Sevier Schools Update - December Edition

Thank you for continuing to make reading and conversation a joyful part of your home routine! The time you spend listening, wondering, and talking with your child every day is helping them grow into confident readers and thoughtful problem-solvers. 

This month, we’re building on last month’s focus by encouraging families to help children connect their reading to the world around them. These small, simple conversations help strengthen comprehension and deepen understanding. 

Ask questions like, “Does this remind you of anything in your life?” or “Have you ever felt like this character?” 

Pause to notice characters’ emotions: “How do you think they feel right now?” or “What clues helped you figure that out?” 

After reading, ask your child to retell the most important parts in their own words. You can guide them by asking, “What happened first? Then what?” 

Point out interesting facts or new ideas: “What’s something you learned today that you didn’t know before?” 

Every time you ask a question or invite your child to share their thinking, you’re building their comprehension skills and nurturing curiosity. These small conversations help children become stronger readers—and more confident thinkers across all subjects. 

Thank you for partnering with us to build a community of enthusiastic, thoughtful, and joyful learners. Keep reading, wondering, and exploring together!

Science isn’t just something students do in a lab. Adults use scientific habits constantly: checking the weather, troubleshooting appliances, comparing products, even figuring out why the car made “that sound again.” You can build this thinking at home with a simple routine: 

1. Notice: Ask your child to describe what they see during an everyday moment. Examples: steam rising from soup, shadows changing during the day, ice melting faster in one cup than another. 

2. Question: Encourage them to wonder aloud. 

“What makes the shadow longer?” 

“Why did this melt faster?” 

“What do you think is happening here?” 

3. Explain: Let them form a short explanation using what they observed. This doesn’t need to be perfect- thinking in steps matters more than correctness. 

Adults who learn to observe carefully and ask good questions make better decisions about: finances, health, safety, technology, and even media information. 

This simple routine builds lifelong problem-solving skills. 

What’s one everyday phenomenon at home that you and your child can try to explain together this week?

Grab a photo - a historic landmark, a map, a family picture, a newspaper clipping. Ask your child to work through three quick steps: 

1. See: “What details do you notice?” 

Colors, expressions, objects, symbols, labels- anything observable. 

2. Wonder: “What questions does this bring up?” 

Who is involved? What’s happening? Why does this matter? 

3. Infer: “What do you think is happening, based on the evidence you saw?” They practice forming reasoned ideas instead of guessing or repeating what others say. This is civic literacy disguised as a quick family activity.

Math doesn’t have to feel like homework. Kids learn best when they see math in the world around them! Simple everyday moments—cooking, shopping, sorting laundry,

riding in the car—are perfect chances for your child to practice important skills without even realizing it. 

When children use math in real-life situations, they build confidence, problem-solving skills, and discover that math is useful, meaningful, and fun. Look for those little opportunities each day—they add up to big learning! 

Here are some fun ways to incorporate math into your child’s everyday life: 

● Grocery Grab 

Count apples, boxes, or cans as they go into the cart. 

“Can you put 8 apples in the bag?” 

● Snack Stories 

Use grapes or crackers to tell math stories. 

“You had 6 and ate 2—how many now?” 

● Car Color Count 

Count red vs. blue cars on a drive and compare which group has more. 

● Kitchen Multiplier 

Double or triple a recipe together using multiplication. 

● Receipt Round-Up 

Round prices from a receipt and estimate the total cost. 

● Laundry Fractions 

Sort laundry and ask: “What fraction of the basket is socks?” 

● ️ Best Buy Detective 

Compare unit prices to decide which brand is the best deal. 

● Sports Stats Spotlight 

Track a favorite player’s averages or percent changes.

● Discount Dash 

Calculate sale prices when items are 20%, 30%, or 50% off.

“Snow! Fireplaces and presents. Shopping online for presents - both for others and for myself.”

Eliza said that she LOVES to buy presents for other people. 

“I like her sense of humor. She is so funny! Her room is colorful- and I like color. She expresses her feelings- if the Vols lose…. Oh man! But she also shows us that she loves us every day. “

“I can tell the teachers are educated. I know they know how to prepare us for the future. I am learning math and all adults need math. And.. how to act around other people. I am learning how to socialize. I am learning how to read and vocabulary.“

“I want to be an author- because I feel like you can impact people all over the world. I LOVE reading. I like to read murder love mysteries like Keeper of the Lost Cities. It is INTERESTING. It is supposed to be for middle school, but my mom said that it keeps me entertained. I like Harry Potter as well because it shows you other sides of the world. So like - you have this small community that you live in but there is this whole BIG world out there!”

As the end of the semester approaches, it's a critical time for students to solidify their knowledge and prepare for final exams. Effective preparation isn't just about cramming; it's about developing strategic study habits that lead to long-term success. 

Your student's most valuable and personalized study resources are often their own teachers. Each educator is the expert on their specific course curriculum, pacing, and expected final exam outcomes. We strongly encourage students to proactively reach out to their teachers for targeted guidance. 

Students should ask teachers what specific resources they recommend for review. This might include: 

■ Which chapters or units should they prioritize? 

■ Are there specific practice test questions or review sheets available? 

■ Can the teacher provide examples of essay prompts or problem types that will be heavily weighted?

Inquire about extra help or tutoring opportunities directly from the teacher.

Many educators offer: 

■ Scheduled review sessions immediately before the exam. 

