HTSD April 2025
March 24th, 2024
Curriculum
Assessment reminder:
ACCESS testing will be completed by April 4.
NJSLA Science: Grades 5 and 8 only on May 19 and 20.
NJSLA ELA: Grades 3-8 are May 5 and 6
NJSLA Math: Grades 3-8 are Mat 13, 14, and 15
**All NJSLA testing must be completed by May 23.
SAVVAS ELA: Grades K-8 May 28
SAVVAS Math: Grades 4-8 May 29
**All SAVVAS testing must be completed by June 6.
Summer Reading Challenge Winner for March is Kellen Keane in Mrs. Elliott's second grade class.
Rantipole, Suggilation, Philtrum, Ailette…
These are just some of the challenging words that our very own Dragon, Isaac, had to spell in order to win Regionals—and now, he’s on his way to the Scripps National Spelling Bee!
Congratulations, Isaac! We are so proud of you and can’t wait to cheer you on as you take the next big stage.
Way to represent William Davies Middle School!
Love and Logic
Kids are exposed to many forms of social media in our modern world clearly and these have a profound effect on our kids. Kids are also using social media apps at younger and younger ages. There are surveys that suggest that as many as 50% of children aged 10 to 12 years old, and 33% of children aged 7 to 9 years old, use social media apps. With such powerful external influences, parents often wonder:
- How can I reach my kids when they get so many messages that seem to say, “Who you are is not as important as how good you look or how many likes you have.”
- How can I get my children to avoid developing a sense of entitlement?
- How do I teach my kids the importance of hard work, honesty, and humility?
Instead of telling your kids how to live, show them.
Wise parents demonstrate honest respectful, kind, and responsible behavior to their kids. Simply stated, actions speak louder than words. The next time another driver cuts you off, or someone in your neighborhood needs help, treat the situation as an important opportunity to show your children how responsible, caring adults act.
Talk about your values when they’re eavesdropping.
What we say in front of our kids is more important than what we say to them. When you do something responsible or caring, talk about it within earshot of you kids. For example, when your child is sitting nearby, you might share with your spouse, “The clerk at the store gave me ten dollars too much in change. I could have kept it, but I gave it back. I always feel better when I do the right thing!”
Teach character and responsibility with empathy and consequences.
At Love and Logic, we’ve found that the most effective parents allow children to make mistakes in safe situations. Kids develop character and positive values when they learn that poor decisions result in uncomfortable consequences. Parents who deliver consequences with anger raise kids who spend their lives feeling angry or fearful, and who reject the values of their parents. If those same parents replace anger with empathy, their children begin to see them as caring and recognize that their values are important.
Celebrating Neurodiversity
The spring is chock full of opportunities to celebrate neurodiversity!
- March- Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month; Read Across America Month
- March 10-16 Brain Awareness Week
- March 21- World Down Syndrome Day
- March 26- Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness
- April- Autism Awareness Month; Limb Difference Awareness Month
- April 5-11 Week of the Young Child
- May 12-16 Special Education Week
Public Safety Alliance For Individuals With Disabilities (A.I.D.) Program
The Atlantic County Chapter of the "Public Safety Alliance For Individuals With Disabilities" A.I.D. program is a voluntary service open to all citizens. The program was created to help police officers and other emergency service personnel to better assist residents with disabilities or special need in the event of an emergency by providing those first responders with vital information regarding a participant’s disability, emergency contact information, a physical description and current photograph of the registrant. The goal of the A.I.D. Program is to ensure all residents who have a disability or special need are able to get the help and support they need in a time of emergency or during interaction with Law Enforcement, Fire or EMS personnel. https://www.acpo.org/community-page/81 *This program replaces Register Ready.
