VOLUME 14 | ISSUE 2 | FEBRUARY 2016

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

THE LION’S ROAR is published quarterly by the SyCamore PTA. Submissions and ideas for the newsletter can be emailed to the editor at andreamckinnon1@gmail.com or sent to the school marked “PTA Newsletter”. All submissions are subject to editing for content and length.

Are you a Facebook user? Please be sure to like the

SyCamore Elementary PTA Facebook Page.

Get the latest information on

upcoming events.

CONTENT PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE………………………....

ROARIN’ RUN FUNDRAISING RESULTS.....….

2015-16 REFLECTIONS WINNERS …………

COUNSELOR’S CORNER……..………………….

IMMERSION DAY HIGHLIGHTS………………..

SAFETY POSTER & CITIZENSHIP ESSAY

WINNERS…………………………………………..

NEW ROCK CLIMBING WALL………………….

UPCOMING EVENTS…….………………….…..

JOIN THE 2016-17 PTA BOARD!………..….

BOX TOPS | LABELS FOR EDUCATION …..….

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THE LION’S ROAR THE LION’S ROAR THE LION’S ROAR

An updated parent letter is posted on the SyCamore website and the Collierville Schools website.

Just a reminder to continue to visit our school website for events and updates. We have many exciting events that will be going on during the second semester.

Thank you so much for trusting us to teach, nurture, and love our little lions.

Sincerely,

Julie Reagan

Dear SyCamore Families,

Greetings to all of you! We are off to a great and busy start of the second semester. Our students are coming to school bundled up with big smiles on their faces. I continue to be amazed by your support and love for SyCamore – Where Children Become More.

During the months of March and April, our 3rd – 5th graders will take the TNReady assessments. As you are aware, TNReady online assessments were terminated this year by the Tennessee Department of Education. Our students will now be taking the TNReady assessments this school year using paper and pencil tests much like our previous TCAP tests. Part 1 will occur the week of March 7 – 11, and Part 2 will occur the week of April 25 – 29. Additionally in April, 3rd – 5th graders will take the Science TCAP, and our 2nd grade students will take the SAT-10.

“Thank you so much for trusting us to teach, nurture, and love our little lions.” – Julie Reagan

SYCAMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAGE 2

THANK YOU!

The ROARIN’ RUN was a huge success! Thank you to all who helped with planning, to those who volunteered and to those who donated. With your help, we raised over $29,500.00! Thank you again. We could not have done it without your support!

The SyCamore Elementary “Chorus Lion,” under the direction of Angie Knight, performed at the January 12th school board meeting. Their song selections included “Kindness,” "Over the Rainbow,” and "Hearts Around the World.” You can also see the “Chorus Lion” perform the National Anthem at the Memphis Grizzlies Game at the FedEx Forum on Sunday, March 6!

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WELCOME NEW TEACHERS AND STAFF!

Let Your Imagination Fly! 2015 – 2016 PTA Reflections Contest

SyCamore Elementary School Level Winners

Great job by all Reflections Participants!

Fifty-five (55) SyCamore students participated in the

2015-2016 National PTA Reflections contest.

Twenty-two (22) of our school level entries were

submitted to the Tennessee PTA Reflections State

level for judging.

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Our students had a wonderful week of Kindness during the Great Kindness Challenge. Our canned food drive filled every box, and the kindness spilled over. The Collierville Food Pantry was very appreciative of the support from our little lions and their families.

Kindergarten and First Grade January: Respect and Kindness February: Acceptance March: Self–Discipline April: Citizenship May: Perseverance

*5th grade will also receive middle school prep information.

March 29: Kindergarten Kickoff (for upcoming Kindergarteners) May 13: Career Day

Please visit Mrs. King’s website: http://bitly.com/KingsCorner

A message from Mrs. Kemp

and Mrs. King

Did you miss Immersion Day 2015 – Go for the Gold? Here are a few photo highlights:

Second Grade through Fifth Grade February/March: Study Skills (active listening, learning styles, note-taking, open book testing) April: Introduction to Careers May: Friendship/Safety

SYCAMORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PAGE 5

2015 – 2016 PTA SAFETY POSTER CONTEST WINNERS THEME: STOP, WAIT, PLAY IT SAFE

KINDERGARTEN – 2ND GRADE 3RD GRADE – 5TH GRADE 1 - ABHINAV CHOUDHARY 1- ARPIT OBEROI 2 - NITHIN PRABHU 2- ANIKAA MISHRA 3 - SHREYASHREE SETH 3- NISHIKA AVINENI HM: SHREYAN SETH

2015 - 2016 PTA CITIZENSHIP ESSAY CONTEST WINNERS THEME: I’M PROUD TO BE IN AMERICA BECAUSE…

KINDERGARTEN – 2ND GRADE 3RD GRADE – 5TH GRADE 1 - ADVAY RAMAKRISHNAN 1- AMRITA BALAKRISHNAN 2 - PRACHI KOTTE 2- NISHIKA AVINENI 3- ANIKAA MISHRA HM: HASITHA RAMANATHAN

CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS!

How did we acquire the rock wall? The rock climbing wall was acquired through the Collierville Education Foundation grant that was applied for and received.

How it will help students? The rock climbing wall will benefit students by bringing growth to them mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally. It is a good form of aerobic and anaerobic exercise for heart health and improves cardiovascular fitness. Participation in the climbing activities will improve flexibility, balance, and coordination. Other benefits of the rock climbing wall include, but are not limited to, increasing body and spatial awareness, building self-confidence, teaching stress management and positive risk taking and developing

problem solving skills in a controlled and safe environment. The climbing wall will promote teamwork and encouragement of others as well. These benefits are compounded through the use of cross-curricular activities which will serve to reinforce classroom learning and improve their level of cognition while having fun.

When was it installed?

We were excited to have received the wall and were even more excited when it was installed in mid-January.

When will students begin using it? The students will begin using the rock wall the week of February 8, as they begin the heart health fitness unit in PE.

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR NEW ROCK CLIMBING WALL?

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Upcoming Events

FEBRUARY 2/25 General PTA Meeting at 6pm

2nd Graders will perform

MARCH 3/3 Collierville Schools Literacy Night at

Collierville Middle School from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. Free Pizza will be served at 5:30pm.

3/4 We Are the World Program – 2:30pm

SyCamore Cafeteria

3/6 SyCamore Chorus Lion performs at the Grizzlies Game at 3:00pm, FedEx Forum

3/7 – 3/11 Part 1 - TNReady

3/11 Morning with Mom

3/21 – 3/25 No School – Spring Break

3/29 Kindergarten Kickoff from 6:00pm-7:00pm for upcoming Kindergarten parents

APRIL 4/6 2016-2017 PTA Board Nominations Due

4/25 – 4/29 Part 2 – TNReady and SAT-10

4/28 General PTA Meeting at 6pm

1st Graders will perform

New Board Member Election

MAY 5/9 – 5/11 Field Day

5/9 – 5/13 School Appreciation Week

5/13 Kindergarten Musical

5/16 Fine Arts Night

5/20 5th Grade Exit Program

5/27 Last day of school. Half day for students.

EASY WAYS TO EARN CASH FOR SYCAMORE!

BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION CAMPBELL’S AND TYSON LABELS PROJECTS

Would you like to be more involved at

SyCamore?

Do you have ideas for how to make our

school better?

Would you like to use your talents and

time to make your child's school

experience great?

Consider joining the SyCamore PTA Board for the 2016-17 school year!

The PTA Board meets once a month for an

hour to plan and discuss SyCamore programs

and activities. You will be on a team of people

who either:

Plan and Coordinate Events

Manage communication

Facilitate student growth opportunities

Assist SyCamore in a variety of ways!

SyCamore PTA Board "Job Descriptions" and

applications will be sent home next month.

SyCamore receives 10 cents for every Box Top we mail in for redemption and 27 cents for the Tyson Labels. Last year alone, SyCamore received almost $2,000 from the Box Tops for Education program alone and since 2004, over $28,000. Wow! We can do this only with your help, so please start cutting and collecting those Box Tops. Let’s try to collect 30,000 box tops or $3,000 for SyCamore.

Save your Campbell’s Labels for Education too and send them in to SyCamore. SyCamore, in turn, earns points that can be redeemed for arts, athletics and academics merchandise. We will have collection dates throughout the year for you to send in your box tops/labels to your student’s teacher and then we will take care of submitting them. It’s as easy as that and another terrific way to get involved in your child’s education!