Superintendent
Contact:
Susan White
Executive Assistant / Cabinet Member
Oversight Committee for Measure E
PJUSD Special Olympics
Don't let Spring, Break Your Attendance Streak!
As we head into April and the much-anticipated spring break, it's important to remember that consistent attendance is still key to your child's success in school. While spring break is a great time for relaxation and rejuvenation, it's essential that students attend school regularly before and after the break to stay on track with their learning.
Missing even a few days of school can lead to gaps in your child's education and make it harder for them to keep up with the rest of the class. Regular attendance ensures that your child doesn't miss out on any important lessons or fall behind their peers.
In addition, returning to school after a break can be challenging for some students, but regular attendance can help make the transition smoother. When students attend school regularly, they establish a routine that makes it easier to get back into the swing of things after a break.
We understand that spring break is a time for family vacations and other activities, but we encourage you to schedule trips around school schedules whenever possible. If your child will be absent during this time, please notify us as soon as possible so we can help your child catch up on any missed work.
Let's work together to ensure that our students have a successful spring break and return to school ready to learn and grow!
Keep a Spring in Your Step to Finish Out the Year
As Spring Break approaches next week we often jump ahead to planning a week full of vacation activities to enjoy or projects to tackle. Packing every free minute of a break can be tempting, especially when we don’t want to miss out on using every bit of free time. But oftentimes when we pack every free moment, the only thing we lose out on is a chance to refuel our happiness and resilience as we head into the homestretch of the school year. Dr. Emma Seppala says we should take time to do nothing and be good to ourselves. As a happiness expert from Stanford University and author of “The Happiness Track” she knows a little bit about this research. Through extensive research, she has identified six keys to happiness. In this article we focus on two of those:
Doing nothing means taking time to let your body and mind just be. There are a lot of ways you can do nothing. Take a slow walk (at least 20 minutes) to nowhere and back. Sit in a quiet place and listen to nothing, focus on finding sounds and letting them fade away to shift your focus on the sound of nothing. This means we may even need to shut that device off. If you can’t do that for 20 minutes, then start with five minutes and work up from there. If doing simply nothing is not a fit for you, try playing easy games or fly a kite. Again, keep the device off and don’t go there for easy games… but that’s a whole other article.
Be good to yourself by letting things go that are outside of your control and getting ready for fresh starts. Not everything goes our way and sometimes we even make mistakes. Acknowledge any mistakes as opportunities to learn how not to do something. These mistakes are part of being human and everybody makes them! Instead of focusing on the pain or frustration that comes from these, spend time enjoying the journey of growth that lasts our whole lives. If this one seems too challenging or abstract, just go back for more doses of the first key of doing nothing.
Practicing these two steps are a good start to rebuilding resilience during Spring Break. It will help refill tanks for students, educators, and parents. Talk with each other how these might look as part of your own Spring Break plans (or lack of plans).
We look forward to seeing everyone back on April 17 rejuvenated and ready to go! Attendance rates continue to improve and we’re excited to finish the year strong. Keep it up PJUSD!
Encouraging Healthy Technology Habits During Spring Break
As Spring Break begins we hope that you and your family are looking forward to a well-deserved break from the demands of the school year. Spring Break can be a wonderful time for students to recharge and have fun, but it's also important to be mindful of their technology and social media usage during this time.
With more free time and fewer obligations, students may be tempted to spend more time on their devices or social media accounts. While it's natural for students to want to stay connected with friends and peers during this time, it's essential to encourage healthy habits and set boundaries around technology use.
We recommend that you take the time to talk with your child about responsible technology use and the importance of taking breaks from screens. Encourage them to engage in physical activity, creative expression, and social interaction. Additionally, we encourage you to monitor your child's social media usage and to follow their accounts to stay informed about their online activity.
Spring Break can be a great opportunity for students to recharge and have fun. By promoting healthy technology habits and encouraging responsible use of social media, you can help your child make the most of this time off while also promoting their overall well-being.
District Projects
Our construction department is very busy preparing for construction this summer. We are on track to begin several projects at PHS including the re-landscaping of the school frontage along with a new electronic marquee and a time capsule!! Klein Gym will receive a new floor and although we are still waiting for the State's plan approval of the pool, we are still anticipating to break ground on the pool sometime this summer.
Connect With Us!
Website: https://www.patterson.k12.ca.us
Location: 510 Keystone Boulevard, Patterson, CA, USA
Phone: 209-895-7700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PJUSD95363