October 1, 2015

FERNANFLASHFernanSTEMAcademy

520N.21stStreet

Coeurd’Alene,ID83814www.cdaschools.org/fernan

BillRutherford,Principal

Phone:208/664-2659-Fax:208/769-2923

Upcoming Events

October 1 — STEM Math Night 5:30-7:00pm Nov. 1 — Daylight Savings Time Ends October 2 — NO SCHOOL KG-12th FLEX DAY Nov. 3 — Election Day Custodian Appreciation Day Nov. 10 — Picture Re-Takes 9:10am October 5 — STEM After School Enrichment Veteran’s Concert 3rd & 5th 6:30pm October 6 — Special Chorus Begins 8:00am Nov. 11 — NO SCHOOL-Veteran’s Day October 8 — PTA Meeting 3:45pm Nov. 24 — NO SCHOOL K-5 P/T Conf. October 30 — Halloween Parade 9:15am Nov. 25 — NO SCHOOL K-5

Nov. 26 — NO SCHOOL—Holiday Nov. 27 — NO SCHOOL K-12 Break

This has been an amazing start to my third year as your principal. The kids are learning, the school is relatively calm and teach-ers and staff are working hard to ensure every child learns to his or her maximum potential. To ensure children have a safe and nur-turing environment to learn, we have instituted a program called Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. The behavioral focus is on the positive choices children make. To make positive choices, children must know their expectations, know what will happen if they don’t meet the expectation and feel intrinsically rewarded for making good choices. We believe chil-dren want to make good choices but struggle when they are unsure of the right thing to do. All students at Fernan are taught and fully understand their role in being a positive contributing member to the Fernan communi-ty. Each child’s role in the community includes being responsible for his or her actions, being respectful of people and property, and being safe—“the 3 Bees.” When children are caught following the 3 Bees, they are rewarded with a 3B card. To ensure each student understand his or her role in our community, each grade-level classroom teacher, teaches to the expecta-tions and rules at Fernan at the beginning of the school year. After each student is taught the expectations, the student is expected to make choices accordingly. Students are reminded of the expectations through a scheduled re-teaching of the expectations through-out the year. Students are expected to be in control of their body and emotions. If a student makes a poor choice, is out of control of their body and/or emotions or needs a break from their environment, the student is offered numerous opportunities to regain control. These include refocus, office referral, visiting the behavior specialist or detention. Students who remain in control are rewarded for making good choices. Our goal at Fernan is to catch students who make good choices everyday and extrinsically and intrinsically reward them for their choices. Most of the time, simply saying, “I noticed you making a good choice,” is enough reward for a child to continue making good choices! Bill Rutherford, Principal DROP OFF PROCEDURES: If you are walking your child onto the playground, you must first stop in the office and have your driver’s license scanned and an ID badge made. Once you have a badge, you do not need to check in at the front office any more. If you are not wearing the ID badge, you will be asked to go to the office and obtain another one. Thank you for helping us keep your children safe.

Important Information: It is very important that students not arrive at school before 8:30 am Tue.-Fri. and 9:30am on Mondays and are picked up by 3:30 pm, as there is no adult supervision on the playground. Students here before and after these times will be sent to School Plus and a charge will be incurred.

NO SCHOOL OCT. 2nd

HALLOWEEN INFO: For those new to our school, we hold our Halloween festivities in

the morning beginning at 9:15am with an all school parade. Parents are invited to watch

from the bleachers in the gym. If a parent is helping with a class party, they must sign in

and have their driver’s license ran first. If you are just watching in the gym, you may pro-

ceed to the gym to watch. Parties are held immediately following the parade and stu-

dents are expected to change out of their costumes for the remainder of the day. Please remember no

blood, gore, or weapons.

ARRIVING AT SCHOOL: For your child’s safety, it is important they not arrive at school before 8:30am (Mon.9:30am) as there is no playground supervision. Students are to go directly to the playground and should not enter through the front doors unless with a

parent or it is after 8:55am (Mon. 9:55am). If your stu-

dent is eating breakfast at school, they should arrive

no earlier than 8:30am (Mon. 9:30am). Thank you for

your help in keeping our students safe!

COLD WEATHER IS COMING: Fall is here and as we head into winter, please remember to dress your chil-

dren appropriately for the cooler temperatures and

wetter weather. Students are outside at recess every-day regardless of the rain, but there are eaves along

the school building to keep them dry. Please consider

keeping an extra set of clothes in your child’s back-pack.

THANK YOU, PTA The Fernan Staff would like to thank the PTA for putting on a lunch for our staff. Thank you for the incredible job on Fernan’s third ever school dance! The kids had such a great time.

