other data, to inform Strategic Planning and School Improvement Planning in the Spring of 2023. Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these "5Essentials" indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials. If at least 20% of MPHS parents and 20% of MPGS parents complete this survey, the parent supplement will also be generated. The parent data will not be reported on the State Report Card. Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child's school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. If you have a child in each building, please take the survey twice (once for each building). If there are multiple parents in the household, each parent is invited to take the survey individually. The Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be conducted through March 31, 2023. To take the survey, please visit http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/ For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years' Reports, please visit https://illinois.5-essentials.org. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or 5essentials@uchicago.edu

Look at all the goodies we got from the Reading Conference! We can't wait to use them!

Pack the Piggies Fundraiser at MPGS! Let's show some love and support to Eli and his family!

Reminder: No School on Monday, January 16

The Student Council is proud to sponsor the 2023 Junior High Valentine's Day Dance taking place Friday, February 10th from 7-9pm in the Grade School cafeteria. Cost is $5 per student. Age appropriate semi-formal attire is encouraged. Tickets will be sold at the door only. It was great to have chaperones during our last dance, please email Mrs. Varvel if you'd like to help out... lvarvel@mtpulaski.k12.il.us.

If you're interested in a digital safety webinar titled "Digital Safety Among Special Needs Students" - sign up online. The webinar is on January 10, 2023, at 6:30 pm. Register in advance for this webinar: https://ilattorneygeneral-gov.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NcakctZqSimlnrsbNzFYgQ

6th Grade Straight A’s Maebri Bender, Sarah Benhart, Elliott Cooper, Kaylee Cowan, Ella Martin, Nathan Matson, Trey Moore, Kelten Olson, Addilyne Phillips, Jireh Woodford 6th Grade High Honors Jerret Bakken, Ryder Collier, Zaiden Lahey, Reagan Titus 6th Grade Honors Kaylynn Eskew, Brody Kessel, Gibson Rhoades, Maryanna Rhoades, Kaleb Scattergood 6th Grade Honorable Mention Ethan Anderson, Haylee Cowan, Allyson Dorsey, Gesiah Drew, Jackson Hebenstreit, Maddox Johnston, Layla Mayer, Race Turner 7th Grade Straight A’s Wesley Bobell, Bella Butler, Nolan Couve, Kennedy Davis, Josie Jones, Camrynn Killion, Eva Leonard, Jensen Maschoff, Chase Roberts, Jaice Skeen, Olivia Smith, Mariah Stone, Vincent Tabor, Olivia Trauner 7th Grade High Honors Alexis Bishop, Skyler Durst, Andrea Noltensmeier 7th Grade Honors Gage Hickey, Ethan Kern, Reed Martin, Haylee Werts 7th Grade Honorable Mention Landon Deibert, Jaden Hamilton, Keagan Heath, Annalyse Helm, Kian Lahey, Elyssa Marten 8th Grade Straight A’s Marissa Allspach, Addison Brown, Carter Clark, Audrey Cooper, Claire Cyrulik, Owen Cyrulik, Austin Kretzinger, Dean Martin, Kaylee Michael, Braden Olson, Logan Roberts, Kai Selinger, Kaelin Stewart, Piper Tyson, Aaron Volle, Karsyn Wilham, Caden Wyler 8th Grade High Honors Keoni Charron, Olivia Cyrulik, Mackenzie Johnston, Gracie Phillips 8th Grade Honors Jayde Carter, Peyton Combs, Adalynn Jackson, Kian Jacobs, Nelson Palmquist, Owen Pulliam, Carter Robinson, Jessi Wade, Camden Winkelmann, Jeremiah Woodford 8th Grade Honorable Mention Nathan Berry, Claire Bobell, Liam Doherty, Lizzie Roberts, Ethan Stoddard, Raelynn Turner

7th graders are participating in a silent discussion activity in ELA.

Jr. Topper Basketball for kids Pre - K through 4th grade begins this Saturday, January 7th! I will accept late sign-ups until Friday. Additional sign up forms can be found in the grade school office. If you have any questions, you can contact me at janderso@mtpulaski.k12.il.us.