■ Before/after school tutoring or specific times they are available for one-on-one questions. 

■ Recommendations for peer tutoring or school sponsored after-school support programs. 

● By communicating directly with their teachers, students can access resources that are precisely aligned with the course content, ensuring their preparation time is highly focused and effective. 

As students enter the intense final exam period, it’s vital to remember that well-being is the foundation of academic success. High stress and burnout can hinder focus and memory recall. We strongly encourage all students and families to prioritize self-care as an essential part of the preparation process. 

■ Schedule Breaks: Studying continuously is counterproductive. Encourage short, frequent breaks (5-10 minutes every hour) to stand up, stretch, or step away from materials. Longer breaks should include light exercise or a fun activity to refresh the mind. 

■ Ensure Adequate Sleep: Trying to cram late into the night is often detrimental. Consistency in sleep—aiming for 8-10 hours a night—is crucial, as sleep is when the brain truly locks in what was learned during the day. 

■ Nutrition and Hydration: Eating regular, balanced meals and staying hydrated fuels the brain. Avoid excessive caffeine or sugary snacks that can lead to energy crashes.

■ Mindfulness and Movement: Simple stress-reducing activities, like deep breathing, a short walk, or listening to calming music, can effectively lower anxiety. Students should maintain any positive routines they already have, whether it’s a sport, an artistic hobby, or spending time with family.

Remind your student that their health and emotional well-being matter most. Encourage them to view self-care not as a luxury, but as a necessary component for peak performance during finals week. 

As we look beyond final exams, now is an ideal time for students to start thinking strategically about their course selections for the spring semester or the next academic year. This preview period is crucial for ensuring students select courses that align with their academic interests, career goals, and post-secondary plans. We encourage families to sit down together and review the School Course Catalog, paying close attention to prerequisites for advanced classes (AP/IB, dual enrollment) and any specific graduation requirements.

Students should consult with their school counselors to discuss potential career pathways and ensure their choices create a balanced and rigorous schedule that challenges them without causing undue stress. Thoughtful course selection today paves the way for a successful and focused educational experience tomorrow.

As this semester draws to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible contributions of our entire faculty and staff, whose dedication is the cornerstone of our successful school community. Our teachers have worked tirelessly both in and out of the classroom, guiding students to achieve significant milestones across all domains.

Academically, they have fostered critical thinking and deep subject mastery, leading to impressive student growth. Beyond academics, they have mentored students in the fine arts, directing inspiring performances and exhibitions, and coached our student-athletes to success in various sports and extracurricular competitions.

This commitment—to nurturing every student's intellectual, creative, and physical potential—is what makes our school environment so vibrant and effective. Thank you to our educators for a semester defined by passion, perseverance, and profound impact.

We are proud to highlight the achievements of our students participating in the annual Beta Club competition, a premier academic and leadership event that draws talented students from across the state.

This competition serves as a fantastic platform for our students to showcase their talents through a variety of contests in critical areas such as academics, the arts, STEM, and public speaking. The ultimate goal of the Beta Club is not only to recognize and celebrate students’ achievements, creativity, and character but also to actively promote the vital ideals of leadership and dedicated community involvement.

Their successful participation reflects the high standards of excellence and service we strive for in all our school programs. Congratulations to all!

As we move into the winter months and spend more time together inside, the odds increase for an individual to contract a cold or flu virus along with other types of sicknesses. It is important to get plenty of rest, exercise regularly, eat as healthy as you can, and wash your hands when necessary. 

If by chance your child does get sick, our school system offers Telemedicine through our school clinics. Telemedicine utilizes state of the art technology to assist the school system in attending to the physical needs of students. The telemedicine connection is a secure, two-way video link with the child and the school nurse on one end, and a medical provider on the other. 

During a telemedicine visit, a child can be screened, examined, diagnosed, treated, and monitored. Special equipment gives the medical provider the ability to examine the child's ears, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, skin, etc. 

Assisted by a Sevier County School System registered nurse, a child can be seen through telemedicine for the following concerns: cuts/abrasions, rashes, pink eye, coughs/colds, strep, earaches, and flu-like symptoms.

Holidays can be an exciting time to spend with friends and family. It can also be hectic

and fast-paced which can sometimes bring anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed.

Here are some thoughts and tips on how to keep your children feeling in control and

more regulated during this festive time of year.

Families often hear the terms IEP and 504 Plan, and while both are designed to support students, they serve different purposes. Understanding the difference can help families know what type of support best fits their child’s needs. 

An IEP is a plan for students who qualify for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 

● Provides specialized instruction in addition to accommodations 

● Includes specific learning goals and progress monitoring 

● Services are individualized and may include therapies or small-group instruction 

● Created and reviewed by an IEP team, which includes parents 

● Designed for students whose disability impacts learning and requires specially designed instruction 

A 504 Plan is designed for students with disabilities who need accommodations but do not require specialized instruction. 

● Provides equal access to learning through accommodations 

● May include supports like extra time, preferential seating, or classroom adjustments ● Does not include specialized instruction or IEP goals 

● Based on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act 

● Helps students succeed in general education settings 

If you have concerns about your child’s learning, behavior, or access to school, reach out to your child’s teacher or school team. Schools work closely with families to determine whether an evaluation for an IEP or a 504 Plan is appropriate. 

Both plans share the same goal: supporting student success and ensuring access to learning in a safe, inclusive environment.