Pat Butler Weekly Update

Posted Date: 11/01/26 (10:30 AM)

Dear Pat Butler Families,

As we head into November, our school community is excited to slow down and focus on what truly matters: gratitude. Every day, we are so thankful for the opportunity to partner with your families and work alongside such dedicated, big-hearted educators who care deeply about your children.

We are also wrapping up the first trimester, which means we are officially one-third of the way through the school year! Our teachers have established wonderful classroom routines and are actively facilitating learning that builds true thinkers—students who are genuinely engaged, curious, and resilient in their learning journey. We couldn't be prouder of the hard work and growth we see in our students and staff each and every day, and we are grateful for your ongoing support at home.

Daylight Saving Time ends this weekend! ⏰🍂 Set your clocks back one hour before heading to bed. Enjoy that extra hour of sleep (or extra early morning wake-up call from the kids)!

November Gratitude

As we move into November, our school community carries on a cherished tradition of slowing down and expressing our gratitude for the incredible people who make our school a home. It is a wonderful opportunity to make sure our staff members feel genuinely seen, appreciated, and valued for everything they do for our children.

We invite you and your children to take a moment to reflect on the dedicated staff who make our days brighter and help carry the load—whether that’s a classroom teacher, a trusted mentor, a dedicated paraeducator, our custodial team (Mr. Bill, Mr. Eli, and Ms. Patricia) keeping our school running, our yard duty supervisors keeping our kids safe, our librarian (Mrs. Greaves-Ross) inspiring a love for reading, or our kitchen team (Ms. Amy and Ms. Jan) serving warm meals with a smile. These are the amazing individuals who share sunshine, step up to take on every challenge alongside our students, and make Pat Butler a truly special place to learn and grow.

If you or your child would like to send a message of appreciation to a staff member, please submit your thank-you note using the attached Google Form. We will make sure your kind words reach them and bring a smile to their day!

Reminder: No candy or toys at school

As we head into the week, here is a friendly reminder that per our school wellness policy, candy is not allowed at school so we can focus on creating calm, regulated learning spaces for all students—please save all sweet treats for home! Additionally, personal toys from home, including squishies and fidgets, have become a significant distraction to learning and need to stay at home as well. Please know that if a student requires sensory support, we have appropriate tools in the classroom ready to give them. If candy or personal toys are brought to school, our protocol is simply for an adult to hold on to the item during the day and send it back home at dismissal. We truly appreciate your support and partnership in keeping our classrooms focused and ready for learning!

Counselor's Corner:

As we wrap up our October class counseling lessons on what it means to be an Upstander, we want to share the strategies our students have been practicing. Being an Upstander means taking safe, positive action when someone else is being mistreated or left out.

We often talk with students about how it takes real courage to be an Upstander. It isn't always easy to step in, but even small acts of bravery make a huge difference in our school community.

Here are six powerful ways your children are learning to support their peers at school:

Be a Buddy: Reach out by walking over, sitting together at lunch, or inviting someone to join a game so they know they are not alone.
Interrupt & Distract: Calmly shift the focus away from the situation using humor, changing the subject, or creating a quick distraction.
Speak Out Safely: Use a calm, steady voice to state that the behavior isn't okay or needs to stop—without name-calling or raising the temperature.
Remove the Audience: Encourage the student being targeted to walk away together, taking away the audience that unfair behavior thrives on.
Intervene as a Group: Rally a few friends to stand together, showing as a united front that unkind behavior isn't accepted here.
Tell a Trusted Adult: Seek help from a teacher, counselor, administrator, or staff member right away.