Etna Elementary Welcomes the Following New Staff:
Makena Johnson – 4th Grade Teacher
Ms. Johnson graduated from BYU-Idaho with a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in math. She then went to Utah State University where she graduated with a degree in Communication Disorders and Deaf Education. She previously taught 5th grade in Utah for two years. She is excited to be back in Star Valley. She enjoys playing sports, baking, and the outdoors.
Deanna Robbins – 6th Grade Teacher
Wendy Kennedy – Kitchen Manager
Mrs. Kennedy was born and raised in Star Valley. She spent 15 years working in the nursing field. She is happily married with 5 amazing boys, ages 11.5, 9, 9, 5, & 5. She has two sets of twins. She loves being outdoors, doing crafts and spending time with her family. Her family is the world to her. She is the PTO president for Thayne Elementary. She is tickled to be here at Etna, She loves her job and loves being around the kids!!!
LeeAnna Guyett – Kitchen Aid
LeeAnna has been happily married to her husband, Mike, for 21 years. They have two teenagers who attend Star Valley High School. This is her fifth year living in Star Valley. She loves to read, hike, and bake delicious desserts.
Music Specials
Please check with Mr. Kratz at 307-880-5352 or lkratz@lcsd2.org if you have any questions or concerns regarding instruments this year. Also find Mr. Kratz on clever.com for all information and weekly lessons.
We are off to a great start!
Thank you to those who signed up on SIGN UP GENIUS to help with activities this year. It’s not too late to help and get your name on the list. Just send a quick email to ttw@silverstar.com.
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook for more updates! Just look up Etna PTO.
Looking forward to a great year!
Etna PTO
Application for Classroom Placement – 2025-2026
Parent input on student placement will need to be submitted using a Goggle Form that is available on our website under “Classroom Placement Application” at etna.lcsd2.org. Phone calls, emails, notes, or conversations with teacher about placement will not substitute for completing the form. When making a recommendation, please consider the following:
Thank you for helping make this a great year at Etna Elementary. We appreciate your support and all you do to make this a good experience for your child. As always, if you have any questions please feel free to give me a call at 307-885-2472.
David Saltzman, Principal, Etna Elementary
I have had numerous conversations with parents, teachers, and students of late about foundational or basic skills. Just like in sports, if the fundamentals aren’t in place, the rest of the skills will not be developed. Typically, as the year progresses, basic skills receive less and less of our instructional time as we seek to help students have a deeper understanding of the identified grade level standards. We do seek to bolster the identified basic and essential skills in some remediation and intervention time and after school tutoring, however, when a student is behind in these areas; the home is the best place for this catching up to be done as well. We are all on the same team and our teachers are very committed each day to do all they can for your children. Together, let’s do all we can to prepare them for success at the next level. Currently, our data indicates we have many students not progressing toward next grade level readiness. If this is true of your child, please be prepared to work with your child’s teacher to do all we can to help them progress.
Two basic math skills needed for all grades are fluency with math facts (addition, multiplication, and divison) and solid understanding of fractions. These are very simple to review and practice. If your child does not know these facts, please ask your child’s teacher about ways to help him or her at home. Also, fluent reading at grade level cannot be attained unless children regularly read at home. It is recommended they read a minimum of 20 minutes at their independent level every day just to maintain the expected grade level reading skills. In addition, as a basic life skill, every child should know their address and at least one reliable phone number to call.
Together, let’s be their champion and combine our efforts to secure their success. Please check with your child/children on how they are doing in each fundamental skill listed above. If we can be a resource, please let us know. Too much is at stake for any of us to not fully invest in their success.
Random Acts of Kindness week is February 14th through February 17th. The Student Council are selling candy grams that the students can buy for anyone in the school. They are anonymous! The Goal is to spread kindness.
The students can purchase the candy grams for 50 cents each, Monday 2/14 through Thursday 2/17. The money raised will go to a charity picked by the Student Council.
The 6th Grade Ski Trips have been scheduled for Friday, February 4th and Friday, February 11. They will be going to White Pine Ski Resort in Pinedale, Wyoming. For more information contact your childs teacher or the office. 307-885-2472
The Preamble to the Constititution of the United States
The Preamble to the Declaration of Independence
The Gettysburg Address
The 50 States and Capitals
The Star Spangled Banner
The Pledge of Allegiance
Mustang Mentors are students selected by their teachers for demonstrating strength in one or all of our 8 Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills: Name It to Tame It, Body Awareness, Focused Attention, Self-Awareness, Golden Rule, Growth Mindset, Mindfulness, & Leadership.
Mustang Mentors are announced once a month at our Mustang School Spirit Day and will be honored for a month. If you would like more information about each of our 8 skills, please email abkurtmason@lcsd2.org.
have earned the
INDIAN PAINTBRUSH AWARD
for reading all ten titles nominated for this Wyoming Children’s Book Award.
McKinley Thygerson
earned
AR Honors Reader
by earning 100 AR points for
reading books on the
Honors Readers List.
The following students placed in their grade level spelling bees, qualifying them to participate in the LCSD2 Grade 4-6 Spelling Bee held at the District Office.
Kiersom Toutjian, Jaxton Merritt-Wood, Rylie Deming, Abelina Scherbel, Mason Suter
Sawyer Crook, Derek Crowther, Wyatt Canfield, Emmaline Crook, Meysa Sutton
Axel Carlston, Ava Sutton, Nola Simpson, Hayden Kennedy, Slayden Penny
4th Grade
2nd Place – Abelina Scherbel
3rd Place – Jaxton Merritt-Wood
5th Grade
1st Place – Emmaline Crook
Four sixth graders move on to compete in the District Oral Bee on February 9th. Nola, Hayden, Slayden, and Axel.
And the winners are:
Music 2 – 6th Grade Class
Music 1 – 5th Grade Class
Mr. McKinneys – 4th Grade Class
The winning classes ran the most laps around the gym in 3 minutes. Every class showed improvement.
The PTO here at Etna Elementary is a volunteer organization made up of parents, teachers, administrators, and staff who are all dedicated to the successful education of our students. Additionally, the PTO works hard to help make the school year enjoyable and exciting for students, teachers, and parents.
There are lots of opportunities and various ways to volunteer – even if for an hour or two; we welcome you and would love to have your help!
Please let us know if you would like to help at etnawypto@gmail.com.
Follow us on Facebook at Etna PTO!