Dear Mighty Meadowlark Parents,

We are getting closer to the start of school.  The floors are so dang shiny and I’m not sure if this is normal or not but I have kicked off my shoes a couple of times and cruised down the hall…so squeaky clean and it just sparkles. 

 

 

We are having our supply drop-off and meet and greet on Thursday, August 29^th from 11:00 to 1:30.  We know that it is in the middle of the day, but the middle school’s are having their Open Houses that same day from 4-6 so we are trying to not compete.  It will be a time for you and your child to meet the teacher, see the room, take a tour of the school if you would like and help your child put their supplies away or if your child is in 4^th or 5^th look at how clean and perfect their desk is right then and there, as it probably won’t look like that for long.  Take time to take a picture in front of the Meadowlark banner and stop by the PTA booth to look and maybe purchase some cool MERCH!

 

August 27^th – Powerschool will open up so you can see who is the teacher for your child.  We don’t post lists on doors any longer due to safety concerns.  We don’t want your child’s name and class to be posted on social media somewhere. 

 

School starts September 3^rd ~ the Tuesday after Labor Day. 

 

 

Bus information: 

We will be making bus tags for each student (K-3) who has a bus ticket that we put on their backpack with a yellow zip tie.  They are color-coded so we make sure students get on  the right bus.  The information is a check for us and a double check for the bus drivers.  Please, please do not cut off the tag.

 

If your child is a kindergarten student and they are riding the bus, there must be a parent or a trusted adult at the afternoon bus stop to get the child off the bus.  First student, our contracted bus company, will not let a Kinder off the bus without an adult.

 

You should have received an email from the district with your child’s busing information in it.  It also included information for the app that let’s you track the bus.  It is a great app and I highly recommend that every parent download it.  This link should get you to everything transportation related.   transportation webpage 

 

Some of the following information will be repeated after we start the year but I thought I would send it out now.

 

Protocols at doors – When you, as a parent, come to Meadowlark you must enter through the front doors.  When you ring the bell to be let in, know that we will greet you but we need to know who you are and what your business is.  For example, Mrs. Cherry will say “Can I help you” and the response could be “This is Stacy Lemelin, Jeanann’s mom and I need to drop off her birthday treats” and Mrs. Cherry will then release the door to open.  Mrs. Cherry is our secretary and this is a safe procedure for all of our office staff to follow.  We appreciate your understanding and patience with this.

 

Checking out students:  If you are having anyone besides you (the parent) pick up your child early from school and they have to be checked out at the office, we will ask for an ID and check to see that they are on the contact list on PowerSchool.

 

Lunch Money - Money for lunch should be sent in an envelope – clearly indicating that it is lunch money and on the memo line please indicate who the money is for and the grade and teacher (i.e. Stacy Lemelin 5-L) then our lunch clerk knows exactly who the money is for and what account to put it in.  If you want the money split then remember to put all student’s names on the check or on the outside of the envelope. 

 

We work hard to make sure our kids have between 15-20 minutes to eat their lunch.  The older kids do this without a problem but the younger students are still figuring it out.  Please take a look at what you are sending them – I guarantee that they will eat the oreo before the sandwich each and every time.  The volume can also be overwhelming for the littles.  When they open their lunchbox and see a big variety they don’t really know what to choose.  Watch to see what they eat and don’t and adjust from there.  I tell the student’s all the time to talk to their parents about what they will eat vs what they should eat so that you know, too.  Please try to make sure that they have protein in their lunches and we will work on them eating that first.  We tell them that is how they get their brainpower for the rest of the day.

Also, know that you can join your child any day for lunch.  If you are planning on eating hot lunch, please call the kitchen so they know to make an extra lunch or two.  

 

Parent Handbook – as we speak I am working on updating last year’s parent handbook.  Last year’s version is on our school website under the parent tab.  My goal is that our tech department will get the updated version uploaded by the first day of school.  Not much has changed in it except dates and breakfast times.  You might want to check it out.

One in particular is:

 

CELL PHONES/Gizmos/iwatches for STUDENTS: Due to the safety concerns of parents whose children walk home from school, students are allowed to have cell phones/Gizmos at school for the time being. However, these guidelines will be enforced:

1. Cell phones (all devices) must be OFF during the school day.

2. Cell phones (all devices) must remain in the student’s backpack all day.

3. Cell phones (all devices) may be used after 3:10, outside of the school.

Cell phone watches or gizmos will be treated like cell phones and follow the 3 guidelines above unless approval is given by the principal for medical reasons. If these guidelines aren’t followed, consequences are as follows:

1st time: warning

2nd time: cell phone is taken to the principal and given back at the end of the day

3rd time: cell phone is taken to the principal; parent is notified and asked to pick up the phone from the principal at school.

One caution – if your student is using their phone on the bus and any inappropriate activity happens with their phone such as looking up inappropriate websites, pictures, recording students, posting on social media, etc.. and it is reported to the bus driver, a teacher or the principal, they could be suspended from the bus.  School administration will definitely be involved, so please visit with your child about using their phone on the bus and what the expectations are.

Dear Mighty Meadowlark Parents,

Welcome Back!

I am so excited to be back at school.  This year feels a little wonky as I didn’t have to be back in the building until August 12^th which is a whole week later than the previous 17 years.  However, that extra week gave me an extra week with my family at a mountain lake and it was just perfect!  Time flies and in a blink of an eye my kids have grown up so remember, when you are rushing here and there and going many different places at once to enjoy the busy.  It goes quickly and the most important thing in life is making memories with your family! 

 

Starting after Labor Day is different, too.  We start school on September 3^rd, which is the Tuesday after Labor Day.  I just know that I am going to have to reset my brain timeline for this year but it is okay – change is good and we are going to have the best year ever at Meadowlark.

 

 I love this time of year.  I am so excited!! The school is sparkling, the teachers are excited and rejuvenated and we are so excited to see the students.  It has been fun getting pictures from you all to post on our Facebook page for “Where in the world are our Mighty Meadowlarks”.  It sure looks like everyone had a blast this summer!  As we always do, last spring, we celebrated our students and all of the growth that they made academically and we are looking forward to building on that success. Meadowlark kids had tremendous academic success and I applaud all of the hard work our staff put in to make sure our students grew!   This year, we will continue encouraging our students to have a growth mindset – working hard to problem solve, think critically and be creative.  Teachers will be encouraging your child to try, try and try again and they will be using words like persevere, rigor, challenge, think deeper, and reflect.  I hear out in the community all of the time how we need critical thinkers, hard workers, etc. and we strive to help our kids develop those attributes. I love Meadowlark Elementary and I am privileged to get to be the principal and to work with such awesome teachers.  I look forward to seeing all of my returning families as well as my new families and getting time to visit.  My door is always open and I am here for you.  #mightymeadowlarks

 

Mrs. Colleen Cherry is our fabulous secretary.  Our school would not run well without her.  She is absolutely wonderful, so kind and sweet and I know just how lucky I am to have her at our office.  It is busy at the office, too. The phone rings constantly, the door buzzes, and we all need her to do something on the computer for us it seems.  So please, be patient, if possible, leave a voice mail or email cherrym@billingsschools.org and she will get to everything as soon as possible.  See below for bus tickets and class list info.

 

Communication:

We are working hard to make sure that all parents know what is going on at Meadowlark Elementary.   This year, we will be using Parent Square for all district and school communication.  Seesaw will still be used for students in K-2 however teachers, myself and the district will send all communication through Parent Square. It is actually really easy and slick and just like texting for individual messages.   If you did not make an account last year, you will need to do so.  To get all set up, go to this access page on Billings Public Schools:

 

https://www.billingsschools.org/parent-portal/parentsquare

 

It is VERY IMPORTANT that you are set up with Parent Square so that you get all of our communication, both from the district and from Meadowlark.  I will start communicating through Parent Square the second week of school and will no longer go through the Power School email list. (I will, however send this newsletter out on Parent Square just to test it all out so you might get duplicates for a couple of weeks).

 

Other ways to find out what is going on in school:

 Follow us on Instagram:  mightymeadowlarks

 Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meadowlarkbillingspta/

 

 New Faces at Meadowlark

We would like to welcome our new teachers and staff members.  Mrs. Jennifer Flowers is our art teacher for the 4^th and 5^th grade students.  Mr. Rory Jetmore will be joining our Learning Center staff (joining Mrs. Santos and Mrs. Urbaska) and last but certainly not least, our new custodian Nicole DePriest.  She has done an amazing job getting the school clean this summer and I am so excited to have her on staff!