The PTA in underway and getting the school year going strong! We had our first meeting with a great turn out! Our next meeting will be Thursday October 15th at 3:45 in the music room. We will be asking parents advice on fundrais-ers for the year! We'd love to have your input. We will have a sitter for the kids and pizza and snacks. Will be meet-ing the second Thursday of the month. October we will be doing our Jog-A-Thon and we will be sending out infor-mation to all parents. Keep your eyes out for our awesome STEM nights too! The first one will be Thursday October 1st from 5:30-7:00. We want to congratulate all the kids that participated in cross country!! Thank you to everyone who came to our awesome back to school dance, everyone had a blast! Make sure to stop in the main hallway to see all the great pictures!

Thanks, Fernan PTA

Fernan Music News

Mrs. Powell is excited to be teaching music this year on Mondays and Tuesdays. Mrs. Houck is here on Wednesdays. Special Chorus will begin on Tuesday, October 6th. Your third, fourth or fifth grade child may have brought home a letter with details if they were interested; there are extras in the office. We

have a concert date to mark on your calendars!

Tueesday, Nov. 10th 6:30 P.M. will be our 3rd and fifth grade Veterans Concert. It’s going to be an exciting, musical year at Fernan!

FOR SAFETY REASONS, PLEASE CALL THE FERNAN OFFICE A T 664-2659 IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK OR ABSENT. You can also enter your child’s absence in Skyward under Family Access. If you prefer to email your child’s absence, please email both Kristi and Michelle at khagins@cdaschools.org and molson@cdaschools.org, as both of us are not always in the office. Also, if your child goes to School PLUS, you need to call BOTH the school office and School PLUS at

765-8748. They are two separate entities that need to be made aware of absences. You will also need to contact Transportation to let them know your child will not be on the bus that day at 667-3451. Thank you for your help!

NURSES NEWS: Please bring all medications to the office. DO NOT send medication with your child or in your child’s backpack or lunchbox. November 10th will be Fernan’s vision screening for Kindergar-ten and 1st graders.

Smart Snacks in School USDA’s “All Foods Sold in Schools” Standards USDA recently published practical, science-based nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages sold to children at school during the

school day. The standards, required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, will allow schools to offer healthier snack foods to chil-

dren, while limiting junk food.

The health of today’s school environment continues to improve. Students across the country are now offered healthier school lunches with

more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The Smart Snacks in School standards will build on those healthy advancements and ensure

that kids are only offered tasty and nutritious foods during the school day.

Smart Snacks in School also support efforts by school food service staff, school administrators, teachers, parents and the school commu-

nity, all working hard to instill healthy habits in students.

Nutrition Standards for Foods

● Any food sold in schools must:

• Be a “whole grain-rich” grain product; or

• Have as the first ingredient a fruit, a vegetable, a dairy product, or a protein food; or

• Be a combination food that contains at least ¼ cup of fruit and/or vegetable; or

• Contain 10% of the Daily Value (DV) of one of the nutrients of public health concern in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

(calcium, potassium, vitamin D, or dietary fiber).*

● Foods must also meet several nutrient requirements: Calorie limits:

° Snack items: ≤ 200 calories

° Entrée items: ≤ 350 calories Sodium limits:

° Snack items: ≤ 230 mg**

° Entrée items: ≤ 480 mg Fat limits:

° Total fat: ≤35% of calories

° Saturated fat: < 10% of calories

° Trans fat: zero grams Sugar limit:

° ≤ 35% of weight from total sugars in foods

*On July 1, 2016, foods may not qualify using the 10% DV criteria. **On July 1, 2016, snack items must contain ≤ 200 mg sodium per

item

“Superfoods for Super Kids”

You may be familiar with the term “Super Food” which is used to describe foods which are nutrition powerhouses. These are the foods that provide the most concen-trated amounts of important things like vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other phyto-chemicals. We’ve all struggled with getting healthy foods into our children so why not find foods that really maximize that nutritional punch ounce for ounce. Here’s a quick list of some of the best superfoods for your child. 1. Sweet Potatoes: they’re

great baked, broiled and even raw! 2. Broccoli: try it raw, sautéed, or even chopped and snuck into casse-roles. 3. Tuna: a great protein source that also provides a good dose of healthy omega 3 fats. 4. Berries: full of fiber and other nutritional goodies, they’re nature’s candy. Try keeping some in the freezer to add to smoothies and sprinkle on cereal. 5. Egg: a very versatile food that is an excellent source of protein as well as nutrients vital to brain development. Be creative and try different methods of serving these foods to your child. Don’t get discouraged as it can take up to 20 exposures to a new food before a child may become comfortable enough to enjoy it! See more on this and other nutrition topics on our website at www.cdaschools.org .

Invention Convention

Fernan’s Invention Convention Coming…

Nov. 18-20, 2015

Invention Convention is a program that helps children develop creative thinking and problem solving skills

through a fun, unique and proven

learning tool…inventing!!!

Please stop by and view the inventions

Thursday afternoon, Nov. 19

NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE: The Coeur d’Alene School District complies with all applicable laws

and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), ge-

netic information, veteran status or disability in any educational programs or activities receiving federal

financial assistance or in employment practices. For additional information please visit our website:

http://www.cdaschools.org/Fernan.