Glacier Ridge Gazette

August 18, 2023

December 20, 2024

DR. KURTY'S CORNER

How Will You Use Break?

Winter break has arrived. School will resume on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025. There is no school on Monday, January 6th for a staff professional development day.

I'd like to give a heartfelt thank you to our PTO, GRE families, the staff, and our students for a wonderful first half of the school year. This December was filled with joy as our community worked together to support many Dublin families through the One Dublin Adopt a Family program and the GRE Holiday Post Office. As always, GRE spreads kindness and generosity to others.

Personally, I will be enjoying time with family over break. This is a special time of year for many and it is my personal favorite. Other than the daily driving and catering to my children’s constant social plans that have monopolized my own, I enjoy taking a moment to slow down and doing nothing together as a family over break. Just being around one another and doing nothing is what I enjoy most.

Sometimes there can be joy and fun in small and mundane things. We often do this during traveling, when there are long periods of waiting. HERE is a great article of simple game ideas that you can do with your child or family as you spend down-time with one another. For example, when in a public place, looking at people wearing t-shirts to find your favorite one that you would wear. These types of games help practice creative and flexible thinking.

I hope this break and time is all that you want it to be. Whether your goal is to connect as a family or with friends, travel, rest and relax, stay busy, take time for yourself, or something else, I hope you are able to do so. The Kurty Family will attempt to do that and I wish that for you too.

Enjoy the Holidays,

Pete Kurty, Ed. D

Principal

Three part series about how we inadvertently treat children differently Part 3: Parents are teachers too Expect growth, not perfection. My generation constantly heard the phrase, “There’s no such thing as perfection.” That concept is absolutely true. I’m not sure exactly why or where that phrase originated from. As adults, we certainly know that to be true. High achievers also know that perfection is an impossible outcome. I’m not a perfect principal, father, husband, or leader. However, we sometimes expect children to be perfect - especially during a time when they are just learning how to navigate life and new skills. Children make mistakes….a lot of them. Not only that, but they should make mistakes. That is how they best learn how to navigate life, problem solve, and build resilience for adversity. Teach, don’t tell: When my children were younger, it was much easier to tell them what to do and how to do it. They would often listen because they understood the authoritative structure of child and parent. However, now that I have two young teenagers, just telling them what to do because I’m the parent doesn’t work any more. Furthermore, telling someone something is not a good teaching strategy either. As parents, we are teachers. Telling and giving information is NOT teaching. When someone can understand the concert, apply the skill, think abstractly about it, and then apply it in a variety of new situations, that is the teaching and learning process. It’s easier said than done (especially with teens AND adults). However, that is the most effective process. Enforce growth & reflection, not outcome: Because we have navigated life for decades, we often forget that children are just learning how to do things for the first time. As a child, you are often doing many things in life for the first time. When doing something for the first time, being good at it initially is a rarity, let alone perfect (which is impossible). Instead of expecting perfection, look for growth and reflection. I have found that my children will often just want to do it the way they want to. Schoolwork is a common example. You would think that having my doctorate would make me an expert in teaching children. Regardless, my children don’t see it that way. Instead of portraying that I know what I’m talking about, I ask them reflective questions to get them to plan and explain what they think they need to do. I force them to reflect and plan ahead of time. What is your goal? What do you want from doing this or this way)? Why do you think this is the best way/plan? What are there things that could go wrong? I’m here to support you and I believe in you. What can I do to help you? Afterwards, regardless of whether the outcome was positive or detrimental, we try to reflect. This is often harder because the children are anticipating a parent lecture. So navigate this with caution and don’t force it. They often know their shortcomings and just don’t want to talk about it. I’m proud of you for carrying out your plan. Is there something I could have done differently to help you? (This shows that you are a team and support them in failure and success). What did you plan that went well? What would you plan differently next time? Feedback: Feedback is an important part of learning as well. Again, in the younger years, it is easier. However, that is what also allows adults to just give feedback in a way that we wouldn’t want as adults. If I try something new for the first time at work, I certainly wouldn’t want my boss to just give me constructive feedback. Instead provide balanced feedback and couple it with the reflective questions above. Teaching and learning is about growth and ownership. If someone just tells me what to do, I don’t have any ownership in it. Growth and change occurs more out of strengths than deficits. In other words, I’m more likely to build on my strengths and success than the things that are harder for me to change. Therefore, begin with the reflective questions above and then feedback about what was positive and successful. Follow that with the reflection questions about what to change and feedback. End with a supportive question to show your support and care. Don’t forget to incorporate conversation, questions, and feedback about their effort. Sometimes they have a great plan, but the outcome wasn’t as expected. Therefore, reinforce the amount and quality of the effort that they put in, and don’t focus solely on the outcome. We are growing and learning as parents, too. We make mistakes and it’s okay for our kids to know that. That allows them to see that making mistakes themselves is okay. However, we all must learn and grow from those mistakes. Ironically, it is better for them to know that a perfect parent doesn’t exist either. Sincerely, Pete Kurty, Ed. D Principal

GLACIER RIDGE INFORMATION

Celebration of Giving

Students and staff celebrated the season by coming together as a school community at our annual Celebration of Giving. The assembly consisted of a strings performance, a staff bell choir performance, speeches by students, and lots of singing. We presented the gifts that were donated to the Adopt A Family program and through our collaborative efforts we were able to make a donation to One Dublin in the amount of $715.24.

