Mohawk Elementary 101

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Back to School Meet & Greet: Usually held the Friday before school starts.  Students will be able to visit their classroom and meet their teacher! Spirit Wear ordered over the summer will be available for pickup.  There will be another opportunity to order Spirit Wear after Back to School Meet & Greet.  There are tables set up for families to learn more about Chiefs, Annual Fund, PTA Membership, etc.  You will also pickup any Yearbooks ordered from the previous year.  New families can visit the Newcomers table to be paired up with a Mohawk Buddy Family that can answer any questions new families may have during the school year.

 

Birthday Treats: Please do not send cupcakes, donuts, etc. to be shared in the classroom.  You may send something special or a party favor type goodie bag to your child's classroom to be given out at the end of the day.  Non-food items are strongly encouraged.

 

Boo-Hoo Yahoo Coffee: Held for parents on the first day of school, immediately following drop-off.  Join other moms and dads after drop-off to cheer or cry on each other’s shoulders!

 

Box Tops: You earn cash for Mohawk by using the BoxTops apps and scanning your receipt after purchasing items with a BoxTops coupon on the lid. 

 

Career Day:  Held in December, the day focuses on encouraging children to create goals for both higher education and careers of interest.  Parent speakers are invited to come and talk to students about their professional careers.

 

Carnival: A carnival sponsored by the PTA held in October at Mohawk Elementary with games, bounce houses, slides, music and food.  Fun for all ages! 

 

Cha Cha Assembly: Held each nine weeks to celebrate the accomplishments of students and Mohawk groups and spread the word about upcoming activities. Each assembly ends with the dancing of the Cha Cha Slide!

 

CHIEFS: A group of dads and other male role-models who serve Mohawk through community projects, CHIEF Patrol, and a variety of other events.  

 

Class Funds: Money collected by the Home Room Parent at the beginning of each school year.  These funds cover gifts to teachers throughout the year, class room parties and other class activities.

 

Class Parties: Room parents plan parties for each class for the Winter Holiday, Valentine’s Day and End of Year Picnic.

 

Clothes Closet: RISD Council of PTA’s clothing donation program.  This is a wonderful program for which you can donate your used clothing or your time to help RISD students in need “shop” in the Clothes Closet for new clothes.  You can sign up to volunteer by contacting the Mohawk Clothes Closet Chairperson. Remember, donations should be cute, current and clean!

 

Colt Courier: PTA E-Newsletter published on a weekly basis.  If you have an account with our website www.mohawkpta.org you will automatically receive the newsletter. Otherwise, contact us at mohawkcoltcourier@gmail.com . 

 

Curriculum Night: This is usually held during the second week of school on a Thursday night. Parents come to school for a PTA meeting and then go to their child’s classroom to learn about expectations and procedures. Plan ahead and get your babysitter lined up, this is a parents-only event.

 

Doctor’s Note: Parent(s)/Guardians are required to explain the reason for all absences via a signed and dated note. The note must be received within 3 days of the absence. Absences will be coded either excused or unexcused based on the explanation provided by the parent and following district guidelines.

 

Donuts with Dad: Hosted by the Chiefs.  Dads and other male role-models are invited to the park for donuts, coffee and juice with their kid(s).  This is typically held on a Friday morning in February.

 

Field Day/Buddy Fun Day: Annual field day held in May. Students are paired with classmates for games and activities. Field day is coordinated by the Mohawk PE teachers. The PE teachers typically send out a Google Form for parents to sign up to volunteer to help run the activities a couple of weeks before the event.

 

FOCUS:  Parents can access their children’s grades and get report cards throughout the year online. Link: Focus Sign In

 

Homeroom Parents: Two for each classroom.  Room parents coordinate with the teachers to meet the needs of the classroom, plan parties, and send emails to parents about volunteer opportunities for parties, teacher birthdays, etc. The room parents will collect classroom funds at the beginning of the year to help cover the costs of the parties, gifts for teachers, etc.  Homeroom Parents also coordinate volunteers to staff games, provide cakes and help at the Carnival.