 

General Duty Aides needed:  If you would love to come spend two hours at lunch with the coolest kids in town daily, we would love to have you apply to be a General Duty Aide.  At this point, we only have one GDA and we need to have 4 in order to safely watch our students at lunch.  Being a GDA is a great rewarding job but it does require you to be on your feet for two straight hours and it does require wiping down tables, moving tables, sweeping and spot mopping as well as being outside (you are either inside or outside supervising students and then switch the following week).  I am concerned that we are so understaffed in this area and if you have ever come to have lunch with your child you know just how many students we are supervising.  If you know of ANYONE who might be interested in this position, please have them contact me.

 

Healthy Snacks

We know how hungry our students get about mid-morning and how developmentally important it is to fuel the brain and body.  When thinking about sending snacks, we encourage you to think about fresh fruit, vegetables and protein snacks.  For our younger grades, parent involvement is critical to help supply the snacks or the funding for the snacks.  Each grade level handles snacks a little differently, so look for guidance from your child’s teacher. 

 

SLEEP

·        Research shows that students need at least 10 hours of sleep every night.  Setting consistent bedtimes, as well as keeping routines, help students get a good night's sleep.  Limiting their screen time at night also helps their brains sleep at night.  According to Kids Matter, the following tip help achieve healthy brain development: 

·       Set a ‘bed time’ for media devices - this should happen one or two hours before kids go to sleep, and applies to adults too so everyone gets into good habits.

·       Tweak their bedtime routine - let kids wind-down properly in the run-up to bed, replacing screen time with gentle activities like stories, talking or bathing.

·       No media devices in the bedroom including TVs - kids may kick back at first, but you will soon see the rewards of setting and sticking to this tough rule.

 Attendance

We cannot stress enough how important it is for each child to be at school on time each and every day.  Attendance is a HUGE focus at Meadowlark and we look forward to seeing each smiling face every day. School starts at 8:25 and students are tardy at 8:26. Our teachers start teaching right away – whether we have our walk to reading intervention or 5^th grade math – we are not wasting any time.  I will be working hard at cracking down on tardies this year so please, do everything you can to be ready to go in the morning so students are here on time.  Have backpacks ready to go, snacks and lunches ready, winter gear or rain gear by the door, etc.  I, as well as the teachers appreciate your help with all of this! 

 

 

Common Questions asked:

 

What time does school start?  8:25 SHARP

What time does school get out?  2:25 for K-3 and 3:10 for 4^th and 5^th

All students who come after 8:25 MUST check in at the office.  If your child is a 2^nd grader in the annex and you are running late, they MUST check in at the office.  That way we can make sure to change their attendance in PowerSchool. 

 

Do I have to check in every time I come to the school?  Even if you know who I am?  Even if I am just popping over to the lost and found?  The answer is YES!  Parents MUST check into the office every time they enter the building - parents may not go down to the classrooms without checking in at the office and getting a pass. 

 

Can I run down and visit real quick with the teacher?  If you need to visit with a teacher, please contact them and set up a time instead of popping in in the morning, which can be really hard as they are trying to get their students settled and going with their morning procedures.  If you must talk to a teacher due to circumstances that were unforeseen and you have not contacted them, Mrs. Cherry or Mrs. Lemelin will go get them and find someone to cover their class but you might just need to visit with Mrs. Lemelin and have her rely the info.  The best way to visit with a teacher is to set up a time when they know you are coming so there are not any distractions and you have their complete attention.  If you have ever been in the hallways at the start of the day you know how their attention is on 20+ little bodies going everywhere at once….

 

Can I walk my child to class?  We also ask that you do not walk your child to their classroom unless you have birthday treats to drop off.  We want the students to be able to come in, hang up their backpacks, check in with their teacher and start their day.  If they are struggling in the morning, myself or Mrs. Phillip will help walk them down.  I guarantee that after we turn the corner and they see their teacher, they calm right down and have a great day.

 

 

 Where do I drop off my students/which door do they enter in the morning?  That is a great question and one that everyone needs the answer to.

Kindergarten – will enter each day through the front doors.  They will also be dismissed at the end of the day through the front door.  Parents can wait out front if you are picking up your child.

1^st grade – will enter and exit at the north door (door #2).  Here is a great little parking tip for you – no one parks across the bridge on 28^th street and it is such a safe place to park and walk.  

2^nd grade- will use the north annex door to enter and will exit out of both the south and north sides of the building (except Mrs. Ulmer’s 2^nd grade class – they will use door #2)

3^rd grade – will enter and exit at the south door (door #5).

4^th grade – will enter and exit at the south door (door #5)

5^th grade will enter through the common’s door (door #4) and exit out the east door (door #3)

Breakfast students will enter through door 4 – that is a change from last year.

 

Where do I park?  When you drop off your child for school please park on the street (29^th street or a side street) and walk to the crosswalk guard.  Both parking lots are closed for pickup and drop-off.  The South parking lot is our bus zone and parents may not enter and drop off children in that parking lot. It is super dangerous with those big buses and we wouldn’t want a student or parent going between buses, EVER! The north parking lot (directly in front of our front doors) is usually full of parked cars but it is also our daycare drop-off and pickup-up – so our commercial daycare vans can utilize that parking lot. We don’t want cars coming into that lot to drop off because there is so much foot traffic.  Please don’t stop on the street and ask your kiddo to get out.  That is very dangerous, too.  Please find a place to park and make sure your child uses a crosswalk.  Also, a great place to park is on 28^th street west and use the walking bridge.  We appreciate you following these guidelines and helping our kids be safe.

 

Do I have to use the crosswalk?  I cannot stress enough that using the crosswalk guards is a must.  Both of our crosswalk guards will get your children across the street and onto school grounds safely.  Please do not drop off your child and have them cross the street anywhere else and please do not stop in the street and have your child get out.  That is super unsafe and an accident waiting to happen.  We also need to watch our speed in the school zone – people drive way too fast by Meadowlark and I am just asking you all to help with that.

  

What do I do if my child is going to be absent?  If your child is going to be absent we would love a phone call letting us know.  281-6213. Leave us a detailed message if no one answers because you know how hectic it is at the office in the morning.  Our automated system calls at 9:30 for anyone who is marked absent as we have not been notified by parents (otherwise they are marked excused, ill, out of town, etc.) – it really helps us if we know before that time – you can leave a message as early as 6am if you need to.  Mrs. Cherry is super swamped in the mornings so if you don’t get to talk to her, just leave a message and she will get to it!  Thank you for understanding!

 

Why do I have to check in every time?  It is a safety procedure.  We need to know who is in the building at all times.  Parents MUST check into the office every time they enter the building - parents may not go down to the classrooms without checking in at the office and getting a pass. If you are going to come and eat lunch with your child or if you are on the playground prior to lunch, you also must check in first.  Those yellow tags tell everyone in the building that the office knows you are there. 

 

Why do I have to buzz in at the front door?  Again, safety.  Please be patient when you hit the buzzer.  If Mrs. Cherry is on the phone, she will do the best to buzz you in but she also has another parent on the phone so sometimes it takes a little bit or sometimes she is in the nurse’s office with a child so she does it as quick as she can. 

 

Do I check in if I am eating lunch with my child?   If you are going to come and eat lunch with your child or if you are on the playground prior to lunch. 

 

When can I eat lunch with my child?  Anytime you would like.  If you are bringing in lunch we don’t need to know until you show up.  If you want to eat hot lunch you do need to notify the lunch lady two days in advance so they order extra lunches.  We love having parents come and eat with their children and they love it too!!

 

How do I buy a lunch ticket for my child?  You can set up an account on the district website.  Just click on

https://www.mymealtime.com/

If you already have an account set up – you can add money at any time.  It is always a good idea to check this frequently as sometimes kiddos eat and forget to tell their parents and suddenly the account is in the negative.  (If school lunch looks better than what their home lunch looks like the littles will often jump in the hot lunch line and the lunch ladies don’t know that they are not supposed to eat hot lunch so just check in now and again.)

 

 What time can my child come to school?  8:10 unless they are eating breakfast.  Students may not enter the building until 8:10. An adult will come to each of the doors and open them and supervise that door every morning. Students who are walking in the morning with their class (4^th and 5^th) may not be on the playground until 8:10 as there is not any supervision so, please don’t drop off students before them.  Parents may only enter through the front doors and check in if they have an appointment with a teacher or a meeting. 

 

Breakfast – it starts at 8:00 and students must enter through door 4.  Students must eat and then join their class. Our wonderful custodian and our CARE Coordinator will be manning door 4 until 8:25 each day. If a parent is eating breakfast with a child, the parent must check in at the office before going to breakfast.

 

Donations of sand toys for kindergarten - our kindergarten kids love to play in the rocks on the north playground.  In the past few years, we have had lots of buckets, shovels, dump trucks, etc. but they have slowly been broken or fell apart and if you have any old sand toys or play dump trucks that you could part with, our kinders would love them. 