Here is the link to the Celebration of Giving Video from our assembly today:

https://youtu.be/eke3MC6UN-Q?si=73e2d_ZEagSZ7kSK

Holiday Tiger Trunk - Thank you PTO & Volunteers

This week, students had the opportunity to shop at the holiday-themed tiger trunk store. Students could purchase items for their family and friends, and even have complimentary gift wrapping. Thank you to the PTO, Tiger Trunk coordinators, and volunteers for staffing the event!

End of Grading Period: Standards-Based Grading

The end of the grading period is on Friday, December 20th. Grade cards will be posted on Saturday, January 11th in Infinite Campus. If you recall, the district switched to standards-based grading last year. HERE is district information about standards-based grading and how to read the grade card.

Below is information about the standards-based grading in a previous newsletter.

SIGN UP & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Parent/Guardian Volunteer Background Check

VOLUNTEERING: Dublin City Schools takes the safety of our students and staff seriously and requires a background check for all volunteers interacting with students. In order to attend field trips or volunteer in the classroom, you much go through the background check process. The process is free and easy and takes only a few minutes to complete. This is required for any parents or caregivers wishing to volunteer with students.

Background Check Sign-up

Morning Tiger Student Announcements

Would you like to start your day saying “Hello!” to everyone at Glacier Ridge in the morning? Are you in 2nd thru 5th grade? Then sign up to read the morning announcements! If you would like to find out more about this opportunity and sign up to be a Tiger Student Announcer then go to the sign-up link below.

Students can sign up only 1 time per week.

Morning Tiger Student Announcements Sign-up

Glacier Ridge Student Greeter Team

Glacier Ridge Elementary believes in creating a caring and comfortable environment for it's community of learners. This begins as students enter the front doors of the school in the morning. Sign up your child to be a greeter. Students gain confidence, become leaders, and learn how to present themselves in a positive way.

Click on this link to find out more specific information.

Student Greeter Sign-up

GRE EVENTS

Upcoming GRE Events

December 21st-January 5th- No School Winter Break

January 6th, 2025- NO SCHOOL Teacher Work Day

January 7th-School Resumes

January 9th-PTO Dinner Night Out @ Black Dog Pizza

January 17th-Yearbook Sale Begins

Subscribe to the GRE Google Community Calendar

DISTRICT UPDATES

Winter Break is here!

Today marks the end of the first semester and the beginning of winter break. We hope you have a great break, filled with special moments. We can’t wait to see everyone back at school on Tuesday, January 7.

New After School Activities Start in January

Don’t miss the new classes being offered as part of the After School Activities program, including French, Spanish and even an electronic music Sound Lab! Check out all the opportunities on the After School Activities page on our website. Many classes start in early January!

From the City of Dublin

Get Festive with AR Holiday Trail, Ice Skating

Bring your family to Downtown Dublin for the Augmented Reality (AR) Holiday Trail! Discover 12 festive scenes on both sides of The Dublin Link by simply scanning QR codes with your smartphone. After you complete the AR tour, take a spin around the Riverside Crossing Park Ice Skating Rink! The rink has new operating hours and extended days during the holidays.

City of Dublin Holiday Service Impacts

During the holiday season, please remember these changes to your trash and recycling collections and DCRC programming. Find out more.

Dec. 25 Service Impacts

City of Dublin Offices: Closed

Yard Waste Pickups: Monday, Dec. 23

Trash & Recycling Pick-ups: Thursday, Dec. 26

Dublin Community Recreation Center: Open Dec. 24, 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Dec. 25

Jan. 1 Service Impacts

City of Dublin Offices: Closed

Yard Waste Pickups: Monday, Dec. 30

Trash & Recycling Pick-ups: Thursday, Jan. 2

The Dublin Community Recreation Center: Open Dec. 31, 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Open Jan. 1, 8 a.m. to noon.

Dublin City Schools Home

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

To help students discover their interests and enrich their learning, Dublin City Schools partners with local businesses and community organizations to offer After School Activities outside of school hours. These experiences, which vary in content, time, location, and cost, are taught by course instructors employed by a sponsoring business or organization.

Activities List & Registration

Going to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade? What To Know Get ready for Dublin's St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 9! Plan where you'll watch by checking out the parade route and accessible parking. The City is also partnering with Central Ohio Safe Ride for discounted Lyft rides to or from the parade and Downtown Dublin. Get the Lyft code and find your spot. Dublin Is an Exceptional Community Because of YOU You’re invited to the State of the City from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at The Exchange in Bridge Park. Hear from your City Council, public servants and fellow neighbors about Dublin’s successes and what’s to come this year and in the future. All are welcome to attend. RSVP today! We Need Your Input on the DCRC Refresh Join us for the third and final DCRC Refresh Engagement Session from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at the Dublin Community Recreation Center in Talla 1. A presentation from the designer will begin at 6 p.m. Guests will have an hour after the presentation to walk around, see different design renderings up close and ask questions in an open house-style session. Can't make it? Share your feedback here.

GRE CONTACT INFORMATION

Attendance

If your child will be absent from school, please email our attendance line at gres_attendance@dublinschools.net.

Glacier Ridge Elementary

Email: glacierridge_info@dublinschools.net
Website: https://glacier.dublinschools.net/
Location: 7175 Glacier Ridge Boulevard, Dublin, OH, USA
Phone: 614.733.0012
Twitter: @greDCSD

Glacier Ridge Elementary Home