Healthy Holiday Tips from your Elementary Mental Health Staff
- Stick to routines: Keep morning and evening routines similar to the school week to maintain healthy habits.
- Give your child a heads up (let them know in advance): When routines change, make sure to let your child know so they are prepared.
- Schedule down time/quiet time: Say "no" to too many things. Let everyone choose their favorite quiet activity and enjoy the peace.
- Family and Friend Time: Make time for connecting with others. Put away technology and be present with each other. Some ideas are: play board games, listen to music, read together, family movie night, play cards-brainstorm other ideas with your children.
- Don't forget to add movement/exercise: A great way to enjoy the holiday season is to keep moving your body. Outside ideas like taking a walk, go sledding, skating, build a snowman. Inside ideas like music and move, balloon volleyball, GoNoodle activities.
- Food: It is important to maintain healthy eating habits and to stay hydrated. Keep healthy snacks available (fruit, veggies, protein). Make sure you and your kids drink water throughout the day. Enjoy holiday treats in moderation.
- Keep your own stress in check: Practice good self-care. Like reading a book, yoga/movement, fresh air, and taking a break for yourself.
Just remember, your presence is more important than presents........
LET'S TALK ABOUT ATTENDANCE!
Top Reasons to Come to School Every Day
1. Reading at Grade Level - Studies show that consistent attendance from Pre-K gives the best start for early literacy development. Students who aren't reading on grade level by 3rd grade have a lower chance of graduating. It starts that early!
2. Forming Lasting Friendships - Students who develop their social skills through school attendance have more positive relationships, overall.
3. Greater Self-Esteem and Confidence - Not having to play catch-up or not knowing what is going on in class reduces stress and boosts self-confidence.
4. Maximizing Instructional Time with Teachers - The more time students have with their teachers, the more successful they will be.
5. It's the Law!
Mrs. Nordby - Albertville Primary School Social Worker has a helpful website...
Mrs. Nordby, Albertville Primary Social Worker, is excited to share her social emotional learning website with all kindergarten families. Mrs. Nordby is passionate about teaching good mental health strategies and fostering social emotional skills to all students. For this reason, she created a spot for families to access and utilize these resources at home. Check out her website below for interactive activities, read aloud stories, community resources, Character Strong announcements, and more.
Website: https://sites.google.com/mystma.org/bethanynordby?pli=1
RECESS - Winter has Arrived!
Winter has arrived! All students must wear snow pants, boots, hats, warm mittens (that are easy to put on and preferably waterproof), and a warm winter coat during recess. Students who are not properly dressed (snow pants, boots, hat, mittens, etc.) will have to stay off the equipment and play on the non-snow covered areas.
Keep in mind, students will go outside for a 30-minute recess every day, unless the temperature/wind chill is 0 degrees or below.
*PLEASE LABEL ALL OF YOUR CHILD'S WINTER GEAR
POPS Meeting
Tuesday, December 10 at 6:00 PM in the Albertville Primary Media Center
All parents are invited to attend
During the meeting the principal will be asking for feedback and discussing the following items:
路 Kindergarten BINGO Night-Feedback
路 Kindergarten and Bright Beginnings Conference Meal Train Donations-Update and Ideas
路 Upcoming Family Events
THANK YOU!
HELPFUL REMINDERS......
- If you drop your child off at school in the morning and staff are no longer outside supervising drop off, you will need to park in the parking lot and walk your child into the building.
- If you are making a change to your child's regular afternoon dismissal procedure, please call the school office before 12:00 PM. This will give staff adequate notice to have your child ready. We ask that you call the office, as substitute teachers do not have access to teacher's voicemail, email or SeeSaw.
- If you need to pick your child up early from school, please call the office in the morning and provide office staff with the time that you would like to pick up your child.
- If you would like to join your child for lunch at school, please call our office to make a reservation ahead of time. Due to space concerns, we are only able to allow one student to have a lunch visitor per classroom, per day. We will need to know who is coming in to have lunch with your child and if that person/s is/are having hot lunch at school or bringing their own lunch. *A reservation may be made on that day, if you contact the office and no other visitor has made a reservation in your child's class for that day.
Helpful Hints for Choosing an Appropriate Book
Reading books with your child can help support language development and learning in many ways. Incorporate some of the following tips to improve your child鈥檚 reading skills.
路 Provide a consistent time and place to read together.
路 Practice at least three to four nights a week reading books at your child鈥檚 individual level.
路 Listen to your child read.
路 Wait before telling your child when he/she makes a mistake.
路 Provide help without telling the word they might be trying to read.
路 Make time to read aloud together more often.
路 Keep a variety of reading materials available throughout your home.
路 Have your child show you his/her library books and read them together.
Research indicates that students ages 6-8 need to be exposed to words between 6 and 60 times before they can memorize them and read them fluently without stopping to sound them out. This makes a strong case for practicing sight words!