News From Fort Zeller Elementary
March 2024
Principal's Message
Spring is COMING! This is the time of year when we get to watch the Earth come back to life with vibrant colors blooming all around us. The warmth of the sun fills us with energy and enthusiasm to be outside. It is my goal to bring all of this color and energy into our work here at the school. Our Fort Zeller Team – students, teachers, support staff, parents and community are an amazing group of people. We are not afraid of hard work or the challenging demands that come our way.
We are seeing so much progress in our students. Their increase in capacity to accomplish their academic work and improve their decision-making skills in all areas is helping them find success. I am so proud of them. I am proud of the way they are treating one another, the way they are setting and meeting goals, the way they are willing to accept responsibility and the way they are problem solving both academically and socially. I hope that you know how much we, the Fort Zeller Staff, care about your children, not just as students but also as the wonderful people that they are.
As we wrap up this third marking period of the year this month…I know, can you even believe that we are almost three quarters of the way through this year, I want to encourage us all to carry on with the energy that spring will bring. We need to continue strong. It will take all of us to help our wonderful students to be able to show how far they have come this year.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement!
Best,
Mrs. Houck
Important Information
1. Parent Request for Classroom Form - When making class assignments, the building principal must take many factors into consideration. Examples of these factors include the following (but are not limited to):
• The total number of students in each class.• The balance of boys and girls, both within a class and between classes.
• The balance of students with special needs.
• Academic recommendations from IEP and/or Data Team.
• Teacher/Team recommendations to separate some students from others.
• Teacher/Team recommendations to keep some students in the same class.
• Recommendation(s) from previous year’s teacher(s).
Parent requests will only be considered for educational reasons. If the form below is received between March 1st and March 31, 2024, provides educational reasons for the request, and does not conflict with other factors described above, the principal will make a reasonable effort to accommodate a parental request. ONLY non-preferred teacher request forms will be reviewed and considered.
***Completion of this form does not guarantee the request will be granted.
2. 📘 Order your 2023/2024 Yearbook 📘
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob?jobNumber=10866224
Fort Zeller Elementary School
Yearbook ID: 10866224
LOOKNG AHEAD
Mar. 1 (Day 1)
- Kickoff to Read Across America Week (3/1-3/7) See flyer below.
Mar. 4 (Day 2)
- School Board Meeting @ 6:00 pm
Mar. 6: (Day 4)
- Family Groups @ 10:15 am
- PTO Meeting @ 6:30 pm
Mar. 7: (Day 1)
- Raider Reader Day
Mar. 8: No School for Students
- Act 80 Day
Mar. 12: (Day 3)
- Kindergarten Orientation @ 5:30 pm
Mar. 14: (Day 1)
- Snow Day Activities for grade level winner of Coin Wars
Mar. 15: (Day 2)
- Class Spring Pictures
Mar. 18: (Day 3)
- Board Meeting @ 6:00 pm
Mar. 20: (Day 1)
- Helping Hearts Event - Phys. Ed.
- Rising Raider Workshop at Jackson 5:00-6:30 pm (Incoming Kindergarteners)
Mar. 21: (Day 2)
- Helping Hearts Event - Phys. Ed.
Mar. 22: (Day 3)
- PBIS Assembly @ 2:30 pm
Mar. 25: (Day 4)
- Book Fair Preview Day
- Mobile Ag. Lab
Mar. 26: (Day 1)
- Book Fair Buying Day
- Mobile Ag. Lab
Mar. 27: (Day 2)
- End of 3rd Marking Period
Mar. 28: (Day 3)
- Snow Make-Up Day - School is in Session
Mar. 29: (No School)
- Spring Break (Easter/Spring Break 3/29-4/1) Back to school on 4/2
Dear Families:
Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way! Choosing their own books empowers kids and inspires them on their journey to becoming lifelong readers. AND—as always—every purchase at the Fair benefits our school.
