The Manning Weekly Newsletter
April 16, 2021
Manning Community,
Unfortunately, our world is not as simple as it used to be for our kids. Our teenagers are growing up in a complex world, made even more complex by social media. I'm taking this moment to ask each of you to consider whether your middle schooler really needs social media? I understand that social media can be a powerful tool, but it can also be a powerful "hate" tool, and the more our teenagers are exposed to this at their young age, the higher chance they will become become disillusioned, depressed, and jaded. As an educator of 20 years, I have seen the ills of social media, and over the past five years, I've seen the toll social media has taken on our youth. Our teenagers are seeing things they shouldn't be seeing, hearing things they shouldn't be hearing, and saying things they shouldn't be saying, all behind a screen. Ask yourself this question: Do I know what my son or daughter is doing on social media? Do they really need their phone in their room past a certain hour? Do I randomly check their text messages and web history? Does social media really influence my child in a positive way OR is it a chasm of self gratification?
As I was searching for a quote that might fit how social media may be defining our younger generation and their thoughts, I came across a quote by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, a Roman emperor from 161 to 180 AD. Marcus Aurelius was also a Stoic philosopher and was the last of the rulers knows as the "Five Good Emperors" and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace and stability for the Roman Empire.
"The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts; therefore, guard accordingly and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature."
Stronger Together,
Christian Ramaker
Upcoming Dates:
- April 20 - Parent Partnership 5pm
- Join Zoom Meeting
- Meeting ID: 577 441 6430
- Passcode: 885946
- April 20- Parent/Student Outdoor Lab Information Meeting 6pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5774416430?pwd=cnQyV25ZbXpYUTdQZzIvMi9BNHVlUT09
Meeting ID: 577 441 6430
Passcode: 885946
- April 23 (DATE CHANGE) - PTA Meeting 9am
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/91927457423?pwd=U0NUNWNFaFdJSVJzejJYRzF0Z3NDZz09
Meeting ID: 919 2745 7423
Passcode: 237136
- April 29 - Day Without Hate
- April 30 - No School - Teacher Work Day
- April 30 - Carpool List Published to the Manning Website
- May 18 - Parent Partnership - 5pm
- May 20 - PTA Meeting 9am
- May 24-27 - 2021-2022 Schedules ready for viewing in the parent portal
- May 27 - Last Day for Students/6th & 7th yearbook signing
- May 27 - 8th grade picnic & 8th Grade Continuation (details TBD)
- June 2 - Grades post to transcripts
- Every Thursday @ 11am-12pm- SEL Time with Kari Gray
Weekly Parent SEL Chats Thursdays 11-12.....Sign up here: SEL chats with Kari
SAVE THE DATES! - AUGUST 2-6
OUTDOOR LAB INFORMATION
Outdoor Lab 2020-2021 Information Session
A large amount of Outdoor Lab information hit 6th grade parent emails this week. If you didn't get an email with forms, please contact Melaine Heesacker (melaine.heesacker@jeffco.k12.co.us).
The forms contained in these emails are due no later than April 26, 2021. No deadline extensions for this will be allowed.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5774416430?pwd=cnQyV25ZbXpYUTdQZzIvMi9BNHVlUT09
Meeting ID: 577 441 6430
Passcode: 885946
THIS IS FOR CURRENT 6TH GRADERS, NOT INCOMING 6TH GRADERS.
6th Grade Growing and Changing Unit
A Message from the PTA...
The Manning PTA April general meeting will be held via zoom on Friday, April 23rd at 9 am. *Please note the date change. We are excited to have Kari Gray speak to us about Executive Functioning in Middle School students, so mark it on your calendar and join us!
Comments or questions? Email us at manningmiddlepta@gmail.com.
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/91927457423?pwd=U0NUNWNFaFdJSVJzejJYRzF0Z3NDZz09 Meeting ID: 919 2745 7423
Passcode: 237136
The PTA needs to raise money to fund our teacher and staff appreciation festivities. I created a Sign Up Genius and would appreciate it if you would highlight it in the Friday newsletter for the next three weeks. If there are other places (the school website, FB?) to include the link please feel free to do so. The PTA will also be sending an email out to it’s members.
Golden High School Mountain Bike Team
High School Mountain Bike Team
Link to Zoom Meeting https://tinyurl.com/ghsspring21
The meeting is for parents and students who want to learn more about riding and racing in the Fall 2021 season. You will learn about the team, practices, races, clothing and how to sign up for the league and the team.
Please attend the meeting so you don't miss out on important information!
Please see attached flyer and here is a link to the team website
https://tinyurl.com/GHS-MTB-Team
Thank you and hope to see you on the dirt soon!
Coach Jesse Swift - jaswift@jeffcoschools.us
SEL Corner....a place to fill up your bucket
Next week during the PTA meeting, I will be presenting “Supporting the Executive Functioning of your Middle School Student” to PTA. We will review what Executive Functioning (EF) is, the components, areas you and your student use EF skills already, and ways in which we can support our young people in the development of these skills. If you can’t come, that’s ok, I will record the presentation as well.