 

Bus tickets:  If your child rode a bus last year, then they automatically ride the bus this year.  If you received an email from transportation because you were pre-registered for this year then you have your bus information.  If your child is new to Meadowlark and you want them to write a bus but do not have a ticket, you can get one at the office.  However, getting one during the meet and greet is not a really good idea - the line is long and it can get frustrating.  So, if you need a ticket, please email Mrs. Cherry and she will get one written for you prior to you coming in.

 

Every Wednesday is an early release - all students get out an hour early.  K-3 - 1:25 and 4-5 2:10.

 

Upcoming Dates:

 

Tuesday- August 27th - PowerSchool will open for you to see who your child's teacher is.  I will click the button at about 8:00 that morning.  Please log in and see which teacher your child was assigned to. If you are not able to log in then when you come on Thursday, we will have class lists out front with myself and Mrs. Phillip and we can point you in the right direction. 

 

Thursday, August 29th - Supply Drop off and meet and greet - 11:00-1:30 - if you can please bring your kiddo with their supplies and meet the teacher.  There will also be a booth to buy cool Meadowlark clothing.  Be watching for more on this topic!

 

September 3rd - First Day of School 

 

September 4th - Early release - K-3 1:25 dismissal 4 & 5 - 2:10 dismissal

 

October 4th - PTA movie night at Meadowlark - more details to come

 

Whew - that is a lot - there will be more coming soon!  Here is to a great learning year!

As always, my door is always open or you can call or email me.

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

Dear Meadowlark Parents,

 

Oh.My.Goodness!!!! I can’t believe I am sending you this quick email – I am sure we just sent

the kids on their way for summer just a couple of days ago.  Summer just flies!  I hope you have

had a great summer up to this point.  I wanted to send you a quick update and some dates as

well as a current supply list. 

 

First of all – I have had a great summer.  I even made it on the TODAY show (if you count my

face in the corner of the screen with some random people – I was trying hard to get the Mighty

Meadowlark t-shirt on tv but I am way too short - I was on my tippy toes for this shot....)

 

Secondly – as I sent out in the spring update, we are having

our supply drop-off and our meet and greet on Friday, August 18 th  from 11:00am to 1:00pm. 

It is a bit of a funky calendar start for teachers this year as we are in workshops on the 17 th  and

the 21 st .  So, we are hoping over the lunch hour will work for most.  If not, your child can just

bring in their supplies the first day of school. 

Third - we have had quite a bit of construction over the summer (a new roof, new pipes in our

heating system, new flooring in the annex and music room and some of the interior rooms) so

Mr. Collins, our custodian, is working like crazy to get the building ready but there is only one of

him and a lot of square feet.  The reason I am bringing that up is I know that often times, new

to Meadowlark families like to come in and get to see the building and Mr. Collins might still be

waxing hallways for the next two weeks.  Please don't be discouraged if we have to do it closer

to the start of school - we just need to stay out of his way so he can get the school clean and

shiney for everyone!  Remember that we will have some former students at the school on

Friday, August 18th to give complete tours!!  More info on this and thanks to Mr. Collins for

getting Meadowlark ready for the kids!

 

And lastly, I will be sending out a complete email with a lot more details in a week.  If you are a

kindergarten parent, you will be getting a separate email from me with lots of fun kinder

information and I will be letting you know what students will be at our Burlington site. 

 

 

Attached is a school supply list – my kids always loved this time of year and I always had to

remind myself that school supply shopping is fun and not stressful.  Remember, if you can’t find

everything on the list life goes on…

 

Enjoy these next few weeks and you will be hearing from me soon!  Mrs. Cherry will be in the

office starting August 7 th  and I will be in the office August 2 nd  and 3 rd .

See you soon!! 

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

lemelins@billingsschools.org

Dear Mighty Meadowlark Parents,

Welcome Back!

I completely tried to get this out Friday afternoon, but well the Blue Angels kept flying over

Meadowlark and I just had to stand out in the parking lot watching that awesome show.  I know

they saw the very enthusiastic lady in the Meadowlark parking lot waving and jumping up and

down like a kid.  It reminded me that it is okay to stop and truly enjoy the little things, see joy in

all around you and to get excited about a plane in the sky.  I love this time of year.  I am so

excited!! The school is sparkling, the teachers are excited and rejuvenated and we are so excited

to see the students.  Over the summer, I ran into a few Meadowlark students and I am sure they

all grew a foot – it must have been all of the rain in June.  Last spring, we celebrated our students

and all of the growth that they made academically and we are looking forward to building on that

success. Meadowlark kids had tremendous academic success and I applaud all of the hard work

our staff put in to make sure our students grew!   This year, we will continue encouraging our

students to have a growth mindset – working hard to problem solve, think critically and be

creative.  Teachers will be encouraging your child to try, try and try again and they will be using

words like persevere, rigor, challenge, think deeper, and reflect.  We are going to ask them to

continue to write more, in many different ways to stretch themselves!  The more they write the

more they retain and comprehend.  I love Meadowlark Elementary and I am privileged to get to

be the principal and to work with such awesome teachers.  I look forward to seeing all of my

returning families as well as my new families and getting time to visit.  My door is always open

and I am here for you.  #mightymeadowlarks

 

Communication:

We are working hard to make sure that all parents know what is going on at Meadowlark

Elementary.   All classrooms will  be using SeeSaw for Schools and communicating with you.  If

you had a SeeSaw account last year it will automatically roll over, if you are new to

Meadowlark, your child's teacher will get you a form so you can download the app.  It is

important that you are connected to SeeSaw and that you check your email.  Those are the two

most used forms of communication that we use.   SeeSaw is an amazing way to know what is

going on in the classroom as well as a great way for the teacher to get out information.  In the 3-

5 th  grade classrooms, the students will also use paper planners, but the sole purpose of a planner

is not to be used for communication but as an organizational tool for students.  Parents will be

asked to look at and possibly sign, but it won’t be the only way for you to know what your child

is working on at school.  Stay posted for more information on all of this!  Seesaw won't start

working until the first day of school so don't worry about missing anything.

 

Follow us on Instagram:  mightymeadowlarks

 

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meadowlarkbillingspta/

 

 New Faces at Meadowlark

We would like to welcome our new teachers and staff members.  We are so lucky to have Miss

Allie Gockley in second grade, Mrs. Karissa Gordon in 3rd grade and Mrs. Katelynn Hayes in

5th grade.  Our kinder and 1st grade students will have Mrs. Ellie Ellis as their music teacher. 

We are so excited to have them join our Meadowlark family.

 

A big , huge thank you to Mr. Scott Collins, our custodian, for working so hard to get the school

ready - he had quite a task as we had a new roof put on and new flooring in the annex and a few

interior rooms.  Mr. Collins joined us mid year last year and never really got a proper

introduction.  He is doing a great job!

 

Healthy Snacks

We know how hungry our students get about mid-morning and how developmentally important it

is to fuel the brain and body.  When thinking about sending snacks, we encourage you to think

about fresh fruit, vegetables and protein snacks.  For our younger grades, parent involvement is

critical to help supply the snacks or the funding for the snacks.  Each grade level handles snacks

a little differently, so look for guidance from your child’s teacher. 

 

SLEEP

·        Research shows that students need at least 10 hours of sleep every night.  Setting

consistent bedtimes, as well as keeping routines, help students get a good night's sleep. 

Limiting their screen time at night also helps their brains sleep at night.  According to Kids

Matter, the following tip help achieve healthy brain development: 

·       Set a ‘bed time’ for media devices - this should happen one or two hours before kids go to

sleep, and applies to adults too so everyone gets into good habits.

·       Tweak their bedtime routine - let kids wind-down properly in the run-up to bed, replacing screen

time with gentle activities like stories, talking or bathing.

·       No media devices in the bedroom - kids may kick back at first, but you will soon see the

rewards of setting and sticking to this tough rule.

 Attendance

We cannot stress enough how important it is for each child to be at school on time each and

every day.  Attendance is a HUGE focus at Meadowlark and we look forward to seeing each

smiling face every day.  

General Duty Aides and Crosswalk guards needed:  If you would love to come

spend two hours at lunch with the coolest kids in town daily, we would love to have you apply to

be a General Duty Aide.  We are short a couple people this year.  We also need a crosswalk guard

- from 7:50-8:40ish and 2:20-3:20 every day.  If you know of ANYONE who might be

interested in either of these positions please have them contact me.

Common Questions asked:

 Where do I drop off my students/which door do they enter in the morning?  That is a great

question and one that everyone needs the answer to.

Kindergarten – will enter each day through the front doors.  They will also be dismissed at the

end of the day through the front door.  Parents can wait out front if you are picking up your

child.

1 st  grade – will enter and exit at the north door (door #2).  Here is a great little parking tip for

you – no one parks across the bridge on 28 th  street and it is such a safe place to park and walk.  

