! ! ! A Note from the Principal

Welcome Back!I hope everyone had a terrific break and remembered to have your child read, read, and read. At Graham School we are always wanting what is best for our students both physically and academically. The teachers continuously look at student data to see what academic supports students who are struggling may need. We have also been working hard to teach students how to eat and live healthy lifestyles. We are a school which participates in the CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Childhood Health) program. As a staff we learn about how to teach our students to live healthier lifestyles. One thing we have learned is that this generation has a shorter life expectancy than their parents and grandparents, primarily due to the obesity epidemic. As you know over the last year we have implemented the fresh fruit and vegetable grant, taught the students about whoa, slow, and go foods, increased the amount of activity students are getting by incorporating brain breaks, have encouraged parents to provide healthy birthday treats instead of cupcakes, and have reduced the amount of candy/sugary treats students receive at school. The district food service department has moved to whole grain products and away from high fat items. The next improvement we will be making is to remove chocolate milk from the cafeteria line. Chocolate milk contains 22 grams of sugar. How much is a gram of sugar? Four grams of sugar is equal to 1 teaspoon of sugar, this means in one carton of chocolate milk students are drinking 5.5 teaspoons of sugar. If you multiply this by 2 cartons of milk a day students have far exceeded their recommended amount of sugar a day. The sugar also causes spikes in students which leads to inattention and then sluggish behavior. The Graham School staff is hoping the removal of chocolate milk will lead to healthier lifestyles for students and will benefit their ability to focus in class. Students will be offered white milk to drink with all meals. They will also have the opportunity to continue to buy 100% fruit juice each day; a 4 oz juice costs $.35, a 6 oz juice costs $.60 and water will also be introduced which costs $.50. They may not bring soda to school to drink with their meals. Your support of this healthy lifestyle change is greatly appreciated.

Graham’s Good News

October 18, 2011Graham School’s instructional focus: To Comprehend I must read carefully, listen closely, understand fully, and respond thoughtfully.

Dates to

Remember

November 1No School- School Improvement Day

November 5Graham School

Fall Festival

November 11No School-

Veteran’s Day

November 232:00 Dismissal

November24-25No School-

Thanksgiving

December 136:00-7:00 Holiday Sing

along

Uniform ReminderAll  students  must  be  in  uniform  every  day.    Students  can  wear  blue,  black  or  khaki  slacks  and  a  solid  

color  polo  shirt  or  a  Graham  School  shirt.  Boys  must  wear  a  belt.

After  fall  break  students  can  no  longer  wear                    shorts  or  capris  to  school.      

Healthy Changes:

Our cafeteria is now offering only fat free or skim white milk. Students may also purchase 100% fruit juice, 35 cents for a 4 oz juice, 60 cents for a 6 oz juice or bottled water for 50 cents. All students are also having recess before they go in to eat lunch.

Parent Tips for the WeekChildren  learn  everywhere,  everyday.  Since  they  spend  more  time  at  home  than  they  do  in  school,  home  time  can  also  be  important  learning  time.  As  a  parent,  you  can  make  sure  your  home  creates  a  learning  

environment  that  promotes  learning.

Turn  off  the  T.V.    Go  outside  and  explore  nature  right  in  your  back  yard.  Take  a  walk  and  read  the  street  signs.  Search  for  different  colors  that  we  see  everyday  but  fail  to  notice.  Count  the  number  of  different  cars  that  you  see.  Your  home  is  not  just  the  walls  in  which  you  eat,  sleep  and  drink  in.  Your  home  is  the  world,  full  and  rich  of  things  you  can  teach  your  children  about  and  I  bet  you  will  learn  a  thing  or  two  yourselves!

Fall FestivalComing November 5th from 11:00-2:00 the annual Graham School Fall Festival. There will be a chili cook-off, games for students to play, prizes to win, and the ever popular silent auction. Now needing:Volunteers to run gamesDonations of cakes, cookies etc. for the cake walkDonations of goods or services for the silent auctionContestants for the Chili cook-off

If you are able/willing to help in any way, please contact the school at 525-3220.