Restorative Practice Put into Play
Ted Wachtel, founder of the International Institute of Restorative Practice, believes that “human beings are happiest, healthiest, and most likely to make positive changes in their behavior when those in authority do things with them rather than to them or for them.” The purpose of restorative practice is to develop community and to manage conflict and tensions by repairing harm and restoring relationships. Restorative practices allow the act (unacceptable behavior) to be rejected because they failed to meet expectations and standards while acknowledging the intrinsic worth of the person and their potential contribution to their community.
Dependent on the situation, you may hear your child use the term, “Restorative Practice.” For example, a student cuts another student in line. This may warrant an informal restorative conversation with both students that: provides feedback, sets boundaries, teaches empathy, and articulates impact. The goal is to strengthen the relationship between the students and repair the harm. This year at Mill Hill we are implementing the Restorative Model mindset balanced with the Fairfield Public Schools Code of Conduct and Social Emotional Learning Model to ensure our Mill Hill Hawks continue to S.O.A.R. both in and out of our school community.
Invention Convention
Mill Hill 5th graders marched into the new month with unique inventions for this year’s 2024 Invention Convention. Every inventor came up with a problem specific to their life or hobbies/interests and created a solution and prototype. Additionally, they had to “sell” their ideas to their audience consisting of judges, parents, staff, and peers. Every invention was practical, creative, and innovative. Whether you advanced or not to the state competition, always continue to explore, create, question, and come up with viable solutions that innovate and inspire.
Emotion Into Art
Friday, February 26, Tom Verano captivated the entire Mill Hill community in his “speed art” demonstration and motivational messages that promoted his B.I.G. idea. Tom’s ideology is the importance of “Books” and how you need to build your wheelhouse with knowledge and utilize every opportunity at school that is made available to you. “Individuality is key in being you and loving who you are. “Goals are important; therefore, you must set them. The journey in accomplishing your goals may be difficult, but it is important to set goals and take the journey to reach them. Tom invited all of us to relive his journey of being handed a camera by his father at fourteen years old with no instruction other than to “have fun and figure this out.” This led to a journey into a successful career in photography which later led him down a path into painting and writing. He shared his belief in “paying it forward,” and how a selfless act on his part turned into a teachable moment for a young kid in his neighborhood. Tom took the time to teach him a valuable lesson with respect and responsibility which paved the young boy’s journey into becoming a successful EMT who was the first on scene to a car accident that ironically involved his daughter. As Tom reiterated, you never know who you are sitting next to and how one day they can help you down the road by “paying it forward,” as your doctor, kid’s teacher, lawyer, etc.” Tom further promoted his B.I.G. idea through the journeys of others such as: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Simone Biles, and Taylor Swift. Their messages and stories were shared as he painted these icons upside down before revealing their identities and turning them right-side up!
Immediately, our Mill Hill students put Tom’s practice into play. Later in the assembly, Tom selected a young first grader named Maggie to be his assistant. He explained that she would have eighteen seconds to share the amount of Hershey kisses with any student demonstrating respect in the audience. Maggie quickly made her way from one end of the gym to the next and from the front to the back to make sure she was being fair and including as many students from all the grades as possible in the time allotted. At the end of eighteen seconds, Maggie stood there with a smile and no Hershey kisses left. This demonstrated the selfless act of kindness Tom was promoting in his message. As a result of her kindness, she was awarded the entire bag that she would receive at the end of the day. Maggie reminded all of us that it is the small things that make the biggest impact! Thank you, Maggie!
3E's Publishing Party!
3E's publishing party was a blast! Miss Eng's class worked so hard on their non-fiction books about an area of their expertise, as well as on their personal narratives. Their narratives were published into a hardcover book by a publishing company, and they are now proud authors of a wonderful class book! It was so incredible to have all of their parents, siblings and teachers in the classroom to share their work with. All of the parents, teachers and students took the time to read the students' work and fill each student's "compliment bag" with sweet and motivational notes! It was truly an experience that these students will remember forever, and it was a beautiful celebration of all their hard work and dedication to their academics! Miss Eng is super proud of them all!
1O Celebrates Carnaval!
10 learned about Carnaval (celebrated in Brazil for 5 Days) from the Borba family. The kids listened to stories, watched a slide show created by Julie’s family and danced to traditional music. The family brought glasses, flowered leis, streamers and maracas! “Best day ever”, as stated by our little first graders!
🎗️ Hats for Hope 🎗️
Help support local children with cancer and their families. Click the photo for more information.
🌎 Green Team News 🌎
Looking to get involved? Contact millhillgreenteam@gmail.com for more information!
🌎 Green Team Tips 🌎
Want to know more? Follow Mill Hill's Green Team on Instagram: @millhillgoesgreen
📚 Book Fair 📚
Our Spring Scholastic Book Fair is coming soon - March 18th through March 22nd!
Stay tuned for more details regarding shopping hours, wish list details, teacher preview dates and parent volunteer opportunities!
We look forward to another fun and successful fair with your support!
PHF fundraiser at Bridgeport Islanders game
Please consider joining the Mill Hill Community for this wonderful event to honor and support a cause very near and dear to Reagan's family and to anyone who has the privilege of knowing Reagan. See below for a message and information from Reagan's family.
We are hosting at a Bridgeport Islanders game to raise awareness and funds for the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. Some of you may know that we did this last year – it was a fun and successful event – we raised almost $9k! Mill Hill was represented for sure!
This year we are hosting the Islanders vs. Checkers on Saturday March 30, 7pm. Attached is the flyer with details and a QR code to purchase tickets. Or you can use the following link: PHF Connecticut Fundraiser Night (fevo-enterprise.com)
Hope you can join us in support of the PHF and in honor of our girl Reagan! She would LOVE to see you all there. Please pass along to family or friends who might be interested. The more tickets we sell, the more awareness and money we raise for research to help find better treatments, and hopefully a cure, for hydrocephalus.
Thanks so much for your support!
Cindy, Tim, T.K. and Reagan
About the Cause:
Tim and I are the CT State Chapter Directors for the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation, an all-volunteer organization that we’ve been involved with since 2013 when Reagan was diagnosed with the condition. Hydrocephalus is a life-long condition where CSF accumulates and puts pressure on the brain and can cause brain damage, or death if not treated. Over the years through various fundraisers and generous donations, we have raised over $350k which has gone directly to the PHF toward either research to find a cure, or toward the Reagan Sloane Shanley Scholarship Fund which we created to provide scholarships for students or researchers who are committed to helping us find better treatments for this brain condition.