Birch Creek Elementary School Newsletter
December 1, 2025
Dear Students and their Grown Ups,
December is here, and the year is truly flying by! As we head into the final stretch before the holiday break, here are some important updates and reminders. We have so much learning still left to do this month!
Mid-Year Assessments:
Over the next three weeks, we will take our mid-year assessments. Our students will take the Reading (K-5th) and Math (K-3rd) Acadience and the iReady Math Diagnostic (1st-6th).
Family Reading Time over the Holidays:
Please keep a consistent reading schedule during the holiday season. Reading holiday stories together, discussing vocabulary, and predicting what might happen in the story are all strategies that help all students.
Fantastic Community Support:
Thank you for supporting our annual Veterans’ Day Program. Our 5th graders worked so hard and did a fantastic job sharing their patriotic message with our audience. This is always such a touching assembly. Also, thank you for supporting our School Book Fair. This event helps us add more books to our school library.
Dress for the Weather:
Remember to dress for winter weather. We plan to go outside and enjoy the fresh air as much as possible. (Write your child’s name inside their jackets and coats.) Somehow, our lost-and-found always multiplies this time of year. We would love to get coats and jackets back to their owners.
Safety:
Student safety is our number one priority. Please follow the drop-off/pick-up guidelines. Slow down, give yourself extra time and stay off your devices. We’ve had several close calls. These are “our” kids and it is our responsibility to take care of every single one.
YAM Flag Contest:
Mrs. Nish would like all students to be aware of the Utah YAM Youth Flag Entry 2026 Contest!
Please click here for more information.
The Bulldog Way:
During December, students at Birch Creek will learn about ways to be responsible. We will focus on respect. Respect is treating others the way you want to be treated. It means being kind, polite, and considerate of other people's feelings, rights, and boundaries.
How to Show Respect
- Listen Actively: Pay attention to others when they are speaking without interrupting.
- Use Positive Language: Speak kindly and avoid hurtful words.
- Follow Rules: Respect the rules in the classroom and play areas; they are in place to keep everyone safe.
- Take Turns and Share: Be fair when playing games or using shared materials.
- Help Others: Offer help when someone needs it, whether it’s a classmate or a teacher.
Counselor Corner:
Hello families!
It’s hard to believe it’s already December—time is flying! We’ve had a great month here at Birch Creek. I recently finished a small group with some awesome kindergarteners where we practiced social skills, played games, and read stories together. I’ll be running another kinder group later this school year. If you’d like your child to join, please let me or your child’s teacher know.
This month, I’m also starting a 6th-grade girls group. We’ll meet each Monday during 6th-grade lunch until Christmas Break. If your 6th-grade daughter would like to join, please email me at brittany.aller@ccsdut.org.
With the holidays coming up, I hope you all get time to rest, enjoy time with loved ones, and eat some yummy food. Below (attached) is a fun activity you can try together as a family!
Happy Holidays!
Please be aware of the following dates.
- December 1st - 5th: Acadience Math Assessment 1st - 3rd Grades.
- December 3rd: Mt. West String Academy Orchestra Concert 7:00 p.m., Ridgeline High School.
- December 5th: Bulldog Way Assembly/Dress like your future profession.
- December 8th-11th: PTO Holiday Shoppe during P.E. Prep, watch for envelopes 1st week of December!
- December 16th: School Community Council 4:00 P.M. (if needed).
- December 17th: Acadience Reading Assessment.
- December 19th: Last Day of school, for students, before Christmas Break.
- January 5th, 2026: Return to School
Make sure you take time to enjoy time with your loved ones this holiday season. Rest, relax, and enjoy!
Remember, my door is always open! Thank you for letting me work with your children.
Trudy J. Wilson
Principal
