Dear Maple Hill Families,
Happy December! As we move into the final month of the year, I want to take a moment to celebrate the learning, growth, and connection we’ve seen on campus so far. Thank you for your continued partnership in making Maple Hill a thriving community for our students.
This month, we are focusing on honesty as our school-wide Hawk Trait. Honesty builds trust, strengthens relationships, and fosters personal growth. Here are a few ways you can encourage honesty at home:
- Model honesty: Share moments where being truthful may be hard but important.
- Praise honesty: When your child tells the truth, acknowledge their courage, especially if it’s a challenging situation.
- Discuss values: Talk about why honesty matters and how it impacts others.
- Create a safe space: Let your child know it’s safe to tell the truth, even if it means admitting to a mistake.
December is also a wonderful time to explore and celebrate the many holidays and traditions observed by families in our community and around the world. Whether it’s Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Bodhi Day, or Lunar New Year (which is coming soon!), learning about these celebrations helps our children develop respect for diverse cultures and beliefs.
Here are a few online resources to help you and your family explore different traditions:
We encourage you to take this opportunity to read stories, try new recipes, or even craft decorations that reflect the richness of these celebrations. Sharing these experiences as a family can create lasting memories while broadening your child’s perspective.
As we approach the winter break, let’s work together to finish the year strong, both academically and in character. Thank you for all that you do to support your children and our Maple Hill community.
Wishing you a joyful and peaceful holiday season!
Warm regards,
Ms. McNeil
Principal, Maple Hill Elementary School
December Hawk Character Trait: Honesty
Our SEL enrichment lesson this month will be about honesty and integrity. We will have a meaningful discussion on how being dishonest impacts not only themselves but others as well. Students will also learn to take accountability for their mistakes by using the three-step apology process to correctly apologize. This is a social skill that improves relationships, builds leaders, and grows confidence.
Family Book Guide:
Reading books about honesty, integrity & trust can help students communicate ideas sincerely and respectfully, set and recognize boundaries, and build strong relationships.
- A Little Spot of Honesty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6Gi79I7vmA
- Honesty is my Superpower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z-Ads5yRAs
- The “I” in Integrity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uyp3I8boH8
Family Discussion on Integrity
Speaking & Acting Truthfully: Speaking with integrity means saying how something is or how it happened. Acting with integrity means always doing the right thing, even when it’s hard. Examples of this include not spreading rumors, owning up to your mistakes, not taking something that isn’t yours, and if you say you’re going to do something, doing it.
Also, please refer to the map below for options for safely navigating the neighborhoods while following all posted signage. As a reminder, U-turns and double parking are prohibited in front of our campus. The sheriff's department will be present to ensure everyone is safe and to monitor traffic flow.
Mrs. McNeil- Principal at Maple Hill
Email: kmcneil@wvusd.org
Website: www.maplehillschool.org
Location: 1350 Maple Hill Road, Diamond Bar, CA, USA
Phone: 909-861-6224