Callahan Family Newsletter

The Bamidele Dancers & Drummers took our students and staff to Brazil, the Caribbean, and Africa with their instruments, exciting rhythms, costumes, folklore, celebratory dances, and songs. They performed the songs and dances of Africa and explored the migration of African culture to the Caribbean and Brazil. Callahan students and staff participated in dancing and played with the instruments they brought. Several staff members said it was the most engaging enrichment program thus far! Special thank you to the Callahan PTA for sponsoring this fun-filled enrichment program!

Have you seen CARES cards going home? Students are so proud getting them from the Callahan staff for following CARES values. They also look forward to our weekly drawing on Fridays! Keep them coming!

Ms. Sara Ryan is the Callahan Elementary School's Norwood Teacher of the Year nominee! Congratulations, Ms. Ryan! Our students and the Callahan community are lucky to have you!

Norwood Public Schools will be providing a series of workshops for parents on important mental health issues. These will be offered via Zoom and feature Jane Hardin, the Department Head for Special Education at Ribas Associates and Publications. She is the co-author of two books on social-emotional learning. The dates and descriptions of the workshops are listed below. All programs will start at 6:30 PM and Zoom links will be shared via parent square in the next few weeks.

1. Tuesday 5/9 Anxiety and Trauma- Families are going through one of the most challenging times we have seen in many years. School and community mass shootings, Covid, war in Europe, bullying, and an increase in violent crime are causing high levels of stress and trauma for children, adolescents, and parents/guardians. These conditions put great stress on the family. In this workshop, attendees will gain strategies and resources to help them and their children cope with this new normal.

2. Tuesday 5/23 Social Emotional Learning in the Home- Parents and guardians will learn strategies to foster self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making in their school-age children. The program is based on our CASEL-endorsed book Social Emotional Learning in the Home.

3. Wednesday, 5/31 Impact of Social Media on Anxiety in Children and Adolescents-Parents and guardians will learn about some of the most widely used social media platforms and their influence on children and adolescents' levels of anxiety and depression.

Virtual PTA meeting Tuesday, May 2. Please join us for our last PTA meeting for this school year at 7:00pm.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88388913772?pwd=dWlQdDZVNTQ5MnlOaGJ4VDVScTVxUT09

Meeting ID: 883 8891 3772
Passcode: 269177
One tap mobile
+13092053325,,88388913772#,,,,*269177# US
+13126266799,,88388913772#,,,,*269177# US (Chicago)

May 2 - MCAS Grade 5 Math Session 1; PTA meeting (virtual)

May 3 - MCAS Grade 4 Math Session 1

May 4 - MCAS Grade 3 Math Session 1

May 5 - Early release for students

May 8-12 - Staff Appreciation Week

May 8 - MCAS Grade 5 Math Session 2

May 9 - MCAS Grade 4 Math Session 2

May 10 - MCAS Grade 3 Math Session 2

May 16 - MCAS Grade 5 Science Session 1

May 17 - MCAS Grade 5 Science Session 2; Grade 4 field trip

May 29 - No School