Scott M. Ellis Elementary School

Greenville CSD will be closed on Friday, January 7, 2022 due to the road conditions.

Grade 4 musicians performing for their classmates!

Scott M. Ellis Elementary School Greenville CSD - where everyone Learns, Teaches, Belongs! Spartan STRONG! December 22, 2021 Dear Families, We enjoyed a series of fantastic experiences during the past week, and I am grateful for the parents,teachers,and staff who made these events possible. Thank you! On Monday morning, Kindergarten students wore their PJs to school and pretended to journey to the North Pole on the Polar Express. After their “train ride,” students listened to the children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg and enjoyed yummy treats. The children then received a silver bell, to remind them of the magic of the season. On Tuesday, student musicians filled our school with music (this was our first winter concert since 2019). The Fourth Grade Band, Fifth Grade Band, and the Fifth Grade Chorus prepared and performed under remarkable circumstances, and we are grateful! We are so pleased to see the positive impact that these programs have on students, and we thank parents for their ongoing support. Throughout the week students in Kindergarten through grade 5 spent time with Mrs. Hawkins learning how to develop computer codes. The children had fun discovering how to write and manipulate computer codes to make computerized toys follow directions, make patterns, and move along a specific path. These activities encourage critical thinking and sequential thinking; they happen to be a lot of fun too! Greene County continues to be an area where many people are testing positive for the covid virus. Based on cautions from Public Health officials, we encourage families to continue the use of preventative practices during the vacation week. Parents who are eager to better understand how vaccination can reduce quarantine and infection rates in children can visit CDC - Ten Things to Know: Children/Vaccine We hope you enjoy your winter holiday with family and friends, and we look forward to the return of students on Monday, January 3. Sincerely, Peter Mahan Elementary Principal

This week is our Ellis book fair and we know many students are missing it. This year you can shop our fair virtually online, until 12/26. Shoppers will receive FREE standard shipping on book-only purchases over $25* and all orders ship direct to home. Plus, all purchases benefit our school, earning 25% in Scholastic Dollars™ rewards during your Fair. Please, consider placing an order online and supporting Ellis PTA. Use the link below to visit our webpage and simply scroll down to the shop online section! We appreciate your continued support. Stay safe and healthy this holiday season! https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=scottmellis

**Reminder Tomorrow Tuesday, December 14 ** Parent-Teacher Conference 🕦 ½ day for students-11:30 dismissal K-5 at Ellis, Grade 6 dismissal at 11:45

Scott M. Ellis Elementary School Greenville CSD - where everyone Learns, Teaches, Belongs! Spartan STRONG! December 10, 2021 Dear Families, Thank you to all of the families who attended our (remote) Parent/Teacher Conferences! Although we prefer to visit with parents face-to-face, many parents shared that they appreciated the ability to connect from home or work. We will consider this feedback as we plan future conference days. Teachers were deeply appreciative that so many parents were able to attend. The second day of Parent/Teacher conferences is scheduled for the coming Tuesday, and students in grades K-6 will dismiss at 11:30. This week children in second grade are writing about their learning as readers. It is great to see students share their ideas about the importance of sounding out their words (phonics) when reading and learning new books! Our fifth grade students have been applying previously learned math skills to decimal numbers. As older students learn to add, subtract, and round numbers with decimals, they are developing skills that are critical for measurement, comparing values, and of course… using money. As a reminder, the PTA is holding the Scholastic Book Fair this coming week (your child’s teacher will share what day their class will be visiting the book fair). Parents are invited to shop on Thursday Evening 5:30-7:00pm. Please take advantage of the Scholastic e-wallet so you don’t have to send cash to school with your child. Also, Caring Kids has started their annual hat and mitten drive. Donations can be made until December 17th. Students are enjoying putting their gifted items on the trees in the main hallway. We are looking forward to our Winter Concerts on December 21st. We are excited to open our building (for a limited number of guests) for these special events, and we ask families to review all Covid related directions so we can maintain a safe environment for all. Sincerely, Peter Mahan Elementary Principal

FFA will be hosting their annual Open House on Saturday, December 4th from 9:00am to 3:00pm under the white tent located next to the high school. The students have many items available: wreaths, swags, centerpieces, kissing balls and mini gnomes. You may also pick up your pre-orders on Saturday. Thank you for your support! Greenville FFA

The GCSD Board of Education has begun a search for the new Superintendent of Schools. They invite parents, guardians, students, employees, and the community to complete the survey below. Your input will assist the Board in developing a profile of desirable qualities of this individual. The survey questions ask you to rate how important various attributes or characteristics of the next Superintendent are to you. Once the survey period closes on October 22nd, a summary of all responses will be completed and the Board will use it to help evaluate the various individuals that have applied. This survey is anonymous and your input is greatly appreciated! https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6R2gddbCPqjzmpo

Farewell and many thanks to Eileen Kiefer, Chris Lochner, Anne Marie Conroy-Robinson, Leslie Kudlack and Nancy Lockwood (missing from photo) for their many years of dedication to the district. Enjoy retirement!!

Camp Invention is almost here! There is still time to register. There are a few scholarships available. If you have questions please contact Casey Gannon (Camp Invention Director) gannonc@greenvillecsd.org Register for Camp Invention https://bit.ly/2ST4EVW

Mental Health Virtual Parent Forum - June 1 at 6:30 Where does your child fall on this wellbeing continuum? Identifying where your child is at is the first step in helping him/her to feel better.

Mental Health Virtual Parent Forum - June 1 at 6:30 Encouraging your child to connect with others, as well as find meaningful activities in which to engage, can help improve their wellbeing.

Mental Health Virtual Parent Forum - June 1 at 6:30 If your child is feeling unmotivated and blah, they are not alone! One of the best ways to spark interest again is to get into a state of flow, or to be immersed in an activity in which you lose your sense of time and self.

Mental Health Virtual Parent Forum - June 1 at 6:30 Depression is associated with feelings of worthlessness and a lack of hope, but languishing is more like the absence of wellbeing.

Join us for our parent forum on June 1 with Dr. Jennifer Bashant. Click the link below to learn more. The video is about the New York Times article that discusses the concept of languishing. As the fear and grief caused by the pandemic slowly lifts, many of us are caught in the middle of the continuum between depression and wellness. This video highlights some tips for moving back into a place of wellness and helping your child become engaged and motivated again. https://youtu.be/goAzWSVIB6Q

Don't forget to sign up for Camp Invention 2021! https://invent.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/PublicSignIn.aspx?&SessionID=felfg0fepejkfgnfd5fh5&Lang=*

Join us for our next parent forum focused on mental health. June 1 at 6:30 through zoom.

Camp Invention is coming back to GCSD! Please use the link to register for Camp Invention this summer. https://invent.ungerboeck.com/prod/emc00/PublicSignIn.aspx?&SessionID=felffkfh6femfekfe6fdl&Lang=*

Greenville CSD will be delayed two hours on Wednesday, February 3rd

Greenville CSD: The school will be closed on Tuesday, February 2nd.