In April we will be going to the New England Aquarium. Permission slips and information, some of which is time sensitive, was sent home on Friday, March 21, 2025. Be sure to check your child's backpack if you haven't already. For the parents who have their name on the list to attend, please send in your payment by April 10th. This is a hard deadline due to needing to prepay for this trip. We do have space for about 4 more. Please email me if you haven't already and are interested in going. ksell@conval.edu

Last Friday the students did a great job building their penguin nest dioramas. It was so nice to see community members and family members joining in on the fun. We are going to have a nice display of artwork for the evening celebration on April 17, 2025.

Mr. Popper's Penguins will be showing at the Wilton Hall Movie Theater on Saturday, April 5, 2025. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m. and the movie will start at 2:00 p.m. Admission is free but money will be needed for any concessions that you may want.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

~Miss Kimberly

Recently, a TES staff member turned me toward a recent book called, The Anxious Generation. I've been fascinated by the topic and in light of my recent focus upon perseverance and resilience, I thought to share a little bit about what I've been learning.

In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt explains why so many kids today struggle with anxiety, depression, and attention problems—and what parents can do to help. His main argument? Kids need less screen time and more real-world play.

What Changed?

Haidt points to two big shifts:

1. Less Outdoor Play & Independence – A few decades ago, kids spent their afternoons outside—riding bikes, climbing trees, and figuring things out for themselves. Today, many kids are constantly supervised or indoors, missing out on the freedom that builds confidence and resilience.

2. More Screens, Less Real Life – Since the early 2010s, kids have spent more time on smartphones and social media, leading to isolation, poor sleep, and skyrocketing anxiety—especially for girls.

What Can Parents Do?

Haidt encourages families—especially those in rural areas where outdoor play is still an option—to push back against these trends:

• Delay Smartphones – Wait until high school before giving kids a smartphone.

• Encourage Outdoor Play – Let kids roam, explore, and play without constant supervision.

• Keep Schools Phone-Free – Support rules that ban phones during the school day.

According to Haidt, by making these small but powerful changes, parents can help their kids grow up more confident, happy, and mentally strong.

03/31/25 - PE/Health

04/07/25 - Music

04/14/25 - Art

04/21/25 - PE/Health

03/03/25 - 04/17/25 - One School, One Community, One Book Friday Activities

04/05/25 - Mr. Popper's Penguin airing at Wilton Hall Movie Theater - 1:30 p.m. doors open, movie airs at 2:00 p.m. Movie is free but money is needed for concessions.

04/24/25 - New England Aquarium Field Trip 7:45am - 5:00 pm

04/28/25 - Start of Spring Break