What is the Comet Closet?

The Comet Closest is a basic needs pantry focused on meeting the needs of students and families.

Why have a pantry at Underwood School?

It is the belief that students thrive when they have essential needs met. It is important to us at the school to minimize barriers in order to support learning and growth without the stress of unmet needs.

Students can "shop" on Mondays 2:00- 3:15pm and adults can shop the first Friday of each month from 8:00-9:15 am.

This year, Underwood School has had the lowest participation rate for completing the Free and Reduced lunch form in a long time!. Hmmm. Why? There could be several reasons, but completion of the form really does make a difference as it helps families who qualify for free and reduced breakfast and lunch, but also provides access to opportunities for the entire school community based on the applications completed. Filling out the free and reduced lunch form is important for families in North Dakota schools for several reasons:

1. Access to Meals: It ensures that eligible students receive nutritious meals at little or no cost, which is crucial for their health and academic performance.

2. Funding for Schools: The data from these forms helps schools secure federal funding and resources. Higher participation can lead to increased support for school programs.

3. Academic Benefits: Students who receive free or reduced-price meals often perform better academically, as proper nutrition positively impacts concentration and learning.

4. Confidentiality: The process is confidential, and families can receive assistance without stigma, ensuring that students can benefit from the program without feeling singled out.

5. Additional Resources: Some programs and activities, like after-school programs or summer meals, may also depend on the completion of this form.

When considering the entire school community, completion of the application means:

1. Access to Meals: It ensures that eligible students receive nutritious meals at little or no cost, which is crucial for their health and academic performance.

2. Funding for Schools: The data from these forms helps schools secure federal funding and resources. Higher participation can lead to increased support for school programs.

3. Academic Benefits: Students who receive free or reduced-price meals often perform better academically, as proper nutrition positively impacts concentration and learning.

4. Additional Resources: Some programs and activities, like after-school programs, grants, and summer meals, also depend on the completion of this form.

Filling out the form helps ensure that all students have access to the resources they need to thrive in school.

If you have not completed the form this year, please consider doing so! Print and return to the school or paper copies can be send home too!

Crossing the midline refers to the ability to reach across the imaginary line that divides the body into left and right halves. Simple concept, but it's becoming a less common skill that is important for learning.The following are some of the impacts of crossing the midline activities:

Cognitive Development: This action supports brain development by promoting communication between the left and right hemispheres. It can enhance problem-solving, critical thinking, and spatial awareness.

Reading and Writing Skills: Crossing the midline is linked to bilateral coordination, which is essential for reading and writing. Children who can cross the midline more easily often show improved literacy skills.

Attention and Focus: Engaging in activities that involve crossing the midline can help improve concentration and attention span, as it requires the child to focus on their movements.

Body Awareness: This skill enhances proprioception (awareness of body position) and helps children develop a better understanding of their body in space, which is important for overall physical coordination.

Social Skills: Activities that involve crossing the midline often require interaction with peers, fostering social skills and teamwork.

Self-Regulation: Engaging in midline-crossing activities can help children learn to control their bodies and emotions, aiding in self-regulation.

When children do activities that cross the midline, they are using both sides of the brain to coordinate smooth, controlled and complex movements. So, if your child says they played or exercised, they were most likely working on "crossing the midline"!

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence. Here’s how to explain it to kids:

1. Learning is a Journey: Emphasize that everyone starts somewhere and can improve over time. Just like learning to ride a bike, it takes practice!

2. Mistakes are Okay: Explain that making mistakes is part of learning. Instead of feeling bad about them, kids can see mistakes as opportunities to grow.

3. Effort Matters: Highlight that putting in effort is important. Praise them for trying hard, not just for getting things right.

4. Challenges are Good: Encourage them to take on challenges. When they push themselves, they learn new things and get better.

5. Ask for Help: Remind them that it’s okay to ask for help. Learning from others is a valuable part of growing.

6. Celebrate Growth: Encourage kids to celebrate their progress, no matter how small. This helps them see how far they’ve come.

