Sylvan Park Paideia Elementary School

Efforts are underway to conduct the 2020 census in order to have a count of the population living in the United States. The federal government has designated Census Day as April 1; when completing the census, respondents will have to note where they are living on April 1. Before April 2020, households will receive information packets and invitations to participate via mail.

Families are encouraged to fill out and submit the census information. The census can be submitted online, via phone, or mail. It is also crucial to note that information identifying individuals is not supposed to be shared with other government agencies.

The population counts from the census determine the poverty level of our district, which is a factor in our Title I allocation. For children who are not counted in our district, our allocations could be impacted for the next 10 years! It is critical that as many households in Nashville as possible submit the forms.

Ms. Hobgood’s Kindergarten class shared their dreams after a seminar on Martin Luther King, Jr. See more dreams below.

Due to school closing, the Valentine’s Social on 2/7 was canceled. Unfortunately, this event will not be rescheduled. However, we will proceed with candy gram sales this week as planned. 

If you pre-purchased tickets to the Valentine’s Social and you would like a refund, please email pto.spark@gmail.com to initiate the refund process. All money raised through donated ticket sales (non-refunded) and candygram sales will be used to purchase classroom instructional materials chosen by teachers. Thank you for understanding.

Weather permitting, we hope to start this week! Students should report to auditorium. Wear SSA with running/athletic shoes/sneakers. Pick up 4pm on the black top behind the gym. 

Did you know that you can pay your students’ cafeteria balance, reload their accounts, and track their cafeteria spending online? Click here to get started. Setup takes less than 5 minutes!

The PTO Diversity Committee is thrilled to announce a special event in honor of Black History Month! During the school day on Tuesday, February 4th, the Global Education Center will present a “Rhythms of Africa” performance in the auditorium featuring drumming and dance from the Mali empire. Be sure to ask your student(s) what they saw and learned when they get home that day.

Special thanks to the Tennessee Arts Commission for funding this collaboration!

The Sylvan Park PTO is hosting our annual Valentine’s Day Candy Gram Fundraiser!   
Here are ways to participate in Candy Grams this year:
1.  Decorate, fill out and send in the Candy Grams that were sent home in folders with payment for each one.
2. A table will be set up for Candy Gram orders before school Monday, February 10th – Thursday, February 13th.
Just a reminder that all funds raised go straight to the teachers for classroom expenses! 
Questions?  Reach out to Sarah Grace (sngrace@gmail.com)

The 3rd grade classes enjoyed some hands-on activities outlining properties of “States of Matter: solids, liquids, gases” during science lab this week. Here they are witnessing how gases take on the shape of their containers/surroundings and discovering what happens when chemical reactions help to change solids and liquids into gases.

Students in Ms. Rossberger’s 1st grade class study together the photograph “Outside Looking In” by Gordon Parks in preparation for a Paideia seminar. See the photo enlarged below.

Students in Sylvan Park’s Honors Choir take a break from rehearsals Jan. 30 where they practiced with students from other schools in the Elementary Honor Choir.

In your child’s folder this week, you will find a school choice application. Families who wish to apply for a school other than their zoned school should complete an application and submit it by Feb. 14. REMINDER! Lottery families who plan to attend West End Middle School still need to complete an application. See the packet for complete instructions.

Sylvan Park posts $253.80 in Box Top earnings in first week

General Mills pays us 10 cents per Box Top. Our school goal this year is $1,000! Every Box Top counts! West End Middle School is currently at $123.60 after the first week.

The Sylvan Park classrooms that raise the most in Box Tops Classroom contest will earn a no SSA for Friday, Feb. 28. One class per grade will win. The context runs Monday February 3 through Friday February 21, 2020. We are also competing with Eakin Elementary and West End Middle schools to see which school can collect the most this year! Please ask your neighbors, family and friends to start saving Box Tops for you today!

How to participate:
1) Box Tops are located on many name brand product packaging such as General Mills cereal, Lysol cleaner, Hefty trash bags, and MANY more. Recycle the box, bring the Box Top in!
2) Cut out and collect as many Box Tops as possible at home or from friends, family and neighbors. 
3) Put your Box Tops in an old envelope, bag or rubber band.
Helpful hints: –
* Please count the number of box tops and write the total number of tops on the outside of the envelope/bag- this saves volunteer counters time!    
* Make sure NOT to cut off the expiration date. 
* Please check box tops before turning them in and make sure they are not expired.  The earliest date of eligible Box Tops is 3/1/2020. We cannot get any money for our school with expired tops. (i.e. NO box tops with 2019 or earlier dates)
4) Bring Box Tops to school in February and place in your classroom’s Ziplock Box Top bag!
5) Classroom bags will be collected each Friday in February to be counted.
6) The last day of the contest is FRIDAY FEBRUARY 21st!

REMEMBER: Box Tops are transitioning to be  digital and you can now scan your receipt using a mobile app. They are fading out of cut off Box Tops. Note to our seasoned collectors, do not be frustrated with lower numbers available. 😉

Download Apple app here.

Download Google play app here.For a list of all eligible products, click here.