Jim Shetter October/Fall News Letter Reflection Ed.

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In developing my newsletter, the major importance is to communicate with parents, students and community members on our key monthly events. As a symbol of our mission at Iditarod Elementary, the newsletter continually shares the importance of the positive learning environment we have established here at Iditarod Elementary. The first page expresses my position as the principal and sharing the values towards our students in offering the best educational possibilities. Celebrations are a key component to the newsletter toward student achievement as for The Students of the Week. The importance to share pride of our students as a whole here at Iditarod shows that we care about their progress as future leaders. Also, on the first page it gives you the guide of the newsletter index in what is happening for the month, individual class grade passages, PTA information, parent support towards grade checks, and The STEPP process through our Virtue Program and last the nutritional lunch menu. Each section shares what is important to IDE. (Iditarod Elementary) The monthly calendar reflects the major events such as our STEPP Program meetings, Pastries with Parents to show that we want parents involved with our school, assemblies that we offer for our students and our bi-yearly book fair. I believe the calendar shows that we are a positive cultural society that we have developed. As for student advocacy, the In the Classroom section shares individual class progress in what is happening in their classroom. What they are reading, future field trips and mathematical concepts being used in the classroom. Another big focus is the opportunity of free books to read under the Dolly Partons Imagination Library Program. In which we help advocate reading at home. The philosophy towards student success outside of school is important and that learning is fun. When looking at Parent Involvement, both the PTA information about fundraising and parent access towards attendance, grades and disciplines towards how we can help parents stay on task on their childs progress. One major focus that is a continuous year long project is the STEPP progression and how the newsletter portrays The Virtue Program. The aim is to help support our students on our Husky Virtue Voucher. This section acknowledges our students who demonstrate virtues by giving them Husky Virtue Vouchers. When a child has one of his or her virtues acknowledged, it awakens their awareness that they actually have this virtue and that acting on it is a choice, and

they can choose to practice this virtue in other situations. Classrooms are celebrating the practicing of each virtue. Another important section is the nutritional monthly menu. This is what is being offered in the morning and afternoon food menu throughout the month. This is an important section as what food we offer our students for parent to pick and choose from on a daily basis. As I look at all of these examples in this newsletter, it shows a level of awareness and understanding of the importance for key events that our school offers through student advocacy, culture, and politics in the community.