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Principal Zeman's Notes
February 2nd, 2024
New Quarter, New Opportunities
With the start of a new quarter, we encourage our students to approach their learning with enthusiasm and curiosity. Each quarter offers new opportunities for growth, learning, and achievement. We encourage parents to engage actively in their child's educational experience and support them in setting realistic goals for the quarter ahead.
Parent Teacher Communication
Effective communication between parents and teachers is essential for student success. We encourage parents to maintain open lines of communication with their child's teachers throughout the quarter. If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the appropriate teacher, counselor, or administrative staff.
Reading
One of our big pushes at VMS this year is independent reading of novels chosen by students.
I want to emphasize the critical importance of independent reading for your children's academic and personal development. Encouraging your child to engage in independent reading can have numerous benefits that extend far beyond the classroom.
- Improvement in Literacy Skills: Independent reading exposes children to a variety of vocabulary, sentence structures, and writing styles. The more they read, the more they internalize language patterns and improve their own writing skills.
- Expanded Knowledge Base: Through independent reading, children explore different topics, cultures, and perspectives. They gain knowledge about the world around them and develop a broader understanding of diverse ideas and experiences.
- Enhanced Critical Thinking: Reading fosters critical thinking skills by encouraging children to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information. They learn to question, infer, and draw conclusions, which are essential skills for academic success and lifelong learning.
- Increased Concentration and Focus: Reading requires sustained attention and focus, which are valuable skills in our fast-paced world. Regular practice with independent reading helps children improve their concentration abilities and builds their stamina for complex tasks.
- Promotion of Empathy and Social Skills: Reading fiction exposes children to characters with diverse backgrounds and emotions. As they empathize with characters and navigate complex storylines, they develop greater empathy and understanding of human emotions and relationships.
- Stress Reduction and Relaxation: Reading can serve as a form of relaxation and stress relief for children, providing them with an escape from daily pressures and digital distractions. It offers a quiet, solitary activity that encourages reflection and introspection.
- Fostering a Lifelong Love of Learning: Perhaps most importantly, independent reading helps instill a lifelong love of learning in children. When they discover the joy and wonder of books, they are more likely to continue reading and exploring new ideas throughout their lives.
As parents, you play a crucial role in nurturing your child's love of reading. Encourage them to explore different genres, find books that pique their interest, and set aside dedicated time for reading each day. By fostering a supportive environment that values independent reading, you empower your children to become lifelong learners and critical thinkers.
Thank you for your commitment to your child's education and growth.
Students of the Week
CTE Newsletter
Article of the Week- Helping your child be more responsible
Organization and time management do not come naturally for most of us. However, they’re very important skills to have to be successful in middle and high school (and life after school, too!), and some kids may need more help learning how to manage these new responsibilities.
Here are 4 things you can do to help your middle schooler succeed:
Be OK with your child’s mistakes. “Let your child manage their own agenda and calendar,” says licensed therapist Jody Baumstein, LCSW. “It might be tempting to do it for them, but the only way they will learn is to try themself. It’s OK if they fail! Experiencing failure, and learning from it, is an important part of building resilience.”
Help your child learn from their mistakes. Baumstein says, “Once failure occurs, have a sit-down and talk it through together: ‘What happened? What can we learn from this experience?’”
Set firm limits and boundaries, and stick to them. It may not seem like it to your child, but children (even at this age) thrive with rules and limitations. The limits you set create a sense of predictability and comfort, and they can help reduce stress and anxiety.
Enforce rules consistently. Although it can be uncomfortable at times, consistent enforcement of rules teaches kids to respect order and authority, and it gives them “ground rules” for how to behave as adults.
Important Dates
February 19 - No School, President’s Day
March 8- Student Activity Night
March 14 - Conferences (4-7)
March 19 - Conferences (4-7)
March 25-29 - No School, Spring Break