The Educator
October is National Principals Month
I am delighted to inform you that the month of October is recognized as National Principals Month, a time when we celebrate and honor the dedicated leaders who play a pivotal role in the success of our schools.
Our principals are the heart and soul of our educational community. They work tirelessly to create a nurturing and enriching environment for our students, staff, and families. They are not just administrators; they are mentors, advocates, and champions of education.
During this special month, we encourage you to join us in expressing our appreciation for the hard work and dedication of our principals. Whether through a simple note of gratitude, a kind gesture, or a small token of appreciation, your support will mean the world to them.
Our principals are committed to fostering an environment where every child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. They make countless decisions each day to ensure the safety, well-being, and educational growth of our students.
If you have a story or a message of gratitude that you would like to share with your child's principal, please don't hesitate to reach out to them directly or through our school's communication channels. Your words of encouragement can have a profound impact.
As we celebrate National Principal Month, let us remember that our principals are not only dedicated professionals but also compassionate individuals who deeply care about the success and happiness of our students.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership in creating an exceptional educational experience for our children. Together, we can make this month a memorable and heartwarming celebration of our outstanding principals.
Wishing you a wonderful October filled with appreciation and gratitude!
Daniel Cartwright
Principal - George Hess Educational Complex
Jennifer Holmstrom
Principal - William Davies Middle School
Melanie Lamanteer
Principal - Joseph C. Shaner School
October Information
As Trick or Treating soon approaches, I want to remind our families of some essential safety practices to ensure a fun and secure trick-or-treating experience:
- Accompanied by an Adult: Younger children should always be accompanied by an adult.
- Stay Visible: Use reflective tape or carry a flashlight to stay visible in the dark.
- Check Treats: Inspect all candy before consumption to ensure it is safe.
- Follow Traffic Rules: Use crosswalks, and always be cautious when crossing streets.
There are so many exciting things happening in our schools this month! Please make sure to check our school newsletters and the updated Hamilton Township Schools' website for the latest information and upcoming events.
Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable October!
Parent Portal Information
We would like to remind you that all-important parent information is distributed via email through the Genesis Parent Portal. It is crucial to ensure that your contact information in the Parent Portal is up to date and accurate to ensure you receive all relevant updates and communications from Hamilton Township Schools.
If you have recently experienced a lapse in receiving emails from us, we kindly ask you to take the following steps:
Check Your Information: Log in to the Genesis Parent Portal and verify that your email address and contact information are correctly entered. Any discrepancies may result in missed communications.
Spam Folder: Occasionally, emails from the school district may land in your email's spam or junk folder. Please check these folders regularly to prevent missing important messages.
Unblock Hamilton Township Schools: Ensure that you have not accidentally blocked emails from Hamilton Township Schools. Please review your email settings and make any necessary adjustments to allow our emails to reach your inbox.
We understand the importance of staying informed about your child's education and school activities, and we want to ensure that you receive all relevant updates. If you encounter any issues or have questions regarding your Genesis Parent Portal account, please reach out to our support team for assistance.
Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we appreciate your continued partnership in your child's education.
New Website Feature
What is the Week of Respect in Schools?
The "Week of Respect" is an annual event observed in many schools to promote and reinforce a culture of respect, kindness, and tolerance among students, staff, and the broader school community. This initiative typically spans one week and is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of respectful behavior, anti-bullying efforts, and positive interpersonal relationships. The specifics of how it is observed may vary from one school or educational institution to another, but the overall goals and themes are consistent.
Here are some key aspects of the Week of Respect in schools:
Promoting Respect: The primary focus of the Week of Respect is to promote respectful behavior and interactions among students and staff. It encourages everyone to treat each other with kindness, empathy, and consideration.
Anti-Bullying Initiatives: Many schools use this week to highlight and reinforce anti-bullying efforts. They may conduct activities and discussions aimed at preventing bullying, raising awareness about its negative effects, and providing strategies for students to deal with bullying situations.
Character Education: Character education is an important component of the Week of Respect. Schools often use this time to teach students about values like respect, empathy, tolerance, and responsibility through various activities, lessons, and discussions.
Student Involvement: Students are actively involved in planning and participating in Week of Respect activities. This involvement can include organizing assemblies, creating posters or artwork, and leading discussions or workshops on respect and kindness.
Positive School Climate: The Week of Respect contributes to creating a positive and inclusive school climate where students feel safe and supported. It emphasizes that respect is a core value in the school community.
Guest Speakers and Workshops: Some schools may invite guest speakers or conduct workshops during this week to address specific issues related to respect, tolerance, and bullying prevention. These sessions can provide valuable insights and strategies for students and staff.
Themed Days or Events: Schools often have themed days or events throughout the week to engage students in a fun and memorable way. For example, they may have "Wear Blue for Kindness Day" or "Random Acts of Kindness Day" to encourage specific actions related to respect and kindness.
Parent and Community Involvement: The Week of Respect can extend beyond the school walls to involve parents and the wider community. Schools may host parent workshops or community events to raise awareness and promote respectful behavior in all aspects of students' lives.
