A lot of smiles accompanied the building of bridges, clay boats, egg-saving devices, and pasta

bridges during Paxson’s Science Olympiad.

Congratulations to all who participated! Thank you to all parent and UM student volunteers – we

couldn’t have pulled this off without you!

And, huge thanks to all our event coordinators:Tom Seiler (Food for Thought & for Energy)

Janice Givler (A is for Anatomy)Steve Lodmell (Disease Detectives)

Angela Lodmell (Pentathalon)Sean Lodmell (Straw Egg Drop)Martha Goodloe (Pasta Bridges)

Andrew Wilcox (Slow River)Paul Parson (Clay Boat)

Michael FitzGerald (Map Reading)Julie Tompkins/Leo Rowland/Daniel

LePiane (Mystery Architecture)Mike Kavanaugh (Zoom Microscope)

Jesse Johnson (Director & Event Planner)Rebecca Jasmine (Event Planner)

Panther PressThe Latest and Greatest News from PAXSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

March 2013

PAXSON ELEMENTARY’S SCIENCE OLYMPIADAcademic Support Team Leader/Founder Rebecca Jasmine teamed up with Jesse Johnson, Paxson parent and science extraordinaire, to bring our students a day full of fun, engaging, hands-on, science experiences! What a day it was! 71 students built boats to float, built bridges from pasta, examined larva through a microscope projected on to a huge screen, and learned about body systems, geography, nutrition, engineering, and so much more! Thanks to all of the parent volunteers who helped with registration, monitoring events, and providing support throughout the day. Paxson parents are simply the best and we are grateful to you for investing your time and energy. The Science Olympiad inspired creative thought, collaboration, critical thinking, and specific communication. We have several aspiring scientists at Paxson School. It’s great to see our whole community supporting learning through science, technology, engineering, and

math. Thank you!

See the Missoulian article here:http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/paxson-elementary-s-k--science-olympiad-

encourages-young-kids/article_8ba427ee-7e43-11e2-b07a-001a4bcf887a.html

Extra, Extra! Read All About It!

Mark Your Calendars!

Bring your appetite and your money March 27 and 28 to

Parent Teacher Conferences because the 5th grade will be selling

their world-famous soup! 

Family Fitness NightMarch 18, 6pm

Join us for a fun-filled evening of exercise and nutrition. As families enter, students will be given a Health and Fitness Passport. They will visit ten stations throughout the evening, receiving a special passport stamp for each event. Come and dance Oula, practice your Taekwondo skills, eat some healthy food, practice helmet safety, and learn about our Pep Can!

What is the Pep Can?The Pep Can is a large container on wheels, loaded to the brim with fun outdoor playground equipment. The Pep Can contains jump ropes, parachutes, frisbees, and more! Each activity is designed to be engaging and fun for our students. The games are non-elimination and anyone can join!

Our very generous PCA has agreed fund a “game leader,” an adult who supervises the Pep Can Games while encouraging students to play and teaching safe play. We look forward to introducing the Pep Can to our students by mid-March! Learn more about the Pep Can and how to volunteer or support Pep efforts at the Family Fitness Night on March 18th.

Spring Music ProgramFriday, May 3Grades 4 and 5

2:45 pmPaxson Gymnasium 

Wednesday, May 8Grades 1, 2 and 3

2:00 pmPaxson Gymnasium 

Tuesday, May 21Kindergarten12:15  K Line

1:00 K Sonsalla1:45  K LaRance2:30  K Muhs

Paxson Music Room

The PCA sends out a HUGE THANK YOU to Jesse and Rebecca for an amazing science olympiad, the upcoming movie night, and the upcoming family fitness night (look for t-shirt order forms coming soon)!

Artist in ResidencePaxson School is glad to have artist Claire Emerey back to share her talent. During the last week of April through May, Claire will work with Paxson students teaching them the art of print making. Their work will be collaborative and the final art work will be displayed for all to see. As always, we are in the process of recruiting volunteers to help with the art projects. If you are interested, please contact DaleMcCormick. mydalemt@gmail.com

THANK YOU!Thank you to all of the

families who participated in MLK Day of Service. We were able to prepare

250 pounds of soup for the Food Bank!

Check-­‐in  Check-­‐outOur  Check-­‐in  Check-­‐Out  (CICO)  program  has  some  exci8ng  new  changes  coming  up!  For  those  who  do  not  know,  the  CICO  program  gives  extra  a?en8on  to  students  that  would  enjoy  or  need  more  posi8ve  interac8on  at  school.  The  data  collected  from  this  program  helps  us  know  how  to  be?er  help  students  learn  and  be  successful  at  Paxson.  The  new  changes  include  more  parent  involvement  with  the  program,  a  new  data  system,  gradua8on  for  some  CICO  par8cipants,  and  CICO  group  projects  and  rewards.  Please  contact  Bri?any  in  the  Family  Resource  Center  with  any  ques8ons.

India in MissoulaFrom March 1-March 9 the University of Montana and the Missoula community will celebrate India in a series of events entitled “India in Missoula.” These events, starting Friday, March 1, with an India-themed art exhibit at Murphy~Jubb Fine Art, are intended to provide information to the community about India, its history, science, and culture, and to UM students regarding study abroad opportunities to that country. All “India in Missoula” events are free and open to the public.

To submit to the next newsletter, please email by March 25th to hollyhrogers@gmail.com.

Kickin’  it  on  the  FieldGreetings  from  the  Communication  Outreach  Group!    In  a  continuing  effort  to  promote  our  universal  expectations,  this  month  we  will  be  focusing  on  the  <ield.  Below  you  will  <ind  

a  detailed  matrix  that  states  the  behaviors  we  expect  when  students  are  using  our  <ield.  We  are  sharing  this  information  with  you  in  hopes  of  your  support  before,  during,  and  after  

school.  Remember  you  can  help  foster  a  sense  of  community  by  learning  and  supporting  this  school-­‐wide  program.  If  you  have  any  questions  or  concerns  please  feel  free  to  contact  a  member  of  the  Communication  Outreach  Group.  (Ms.  Sonsalla,  Mrs.  Maddox,  Mrs.  York)

BE  RESPECTFUL BE  RESPONSIBLE BE  SAFE BE  A  LEARNER• Include  

everyone• Take  care  of  

playground  equipment• Keep  your  body  safe• Stay  inside  the  fence

• Cooperate• Play  by  the  rules

LET'S HAVE A PAXSON

YARD SALE! Proposed Date: Saturday, May 4, 2013

We are raising funds to support a Lunch Hour Game Leader. The Game Leader will supervise the Pep Can during lunch recess. The Pep Can is a container on wheels. It is filled with fun and engaging playground games. The Pep experience will make recess an enjoyable, fun, and productive time for all Paxson students!

To make the sale a huge success, we will need participation of all Paxson parents (and grandparents, friends, students, etc.). A flier will be coming home soon requesting your participation and donations. We can only succeed if we all work together!

We will need volunteers - Many volunteers (details to follow in the flyer)

Will you donate quality items for the sale - things which you might buy at a yard sale - and possibly solicit donations from relatives, friends, and neighbors?

Will you shop at the sale (clothes and toys for your children, household items you need... Who knows what treasures you might find?)