Dear Vernon Families and Friends,
We hope this message finds you well. We wanted to take a moment to address a recent uptick in incidents of interpersonal conflict among some of our students and emphasize the importance of reinforcing social-emotional learning (SEL) both at school and at home.
At Vernon, we are committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where all students feel valued, respected, and supported. Recent issues involving interpersonal conflict serve as a reminder of how essential SEL skills are in promoting positive relationships and resolving conflicts effectively.
Here are some ways you can help us reinforce these important skills in our students:
Open Communication: Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings openly. Listening to them without judgment helps them feel heard and understood, fostering better communication skills.
Problem-Solving: Teach and reinforce problem-solving techniques with your children. Encourage them to identify problems, brainstorm solutions, and evaluate ways to solve problems positively. This empowers them to use their words to address issues constructively.
Emotional Regulation: Help your child recognize and manage their emotions. You can help us by reinforcing healthy coping strategies for dealing with stress, anger, or frustration, such as deep breathing or taking a break.
Empathy: We can all promote empathy by discussing the feelings and perspectives of others. Encourage your child to consider how their words and actions may impact their peers, fostering a sense of compassion and understanding.
Model SEL Skills: Children often learn by observing their parents. We can all do our part in this area by being positive role models by demonstrating effective communication, conflict resolution, and emotional regulation in our own interactions.
Support SEL Initiatives: Stay informed about SEL programs and initiatives at our school. Attend parent-teacher meetings, workshops, and events related to SEL to gain a better understanding of the strategies we're implementing. We will begin to send home to school connections so you can learn more about the skills and strategies we are practicing in school.
Encourage Inclusivity: Promote inclusivity by encouraging your child to be kind and welcoming to all their classmates. Remind them of the importance of respecting differences and embracing diversity.
We believe that when we work together to reinforce SEL skills, we can create a more harmonious and nurturing environment for our students. By equipping our children with the tools they need to resolve conflicts peacefully and communicate effectively, we can help them grow into responsible, empathetic, and more socially aware individuals.
Thank you for your ongoing support in fostering a positive and emotionally intelligent community at Vernon. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our students.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Sincerely,
Ben Keefer
Principal
School Office Hours
7:30am – 4:30pm – School Office Hours
Attendance email
Our IB Learner Profile Trait this Month is Open-Minded
Open-mindedness gives students the ability to:
- embrace different points of view
- listen to and consider the perspectives of others before making a decision
- understand new ideas and experiences broaden their mind and challenge their thinking
- understand mistakes or failure leads to a deeper understanding
- be eager to learn new things and build on existing knowledge, even if it challenges existing views
- be honest, understanding they don’t know everything and can admit it
- know the first answer is not always correct and search for alternatives before settling on an answer
- be an effective team player and collaborator
- be fair and objective, building trust with others
- handle constructive feedback, understanding they learn from their mistakes.
SUN School Interest Form
Please fill out attached form if you are interested in SUN school at Vernon this Fall.
SUN will run October 23rd - December 14th
Questions? Reach out to ...
Tatiana Andre
Sun Program Manger - Eastside, Self Enhancement, Inc.
Author Jorge Cham is coming to Vernon! Tuesday, October 10, 2023
6-8 Presentation: 8:45 - 9:30 (MPR)
3-5 Presentation: 9:45 - 10:30 (MPR)
Both presentations include an author talk followed by a cartooning activity for students.
Family/Community members are welcome.
About the Author:
Jorge Cham is the best-selling author and Emmy-nominated creator of "PHD Comics", the popular comic strip. He is the co-creator of the celebrated animated series, Elinor Wonders Why, which airs on PBS Kids and in 78 countries around the world.
He is also the co-author of the award-winning book, We Have No Idea and the upcoming books, Oliver's Great Big Universe and Out of Your Mind.
Originally from Panama, Jorge Cham earned his Ph.D. in Robotics from Stanford University and was an Instructor and Research Associate at Caltech.
About his new book:
Cosmos meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid in Oliver’s Great Big Universe, an original illustrated middle-grade fiction series that blends science with narrative from Elinor Wonders Why.
Oliver’s Great Big Universe is a STEAM-themed, diary-style series following an 11-year-old who’s taking on the whole universe—if he can survive middle school first.
Additional information:
No purchase necessary. If families would like to purchase the book, we have partnered with Annie Bloom’s Books and more information can be found here:
DENTAL SEALANTS ARE COMING!!
The Dental Sealant program for Grades 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8 are coming up on October 17, 18 and 20. Your students have brought home information and a permission form that needs to be returned to Norma in the office as soon as possible. PLEASE RETURN BY THURSDAY, OCTOBER 5.
The services provided to your student's are completely free.
Take advantage of this once-a-year opportunity!!
