Make your words with letters from magazines, flyers, mail, etc. How many words can you build?

Read a story to someone or something you love!

Use salt, shaving cream, or pudding to write the answers to your math facts.

In our weekly classroom SEL (Social Emotional Learning) lessons, we have been focusing on Unit 2 of our Second Step Program: Empathy. The students have learned that empathy is understanding how another person feels or “putting yourself in their shoes”. We are learning to be feeling detectives by looking for clues about others’ feelings:

• On their faces

• On the bodies

• By thinking about the situation, or what is happening to the person

Here are some songs we’re singing to learn about our feelings:

K & 1 Feelings song

2nd - Empathy song

Once we have empathy for another person, we can then think about how to put that empathy into action by using kind words, listening to the other person, and finding ways to help. We’ve learned that this is called compassion. We practiced our compassion or acts of kindness when we took on the Great Kindness Challenge as a school. I am very proud to share that 119 students participated completing a total of 595 acts of kindness!

We are continuing to learn new coping skills each month. We have learned that a coping skill is something you can use to manage strong feelings in a healthy way. Our latest coping skills are:

Fun ways to incorporate TAKE A BREAK:

• Create a quiet break area in your home with comforting items like stuffed animals, a blanket, fidget tools, etc., and encourage your child to access this when they notice they are having an uncomfortable feeling.

• Have your child practice taking a break in their brain by picturing a “happy place” such as a family vacation spot, or just a relaxing place in their home when physically taking a break is not an option

Fun ways to incorporate BE MINDFUL:

• Go on a mindful walk. Have your child pay attention to sounds and sights around them.

• Make a calming jar and watch the glitter fall down. Have your child notice their feelings as they slow down and just watch the glitter fall.

• Take 5 - tune into your senses by noticing 5 things you can see, 4 you can feel, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste.

Auburn Youth and Family Services, Inc. offers a food pantry for Auburn residents. Auburn Youth and Family Services do not require proof of income; they are here to support and help those in our community. The food pantry is Monday through Thursday, currently only operating at curbside pickup or delivery. If you are interested, please call (508)832-5707 ext. 102, Lisa or Sally will give you a call back to give you a list of food items you can pick from. Auburn Youth and Family Services, Inc. also have baby items (diapers and food items), when calling to place your order please ask to add these items on.

Find Food - Worcester County Food Bank

If you are in need of any housing assistance here is the direct link for RCAP in Worcester ~ Community Resources | RCAP Solutions

Please also know that you can confidentially reach out to Kristie Deyoe, School Counselor, at any time if you have social/emotional concerns about your child or need support in accessing community resources. Supporting the social/emotional needs of students and families is an integral part of our jobs.

Report Cards Issued

March 1st: Read Across America Day

March Madness Reading Challenge

Literacy Spirit Week: March 4th-March 8th

Monday, March 4th: PTO Meeting

March 7th: PAK Literacy Night

Co-Chairs:

Jess Spring & Julie Creedon-Linton

Treasurer:

Amy Feen

Secretary:

Jenna Mahoney

Event Coordinator:

Jen Osborn

Social Media Coordinator:

Sherri Gentile

Pakachoag Representative:

Katelyn Lynch