2 nd  grade- will use the north annex door to enter and will exit out of both the south and north

sides of the building

 

3 rd  grade – will enter and exit at the south door (door #5).

4 th  grade – will enter and exit at the south door (door #5)

5 th  grade will enter through the commons door(door #4) and exit out the east door (door #3)

 

When you drop off your child for school please park on the street and walk to the crosswalk

guard.  Both parking lots are closed for pickup and drop-off.  The South parking lot is our bus

zone and parents may not enter and drop off children in that parking lot.  The north parking lot

is usually full of parked cars but it is also our daycare drop-off and pickup-up – so our

commercial daycare vans can utilize that parking lot. 

 

I cannot stress enough that using the crosswalk guards is a must.  Both of our crosswalk

guards will get your children across the street and onto school grounds safely.  Please do not

drop off your child and have them cross the street anywhere else and please do not stop in the

street and have your child get out.  That is super unsafe and an accident waiting to happen.  We

also need to watch our speed in the school zone – people drive way too fast by Meadowlark

and I am just asking you all to help with that.

 

School starts at 8:25 (students are tardy at 8:26).  If your child is in the annex and you are

running late they MUST check in at the office.  That way we can make sure to change their

attendance in powerschool.  School gets out at 2:28 for K-3 and 3:10 for 4& 5.

 

If your child is going to be absent we would love a phone call letting us know.  281-6213. Leave

us a detailed message if no one answers because you know how hectic it is at the office in the

morning.

Parents MUST check into the office every time they enter the building - parents may not go

down to the classrooms without checking in at the office and getting a pass. 

 

Parents - you must check in at the office if you are going to come and eat lunch with your child

or if you are on the playground prior to lunch.  We also ask that you do not walk your child to

their classroom unless you have birthday treats or something like that to drop off.  It makes the

morning transition go so much better.  If you need to talk to the teacher please send them a

seesaw message or set up an appointment.  It is so busy in the morning and the classroom

teachers are trying to get all of the students going on their morning routine.  Thank you for

understanding – all of the classroom teachers will make time for you after school and that way

you both have each other’s full attention.

 What time can my child come to school?  8:10 unless they are eating breakfast.  Student’s

may not enter the building until 8:10.  An adult will come to each of the doors and open them

and supervise that door every morning. Student’s who are walking in the morning with their

class (4 th  and 5 th ) may not be on the playground until 8:10 as there is not any supervision so

please don’t drop off students before them.

 

 

Breakfast – it starts at 8:00 and students must enter through door 4.  Students must eat and

then join their class.

Donations of sand toys for Kindergarten - our kindergarten kids love to play in the rocks on the

north playground.  In the past few years we have had lots of buckets, shovels, dump trucks, etc

but they have slowly been broken or fell apart and if you have any old sand toys or play dump

trucks that you could part with, our kinders would love them. 

Bus tickets:  If your child rode a bus last year, then they automatically ride the bus this

year.  If you received a letter from transportation because you were pre-registered for this year

then you have your bus information.  If your child is new to Meadowlark and you want them to

write a bus but do not have a ticket, you can get one at the office.  However, getting one during

the meet and greet is not a really good idea - the line is long and it can get frustrating.  So if you

need a ticket, please email Mrs. Cherry and she will get one written for you prior to you coming

in.

Every Wednesday is an early release - all students get out an hour early.  K-3 - 1:30 and 4-5

2:10.

Upcoming Dates:

Thursday - August 17th - Powerschool will open for you to see who

your child's teacher is.  I will click the button at about 8:00 that

morning.  Please log in and see which teacher your child was assigned

to. If you are not able to log in then when you come on Friday we will

have class lists out front with myself and Mrs. Phillip and we can point.

you in the right direction. 

Friday, August 18th - Supply Drop off and meet and greet - 11:00-1:00ish - if you can please

bring your kiddo with their supplies and meet the teacher.  There will also be a booth to buy

cool Meadowlark clothing.  Be watching for more on this topic!

PTA was trying to get food trucks to come for lunch but that is pending - watch for info. 

August 22nd - First Day of School 

August 23rd - Early release - K-3 1:30 dismissal 4 & 5 - 2:10 dismissal

September 4th - no school - labor day

September 29th - PTA movie night at Meadowlark - more details to come

 

Whew - that is a lot - there will be more coming soon!  Here is to a great learning year!

As always, my door is always open or you can call or email me.

 

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

Dear Mighty Meadowlark parents,

 

Welcome to the second week of school.  We had a GREAT first week.  So many things went on…learning the new routines for the lunchroom was one of our greatest challenges. In order to create a more inviting environment in the lunchroom this year.  In order to do this, we are mixing up which grades eat first and which grades play first.  It was a bit confusing for the students who have done the same routine for so long but the lunchroom is so much calmer.  The Lunch Schedule is as follows: (it is confusing – so pay attention to if your child is in or out at the earliest point – Green is what they do first)

Out @ Recess                  Inside to eat

K: 11:00-11:15                   11:15-11:35

1st: 11:20-11:35                 11:00-11:20

2nd:11:40-11:55                 11:55-12:15

3rd: 12:00-12:15                   11:40-12:00

4th: 12:35-12:50                    12:15-12:35

5th: 12:15-12:30                 12:30-12:50

I am so thankful for all of the volunteers who have come to help.  We are still short one duty aide for lunch.  If you know anyone who would love to come spend two hours a day with our students, please, please send them our way!

 

Speaking of volunteers – we are promoting a new program this year in conjunction with PTA.  If every parent volunteered just two hours a year at Meadowlark (classroom, lunchroom, sprucing up the grounds, bagging popcorn, helping with Saturday Live, helping with movie night, helping with the read-a-thon, helping with the Fun Run, etc…) our school would continue to rise to the top of the schools in Billings.  All of the above-mentioned items are really important to our school and there are even more and if we all gave two hours, things would work like clockwork.  Two hours is such a small amount of time in the realm of a whole school year. So, please think about it. 

 

 

Speaking of PTA – here is an amazing video that explains PTA – honestly – the most important thing is building up our membership.  You can join and not volunteer, join and volunteer a little, join and volunteer as much as you want.  But please, help us stay in good standing with the State PTA and build our memberships.

https://animoto.com/play/tzMC8V2nEkjWY0jPV60eYQ

 

To join PTA please click on the link below

 

https://mtpta-00010226.memberhub.com/store/items/884645

 

Teacher Videos – Tomorrow about 4:00 you will receive a SeeSaw from your child’s teacher.  It will give you all the information you need to know about your child’s upciming year. Meadowlark teachers will share expectations, academic information and lots of great information.  It is very important that you watch these videos.  We will be sending reminders often until all parents have watched the videos.  You can watch together with your child so that everyone knows the same information.

 

 

PowerSchool Forms – we need all parents to log into PowerSchool and PLEASE update your forms – if nothing has changed you just confirm that but you still need to go in and click that button.  It is most important that you do this – even if you have a kindergarten student – Powerschool requires everyone to update after the first of August.

 

Fire Drill – we are practicing our first fire drill tomorrow (Monday).  The teachers will prepare the students so it isn’t a surprise.  We will do at least 3 of these as well as a variety of other drills throughout the year.

 

Our PTA is excited to offer some great new options for Meadowlark gear.  Be watching for more info on this – there will be an online store opening up soon.

 

Some dates coming up….

Sept 1st – Wear your college/pro/elementary colors day – everyone wear your favorite team’s colors

 

Sept 4th – Labor Day – no school

 

 Sept. 12th – National High Five Day – this will be a fun day at school

 

Sept. 19th – National Talk Like a Pirate Day – our first dress up day– look like a pirate – no weapons of any kind with the costume, though.  It is one of my favorite days of the year – such a fun day!

 

Sept. 28th – National Good Neighbor Day – something your whole family can participate in – let your neighbors know how much you appreciate them and have your kid’s brainstorm something they could do for a neighbor.

 

That is, it for now – as always please email or call with any questions or concerns.  (one note – if you email me would you send a separate email vs a reply to this email – there are several email addresses that bounce back each time and I worry I won’t see your response – thank you)

 

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

Just a little note about lunch time and what to expect!

 

 

Dear Mighty Meadowlark Parents,

 

 Eating lunch at school is a new experience for your kindergartener.  Your child will have an

easier time adjusting if you will help with a few things:

 

If your kindergartener has a food allergy, please inform the school.

 

If your child will be buying hot lunch, you may pay in advance.  If you wish, you may send a

check with your child to give to the teacher.  Please make out to Meadowlark Elementary and in

the memo put your child’s name and what teacher.

 

Have your child practice saying his/her first and last name in a loud voice.  The lunch clerk will

soon know all of the names, but this really helps the first few weeks.  (Saying their first and last

name is also one of the Essential Skills for Kindergarten).

