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COLEBROOK SCHOOL
NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits. I am writing to share an important aspect of our educational philosophy that we believe will greatly benefit your child’s learning journey – the concept of a Growth Mindset.
As parents/guardians and educators, we all want our children to succeed not only academically but also in life. Developing a growth mindset is a key factor to that. Growth Mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Individuals with a growth mindset embrace challenges, learn from criticism and persist in the face of setbacks. They understand that effort is a path to mastery and that failures are opportunities to learn and improve.
Research shows a growth mindset has numerous benefits:
Resilience: Children with a growth mindset are more resilient in the face of challenges. They understand that setbacks are a natural part of the learning process and are more likely to bounce back from failures.
Increased effort: When children believe that their efforts can improve their abilities, they are more likely to put in extra effort. This increased effort can lead to significant improvements in their skills and knowledge.
Positive attitude: Growth mindset fosters a positive attitude toward learning. Children become more enthusiastic about learning and are open to exploring new ideas and opportunities.
Improved relationships: When children view challenges as learning opportunities, they are more receptive to feedback and constructive criticism. This openness strengthens their relationships with peers, teachers and parents/guardians.
To promote a growth mindset at home, we encourage you to:
Praise effort: Acknowledge and praise your child’s effort, perseverance and strategies rather than focusing solely on their achievements. This reinforces the idea that hard work leads to improvement.
Embrace Challenges: Encourage your child to take on challenges and view them as growth opportunities. Help them understand that mistakes are a part of learning.
Model a Growth Mindset: Children learn by observing the behavior of adults. Model a growth mindset by demonstrating your own willingness to learn, face challenges, and persist in the face of setbacks.
Encourage curiosity: Foster your child’s natural curiosity by encouraging questions and exploration. Support their interests and provide resources to help them learn more about topics they find intriguing.
Celebrate progress: Celebrate the progress your child makes, no matter how small. Recognize their achievements and efforts, reinforcing the idea that improvement is valuable and important.
By instilling a growth mindset in our children, we are helping them develop resilience needed to navigate the complexities of the world. Thank you for your continued support in nurturing a positive and growth-oriented learning environment for our students. If you have any questions or would like to discuss this more, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Warm regards,
Brenna Farrell
CONTACT INFORMATION
Address: 210 Colebrook Dr.
Principal: Brenna Farrell | brenna_farrell@westiron.monroe.edu
Main office: 585-336-1600
Fax: 585-336-0866
Secretary: Melanie Maloney | Melanie_Maloney@westiron.monroe.edu
Website: westirondequoit.org/colebrook_school
Health Office: 585-336-1608
· Nurse: Lona Cornell
Transportation: 585-336-2992
District Office: 585-342-5500 | District website: westirondequoit.org
UPCOMING EVENTS
November
11/7- School Pictures: Make-up Day
11/10- NO SCHOOL: VETERAN'S DAY
11/17- Report Cards Available in Infinite Campus Grades 1-3 (Feb 2, 2024, for kindergarten)
11/22-11/24- NO SCHOOL: THANKSGIVING RECESS
December
12/8- NO SCHOOL: CONFERENCE DAY
12/18- Winter Singalong: Time TBD
12/25-12/29- NO SCHOOL: HOLIDAY RECESS
January
1/1 - NO SCHOOL- Holiday Recess
1/15 - NO SCHOOL- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Link to full calendar: westirondequoit.org/colebrook_school
Art: Connecting the Dots
K-3 Art Teacher, Mrs. Catherine King, has shared some of your children’s recent art work! In this unit, students learned a lot. They learned about:
Color theory (warm colors, cool colors, neutral colors)
Movement in art (when the line, shape or images give a sense of movement within the piece)
Tessellations, which is an arrangement of shapes that are closely fitted together in infinitely repeating patterns
How to properly hold, use and care for a paintbrush
Artists Yayoi Kusama and Wassily Kandinsky (who inspired some of their designs)
In some of our elementary schools, students participated in the display process as well, preparing the artwork for hanging up, and even which pieces should go where. “It has been an exciting experience that has helped build an even greater sense of community through art in each of the schools,” Mrs. King said.
Hike and learn at Helmer Nature Center!
