From the Principal
Thank you for your support and encouragement during our first month of school. Your children have made an excellent transition back to school. A strong home/school connection makes academic prospects and opportunities stronger for your children. Creating routines and structures at home and school is the key. With a routine about school times, chores, etc your child will feel at ease and know what is expected of them. Please see other notes about important information for you and your family and upcoming events happening during the month of October.
Sincerely,
Kimberly M. McCartan
Principal
Reminder for Dismissal
Please remember that parent pick up starts at 3:20 so please plan to arrive accordingly.
Please do not block the driveway entrance to the school. No Left turns into the school during this time and if you are waiting on the side of the road to pull in the lot, leave one driveway lane open for buses to pull in. Also, there will be no more pick ups at the door after 3:00; you must use a car tag after that time.
Social Worker's Scoop
How Adults Can Help Kids with Worries (info from https://kidshealth.org)
We want to teach our kids that worries are a normal part of life and that they can deal with worries and problem solve!
Parents can help kids and teens face worries by doing the following:
- Spend time with them. Do this everyday even if it's only for a short time.
- Ask what's on their minds and help kids label what they think and feel.
- Listen with patience and don't be too quick to give advice. Let them confide. Listen calmly to what they have to say.
- Validate. Let kids know you understand. Say it’s okay to feel how they feel. Tell them their feelings are normal. Try not to say, "There's nothing to worry about." This can make kids think they shouldn't feel the way they do. Instead, listen calmly and accept how they feel.
- Help kids think of how to handle things. Help them feel capable. Don't jump in to solve things for them. Instead, invite kids and teens to think of what they can do. Support their good ideas. Talk it through together. Remind them of times they tried something new and it went well.
- Help them practice. When possible, help kids break a new thing into small steps. Let them practice one step at a time as they build toward their goal. Celebrate each success.
- Encourage. Praise your child's effort and progress. Tell them what they said or did that made you proud. Help them relax so that stress and worry don't build up.
- Help them expect good things. Ask your child or teen to share what's going well and what they look forward to. Ask about the good things that happen in their day.
- Soothe and comfort. At times, kids and teens may feel overwhelmed by worry. In those moments, trying to talk it through isn't likely to help. It might help more to offer comfort and understanding. Teach them to use calm breathing to relax their mind and body.
Reading Ideas
October is National Book Month
Ideas to Celebrate National Book Month:
Create a Reading List: Compile a list of books you and your children have been meaning to read and challenge the family to complete them throughout the month.
Host a Book Club: Organize a book club with friends, family, or colleagues to discuss a chosen book. Organize a neighborhood book club for the children to meet and talk about books they’ve read.
Visit a Local Bookstore: Support independent bookstores by browsing their shelves and discovering new titles. Talk with your children and encourage them to try a new genre too.
Explore Different Genres: Step out of your comfort zone and try genres you haven’t explored before.Talk with your children and encourage them to try a new genre too.
Create Book-Inspired Art: Express your family’s creativity by crafting art inspired by your favorite books or characters.
Attend Literary Events: Look for author talks, book signings, and virtual literary festivals taking place during the month. Our local libraries offer many family friendly events.
Read a “Joke of the Day”: You and your family members can take turns finding and reading a joke each day. Everyone will look forward to reading and hearing the new jokes.
Set Up a Cozy Reading Nook: Design a cozy reading space at home where you and your family members can fully immerse yourself in your chosen books.