 

Please pack your child’s lunch to help him/her be as independent as possible.  With each item,

ask yourself if your child will be able to handle this alone.  Can they open it?

 

Practice with your child unpacking a lunch box, eating in about 20 minutes and then cleaning up

all their garbage and putting it back in their lunchbox and knowing what to throw out into the

garbage can and what to not throw out.  Also… Please take into consideration the age of your

child when you pack them a lunch from home.  Can they open, by themselves the following: 

containers, gogurt , lunchable?  Please try not to send pizza lunchables with young students

– they really struggle opening all of the plastic packages and they make such a huge mess

(obviously not a personal favorite of the principal)

 

Also – remember that we as adults think our kids can eat a lot more than they really can. 

Sometimes, parents get upset when some food comes home not eaten.  Students have about 20

minutes – in that time they can usually eat a sandwich, some fruit or veggies and maybe a

yogurt.  If you pack dessert – they will eat that first I guarantee so I would leave sweet treats out

for the first few weeks.  They will hear me say to eat their protein first (sandwiches, meat and

cheese, peanut butter and celery, etc.. and then eat their fruit and veggies and then sweet treats

last but if I had candy or cookies in my lunch I would eat them first, too, even if my mom told

me not to!)  During that 20 minutes, they will also learn (and it takes time) to eat more and talk

less.  In reality sometimes their eating time is not very long because everything is so new to

them.  Don't worry, the Kindergarten teachers will give them extra snacks these first few weeks

until everyone has adjusted.

 

Practice opening and closing thermos bottles.  Children sometimes don’t finish, forget to put the

lid back on, and it leaks….all over.  Also, practice opening packages of chips, juice containers,

etc., with your child.  Juice boxes and Capri suns can be a challenge for them these first few

months – we help as best as we can but it can be hard to get to everyone.

 

 

If your student will be purchasing milk, put the money in his/her lunchbox, and explain that it is

for milk.

 

Talk to your child about the difference between “School/Hot” and “Home” lunch.

 

Talk to your child about raising his/her hand in the lunchroom if they need help with something.

 

Thank you for taking the time to help your child have a more pleasant lunchroom experience. 

Soon it will be one of your kindergartener’s favorite times of day.

 

Parent volunteers are welcome and appreciated to come to lunch – especially the first few weeks

of school! (11:15-11:35 is when Kinders will eat lunch)

That is all for today - I am sure I will have more!  

This is going to be the best year ever!!

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

Dear Mighty Meadowlark parents,

I hope that everyone had a great, relaxing three-day weekend and had some quality time doing whatever you love to do!  

Week two is in the books.  The kids survived the hot weather at recess and PE and are settling into routines nicely.  As you all know, the first few weeks are a fine balance of getting into a school routine, understanding expectations, remembering things like: where are the bathrooms, taking lunch boxes out of backpacks and putting them in the tubs, remembering water bottles and snack, remembering to get assignment notebooks signed and returned and just in general remembering that we have a lot to accomplish this year and we need to get to work. 

First of all, I need to thank the teachers and staff for two awesome weeks.  I know, without a doubt, that I have the best staff in Billings.  I am proud of the work each of them do every day and how dedicated they are.  They all worked hard to make sure everything was ready to start the year and their excitement and laughter has been just what was needed.  Your children truly have the best of the best.

I also want to thank you, the Mighty Meadowlark parents.  Thank you for helping get routines set up at home after summer.  Thank you for helping get water bottles, lunches, signed weapon forms, and loving on your kiddos as they get back into the groove.  Everyone is exhausted the first two weeks and often you get the brunt when your child gets home, which can come as tears or grumpiness, because they are so tired.  Their bodies will soon adjust and the routines will set in.  Also a big thank you for watching the SeeSaw Open House videos that each teacher sent out last week.  If you did not watch it,  you need to, as it explains all you need to know about the upcoming year.  

 

 As I walk around the school and visit with students, I spend a lot of time just reminding them what being a Mighty Meadowlark student means.  We stand by our three rules ~ Is it Safe? Is it Kind? and Is it Helpful?  I encourage each student to make their decisions by these rules and always ask themselves if their actions followed each of those statements.  If the answer is no, then we need to think about how to change our actions.  There are always big growing pains at the beginning of the year for kids (and parents, too ~ believe me I always have to reset my brain as a parent).  We are hitting the ground running and expect big things from these Mighty Meadowlarks this upcoming year.  We want to grow their brains, help them to think for themselves and encourage them to problem solve.  It is okay for kids to face adversity and work their way out of something that they consider a problem.  The only way our kids will grow up to be the next problem solvers of the world is to start now.  Last year, I overheard a dad tell his daughter at the bus line that it was okay to be scared but we have to try new things and be brave in order to get better each day.  I loved that and I will continue to share that story!  As a mom, I often had “mom guilt” or wanted to fix my kids' problems for them and when I didn’t let them solve the problem solve, it usually ended up a much bigger problem than it should have been.  I have had to back off and let them experience adversity so they can make better decisions for themselves.  Probably more than you wanted to know about your child’s principal but good background information on how I think.

 

Is it a big problem or a little problem?  You will hear the staff at Meadowlark use this statement often to help the kids figure out their path and how to solve it.  Forgetting their assignment notebook or planner ~ little problem but being called an unkind name ~ much bigger problem.

 

The world revolves around me:  Often, students start the year having a hard time sharing, keeping in their own space/bubble, using kind words and monitoring their own actions.  If I think about our youngest students, something like taking a ball from a peer at recess because they want to play with it NOW or getting upset if a student gets in line in front of them are all age-appropriate misbehaviors and by definition, very different from bullying. Everything is a teachable moment at school.  When age-appropriate misbehavior happens, the teachers take time to use it as a teachable moment.  There is a lot of age-appropriate misbehavior that happens, especially in transitions and unstructured times of the day.  Lessons are woven in from the teachers all day long, using these moments to learn and get better.  It is amazing to see the growth of our students and how they mature and these behaviors subside – some very quickly and others over time.

 

Please update your Power School forms for your child as soon as possible.  These forms have very important information that needs to be updated. 

 

Phone calls to the office – If your child is going to be absent, we appreciate a call to the office- even if you let the teacher know on SeeSaw, they don’t always have time to communicate that to us so a quick call or email to Mrs. Cherry (cherrym@billingsschools.org) is an awesome way to let us know. 

 

Communication for kids at end of the day – If you call to change plans for your child after 2:00 there is a very good chance that message might not make it to your child.  Mrs. Cherry is only one person and with the phone ringing off the hook and trying to track down classrooms, we don’t always get the message to the child.  So please, make plans in the morning with your child and then if something changes, please, please call before 2:00.  Thank you for understanding just how crazy it can be at the end of the day at the office and how important it is to us that all students get where they need to go after school.

 

Protocols at doors – When you, as a parent, come to Meadowlark you must enter through the front doors.  When you ring the bell to be let in, know that we will greet you but we need to know who you are and what your business is.  For example, Mrs. Cherry will say “Can I help you” and the response could be “This is Stacy Lemelin, Kale’s mom and I need to drop off his birthday treats” and Mrs. Cherry will then release the door to open.  Please know, this is our protocol as we need to know who is entering our building.  We appreciate your understanding and patience with this. All parents must also check in at the office – even if you are going down for a 30 second drop-off to pay for lunches.  If you are going to the annex, please come to the main office and check in first.

 

Checking out students:  If you are having anyone besides you (the parent) pick up your child early from school and they have to check out your child at the office, we will ask for an ID and check to see that they are on the contact list on PowerSchool. You can update your Powerschool contacts at any time – so please make sure they are up to date.

 

Safety of students – each and every day we work hard to make sure that students are safe and in order to do that we practice a variety of drills.  One drill that we do several times a year is a fire drill where we evacuate the building to the perimeter of the grounds.  Another drill we practice is relocation drill where if there was a reason to evacuate the building (such as a gas leak) we would take the students to an alternative location.  Our location is Rocky Mountain church just down the street from us.  We will be practicing a relocation drill sometime this fall.  A third drill that we practice is a lockdown drill – there will be more specific information coming about a lockdown drill as we get closer to our practice time.

 

Lunch time / eating   Money for lunch should be sent in an envelope – clearly indicating that it is lunch money and on the memo line please indicate who the money is for and the grade and teacher (i.e. Stacy Lemelin 5-L) then our lunch clerk knows exactly who the money is for and what account to put it in.  If you want the money split between children, then remember to put all student’s names on the check or on the outside of the envelope. 

