January 5, 2017

Dear Florida Mesa Families,

Happy New Year! We hope you had a relaxing and special holiday break with

your loved ones. The staff and I were very excited to return this week with our

wonderful Florida Mesa scholars.

As we ring in the New Year, we want to celebrate our growth. Students are

showing tremendous growth in their academic, social, and behavioral goals.

Please continue to work closely with your child’s teacher to understand present

learning levels and the best ways in which you can support.

On another note, on December 14th, 2017 the Durango Herald ran a front page

article about changing the attendance boundaries of three elementary schools in

Durango. One of the schools mentioned was Florida Mesa. Please know this is

not complete and it will involve a process that will be publicized as it develops.

Updated Contact Information: Please contact Mrs. Jeter or Ms. Wancura in

the office to let us know when you have a change in your contact information or

emergency contacts so that we can keep them updated in our system. With win-

ter upon us, we must be able to contact you or a person who you trust in the

event of an emergency.

We are thrilled to have students back, as we continue to create a dynamic learn-

ing environment for your children. Thank you for sending your children to

school here at Florida Mesa! We certainly love working with your children!

Best regards,

Vanessa Fisher, Principal

Shannon Morris, Assistant Principal

Mustang Messenger

January

2017

Calendar of Events

January

1/4

SAC Meeting 8:00-9:00

1/16

Martin Luther King Jr

Day ~ NO SCHOOL

1/18

PTO Meeting 8:00-0:00

1/23

Professional Develop-

ment Day ~

NO SCHOOL

2/1

SAC Meeting 8:00-9:00

The mission of Florida Mesa Elementary, an innovative learning community, committed to integrity and educational rigor, it to

inspire, and develop compassionate, open-minded inquirers, who actively contribute to a better world, by guaranteeing equitable

opportunities in a safe, healthy and diverse environment

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

R.I.D.E.THE

MUSTANG

Represent Mustang Spirit By…

Interacting Respectfully...

Demonstrating Responsibility…

Ensuring Safety...

Vocabulary boosters A large vocabulary can turn your child into a better reader and writer. Try these everyday ways to help them learn new words. Keep your ears open. When you and your youngster go places, point out words that people use. Maybe a waiter describes an en-trée or the dentist talks about molars. Encourage your child to figure out what they mean by the way they’re used. Go beyond nouns. Help you youngster add verbs and adjec-tives to her vocabulary. Sports and games offer opportunities to use action words. Let your child hear you comment on the softball that soars or the runner who sprints. When she sends thank-you notes or greeting cards, suggest descriptive words (a polka-dot shirt, a fan-tastic birthday.)

Please remem-

ber to check

lost and found

on a regular ba-

sis for your

student’s miss-

ing items!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who donated items for

the Christmas Dinner Drive, the Hat & Mitten Tree and the

Canned goods drive!! Please be sure to keep up with

your student’s lunch account. If you would like to access their

account via the internet, please stop by the office to get your

Infinite Campus ID.

Please check out our website at floridamesa.durangoschools.org

for updated requirements on your students’ immunizations for the 2017-2018 school year.

Please be sure to send a healthy

snack with your student each day. A full tummy helps

their brain work and grow!!

Animals of the World As of January 3, 2017

1. Polar Bear Heaven Markum Marybelle McClanahan Orin Standing Ryker Ament Leylaquin Blair Larry Haddon Bia Costa Brian Medina Angelique Page-Wright Jackson Stein Ava Silva Colton Zellitti Jessa Archuletta Aliana Campos Anthony Jack Adrian Martinez William Shawcroft-Majeski Isaiah Aguilar Priscilla Cabanez Mackenzie Cumberledge Shianne France Liliauna Johnson Lastani Long Angeline Montoya Amelia Rogers Kalena Allen Milagro Berry Montoya Lindsi Parsons Britton Burgess Jocelyn Coellen Allister Shawcroft-Majeski Eli Stephens Ayden Brandt Katelyn Chadborn Aubrey Kasnoff Xavier Sutherlin Orin Thompson Kayla Torres Elizabeth Wancura Joshua Fanning Cole Pontine Victor Sosa Ramirez Kali Torres Derian Aguilar

Minnie Jack Malayka Medina Jacob Roberts Vincent Zufelt Gabe Archuleta Violet Jameson Reynna Loos Eddie Salazar Bryce Toppin Kylie Burke Briana France Donnie Hacker Landon Jeep Cyan Stephens Cole Perkins Jasper Warren Jace Alexander Ashden Tallbrother Amy Day Jared Fortune

Which animal have you read to?

