January 4, 2025
Dear Foster Families,
As we continue this exciting school year, I want to celebrate how much we’ve accomplished in 5 short months. Students are making academic and social emotional gains and staff continue to have a growth mindset to ensure our Bulldogs receive high quality instruction from caring teachers every day.
I want to take a moment to emphasize the importance of communication and collaboration between our school and your family. If you ever have a question, concern, or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher, our assistant principal, or myself. Together we can address any challenges and celebrate every success. Please tell us about the games, activities, and celebrations outside of school. When able we love to attend and support our families as much as possible. As I’ve mentioned before, it truly takes a village to ensure that our students thrive. One of the most rewarding aspects of being an educator is working closely with families to ensure every student, every day, is set up for success.
Attendance is another cornerstone of student success. If there is anything preventing your child from attending school regularly, please reach out to our school counselor, the assistant principal, or me so that we can work together to develop a plan to support your family. In addition, I want to stress the importance of minimizing tardiness and early check-outs. Our dedicated Bulldog Staff teach from the moment the school day begins to the very last second of the day. Any time your child is not in the classroom is time they miss out on valuable instruction, which can be challenging to make up.
Is your family still thinking about those 2025 goals and intentions? Starting family traditions around goal-setting and intention-setting can be a fun and meaningful way to bond while teaching children about personal growth. At the bottom you’ll find some ideas if you need any to jumpstart your thinking.
Thank you for your continued partnership and commitment to your child’s education. Together, we can ensure that Foster is a place where our PAWS values are represented: Positive, Accountable, Willing, and Safe.
I look forward to seeing our Bulldog Students on Tuesday, January 7th.
I am Bulldog Proud,
Ms. Brandy Heckman, Foster Elementary Principal
2025 Goal/Intention Setting Ideas:
1. Family Vision Board Night: Gather old magazines, stickers, markers, and glue. Have each family member create a small vision board representing their goals and dreams for the year. Display the boards in a common area and review them together monthly to track progress.
2. "One Word for the Year" Tradition: As a family, pick a word that represents the focus for the year (e.g., "kindness," "adventure," or "growth"). Each person can also choose their own word. Write the words on decorative cards or stones and keep them visible as a daily reminder.
3. Gratitude Jar or Goal Jar: Decorate a jar together. Throughout the year, family members write down small achievements, acts of kindness, or things they’re grateful for and drop them into the jar. On New Year’s Eve or a special family day, open the jar and read them together.
4. Monthly "Family Check-Ins": Schedule a fun family meeting at the end of each month to reflect on goals and set intentions for the next month. Combine the meeting with a treat like homemade popcorn or pizza night.
5. Adventure or Learning Goals: Set a goal to try something new as a family each month, such as hiking a new trail, visiting a museum, or learning a new skill. Keep a "Family Adventure Book" where you log your experiences with photos or drawings.
6. Create a Goal Poster: As a family, brainstorm collective goals (e.g., "Volunteer 3 times," "Read 50 books," or "Save for a family trip"). Write or draw them on a large poster. Cross off goals as you achieve them, and celebrate each milestone together.
7. Acts of Kindness Challenge: Brainstorm simple acts of kindness each family member can do (e.g., helping a neighbor, writing thank-you notes). Keep a kindness chart and reward everyone’s efforts with a family treat or outing.
8. Time Capsule: Write down each family member’s goals, dreams, and favorite things, and place them in a time capsule (a decorated box or jar). Add drawings or photos. Open the time capsule next New Year’s Eve and see how everyone has grown.
9. Family Goal Trophy: Create a "Family Trophy" that rotates to the person who made the most progress toward a goal each month. Celebrate the winner with a small reward or their choice of a family activity.
10. Memory Lane Walk: On New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, go for a family walk and reflect on your favorite memories of the past year. End the walk by sharing hopes and intentions for the coming year.
