Dear MRH Families,
With the election approaching, it is crucial that we engage in meaningful discussions with our students. As a parent of a 7th grader, I had not considered the need to create space for Kaiden to process his thoughts about the election until he shared a conversation he had with peers at school. This experience prompted me to reach out to our community and share ways to support our students before and after the election. These conversations can help them manage their emotions, particularly when they encounter differing viewpoints. Acknowledging their feelings is key to guiding them through these challenging moments.
Here are a few approaches to help facilitate these important conversations:
Process Your Own Emotions: Reflect on your own feelings about the election before talking with your child. This helps you approach the conversation calmly.
Create a Safe Space: Encourage your child to share their feelings without judgment, letting them know it’s okay to have questions or uncertainties.
Communicate with School: If election-related concerns arise at school, please reach out to your child’s counselor or building administrator. We are here to support your child through any challenges.
As we navigate this election season, it is important that we remind students that while we can not control the election outcome, we can control our civic engagement. Linked, you’ll find resources to help guide these conversations and prepare our students for their roles as thoughtful, engaged citizens in our Maplewood Richmond Heights community.
In partnership,
For the second year, MRH has received a "Grow Your Own" grant from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Grow Your Own (GYO) grants work to attract local students as well as non-certified school staff, such as paraprofessionals and substitute teachers, to the teaching profession. Many programs also support those future teachers through their post-secondary education and path to certification. Funding is used to support a variety of activities, including dual credit courses, scholarships for high school students, student internships, and opportunities for other non-teaching adults to pursue programs that will allow them to become certified teachers.
DESE’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget includes $2.5 million to support one-time grants of $10,000 to each school system.
Dr. Jill Loyet's 7th grade social studies classes recently teamed up with Ms. Melissa Breed-Parks' Seed-to-Table classes for an interdisciplinary lesson about indigenous cultures. In our 7th grade social studies courses, students are learning about how different indigenous tribes navigated and adapted to the various geographic features and climates of America. One of the aspects was the food sources of the indigenous peoples. Sunchokes were commonly used, and also happen to grow in our Middle School garden. Classes harvested, cleaned, composted, and cooked the sunchokes to share with the 7th grade at large. Thanks to Dr. Loyet and Ms. Breed-Parks for providing this unique learning opportunity for our students!
This week, the Blue Devil shines his spotlight on the Moore/Lanius family, organizers of "Socks for the Homeless." Jennifer Moore explains:
"We started this in 2015 when our oldest son wanted to do something practical to help our unhoused friends. We heard on the radio that socks are one of the items shelters ALWAYS need. We can identify with the comfort of warm feet in the winter. Initially, we were going to buy a few packs and donate them ourselves, but socks are really expensive and we didn’t feel like we could do more than a pack or two. However, it occurred to us that we could ask other folks to donate too and we could deliver them. We know this is not a solution to the systematic problems around homelessness. We just want to help our fellow humans be a little more comfortable."
The family organizes a sock drive from October to mid-December. They distribute the socks to several shelters and groups which support the unhoused, specifically:
- St. Patrick Center
- Almost Home (moms and kids)
- Epworth House (teens)
- St. Louis Homeless Winter Outreach
Socks should be new and packaged. The family is willing to work with you to obtain the socks; reach them via their Facebook page.
October 28, 29, 30: Parent/teacher conferences
October 29: Community Conversations with MRH Admins
November 5: No school for students/professional development for staff/election day
November 6: Competency-Based Learning forum for MRH families
November 9: MRH Districtwide Open House; Kiwanis Club of Maplewood Pancake Breakfast
MRH Youth Sports winter sports registration is now open at MRHYS.org. Winter sports include basketball (1st-8th grades) and wrestling (also 1st-8th grades). Basketball registration closes TODAY, and wrestling registration will close on Monday, January 6, 2025.
For more details on team sizes, practice schedules and game info, please visit OUR SITE. Financial aid is available. Reach out to mrhyouthsports@gmail.com with any questions, and we’ll see you on the courts and mats!