Help Helmer Nature Center celebrate its 50th Anniversary year with a new program series. There will be a different program on the 3rd Thursday every month. These will include hike & talks, presentations, guest speakers, outdoor experiences and more!
On Thursday, Nov. 16 there will be a Hike & Talk with Naturalist, Jessa, to learn more about traditional Haudenosaunee Names and Uses for Plants at HNC. This hour-long, gentle walk will have lots of stops at plants along the way. It’s suitable for adults and children ages 10 and up. Events have a nominal fee per person but are free for HNC members. You must pre-register by emailing HelmerNatureCenter@gmail.com or calling 585-336-3035.
Future topics/dates
- Dec. 21: Eclipse Presentation with RMSC
- Jan. 18: Evening Snowshoe/Hike
- Feb. 15: Herbs
- March 21: Presenter TBD
- April 18: Bird Walk
- May 16: Tree ID & Planting
- June 20: Family Night Hike
Physical Education: Pedestrian safety is a focus
Our K-6 Physical Education staff has been teaching lessons this fall specifically designed to give students essential knowledge and skills to navigate the world on foot safely. In a town that is as “walkable” as ours, we feel this is critical for your children. Our pedestrian safety lessons are designed to help teach students to be responsible and make smart, informed decisions to stay safe while walking in neighborhoods and beyond. Here are some reinforced points you can practice with your child at home:
See and be seen
Stop, look and listen before crossing
Obey pedestrian traffic signs and signals
Follow directions of the crossing guard directions
Looking ahead to early February 24, we are excited that all of our K-6 schools will again participate in the Kids Heart Challenge in our continued partnership with the American Heart Association.
IPD TO ALTER GUARD STRUCTURE IN WINTER
Families:
We wanted to remind you again of an upcoming change by IPD to the Crossing Guard schedule in early 2024 that will impact some families. The Irondequoit Police Dept. has informed us that it will eliminate crossing guards at the following locations from Tuesday, Jan. 2 through Friday, Feb. 16 because of a "low-to-no student count," during that time frame.
St. Paul @ Pattonwood
Lakeshore @ Washington
St. Paul @ Westbourne
Portland @ Coronado
“It is both safer and more practical to have those crossing guards redeployed to other posts where there is a need to cross students," IPD shared with us, adding that shifting those guards to higher traffic areas during that seven-week span, such as in front of Dake Jr. HS and IHS, will enhance student safety.
If you have questions, please email IPD Crossing Guard Coordinator, Mary Beth Egeling, at megeling@irondequoit.gov. If you or anyone you know would want to be a crossing guard, please also email her to obtain more information.
Restorative Night is Nov. 7th
Our district is collaborating with the Children's Institute for a Community Engagement Forum on Restorative Practices Mindset. The event will be from 6-7:30 PM Tuesday, Nov. 7th in the All-Purpose Room at Dake Jr. HS, 350 Cooper Road. This is intended for district families, caregivers and community members to learn more about the whole-child approach and the use of restorative practices in West Irondequoit. Attendees will walk away with a deepened understanding of community building, social-emotional learning and relational and culturally responsive practices. Restorative Practices help us handle conflicts and build a better, more respectful school community. They don't eliminate consequences for actions; they repair harm, promote growth and build a more positive school environment.
If any individual needs a translator or sign-language interpreter for this event, please email Assistant Director Counseling, Student Equity & Wellness, Mrs. Leah Daniels-Farren at leah_daniels-farren@westiron.monroe.edu.
CHECK/UPDATE YOUR INFO IN THE PARENT PORTAL, PLEASE
Do you:
Have a new cell phone number or switch carriers recently?
Have a new email address or new work phone number?
Need to update your emergency contacts?
Be sure to keep us informed of any changes to your numbers or emergency contact information. Update it directly on the Infinite Campus Portal, or send in a note with your child.
TO REACH THE PORTAL, Click here
WHY YOUR MOBILE NUMBER IS CRITICAL
You must have your mobile number in the MOBILE NUMBER field. Our system does NOT default even if you have just one field filled out (Home/Work/Mobile). If your mobile number is not in the correct field, you will NOT receive text messages from our school/district for emergencies (such as school closings in winter months).