We work hard to make sure our kids have between 15-20 minutes to eat their lunch.  The older kids do this without a problem but the younger students are still figuring it out.  Please take a look at what you are sending them – I guarantee that they will eat the oreo before the sandwich each and every time.  The volume can also be overwhelming for the littles.  When they open their lunchbox and see a big variety they don’t really know what to choose.  Watch to see what they eat and don’t and adjust from there.  I tell the student’s all the time to talk to their parents about what they will eat vs what they should eat so that you know, too.  I have students tell me all the time that they don’t like something that was packed for them.  I encourage them to tell their parents so that what is in their cold lunch gets eaten.  Please try to make sure that they have protein in their lunches and we will work on them eating that first.  We tell them that is how they get their brainpower for the rest of the day.

Also, know that you can join your child any day for lunch.  If you are planning on eating hot lunch, please call the kitchen so they know to make an extra lunch or two.  

 

 

Questions – if you have specific questions for classroom teachers an easy way to ask is on SeeSaw.  However, teachers are teaching and don’t always get your SeeSaw messages during the day and will answer them after school.  Please know that a last minute change for a student after school might not happen if you send a SeeSaw message or even call the office – it is just better to plan ahead and let everyone know at the beginning of the day.  Also, when it comes to classroom teachers and staff, I have learned that there is no work/life balance – if there was, you are only giving 50% to your job and 50% to your family.  So, I have asked my teachers to give 100% when they are at school and then when they walk out the door to give 100% to their families.  I have given them permission not to check email or SeeSaw until the next morning so they can be present with their own children and family.   I know you can all appreciate and understand that thought process.

 

Updating our website  - we are working on updating our website.  We will have PTA events, school events and such updated shortly.

 

Parent/Student Handbook – The handbook is updated and as soon as I can have one of my techie teachers show me how to link it to you all in a view only format, I will share it.  It will be posted on our website tomorrow.

 

After school – if you are waiting after school, between dismissals, and you would like to be outside with your child, you can be on the north playground or on the small playground at Millice park - just south of our blacktop.  Our south blacktop, field and jungle gym are used by the 4th and 5th grade classes and our CARE academy from 2:30-3:30.

Whew that is a lot, I know.  As always, if you have any questions my door is open.  You can call (281-6213) or email lemelins@billingsschools.org.

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

Dear Mighty Meadowlark Parents,

 

I love this time of year, the leaves turning, the cool, crisp mornings and watching our students settle in and become learners.  October is a huge month of growth for our students as review is over, expectations are clear and lots of new learning is happening.  It is so fun to see the students really digging in and growing their brains, making new friendships and playing full steam at recess.

 

For our older students it can also be a huge adjustment.  Learning how to use their time wisely in class and get work done so they don’t have homework seems like a foreign concept.  They do figure it out and it gets better.  One thing to remember as a parent is that every year, at every grade level, we expect a little more and a little more.  We want them to write better(more quality), longer sentences and we want them to write more clearly and legibly.  We want them to take their time and give quality answers – appropriate for each grade level.  By 5th grade, we need them to get their work done each and every day so that they can show what they know.  It can be a huge learning curve but is achievable.  So, take a deep breath, encourage your child to give it their all during the day and remind them that growing their brain, having grit, perseverance and expecting their best self is part of growing up. 

 

As I mentioned earlier in September, but worth mentioning again, we are constantly working on behavior expectations both in the school and out at recess.  Often, the word bullying gets thrown out at every conflict that happens and while we will never tolerate bullying there is a HUGE difference between age-appropriate misbehavior and bullying. Bullying is an unwanted, repeated behavior that has a perceived or real power imbalance. If you think about a kindergarten student coming to school and suddenly, they have a ton of peers around them and make social decisions in a nanosecond.  Up until this point, the world has really revolved around them and so when they take a ball from someone or cut in line because they want to be first or even tell their peers that they can’t play with something, it isn’t bullying but definitely age-appropriate misbehavior and the teachers and staff have perfect opportunities to make these learning/teachable moments.  If you take that same thought process to each and every age group you can see countless examples of age-appropriate misbehavior and you can then see staff working with them to change those behaviors.  Often it is a quick conversation about why that wasn’t Kind, Safe or Helpful (our three principles that we run Meadowlark with) or there is a natural consequence.  We take both age-appropriate misbehavior and bullying seriously but handle them very differently.  My point is, there are a lot of teachable moments each and every day that help every student become a better, stronger student that can deal with uncomfortable and upsetting situations and adversity and grow from that experience.  The amount of growth your child will gain this year socially will be amazing. You will be getting a handout that shows milestones and expectations at every elementary age in the next week or so.

 

Zones of Regulation –  Every year I discuss  The Zones of Regulation and I thought it would be helpful to share our vocabulary with students when we are trying to discuss what zone they fall in.

Blue Zone:  Down in the dumps, Downhearted, Why the Long Face?, Feeling blue, and Under the Weather.

Green Zone:  I feel ten feet tall, On top of the World, On cloud nine, Cool as a cucumber, Pleased as punch, I’m cool, I’m down with that!

Yellow Zone:  At my wit’s end, butterflies in my stomach, Woke up on the wrong side of the bed, Chip on your should, Cause a stir, At the end of your rope, Under the wire, Ants in your pants, Fish out of water, Wound up!

Red Zone:  Lost my cool, Ready to boil, Blow off some steam, About to explore, Beside yourself, Go Bananas, Go to piece, come apart at the seams, Thrilled to bits, Over the moon!

As you can see, there are many ways of describing our moods/feelings and figuring out how we can get back to the GREEN ZONE!

 

The zones of regulation are one of the most effective ways I have ever found as an educator to help students nail where they are in their day.  You know as an adult that sometimes you can’t really explain why you are agitated or silly or grumpy and putting words to a feeling helps.  If you would like to see our resources on the zones, please contact me or google them. 

Movie Night - it was a huge success.  I can't remember a time where we had so many families out watching the movies.  And while you were enjoying the movie I was being devoured by piranhas while drawing for the baskets (if you were there you know).  It is actually fun and I enjoy every minute of it!  The kids got so excited and the baskets were amazing.  Thank you to everyone who came, who put baskets together and who donated.  I know for a fact that next year we will need a volunteer to take over the management of the baskets - which entails helping get the baskets on display and move them to the lunchroom the day that movie night takes place so think about it!  A huge thank you to everyone who showed up and helped out and especially Nikki Stricker for her organization of it all.

 

 

Bus Zone:  Just a friendly reminder that when the buses are in the bus zone, morning or after school, they have the right of way.  Please don’t drive next to the buses or try to go through the bus zone when they are moving.   I know many people park in the lot that houses the bus zone so if you do, know that you will probably need to wait until the first set of buses are gone from the zone before you leave the lot.  We have 10 buses that we have to get on their way.  You will often see me out helping to stop traffic so that our buses can go.  If you see the buses moving we appreciate you stopping and not blocking the bus exit.

 

A few dates coming up that you need to know:

October 5th - National Be Nice Day - wouldn't it be grand if the whole world did this for one day?

No School – October 19th and 20th

Spirit Day/ Popcorn Day – Oct 27th

Parent/ Teacher conferences will be held November 1st and 2nd and 3rd and the students will attend until noon on those days.

 

Change of plans - if your family has a change of plans that you need your child to know about, please call well before 2:00 - once they are out and in bus lines we move quickly and if we load them on the bus they are usually gone before we can get back to that particular bus.  If you can let your child know before school starts that is usually the best plan.

 

Lunch boxes - please put your child's name on their lunchbox - there are just so many similar/same lunchboxes and sometimes the kids don't really know what was packed for them.

 

Lunch in general - you are always welcome to come and eat lunch with your child.  We have the lunchroom figured out and we have room for parents to sit right at the long tables with the kids - now whether you want to experience the organized chaos of the lunchroom, that is another thing....

 

Thank you for visiting with your children about eating their sandwiches or protein first.  I have actually watched more of that happening and have a few students explain that their treat was the last thing they could eat.  Keep coaching them up!!

 

Speaking of Lunch – we are in need of substitute General Duty Aides.  We have an amazing team of ladies who come in and work each day in our lunchroom but they can’t always be there and occasionally we need help and someone who can sub for them.  In October I know I am going to need help for a few weeks as one of our gals is going to be out for a short period.  So, if you can and are willing, please sign up to sub. 

 

Weather - it is that time of year when the weather changes quickly.  Please take some time to see if we are expecting hot, rain, or even snow and be ready for everything.  We do go out in the rain unless it is a torrential downpour.  Umbrellas are just fine to have if we are expecting rain.  It won't be long before we get that first big snow in October (that melts and goes away until November) so be thinking about snow gear, too.  Yes, I said snow gear - I know that I was that parent who looked at my kids and said "what do you mean your snow boots hurt your feet and your snow pants are too short..... well I guess you will have to stay on the blacktop today as I forgot you grew this last year and didn't get you new snow gear!!"  It happens and everyone survived and my children grew up without any ill effects but I thought I would just throw that out there.

