End of Year Update from Ms. Brown 💛
What a year, Prairie Winds! As we head into summer, I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you — truly — for sharing your kids with us. Watching them grow all year long is genuinely the best part of this job.
Happy Summer! ☀️
📋 How We Finished the Year
To close things out, K–4 students completed an end-of-year reflection activity — thinking about how they've grown, not just academically, but as people. I got to hear about learning to cook at home, mastering swimming, hitting iReady Stretch Growth goals, and yes — the helicopter on the field came up more than once 🚁. Our 5th graders closed out their time at Prairie Winds with a connection circle together, and students who were here in 3rd grade received the letters they wrote to their future selves — a reminder of how much can change in two years, and how much more is still ahead. 💌
Students also reflected on what challenged them this year and what they're most excited about heading into next year. They left with one piece of homework: share it with you. If they haven't yet, it's a great summer conversation! You deserve to hear about all the ways your child grew this year.
🎨 Mentors & Mentees
Our Mentor/Mentee pairs wrapped up the year with a partner art activity. It was a genuinely sweet group, and those relationships made a real difference this year.
🏆 Ambassador & Mentor Celebration
Our Student Ambassadors and Mentors were recognized with a well-earned celebration — a cold sweet treat in the cafeteria — as a thank-you for everything they contributed to Prairie Winds this year. These students lead, show up, and make our school a better place. So proud of them!
🏅 Big News: RAMP Recognition
Prairie Winds earned the RAMP designation this year — Recognized ASCA Model Program — and I am still buzzing 🐝. I had the honor of presenting to the Board of Education about what it means: our counseling program is driven by data, sets real goals, and measures progress over time. It is a nationally recognized honor, and it belongs to this whole community.
🔭 See You Next Year
There are things we didn't get to this year that are moving straight to the top of the list — including resuming our military child group. Some things slipped, and I hope for a little grace with that. What I can tell you is that this team hustled from the time students arrived to well after they left, and I'm already dreaming up what's next.
Check back here in the fall for updates on what we're working on in counseling. Have a wonderful summer, Prairie Winds! 💛
— Ms. Brown School Counselor
Prairie Winds Elementary