The big event will take place from Monday March 25th – Tuesday March 26th in the main lobby of Fort Zeller. We will use the following schedule:
Monday March 25th – Student Preview Day
Tuesday March 26th – Student Buying Day
If you are interested in volunteering at the Book Fair, please use the link below to sign up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0449AFAD29A0FC1-48160592-2024
Say goodbye to cash and hello to eWallet—your child’s digital payment account. Before the Fair, set up eWallet for worry-free, cash-free purchases. Anyone can contribute! Share each child’s eWallet so friends and family can add funds and give your kids more books to enjoy. eWallets can be set up for the spring fair starting on Monday March 4th. (This will be sent out when it is available)
If you can’t make it to the Fair, then shop at our school’s Book Fair online. All orders ship directly to your home, and shipping is free for book orders over $25. Every online purchase will also benefit our school.
Visit our Book Fair homepage to create an eWallet or to online shop:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/fortzellerelementaryschool2
The countdown to more Bookjoy is on! Catch you at the Fair!
Happy reading,
Jodi Houck
Principal
Fort Zeller Elementary School
Read Across America
We will be holding our annual Battle of the Books event. The children’s author we are recognizing for Battle of the Books is Zachariah OHora. He has written several award winning children's books!
School-Wide Reading Display
The theme for this year’s school-wide reading display is “Oh, the Places You Can Read!” Have your child think of the silliest place that they can read. Take a picture of your child in this location reading their favorite book. You can either email the picture to your child’s teacher, or print the picture and send it to school with your child. If you would like to participate, you have the entire month of March. Finally, students love seeing pictures of their peers reading their favorite book, and we are excited to create a school-wide display that promotes the love of reading!
Camp Innovation
The ELCO School District will once again be hosting Camp Innovation for our K-5 students. Please see the flyer below for information and how to register.
Students and Class of the Month
Kindergarten - Carter L. (Zurick PM) & Myla S. (Kolovani AM)
First Grade - Ellis E. (Hartman) & Avery H. (Crandall)
Second Grade - Wyatt B. (Withrow) & Lydia A. (Kane)
Class of the Month - Ms. Ogurcak's First Grade Class
During the month of February, we were focused on honesty. Throughout the month of March, we are focusing on compassion. Compassion is caring for others with kindness.
Fort Zeller Math/STEM Night
We had so much fun at our "DINOmite" Math/STEM Night! Our students and their families had so much fun with the awesome activities planned by our amazing teachers! Thank you to everyone who attended and helped to make the night so special.
Celebrating the 100th Day of School
Staff and students had so much fun celebrating our 100th day of school on February 5. Classes participated in fun activities to commemorate the day, and several students dressed up like they were 100 years old.
ELCO Food Pantry & Caring Closet
The ELCO Raider Food Pantry is Open!
The ELCO Raider Food Pantry is now open and available for the ELCO families. With the support of our ELCO staff, local businesses and churches, we are able to provide our ELCO families with an additional resource.
If you are in need of immediate assistance or you'd like to donate to the ELCO Raider Pantry, please reach out to Kelly Smith, ELCO Social Worker, at 717-306-3242 or the ELCO Food and Nutrition Department, at 717-306-3270 for a confidential appointment to the pantry.
Counselor's Corner With Mrs. Brosius
Hello Families! Here’s what we’ve been up to in the counseling department!
February REACH Lesson Recap:
K: A Little Spot of Sadness
-Meeting our Sadness spot and discussing sadness, what makes us feel sad, and that it’s ok to feel sad. Coping skills for shrinking our sadness spot.
1: Empathy
-Talking about what empathy is and how we can show empathy to others
-Discussing perspectives and how everyone’s can be different
2: Smart Futures
-Started Smart Futures, our new online Career platform, to explore and learn more about careers. Students will use their iPads for Smart Futures lessons.
March REACH Lessons are all about Cooperation and Teamwork!
Small Groups are in full swing! Please let me know if you have questions about a group your child is participating in or if you’d like your student to be a part of a small group.