 

Lastly, in accordance with new Montana laws, you received a letter from the Superintendent in August and as a follow up this is the latest communication:

We value open communication with parents regarding the content and materials included in our district curriculum. Our curriculum encompasses a variety of instructional components, including lessons, readings, texts, discussions, and more. Additionally, students are offered access to optional resources such as book clubs and classroom libraries.

Billings Public Schools remains committed to adhering to Montana laws that uphold the rights of parents. These laws grant parents the authority to request an opt-out for specific topics related to human sexuality or those that may contradict their personal beliefs or practices.

 If any concerns arise concerning lessons or materials, we encourage parents to initiate a conversation with the teacher involved. This dialogue aims to provide a deeper understanding of the lesson's context and the intended learning outcomes. Often, these conversations can lead to a resolution by addressing the concerns through enhanced information sharing.

Should a resolution not be reached through conversation and an opt-out or alternative assignment is still desired, the parent may submit a written request using the District Alternative Material Request Form. In the event that an objection is lodged, the teacher will collaborate with the building principal to identify a suitable alternative option. This alternative will align with the appropriate course or grade level guidelines, offering the student an independent study opportunity as permitted by state law and local policy. These independent study alternatives will be consistent with the level (resource, lesson, unit, or course) to which the parent has raised objections.

For any inquiries or concerns, we encourage parents to reach out to their student's teacher or the principal. To access the District Alternative Material Request Form, kindly use the following weblink: https://bit.ly/44gjUe4

 At Billings Public Schools, fostering a supportive learning environment and addressing parental concerns constructively are integral aspects of our educational commitment.

 

Whew, I think that is a lot for now.  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me or give me a call.  My door is always open.

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

Dear Mighty Meadowlark parents,

 

            The leaves are mostly down and I think most of them were blown into my backyard from all across Billings so if I disappear it is in the endless pile of leaves at my house.  It is such a beautiful time of year and I love the month of November.  We got our October snow and have now settled into our banana belt days, at least for now.  It is Montana after all, so who knows how long this will last.  Your kids might need rain boots one day and snow pants the next and sunscreen the next week…..

 

            Thank you to everyone who attended parent-teacher conferences.  As a parent, I know that it is so important to stay connected with my child’s teacher and help stay on top of things.  As you know, this journey we are on is one together and without your support, your child isn’t reaching their full potential.  We are continuing to work on teaching our students that they can do hard things Every.Single.Day and it is okay to stretch their brains and even have to work or have productive struggles and dig deep.  We know, as adults, that we grew the most when we had to show determination and a little grit and that by having a little discourse in our lives and a little adversity, we came out more knowledgeable and able to handle the next big thing.  Our kids need these tools.  Practice makes us all better so when your child is bringing home work, for 4^th and 5^th grade, it is usually work they didn’t complete during the day, it should be practice, skills they have already learned.  For K-3^rd it is definitely practice – spelling, reading, math facts – just practice for their brains.  Please help them make time to practice their educational pieces, too!

 

Celebrating our Mighty Meadowlarks – we want to celebrate our students who are putting in the work so we have some ways to do that schoolwide:

Magnifying a Meadowlark (K-5^th graders) – these are tickets that students can earn for being Kind, Safe and/or Helpful – once a week four tickets are drawn out of the jars and the students are recognized.  However, when your child gets a Magnifying Meadowlark ticket they get a piece of paper to let their parents know that they got a ticket.  Hopefully they are bringing them home to you.

Mighty Meadowlark Leadership Award- These students are always being safe, kind and helpful in their classroom, during music, art, library and in P.E.  These students lead by doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.  They are PAX leaders.  This award is given once a month to 2^nd-5^th graders – (some of these skills are being developed in K and 1^st graders so as they mature, they are included).

Mighty Meadowlark Sportsmanship Award- These students understand and are committed to fair play and following the rules at all recesses and during P.E.  They show goodwill and respect to their classmates whether they win or lose.  They lead with a positive attitude and hard work, by maintaining their poise.  This award is given once a month to Kindergarten – 5^th grade students. 

ST Math – Every week, one class from each grade level is recognized for completing the most puzzles.  They get to hang a Gigi outside their door and get to have a classroom Gigi with them all week.

Phenomenal Fifth Graders – every Friday, the 5^th grade teachers recognize one or more 5^th grader who stands out for so many reasons.  They are getting their work done on time, they are putting effort into their school work, they are growing and trying to improve every day – these are just few of the qualities that are monitored during the week.

It is so fun to recognize our Mighty Meadowlarks as they grow and develop skills that will help them for a lifetime.

 

Christmas programs – there will be more detailed information coming for each grade level but I wanted to give you dates and times:

Kindergarten and 1^st grade will have their concert on Thursday December 14^th.  Kindergarten will be at 9:00 and 1^st grade will be split into two concerts (4:45 and 10:30).  You will be getting a SeeSaw message as well as a paper message with all of the details this week.  We are asking the students to wear Christmasy colors (not sure that is a word).

2^nd and 3^rd grade – Friday, December 15.  8:45-9:15 will be Mrs. Westrope and Miss Platt’s classes, 9:30-10:00 will be Mrs. Egan’s, Miss Bjorgum’s and Miss Gockley’s classes.

10:15-10:45 will be all three 3^rd grade classes.

 

In the spring, 4^th and 5^th grade will do their concerts – those dates and times are to be determined. 

 

Thank you to everyone who donated food, volunteered and celebrated our Veterans.  Our annual Veterans Day Breakfast continues to be a huge success every year.  Thank you to Brooke Taylor and her league of volunteers – they pulled it off.  You can go to our Facebook page to see pictures of the morning.  https://www.facebook.com/meadowlarkbillingspta

 

Lockdown drill/lesson – as you know, we practice drills all year long.  So far this year we phave practiced a fire drill and a relocation drill.  (fire drills happen all year long so there will be more) Our next drill is a lockdown drill.  However, this year, we will be educating our students on what this is by showing them a video by Superintendent Dr. Garcia and following a script to help our students understand the why of this.  You will be getting a more detailed letter in the very near future about this.

 

Bobcat/Griz/Mighty Meadowlark spirit day is this Friday because it is the last Friday in November.  We are asking our students to wear some kind of spirit gear if they have it.  It is a fun day around Meadowlark.   

 

Thanksgiving Break – no school Nov 22^nd-25^th.

 

Report cards go home Wednesday, November 29^th.

 

I am sure there is more but this is probably enough for now!  As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please call or email me.  My door is always open!

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

--

Stacy Lemelin
Principal

Meadowlark Elementary

"Where our futures take flight"

Federal Relations Director MAEMSP

 

Please Be Aware:  This message, including any attachments, may contain

confidential or privileged information or information protected by
state or federal law.  If you are not the intended recipient or you
believe you may have received this message by mistake, please contact
the sender by reply email and delete this message from your computer.

 

 

--

Stacy Lemelin
Principal

Meadowlark Elementary

"Where our futures take flight"

Federal Relations Director MAEMSP

 

Please Be Aware:  This message, including any attachments, may contain

confidential or privileged information or information protected by
state or federal law.  If you are not the intended recipient or you
believe you may have received this message by mistake, please contact
the sender by reply email and delete this message from your computer.

Dear Mighty Meadowlark Parents,

            My oh my, time is flying ~ I have to tell you that Friday, December 1^st was a crazy fun day around Meadowlark as the students were flying high for a few reasons but what I heard about most was that many of you had a certain small visitor show up at your house.  Good luck with that ~ I am so impressed at how creative you all are and I love to hear each day what adventures are happening in your house.  It was also a full moon the night before so that might have added to the fun!!  I think what I really love most is the absolute happiness and delight that our kids have this time of year – so fun to watch their excitement with all things.

 

            On Tuesday, December 5^th, our Superintendent Dr. Garcia will be at Meadowlark for a community meeting from 6 – 7:30 in our library.  His agenda is as follows:

 

6:00 – 6:15 Welcome and overview of the meeting 

  6:15 – 7:15 District updates and community input 

* Support for Diverse Learners (Special Education Updates) 

*College and Career Readiness – Graduate Profile 

            *School Safety Updates – Safety Committee 

            *Substance use and abuse prevention 

* Teacher Empowerment (Support & Development)

7:15 – 7:30 Summary of community input and next steps. Closing remarks. 

We hope you can attend.

 

Winter Concerts

Thursday December 14^th –

            Kindergarten will be at 9:00  -

 

 1^st grade will be split into two concerts  - parents of students in the first 1^st grade concert will have to wait to be seated until we clear the Kindergarten concert so please be patient.

