Reardan Weekly

Registration for the 24-25 school year is now open! The first step in enrolling in the Options Program is to complete the Interest Form here. If you have any questions, please email the Options Program @ options@reardansd.net or call (509)796-2701 ext 5 .

While variations of this question are explored in all three Screenagers films, I just released a podcast episode that is all about this question. In it, I spoke with Anna Lembke, head of addiction medicine at Stanford and author of Dopamine Nation, and she says,

“We may start out using social media to connect with others, and that's a real positive thing, but because of the way that social media has been engineered, which is expressly to keep us, we can stay on the platform far beyond what our initial reason for engagement was. And then we can get to a point ultimately where we're trapped there.

And we're trapped there because it is manipulating the dopamine in our reward system to the point where now we have to keep engaging to prevent the comedown that occurs when we stop, which is exactly why people keep smoking

https://fevo-enterprise.com/group/pieladies2024

Our staff started this week with a professional development day where we worked on our Listening and Student Engagement skills and also graded our second 7-12th grade writing assessments. We are working to incorporate writing across all curriculum areas and following a common format for written responses. It will be exciting to see how much our students have grown since our first assessment in October.

This week in middle school our students did a science lab where they created “ovens” and made s’mores. The write up focused on strengthening observation and writing skills and is helping our students get ready for our state science test coming up this spring!

We will publish these dates along with conference updates and other important information in ONE parent letter that will arrive early next week. Please be looking for this letter that will help you stay caught up with all things middle school from here until May.

Students this month are focusing on the character trait of Responsibility. They are creating a self-reflection and assessment document that they will be bringing home to share with you. Students who accomplish this goal and have no office referrals will be invited to our end of the month celebration on March 27th. We will be doing Karaoke, playing other games and having snacks for the last period of the day following our awards ceremony. We appreciate your support in helping our students grow in responsibility as they navigate middle school.

Spring Conferences are right around the corner. A letter was sent home with your students on Wednesday, March 6th. Conferences are able to be scheduled one of two ways:

1. Conference scheduler through Family Access via Skyward. If you do not know your login and/or password, please contact the elementary office.
2. Return the letter that was sent home Wednesday to your child’s teacher with your preferences for conference dates and times.

Conference days are scheduled: Thursday, March 28, 2024: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM, and 4:00 - 7:00 PM, and Friday, March 29, 2024: 8:00 - 11:30 AM.

Pre-order your 2023-2024 Elementary/Middle School Yearbook! Envelopes to pre-order were sent home with your student last week. Replacement forms are located in the office. Additionally, yearbooks can be pre-ordered online at leosphotography.com using the online code: YBKC0315

Class pictures are scheduled for Friday, March 22nd. Please be on the lookout for an order form going home with your student soon!

March 2nd - March 8th was Read Across America Week. To celebrate, K-4th students were encouraged to dress in a wacky outfit on Wednesday, March 6th. To expand on the celebration, the 1st and 4th grade students partnered up to read to one another. So many positive responses were received. Typically students only interact with their same-aged peers, but teaming up with a reading partner provides opportunities to practice reading to a live audience in an authentic manner. Reading to a new person could also build excitement about reading.

There will be a P.I.E. (Parents in Education) open forum meeting on Tuesday, March 12th: 3:30-4:30 PM in the commons. P.I.E. will be signing on new volunteers as well as electing new officers. P.I.E. is looking for more volunteers! If you are interested in joining the P.I.E. group please attend the meeting.

WHAT IS P.I.E.?

P.I.E. is a parent/community member volunteer based group working in cooperation with Reardan-Edwall school and the community. P.I.E. helps coordinate fundraisers and events for the community and school functions. Save the date: Movie night is scheduled for Friday, March 9th starting at 6:00 PM in the commons.

As spring approaches, athletes eagerly prepare for outdoor sports amidst the unpredictable weather. From baseball to track and field, our kids must adapt to fluctuating conditions, including rain showers and gusty winds. Despite the challenges, the season fosters resilience and camaraderie among teammates, as they navigate through rain delays and slippery fields. This transitional period can be unpredictable, often presenting challenges for athletes and organizers alike. Ultimately, spring sports provide a thrilling opportunity to embrace the beauty and unpredictability of nature while reveling in the joy of competition.

Subject:
Important Reminder: Pre-arranging Absences for Makeup Work

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope this message finds you well. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support of our school community.

While family vacations and days away from school are wonderful opportunities for students to create lasting memories, I want to bring to your attention a policy outlined in the student handbook. It states that if students do not pre-arrange their absences with the school, teachers are not obligated to provide makeup work.

To ensure that your child does not fall behind academically, please remember to communicate any planned absences in advance with the school office. This will allow our teachers the time to prepare materials and assignments for your child to complete during their time away.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Your partnership in your child's education is truly valued and appreciated.

Best regards,

JoLynn Ray
Principal
Reardan High School