Want to talk about social emotional learning? Something on your mind?
Weekly Parent SEL Chats Thursdays 11-12
Sign up here: SEL chats with Kari
Citizenship Topic of the Month...
This month’s digital citizenship topic is digging deeper into Digital Footprint & Online Identity. Help your student(s) learn how to create and maintain a Digital Footprint & Identity. A digital footprint refers to the imprints left while online. It is important our kids understand that the information they share on the Internet is permanent and can never be fully erased.
Parent Resources: Digital Footprint and Identity
2021-2022 Carpool Information Form
The Manning School is gathering information from families who are interested in carpooling for the 2020-2021 school year. If you would like to have your information included in this carpool list, and posted on the Manning website, please fill out this form and your information will be added to the carpool list.
The first list will be published on April 30, 2021 on the Manning Website. This list will be updated on FRIDAYS as students are enrolled, so check back often to find a carpool ride that works for you. Families are responsible for arranging their own carpools.
At Manning, we strive to live our core values every day.
Student Shout Out for HONESTY
Student Shout Out for EFFORT
Maizy Hoffman, Mya Barton, Lily Schneck, Kaden Hamilton, Joslin Baxter, Sam Larson: These amazing humans gave up their time on Friday, March 26th to set up the instrumental music room so we could return to class on April 5th! Thank you!
Sophia Grimes: She had an assignment she needed help with, came for Tutor Time and was willing to learn and change mistakes she made. She showed amazing Effort in sticking with a hard lesson and I am sure she felt proud of her grade, but also her new learning!
Student Shout Out for ACHIEVEMENT
Student Shout Out for RESPECT
Henry Heath: Henry really puts energy back in my world. He always has his camera on, is willing to participate, and keeps up on assignments. He ask for help if it is needed. He really shows Manning Respect in helping me to help him!
Student Shout Out for TEAMWORK
Avery Kahn: Avery made the switch to full remote and started this week with camera on and participating. She was helpful to her breakout rooms. She really showed great Teamwork in her first week of the 4th quarter!
Nikko Ramos, Ella Matheo, Quentin Wilson, Kaitlyn Mitchel: My class is remote and during the in-person fire drill, they also participated. They went outside, took attendance of themselves, and came back in when the house was safe to enter. They all participated and made the abnormal schooling a bit more normal and fun. I really appreciated their willingness to participate and have some fun. They showed The Teamwork and Effort to work as one and make class more enjoyable. Thanks, my friends, for the fun memory!
Google Classroom Notification Help!
Are you losing emails in all those notification from Google Classroom??
It has come to our attention that some students are losing important emails in their inboxes among the many notifications that come in from Google Classroom. If you want to adjust the notification settings for Google Classroom, you can find all the directions at this website:
Parenting Resources:
Parenting is HARD: Build a More Positive and Connected Relationship with your Child or Teen
On March 25, Nick Thompson, counselor, parent coach, and popular author of the podcast, “Perspectives for Parents,” spends time with Jeffco parents and caregivers simplifying problems that we all face. Participants will leave this session with 6 main take-aways:
- Tips for communicating with your child in ways that will open them up rather than shut them down
- Help youth build self-efficacy
- Understand what active listening really is and how it will help you connect with your child
- Strategies to avoid fear-based parenting
- How to best support a child struggling with stress and anxiety
- Routines and habits that can help your child be more positive and productive
Virtual Conference: Helping Teens Thrive.. Together is a FREE, virtual event focused on preventing suicide through connectedness and skill building. Teens and their trusted adults will participate in event sessions...together! The event will take place on Saturday, March 6th, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. More details and registration can be found here!
One of the most protective factors in the life of a young person is for them to have a caring, connected, and positive adult in their life. Here is some information on the importance of trusted adults and resources for parents: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fVEMkRy-AP5zUhuhtZvQ9BZ6X_sXXh9Y/view
Tips for Healthy Learning at Home: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LGpAtSQ3v4tA53Sg-7TBS2Z2F5sVK6mw/view
The Manning School of Academics and Arts
Email: christian.ramaker@jeffco.k12.co.us
Website: http://manningschool.jeffcopublicschools.org/
Location: 13200 W. 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401
Phone: (303) 982-6340
Wheat Ridge High School Cheer Tryouts!
Wheat Ridge cheer will be having tryouts for the 21-22 school year here in a few weeks. We are trying to figure out the best way to get information out to our 8th grade students while keeping covid protocol. Could we come one day after school and post some flyers in the school or would we be able to be outside after school to hand out flyers to students?
Tryouts May 3rd-May 6th and a virtual parent meeting on April 22 at 6pm. I have attached our flyer which has the QR code to get registered.
Google form Registration
Anime Club
Al Anime Club
The morning will include sessions on cosplay, drawing, and discussions about different anime. In the afternoon we will have a cosplay contest and art show. The festival is open to all students, 6th - 12th grade.
There is no cost to participate, students just need to register at http://aihspirates.wix.com/aianimefest2021