PBIS:
January Bee Card Total: 681
Total for the Year: 3,495
At the end of the month, I will add all of February’s completed Bee Cards to the total! Our students are doing an AWESOME job!
Career Day is coming up on Friday, May 3rd. If you’d like to volunteer to come in and present to students about your career, please give me a call! We’d love to have you!
Library - Reading Rocks!
Kindergarten experienced nursery rhymes this month in the library. We had lots of fun rolling our nursery rhyme dice and learning classic rhymes and characters. We focused on rhyming and retelling stories.
First Grade began exploring genres in literature with fairy tales. We read Jack and the Bean Stalk and then first graders used STEM skills to create getaway strategies to help Jack escape the giant.
What's Happening in Music
Kindergarten is singing and dancing to songs from different countries. They will be using their iPads to practice drawing all the notes we've learned including ta, ti-ti, Takadimi and the rest.
First grade is practicing their new instrument, boomwackers. They will continue to incorporating the drums and other percussion as well.
Second Grade is practicing their song, I have a voice and have started their instrumental song.
A Note From ART - Mrs. Panza
Kindergarten Art for February: After finishing our penguin collages we move on to creating art in a new medium. Artists will begin a piece of artwork focusing on using printmaking/stamping tools. We plan to use the 3 primary colors—red, yellow, and blue. Each class they will only use one color of paint and one shape stamp to print. The layers of primary colors and layers of shapes will overlap creating an abstract, colorful piece of artwork!
1ST GRADE ART for February: First grade artists observed artwork by Mark Rothko, noticing his use of bold, expressive layers of colors and rectangular shapes. Artists experimented with layers colors with crayons, tissue paper, and markers to create abstract artwork similar to Mark Rothko. Artists will focus on learning more about artists who experiment and create abstract work.
2ND GRADE ART for February: Second grade artists reviewed the elements of art and focused on creating a line drawing of a hibernating bear. Artists were challenged to fill in spaces with lines, shapes, and/or designs rather than color. Resources and examples of different design choices were available, however, artists could create their own. As always, artists completed a reflection of learning and prepared their work for display.
Get Moving in Physical Education - Mr. Babiarz
What's Happening in Kindergarten
What's Going on in 1st Grade
During the month of February, first graders have been working on long vowel “e” including the vowel pairs “ee” and “ea” and vowel teams ai, ay, oa, and ow, plus short vowel e (ea). We introduced compound words and continued to work on contractions.
In math, the concepts covered were two-digit addition and subtraction. Students practiced adding tens/ones with regrouping and related addition/subtraction facts of tens.
First graders also participated in Ground Hog Day and 100th day activities.
2nd Grade Updates
Reading Corner
Starting Friday, March 1st and lasting until Thursday, March 7th, we will be celebrating Read Across America. During this fun week, we will be recognizing five books that won the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award. Students will hear guest readers read aloud one of the books. We will also have special dress days to go along with each book. In addition, we will have a family reading challenge that lasts the entire month of March. Families are encouraged to read at least 20 books to their child(ren). Each time you read a book to your child, write the title of the book on the reading log that was sent home. If your child would like to hear more than 20 books, email your child’s teacher and they will send another log home. The reading logs are due March 28th. If your child hears more than 20 books, they will receive a special pencil and a fun bookmark. Also, the class who heard the most books will earn an ice cream party. Reading to or with your child is so important for their literacy development, and we look forward to celebrating Read Across America week!
At the conclusion of Read Across America week, we will then begin our annual Battle of the Books. The author/illustrator that we will be highlighting is Zachariah OHora. Children will be listening to one of his books that he wrote or illustrated. They will then vote on their favorite story. We are SO excited to see which book wins! Stay tuned! 🥳📚
Social Media #ELCOexcellence
ELCO School District is growing our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram channels. Click on the icons and follow along!
Why:
Celebrate our students.
