We empower each child to grow and become a well-rounded citizen,

because every child's future counts.

OES Families,

This Friday, March 7 there will be NO SCHOOL. It was originally scheduled in our calendar as a SNOW MAKE UP DAY, but since we did not have to use it as needed, it is now a day off. Please make sure that you have made arrangements for your children for Friday.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will begin March 28-April 4. Next Wednesday, 3/5 a Sign-Up Genius to schedule a conference will be sent to families that have multiple children at our school. On Friday 3/7 the Sign-Up Genius link will be sent to all families. Please take a moment to schedule a conference for your child/children as spring is a fabulous time to discuss the progress that has been made this school year. Here is the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/tabs/13575DE05A2CEEEC2A81-opportunity5

For more information, please visit our website at: https://oes.cvsd.org/ and follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OpportunityElementaryCVSD/ and Instagram at @opp.es

As always, thank you for your continued support—we love partnering with you to help our students thrive!

Best regards,

Mrs. Spence & Mr. Howard

Ms. Lippi and Mrs. Svelmoe wanted to kindly ask for your help in reminding your child to bring their PE shoes on health and fitness days. Many students are wearing boots to class, which leave significant marks on the gym floor. Proper athletic shoes not only help keep our floors clean but also ensure your child can move safely and comfortably during class. We truly appreciate your support in helping us maintain a clean and safe space for all our students!

Ms. Lippi & Mrs. Svelmoe

Don’t Give Your Kids the Message of Entitlement

Over the years, I’ve seen some friends and relatives who devoted their lives to protecting their children from inconvenience, discomfort, struggle, disappointment, embarrassment, and delayed gratification in any form. They sacrifice themselves, their own well-being, and even their financial security to provide for all the wants of their children. I’m sure you might have seen instances of parents who have almost driven themselves into financial ruin by continuing to protect their grown children from bad financial and personal decisions.

In my experience, this has never worked out in a positive way in the long term. In addition, I have never seen the offspring of these parents wake up and recognize that they, themselves, have become spoiled, self-centered, and need to change their ways.

Here is an example of a parent who apparently knew how to help her kids avoid entitlement, but eventually gave the wrong message to one of her kids. When I met this family, they appeared to have great teenagers. “Yes, they are,” she offered. “I worked hard with them when they were little, and it really paid off. They were expected to behave and act responsibly by helping with the family jobs. Now they are a joy.”

Unfortunately, the third child in the family was nothing like the older ones. With remorse, she told us that by the time her third child came along she was worn out. “I no longer had the energy, so my way was to just give him what he wants. I didn’t want the hassle.”

She went on to say that this was the worst mistake of her life. “He’s not like the other kids. He’s lazy and selfish. All he wants to do is watch TV and play video games. He’s never happy unless he gets his way.”

This parent had discovered how to create an entitled child who would probably never be happy. She had to decide whether to continue as she was or to start setting some limits so that he would grow up to be responsible. The good news is that it’s never too late to use the principles and techniques of Love and Logic.

We have developed several techniques that can help parents raise kids who grow into responsible and successful adults. For example, here are our Four Steps to Responsibility:

1. Give the child a task that you know that the child can handle.

2. Hope that the child fails at the task (this is the learning opportunity for the child).

3. Allow the consequences, delivered with empathy, to do the teaching.

4. Give the child the same task until the child learns to respond with responsibility and succeed at the task.

Using these four steps lays the foundation for responsible behavior, which is essential for avoiding entitlement. For more details on helping your kids avoid entitlement and become responsible adults, listen to our classic audio, Four Steps to Responsibility.

Thanks for reading!

Jim Fay

Support our PTO's fundraising efforts by purchasing some Opportunity Gear. Lots of tshirts, sweatshirts, and hats for the whole family. Purchase on-line. Contact opportunitypto@gmail.com with questions.

We need volunteers to help with POPCORN FRIDAYS - if we cannot recruit help, POPCORN FRIDAYS WILL ONLY BE HELP ONCE A MONTH! Please email our PTO if you are available to help!OpportunityPTO@gmail.com

• Tuesdays/Fridays - Dynamic PANDAmonium Choir Practice @ 8:10
• Wednesdays/Thursdays - DANCE CLASS @ 3:15
• 2/18-3/27 Tuesdays/Thursdays - 5th Grade Crochet Club - 3:15-4:30
• 2/24-3/26 Mondays/Wednesdays - 2/3 Grade Yoga - 3:15-4:15
• 2/25-3/27 Tuesdays/Thursdays - 2/3 Grade Yoga - 3:15-4:15

• March 1 - 2025-26 Kindergarten Registration Begins
• March 4 - 3rd Grade Music Performance - 1:05 pm & 6:30 pm - Gym
• March 5 - 2nd Grade Music Performance - 2:30 pm & 6:30 pm - Gym
• March 7 - NO SCHOOL
• March 10-14 - Classified Support Staff Appreciation Week
• March 12 - PTO Meeting - 5:30 - Art & Community Room
• March 14 - 5th Grade Amazing Shake Competition
• March 20 - STREAM Night
• March 21 - Dance Performance - 9:30 & 4:00 - Gym
• March 28-April 4 - Parent/Teacher Conferences - 12:30 Dismissal
• April 7-11 - SPRING BREAK - NO SCHOOL

Click the link below to access our PARENT HANDBOOK. This hand book will be linked in our newsletter each week for you to reference important information.

Email: lspence@cvsd.org
Website: oes.cvsd.org/
Location: 1109 South Wilbur Road, Spokane Valley, WA, USA
Phone: 509-558-3550
Facebook: facebook.com/OpportunityElementaryCVSD/