Ongoing Efforts: While the Week of Respect is a designated time for focused activities, the principles and lessons taught during this week should ideally be integrated into the school's ongoing curriculum and culture throughout the year.
In summary, the Week of Respect is a dedicated period in schools that aims to emphasize the importance of respect, kindness, and tolerance while addressing issues related to bullying and fostering a positive school environment. It provides a platform for education, awareness, and engagement, ultimately contributing to a more respectful and inclusive school community.
Communication flow chart
Parents are often discouraged when they attempt to communicate with central office administrators and are sent back to building-based officials to resolve a problem with their child. To prevent that frustration, parents can follow the "Flow Chart" below to begin the communication sequence regarding their child's problem. Many parental questions can be easily and completely answered by communicating directly with the educator in charge of the class or program.
Each parental inquiry should be addressed at the level at which the initial action was taken, with appeals moving on to the next level on the chain of command.
Curriculum Update
The Summer Reading Challenge Winner is....
going to be announced at the October 9th Board of Education Meeting... Stay tuned!
Special Education Update
I hope that your children have had a wonderful start to the school year. October is National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. Throughout the month, we will be providing information about Learning Disabilities so that all staff have a greater understanding of what learning disabilities are and how to assist students with learning disabilities. As a parent, if you are interested in learning more about learning disabilities, Reading Rockets is an excellent resource- https://www.readingrockets.org/article/learning-disabilities-overview.
For those of you who have a child who receives special education services, please keep in close contact with the teacher and the case manager throughout the school year. With the school and families working together, our students will have great success!
If you are a parent of a general education student and you have concerns about your child, please contact your child’s teacher to share your concerns. There is a process in place in the schools to assist students in the general education setting. We must implement this process prior to looking into whether the student may need special education services.
Here’s wishing you and your families an outstanding October!
Transportation Notifications
We hope the start of the school year has been smooth for you and your children. As part of our commitment to keeping you informed about your child's transportation, we want to update you on some changes to our notification system regarding bus departures from the school.
For the first few days of school, we have been notifying all parents when the buses have left the school premises. This was to help ensure that everyone was aware of the general departure times and to provide an added layer of reassurance during this transitional period.
However, starting next week we will be transitioning to a more targeted notification system. Moving forward, we will only send notifications to parents if a bus has left the school later than the scheduled departure time. This adjustment will help streamline our communication and ensure that you receive notifications only when there is a deviation from the regular schedule.
Additionally, we are implementing a system to ensure that parents only receive notifications for buses that their children are assigned to. This means that you will no longer receive notifications for buses that do not pertain to your child's route, further enhancing the relevance and accuracy of our notifications.
We believe these changes will provide you with more precise and pertinent information while reducing unnecessary notifications. If you have any questions or concerns about this adjustment, please do not hesitate to reach out to our transportation department, and we will be happy to assist you.
Parenting Resources
Love and Logic
Instilling the love of learning is one of the most beneficial gifts that parents can give their kids. The fruit of this gift is academic success, and ultimately success in life. When parents perceive underachievement, they often respond with threats, lectures, and various punishments. Although this is based on a desire to help kids succeed in their schoolwork, and can work in the short-term, it usually ends up causing them to feel resentment, anxiety, and ultimately a feeling of hopelessness.
Understanding how the brain works and how it learns, as well as what can interfere with learning, is important for understanding how to motivate kids to learn. By combining the principles of Love and Logic with the insights and techniques gained from the realm of neuroscience, parents can learn the best ways to help their kids learn. Here are some basic tips that can help you with this goal.
Hand the responsibility for learning to your kids
Handing responsibility to kids is based on The Second Rule of Love and Logic: When a child causes a problem, the adult hands it back in loving ways. Schoolwork is the child’s responsibility and parents can’t, and should not try, to do the schoolwork for the child. When you follow this principle, kids will naturally make mistakes. Letting kids make mistakes and learn from them is one of the fundamental techniques of Love and Logic.
Always use empathy and reasonable, logical consequences when using consequences
Anger, threats, and lectures shut the door to learning. In contrast, empathy will open the door to learning. Parents must keep in mind that, even when the correct words are used, an angry tone of voice when delivering those words supersedes the message. An angry tone will cause the child’s brain to shift immediately into an anxious state, and, most importantly, shut down the rational part of their brain. Only sincere empathy in every communication can avoid this negative consequence.
Consider underlying causes for underachievement
After parents have tried Love and Logic and other strategies to motivate their kids, there might be other underlying causes for lack of academic achievement. These can include various general health problems (for example, infections or a poor diet) or specific brain-health issues. Keep this possibility in mind and seek professional help to investigate what might be causing the problem.
Instilling the love of learning in our kids can at times feel like an unsolvable puzzle. Part of the solution is remembering to hand the responsibility for learning over to your child. When your child experiences a setback with their academic endeavors, always respond with empathy. If nothing is working, search for general health or brain-health issues.
Navigating Youth Behavioral Health
The Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide has launched a free online resource, the Parent/Caregiver's Toolkit: Guide to Navigating Youth Behavioral Health.