 

Hug Zone: This is the area in front of the arrival doors. Please respect this area and allow your children to proceed to their classrooms with their friends. If you need to stay on campus, please sign in through the front office and sticker up in compliance with RISD guidelines.

 

Invention Convention: Held in the fall, this district-wide event encourages interested students in all grades to employ a variety of critical thinking skills in the creation of their inventions. 

 

Kindergarten Round-Up: Incoming Mohawk kindergartners visit Mohawk in the spring to meet some future classmates and visit a kindergarten classroom and teacher.  Registration is now done online.

 

Marquee: You can have your child’s name on the school marquee on their birthday. Click on "Mohawk Shop" to order.  The proceeds from the marquee go to purchase new books and other items for the Mohawk Library.

 

Open House: Held in March, parents and children are invited to the school to view their student’s work in the both the classroom and in specials.

 

xPlore:  It is RISD's after school program that encourages students in a variety of quality academic and enrichment activities until 6pm each day. 

 

PayPams: Online service that allows parents to pay for cafeteria accounts and monitor what their children are buying for lunch. For more information, visit www.paypams.com.

 

PIN:  Each student has a PIN which they punch in when they want to purchase lunch.

 

PTA: An important part of Mohawk’s continued success! The PTA is responsible for and/or helps with most of the Mohawk programs and events.  Please sign up to volunteer or donate!

 

Advanced Learning Programs and Services: ALPS addresses the needs of the gifted and talented student by offering a differentiated curriculum focusing on critical thinking, analytical thinking, creativity, and independent learning. Those students identified as gifted and talented may attend ALPS classes beginning in Kindergarten.  Applications for kindergartners go out in October and qualified students will be tested in January. This application and testing schedule is different for grades 1-6.  Classes are once a week during regular school hours.  Once accepted, the student will no longer need to be tested and will remain in ALPS through 6^th grade. However, if not accepted, the student is able to retest the following year. 

 

Red Ribbon Week:  Red Ribbon Week is a national tribute to drug and alcohol awareness, and takes place in the Fall. 

 

Safety Patrol: Fulfilled by 6th grade students, this patrol helps with morning carpool by opening doors for children being dropped off.

 

School Supplies: The PTA offers a service to you in the Spring to pre-order school supplies for the start of the next school year. School supplies will NOT be available to purchase at the Back to School Meet and Greet, but supply lists are available on this website for you to purchase your own if you do not pre-order. Parents tell us that it is so much more convenient and cost effective to pre-order supplies in the Spring. Save yourself multiple trips to the store and order yours early!  The pre-ordered school supply packs are delivered before school starts directly to your child's classroom.

 

Sky Ranch: A two night, science-based camp available to 6^th grade students in the Fall.  Financial assistance is available on an as-needed basis. 

 

Specials: Music, P.E. and Art. Students attend Music and P.E. twice a week and Art once a week.

 

Spirit Day: Every Friday.  Wear your Mustang Spirit Wear or anything red and black to show your Mohawk pride!  

 

Spirit Wear: Purchase your awesome Mohawk Spirit Wear online starting in July and pick up at the Back to School Meet and Greet.  There is a second chance to order Spirit Wear after Back to School Meet and Greet.

 

Spring Fling: Usually held in the Spring every other year.  The Mohawk PTA holds an auction and party for parents, teachers and staff to raise funds for PTA programs and events. We don’t have it every year, as it is voted on each year as an optional fundraiser. It’s definitely fun, though!

 

Talent Show:  Students in grades 4-6, participate in a talent show held during the last week of school. Students must audition with the music teachers before becoming a participant in the talent show.  It is informal and fun!

 

Teacher Appreciation Week:  Held during the first full week in May, families and students show their love and appreciation to our teachers! Each day has a theme such as bring a handwritten note, a favorite snack or flower for your child’s teacher.

 

www.mohawkpta.org : Our awesome website!  Visit us here for all things Mohawk PTA.  Join the PTA, sign up to volunteer, provide information for the directory, view the Colt Courier or calendar, purchase spirit wear, yearbooks and school supplies, etc. It is a one-stop-shop for all things PTA!