9:45 -Mrs. Guelff and Mrs. Lehman

Parents will need to wait to be seated until the first 1^st grade concert is over and cleared

10:30 - Mrs. Herringer/Colby, Ms. Hahn and Mrs. Ulmer

 

December 15^th –

2^nd and 3^rd grade 8:45-9:15 will be Mrs. Westrope and Miss Platt’s classes,

9:30-10:00 will be Mrs. Egan, Miss Bjorgum and Miss Gockley’s classes.

10:15-10:45 will be all three 3^rd grade classes.

 

CARE academy will be in the gym these two days in the morning.

 

Dress up days in December

Friday, December 8^th – Holiday hat and lights day – students can wear hats and lights

Friday, December 15^th – Red and Green day/santa hat – or if your child has a program that day they can dress up in more fancy clothes or whatever you choose.

Monday, December 18^th – Holiday from head to toe

Tuesday, December 19^th – Ugly Sweater Day

Wednesday, December 20^th – Grinch Day – dress up as any character

Thursday – Pajama Day

 

 

Meadowlark (as well as the rest of the district) recently had a safety walk-through and I wanted to share a few things that I felt were important to share just from my conversation with our consultant:

1.      When you come to the front door and ring the bell, please be patient as if Mrs. Cherry is helping a student or on the phone it might take a bit for her to let you in.  Please don’t press the bell over and over ~ we appreciate you understanding.

2.     It is important to stand in front of the camera so we can see you – and please state why you are there – be specific – I am here to pick up my son Matt Davis in 4^th grade.  Often people will say “I’m here to pick up my kid” and we just need to clean that up a bit.  It will take us time to break our habits, too, of just letting you in.

3.     You MUST check in at the office and get a yellow sticker.  We also need you to sign out, which is new, but the reason is if something were to happen we have a record of who is in the school. 

4.     After school, it is important that if you are changing your plans (picking up instead of having them go to daycare or the bus) make sure you tell the teacher – you need to go find them so they know and please, please let the teacher know if you are having someone else pick them up.

5.     You must check out your child and we won’t call them down to the office until you get to the school.

6.     Included in this email is a letter about our lockdown drill and how we will conduct that. I have not set a date but we are trying to use this as a teaching moment and help the kids understand vs have them be anxious. The first time and even the second time we will not be taking action (such as moving away from windows or going to a certain place in the room) I will be on the intercom just talking through it and teachers will be answering questions from students.  At some point in the year, we will practice it by moving from desks and staying quiet. 

7.     As we move forward with getting input from the company that did the walkthrough, I will let you know their recommendations. 

 

 

   

Lockdown Letter

 

Dear Parents/Guardians, 

 

As a continuing effort for student and staff safety, our district will be proactive in training and educating our staff and students in our Crisis/Safety Plans. Part of this training consists of drills or education in SECURE, LOCKDOWN, EVACUATION, and SHELTER IN PLACE. In the coming weeks we will be focusing our effort in the LOCKDOWN emergency.  

 

For clarification, a LOCKDOWN is when there is an imminent threat (Armed Intruder or other threat) within our schools. We are using a best practices method of giving our staff a multi-options based approach. We recognize that just locking the classroom doors may not be the best option, and want our staff and students to understand options that best suit the circumstances, and age and grade level, school and classroom. 

 

Our goal with this training is to empower our staff and students to make the best proactive decisions to protect themselves and others until first responder help arrives. The training that has been implemented for the past six years in our District, and is continuing to be taught, is the RUN-LOCK-FIGHT methodology. This training is being conducted by our SD2 employees and Billings Police Department School Resource Officers, who are instructors in the program.  

 

We want our staff and students to be able to make smart, independent decisions based on the information they know about the incident and their location within the building. These decisions can be to evacuate, lock down and barricade within classrooms, or how to counter, distract, or stop the assailant.  

 

It should be noted that we will not be running an actual drill (like a fire drill). This LOCKDOWN lesson is for educational purposes only. At this time we will not be barricading rooms, running from the building, or preparing to fight. It is intended to educate, and to explain to our students what age-appropriate options they have, and what expectations we have for them, in a crisis situation.   

 

In the coming weeks, we will carry out an educational/explanatory lesson in each school during which we speak with the student body and staff about the multi-option based approach. Each lesson will be tailored to meet the needs of students in each of our three educational levels, elementary, middle and high school.  

 

If you would like additional information about how these lessons will be conducted in our school, please reach out to me.   Mrs Lemelin – 281-6213 or lemelins@billingsschools.org

 

 

Okay – that is a lot – as always if you have any questions or concerns please contact me!

 

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

Principal

 

Dear Mighty Meadowlark Parents,

Wow, I thought I was really on top of things and here it is January 15^th and I am just getting out my newsletter.  These next 5 months are really, really important learning months for our students.  They are engaging in new content weekly, reviewing and circling back on concepts and we are really expecting them to settle down and be learners.  One of the hardest things for students is being absent.  We often think “what can happen the first 30 minutes or the last 30 minutes of the day” or “will a day or two here and there really matter?”  The answer is there is a lot of learning going on all day, every day.  Teachers are committed to jumping right into curriculum in the morning and are teaching up until probably the last 10 minutes of the day and even then, you can see teachers continue spending some individual time with students as the other students are getting ready to go home.  So please, make an effort to have your students here on time and please don’t make a habit of checking them out early.  We really appreciate it!

 

The weather – well what can I say – this is Montana and by the end of the week the kids will be shedding their jackets which will end up in lost and found!!  However, please make sure that you really visit with your kids about being dressed for the weather!

 

Lunch Recess – you may or may not have heard about lunch recess since Christmas break.  Well, a new sheriff is in town – ME!  I was so sad to see how our Mighty Meadowlark students were acting at lunch recess in the month of December so I decided I will be out there every day instead of the lunchroom for the time being.  I witnessed students not listening to our awesome lunch aides, not coming in when the bell rang, not following game rules, kicking playground balls into the street or into the ditch on purpose, just to name a few.  There were so many behaviors that were just not safe, kind or helpful but mostly not safe.  So, I am focusing on the following:

            Listening to the adults on the playground and doing what is asked the first time.

            Lining up as soon as the whistle is blown or the bell rings.

Following all game rules for 4-square, poison ball, basketball, etc.. – these rules were gone over and practiced with Mrs. Siliker and reinforced by classroom teachers.

Not taunting other students during games or using unkind language – this is not the big leagues…..

For the time being, playground balls are for these games - 4 square, poison ball and basketball

 

By all means it certainly was not every student but it was a whole lot more than a few! I always talk about teachable moments and I felt like this was a big opportunity to really make sure that students understood the expectations.  One of them asked me the other day when the nice lunch ladies would be back….I smiled and said I am sure soon!!  It reminded me of the book, TheTeacher from the Black Lagoon – if you have not read it, you should!! 

 

Speaking of reading a book…. The Read-a-thon will be starting on January 29^th.  There will be a lot more coming on this but if the students raise over a certain amount of money (TBD) then I will have to do some really silly challenge like take a goat all over the school with me for the whole day or let the kindergarteners do my makeup (I might have a little trauma from that one…).  Be watching for more info on this.

 

Parent Night at Meadowlark – Mark your calendars – Tuesday - January 23rd.  I will be presenting, along with Mrs. Phillip the movie “Screenagers” 6:00 pm in the commons – snacks and drinks will be provided.

SCREENAGERS: GROWING UP IN THE DIGITAL AGE

An award-winning film that probes into the vulnerable corners of family life and depicts messy struggles over social media, video games, and academics. The film offers solutions on how we can help our kids navigate the digital world.

We will follow this up with a parent night in February that will continue the discussion with a presentation from Project Stand – watch for that information!

 

General Duty Aides – we are in need of a general duty aide – M-F from 11:00 – 1:00.  It is such an important job at Meadowlark and yet one that is really hard as it is in the middle of the day and the pay is about $14 per hour.  However, we really need help in supervising our students.  You get to spend time both inside and outside (yes outside will be wonderful I promise) and get to know the kids and their friends.  You do learn a lot working in the lunchroom!!  Let me know if you are interested or if you know someone who is. 

 

Magazines – do you have magazines laying around your house?  Our kindergarten teachers would love them.  They are looking for magazines that have lots of words of all different shapes and sizes in them (clothing catalogues don’t really have a lot of big letters that they can cut out). Think Good Housekeeping, People, HGTV, etc.…. Please just have your students drop them off at the office.  Thank you!!

 

I am so looking forward to these next few months and the huge amount of growth that your child will make.  We appreciate your support in all things ~ reading and math practice, helping with work that wasn’t finished during the day and signing planners.  As well as making sure healthy snacks are coming in daily as well as water bottles – both good life habits.  Thank you for all you do!

 

As always, my door is always open if you have any questions or concerns.

Mrs. Stacy Lemelin

lemelins@billingsschools.org

281-6213