Gratitude
Often during the holiday season, it is a time for us to connect with family and friends as well as to reflect upon what makes us thankful. It is not surprising to know that thinking about what makes us grateful also leads to better well-being. This article from Harvard Medical School highlights some wonderful benefits of this simple act. At home, you might already implement ways to focus on gratitude as a family. Some ideas include:
- Keeping notecards at the dining room table for family members to each write (or draw) a thankful point for a family member. Place notes in a gratitude jar and pull them out to read at the end of the week as a family.
- As a family, writing a note for someone in your community who is supportive of your life (post person, gardener, dentist, etc.)
- Having each family member share a 'high point' or 'thankful point' at dinner time.
- Putting names in a jar and sharing a compliment or what you are grateful for about that person.
- Brainstorm a random act of kindness that your family can do (helping rake leaves for an elderly neighbor, baking cookies to deliver to someone, writing a card for someone who is sad, etc.)
There are a lot of ideas, enjoy trying some of them out as a family! And please know how thankful I am to be a part of this wonderful Medina school community!
Lara
ARTICLE FROM HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-you-happier
Emergency Communication from BSD
Thank you all for your patience and flexibility regarding the different school schedule due to the recent power outage in our area. We hope you all stayed safe, connected, and warm during this challenging time. I missed seeing our Medina community at school, but I look forward to having us all reconnect next week again.
We might still experience school closures or an altered schedule due to snowfall or other outages in the future. If so, I will continue to update you via email and messages, when possible. The Bellevue School District will also be notifying families and staff via the links below. Let's hope we have a calm and easy transition without weather-related concerns as we head into December!
Who, what and how will an emergency closure decision be made?
Emergency Closure Decision Making
What is the schedule in the event of an emergency closure?
Emergency Closure Schedule
What should I know about community partners and transportation services?
Inclement Weather and Potential Closures Reminders
Pastries with Principals Recap
Next Pastries with Principals: Presentation from our Mental Health Counselor, Sarah Kermgard, and our Medina Counselor, Elise Geck, who will share information and strategies about student well-being and how to support our children with online tech safety. Date in December to be confirmed soon and we will let parents know.
November: Indigenous People's Month
As shared by the Library of Congress, "What started at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the U.S., has resulted in a whole month being designated for that purpose."
At Medina, there are many ways that teachers celebrate this month. Here are a few excerpts from 4th and 3rd grade teachers:
- 4th Grade Studies: This month, our 4th graders are diving into the rich traditions of Indigenous Peoples, specifically focusing on the tribes of Washington State and the impact of settlers on native communities. They have engaged in meaningful discussions about land acknowledgment and have created skits to illustrate how tribes were traditionally governed through shared leadership and expertise. Their work has been highlighted on the Tiger News to educate our entire community.
- 3rd Grade Highlights: Our 3rd graders have been busy highlighting both past and present Indigenous leaders and their contributions to society. Their wonderful posters showcasing these leaders are displayed throughout the school for everyone to admire. They also shared the land acknowledgement in our October assembly.
If your family would like to spend time understanding more about the Indigenous Peoples in our area, there are a variety of museums, authors, and ancestral areas to explore and access.
- Local Museums:
- Burke Museum http://www.burkemuseum.org/
- Snoqualmie Valley Muesum: https://snoqualmievalleymuseum.org/visit/
- Duwamish Longhouse & Cultural Center. https://www.duwamishtribe.org/
- Duwamish Native Market on November 29-December 1 from 10am – 5pm. https://www.duwamishtribe.org/events/2024/11/29/november-native-art-market
- Colville Tribal Museum: https://www.colvilletribes.com/colville-tribal-museum/
- Makah Cultural and Research Center: https://makahmuseum.com/
- Hibulb Cultural Center (Tulalip): https://www.hibulbculturalcenter.org/
- Local Ancestral Areas:
- Visit the Snoqualmie Tribal ancestral areas: Snoqualmie Valley, Rattlesnake Ridge, Snoqualmie Pass, Snoqualmie Falls, Lake Sammamish, Marymoor/Bear Creek. The Snoqualmie Tribe and people have been erased in interpretive signage, regional marketing materials, and other communication materials, and as a result many individuals are unaware of sdukʷalbixʷ despite many of these spaces carrying the Snoqualmie name. This map presents sdukʷalbixʷ lands from a different perspective: the Tribe's. https://snoqualmietribe.us/valley-of-the-snoqualmie-map/
- Elwha River project has been shared during library: https://www.nps.gov/olym/learn/elwha-educational-video-4-what-s-a-river-for.htm
We hope that your family can take advantage of the many resources in our area which celebrate the different voices of our Indigenous Peoples.
Boys on the Run
A big congratulations to all the boys who participated in this 7-week running club lead by Ms. Hutson, Mr. Heinemann, Mr. Jones, and Ms. Lam. Last week the boys all ran a 5K run at the Medina Park. But this weekend is the big run at Greenlake Park in Seattle happening on Saturday, November 23. Thank you to the parents and teachers for their support and encouragement throughout this running club session. We wish the boys success in their big run tomorrow - Saturday, November 23rd!
PTA Making a Difference
Thank you to our PTA for leading a wonderful service activity with Medina students to support Seattle Children's Hospital. After school on Friday, November 15, some wonderful volunteers led groups of students in making fleece blankets for those in need. Mrs. Nguyen also led a group of students with this project in her classroom. It was wonderful to see all the cozy blankets rolled up and ready to give to others. Thank you to PTA for leading our students in service for others!
If you would like to learn more about the PTA and to read their newsletter, The Byte, click here.
Thank you, Mr. Hector!
We want to thank Mr. Hector Nassar, the PE teacher who has been filling the medical leave for Mr. Jerry Hinton. This was his last week of teaching PE at Medina but due to the power outage, we have not had the chance to see him on his official last day of scheduled teaching today. Mr. Hinton will be returning to teaching PE at Medina on Monday, November 25. It will be wonderful to see Mr. Hinton again, and we also want to thank Mr. Hector for supporting our students in his absence.
Important Dates
November:
25 & 26: Elementary Conference Days - early release at 12:20 (Preschool - 5th grade)
28 & 29: NO SCHOOL. Thanksgiving Holiday
December:
9-13: Book Fair in library
12: 8:15 - PTA General Meeting
21: Start of Winter Holiday
Please Note
In addition to the District Holiday closures, all Bellevue School District Buildings will be closed to the public December 24, 2024 through January 2, 2025.
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January:
6: First day of school after vacation
