Dear Sewanee Elementary Students and Families,
Welcome back!
Happy New Year! As we kick off 2025, it's the perfect time to focus on goal setting and making every day count. This month , I will focus on helping students set meaningful goals and take small steps each day to achieve them. Students will learn how to set SMART goals, which are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-oriented. Students will practice setting personal and academic goals. They will also learn how positive self-talk can help them stay motivated and resilient when working toward their goals.
Encourage your child to set a goal for the new year. It could be reading a certain number of books, improving a skill, or learning something new. Celebrate progress together!
Last month, we focused on mindfulness, a skill that helps us stay present, manage emotions, and build resilience. Our December lesson taught students how to become aware of thoughts, feelings, and surroundings; use breathing exercises to calm the body and mind; and redirect attention to stay present and engaged. Students created a "Snow Down" snowball wreath that shows how they can pay attention to the world around them by using some of their senses (hear, feel, see, and smell).
During the month of December, we continued to focus on our kindness initiative. Students were introduced to the Kindness Tree, which encouraged them to craft ornaments by coloring an ornament and then adding a kind word or phrase to their ornament that represents an act of kindness. Over several weeks, the tree was filled with kindness ornaments. This visual representation not only beautified the classroom but also served as a tangible reminder of the importance of kindness throughout our school.
We also wrapped up our Kindness Bingo Challenge, which started on November 13 and ended on December 17, 2024. There were 21 students that completed the challenge; they were recognized during the December 20, 2024 assembly for being intentional in spreading kindness around our school and community. The students received the following rewards that can be redeemed this month:
~ Hot Cocoa with the Principal, Mrs. Dietz
~ Extra Bonus Recess
Let's make this a fantastic start to 2025 by setting goals and making every day count. We're excited to see all the amazing things our students will accomplish this year!
Warm regards,
Kim Hasty, M.S.
SES Student Advocate
Franklin County Family Support Group
The Franklin County family support group is a support group that is open to grandparents, non-parental caregivers, and guardians in Franklin County. This group welcomes all families and individuals in need of support as well as anyone in need of resource connections.