Keep parents, students, alumni, and the community in the loop of what is happening in our district.
Promote the great things happening such as athletics, activities, and other events.
Build an ongoing conversation about the positive impact our district is making in the lives of our students!
What do I need to do?
If you are on these social media channels – follow us!
Help promote these accounts to your family and friends.
If you aren’t on these platforms – that’s OK. The district will continue to provide communication through traditional channels.
Nurse's News
A physical examination is mandated by the PA Department of Health for Kindergarten, 6th grade, and 11th grade. If you have not handed in proof of a physical examination, please submit that to the nurse by the end of March. If the nurse does not have proof of a physical examination, your child will be put on the list to see the school doctor. A letter will go out alerting you of this. Please know, this is not a replacement for good medical care with your physician. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
PTO
1. On Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at 6:30, our PTO will host its next meeting at Fort Zeller in the library. We hope that you will consider joining our meetings and provide your valuable input to support our students and staff at Fort Zeller.
2. Volunteering: If you have an interest in being a volunteer in your child's classroom or in our school, please use this link, https://www.elcosd.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=918, to complete the necessary paperwork on clearances. Don't hesitate to call our office at (610) 589-2575 if you need additional assistance.
News from Fort Zeller's PTO
💰 ⛄️ - 2024 Coin Wars - Current Standings - 💰 ⛄️
⛄️ Kindergarten - $420.77
⛄️ First Grade - $149.76
⛄️ Second Grade - $159.21
Last day to deposit coins is Friday, March 1.
Winning grade level will receive a “Snow Day” during school on Thursday, March 14.
📘 Order your 2023/2024 Yearbook 📘
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob?jobNumber=10866224
Fort Zeller Elementary School
Yearbook ID: 10866224
Fort Zeller PTO March Events
🗓️ March PTO Meeting - March 6 @ 630PM
📚 Book Fair - March 25 & March 26
🐄 Mobile Ag Lab - March 25-March 27
🔵 Looking for a way to become involved in the PTO?
🟡 Attend our upcoming meetings. We have various positions that will be vacant for this coming school year 2024/2025. It is a great time to learn more about the committees and positions.
🔴 Scan your grocery receipts - Box-Top Rewards
Earn money for our school through Box Tops for Education!
Download the Box Top mobile app onto your cell phone
(https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/get-the-app),
create an account with “FORT ZELLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL” as your participating school, and scan your receipts within 14 days of your purchase.
🔴 February Box Top Offers!
https://www.boxtops4education.com/s/how-to-earn#app-offers
If you have any questions in regards to the Fort Zeller PTO, please do not hesitate to reach out to us via email or check out our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/fortzellerPTO
Fort Zeller PTO
Thank You to our PTO
We are always so thankful for our amazing PTO. The cookies provided to our staff during conferences in February was so appreciated and delicious. Thank you for your continued support of our Fort Zeller students and staff!! You are the BEST!!!
HAPPY MARCH BIRTHDAY!
2 - Annaleigha Brodie & Mason Ulrich
4 - Paisley Strause
6 - Mia Isabella Portillo Hichose
10 - Charlie Miller
11 - Lillian Gerhart
12 - Sutton Fullerton
16 - Braelynn Kirby
17 - Caralena May-Mendez & Camila Diaz-Cuevas
19 - Ayven Thompson
22 - Quentin Miles
23 - Evelyn Miller
26 - Ellis Entrekin
28 - Ethan Fittery
29 - Matthew Pagenhardt
30 - Jordan Bashore
31 - Hailey Axe & Jayden Miranda
Contact us
Fort Zeller Elementary School
243 North Sheridan Road
Richland, PA 17087
Phone: (610) 589-2575
Fax: 610-589-5815
Email: jhouck@elcosd.org
Website: https://www.elcosd.org/Domain/211
Location: 243 North Sheridan Road Richland, PA 17087
Phone: (610) 589-2575
Twitter: @ElcoFort