By fostering a growth mindset, kids can develop resilience, become lifelong learners, and approach challenges with confidence!

You may ask why your student is sharing information with you in regards to internet and digital device safety. Well, in North Dakota, there is a legislative law requiring cyber safety and digital citizenship education for K-12 students. Specifically, House Bill 1440, passed in 2019, mandates that schools incorporate education on internet safety, cyberbullying, and digital citizenship into their curricula.

This law aims to ensure that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Schools are required to have comprehensive programs that cover topics like online privacy, responsible communication, and the impact of digital footprints.

Focusing on digital citizenship and cyber safety in K-12 education is essential for several reasons:

1. Empowerment: Students learn to navigate the digital world responsibly, fostering critical thinking and decision-making skills.

2. Safety: Teaching cyber safety helps protect students from online threats such as cyberbullying, privacy violations, and harmful content.

3. Responsibility: It instills a sense of accountability for their online actions, encouraging respectful and ethical behavior.

4. Preparation for the Future: As technology becomes increasingly integral to personal and professional life, understanding digital citizenship is vital for success in higher education and the workforce.

5. Inclusive Learning: Digital citizenship promotes equitable access to technology, helping all students utilize digital tools effectively.

6. Community Building: Encouraging positive online interactions fosters a sense of community and belonging among students.

By integrating these concepts into the curriculum, schools can help students thrive in a connected world.

Underwood Public School has a K-12 integrated approach to digital citizenship and cyber safety. This means that responsible and safe use of technology is part of regular instruction. In the school counseling classroom, specific lessons are taught primarily from curriculum available from commonsense.org/education and cyber.org.

College Applications

Application season is upon us! Application Day was held on October 28th and several students were able to take advantage of having their application waved to ND colleges, universities, and trade schools/ programs. Why apply early?

Applying for college or training programs early has several advantages:

1. Increased Acceptance Chances: Many colleges and programs have rolling admissions or early decision options, which can increase your chances of acceptance.

2. More Time for Financial Aid: Early applicants often have better access to financial aid and scholarships, as many funding opportunities are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

3. Reduced Stress: Applying early can help spread out the application workload and reduce last-minute stress as deadlines approach.

4. Better Planning: Early applications allow for more time to plan for housing, transportation, and other logistics for starting college or training.

5. Stronger Applications: Applying early gives you time to refine your application materials, such as essays and recommendation letters, which can enhance their quality.

6. Improved Guidance: Early applicants often receive more personalized attention from admissions staff, which can be beneficial in navigating the process.

7. Time to Decide: Applying early gives you more time to evaluate offers and make informed decisions about your future.

Applying to more than one college, university or training program offers benefits too!

1. Increased Options: More applications mean a wider range of choices, allowing you to select the best fit for your academic, personal, and career goals.

2. Backup Plans: If you're not accepted into your top choice, having other options ensures you still have a path forward.

3. Variety of Programs: Different schools may offer unique programs, resources, and extracurricular opportunities, helping you find the one that aligns best with your interests.

4. Financial Aid Opportunities: Applying to multiple institutions can increase your chances of receiving scholarships and financial aid, as each school may have different funding available.

5. Diverse Experiences: Each college or program has its own culture and environment, giving you the chance to experience different campus life and communities.

6. Networking Opportunities: More applications can lead to connections with a wider range of peers and professionals, which can be beneficial in your future career.
   

Scholarships

Seniors have been given access to a list of scholarships. This is a working document that will be updated as new opportunities arise. Having myself, a teacher, or a parent applications is always a good idea! When applying for many scholarships, have a list of awards, activities involved in, volunteer opportunities, work, and memberships is important to have handy. Also recommended is drafting a basic essay explaining why a student wants to attend a specific program and is interested in a field of study ro training. ( We will be working on this too in school! )

A few places to start exploring scholarship opportunities include ND Dollars for Scholars, Bank of North Dakota, and the North Dakota Community Foundation.