2. Monk Seal Mackenzie Aguilar Jacob Mosher Malia Summa Bhrett Palmer Bree Simmons Alexa Bedonie Keaton Woodson Nathan Mosher Quincy Terrill Kaleb Roberts Margaret Taylor Shylene Drumm Braeden Brown Lyla Lake Leith Davis Nick Estrada LaVinia Summa Raymond Davis Brooklyn Messier Nizhoni Reece Tye Woodson Ava Allen Brock Fassett Parker Golbricht Ella McKeon Allison Cannon Connie Moreno Asa Vermette Mariah Gallegos Jacob Mosher Aliana Bogarin Preston Brizzee Jenna Glueck CJ Holmes Layla Kelly Maily Lancaster Antonio Martinez Danny Mendoza Miles Snow Drexden Blair Lilian Ciluffo Serenity Demarest Archer McCroskey Alvaro Rodriguez

Zoie Costa Davin Jennings Makenzie Hjermstad Nolan Holland Layla Miller-Landrus Ivy DeForest Adrian Martinez Garrett Scott

Nicholas Mancusi Cruz Lopez Hannah Hawthorne Aden Urias Lane Lyda Emily Chadwell Jessey Archuletta Brooklyn Abdella

Mrs. Morris Ms. Tonia Mrs. Wood Braylie Simmons

Phoenix Wallace Mariah Zufelt Clio Bendell Maryann Fassett Han Grunert Angelina Hernandez Gabrielle Jones Julian Reeves Dominic Shawcroft Evans Griffin McCroskey Tristen Reed-Eanes June Scheid Grace-lyn Lyda Kaden Ollier Giovanni Sosa Ramirez Grace Taulli Isabel Archuleta Leah Foutz Dru Jones Makenna Lancaster Karmen Martinez Haeden Mohar-Rodriguez

Kimbree Simmons Brentley Vogel Jayda Archuletta Nathan Ciluffo Aspen Moore Scarlett Reeves Crow Harr Evan McKeon Jackson Nichols Rhoni Parks Timber Zink Nat’aani Reece

Mrs. Fisher Ms. Maureen

Albert Piccoli Maddison Robinson Frankie Golbricht Cora McCroskey Audrey Toppin Travis Peterson Ben Lively Irelyn Livingston Marley Lowe Marten Mertes-Yeager Anthony Robles Lastani Long Bree Simmons Gabriella Aguilar Brandon Meitchen Daniel Meitchen Cordelia Shannon Lauren Harwood Bailey Gaskins Gracelyn Simmons Hazel Piccoli Joshua Fanning Kanaan Garlington

Sophia Garcia Addison Zellitti Kate Baker Oren Moore Jack Womack Isadora Brubaker Grace Howell

Mrs. Sands

Ms. Compton Mr. Max

Abigail Reeder Lucy Larsen Oliver Nez River Garlington Max Schtakleff Keegan Wilson Owen Larson

Mrs. Salkeld Mr. Goring

5. Blue Whale David Woytek Canaan Brugess Will Jefferies Luke Nichols Lucain Morgan Lily Brown Eric Petersen Maizy Nichols Ellie Petersen Bhrett Palmer

Mrs. Jeter Mrs. Newman Ms. Laura

6. Mountain

Gorilla Lydia Orlowski

Mrs. McMunn

7. Jaguar Yuna Harris Emily McVaugh Adaya Kent McKennon Ingle Clayton Bollinger Makenna Bard Kai Harris Cara Bard Hunter Osborn Adrien Williams Nathaniel Ellis Laina Martinez Elizabeth O’Reilly Alexa Vaughan Flint Gervais Tayton Miller

Mr. Tidwell

3. Giant Panda Greyson Harrison Koralea Brown Lily Bryan Ramon Lujan Logan Wagner AJ Putnam Benaiah Simmons Nevaeha Albo

4. Hairy Nosed

Wombat Isaiah Wood Nicholas Lee Karissa Clark Max Magee Caleb O’Reilly Harper Burgess Brooklyn Osborn Kendahl Brandt Jael Rios Darion Allen Baileigh Foster Laiken Baca Ronaldo Hinojos Brooke Schtakleff Lincoln Lee Layla Ashburn Riley Magee Sebastian Matava John Womack Kynlee Hadden

No School: Martin Luther King Day Jan 16

Professional Day Jan 23

Remember Early Release on

Mondays at 1:20 pm

Keep on collecting! Please keep collecting Box Tops,

Labels for Education & Tyson Pro-

ject A+. Please check out: box-

tops4education.com and pro-

jectaplus.tyson.com for a full list

of products with labels on them.

Just for fun

Q: How long should a racehorse’s

legs be?

A: Long enough to reach the

ground!!

From your School Based Health Center (SBHC) Happy New Year! Just a reminder for you that the SBHC at FME is a doctor’s office right here in the school! The clinic is conveniently located in the nurses office and staffs medical and behavioral health providers, available 5 days a week. The SBHC offers regular medical and/or behavioral care for anyone age 0-21, including well child checkups, immunizations, sick visits, on-site lab test-ing and counseling. If you would like to get your child established with the SBHC all you need to do is fill out an enrollment packet, available at the clinic or on the front table on the left when you enter the school, and schedule an establishing care visit. Once your child is an established pa-tient, they can be seen at the clinic without a parent present if you are unable to make it to the ap-pointment. The SBHC takes most insurances and offers a sliding scale fee program for un or un-derinsured. Please call 385-1168 if you have any questions, or feel free to stop by! We look for-ward to seeing you soon!

Lending Library Do you need a good book to read to your child?

Does your child need an interesting book to read on their

own?

Come to the Lending Library, located between the cafeteria

and art room, to borrow books. Keep them for as long as

you like and return them when you are done!

Have books that your children have outgrown? Please feel

free to donate them to our Lending Library by placing them

in the green bin. Generous donations are how we have

stocked our shelves with quality literacy.