THE SWIS SCOOP
January 15, 2024
WISHING THE ENTIRE SWIS FAMILY A NEW YEAR FILLED WITH HOPE, PEACE, AND PROMISE!
All of us at SWIS are looking forward to the second half of the school year and have embraced the first days back with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. Our momentum in preparation for all that 2024 brings will continue as there is a lot to prepare students for; new curriculum, mid-year benchmark assessments, Spring MCAS, and new challenging projects. As a team, we will continue our mission of providing each student daily opportunities to develop and grow in all areas. The hard work of educating every child in reaching their full potential is the collaborative effort of all of us at SWIS– teachers, students, staff, and administration, as well as you, our dedicated, supportive, loving families.
Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to advocating for civil rights, equality, and justice. His powerful speeches and peaceful activism continue to inspire and remind us of the importance of compassion, unity, and the ongoing pursuit of a world free from discrimination. Let’s embrace his activism as a school community and nurture this in all of our children.
Academic Update
All students are in the midst of taking the Mid-year IReady Math and Reading Diagnostic assessment. Grade three will also take part in the DIBELS test. Other tools to monitor progress are in place to ensure we are targeting our instruction to address each child's specific needs throughout the year. Results will be shared when completed.
As a staff, we will be discussing and analyzing all testing results to plan future instruction and interventions/enrichments. These tests, along with all assessments, provide us with information to make informed decisions about student learning and guide us in creating experiences for each student to excel before, during, and after school.
WIDA Testing – During the last weeks of January and the beginning of February, English Language Learners will be taking the state ACCESS test. This test assesses comprehension, written language, and oral fluency. Parents will receive notification of the dates their child will be tested, along with helpful test-taking strategies.
Communication
AS SEEN RECENTLY IN DR. CHAMBERLAND'S COMMUNICATION, PLEASE NOTE THE IMPORTANCE AND DANGERS OF SOCIAL MEDIA.
SOCIAL MEDIA AND KIDS-AN UPDATE FROM THE SURGEON GENERAL
I am sharing a link to an article from the Washington Post, What the Surgeon General's advisory says about Social Media for Kids in response to the Surgeon Generals recent report on the impact of social media on kids. I hope you find it helpful as we continue to work through the impact that excessive cell phone use and social media has on the mental health of our students. Below you will find two segments from the article. One outlines some of the dangers of social media and the other, some suggestions for parents on how to deal with social media at home.
Dangers of Social Media
- Children are commonly exposed to “extreme, inappropriate content” while on social media.
- Social media can perpetuate feelings of body dissatisfaction, especially among adolescent girls.
- These sites can become havens for predatory behaviors. Nearly 6 in 10 girls say they’ve been contacted by a stranger online “in ways that make them feel uncomfortable.”
- Social media may be overstimulating the brain in ways comparable to addiction.
- Excessive use of social media has been associated with problems sleeping and difficulty paying attention.
Suggestions for Parents
- Consider establishing “tech-free” zones. Draw boundaries around where or when the family can use smartphones to protect sleep, face-to-face interactions and physical activity. “It’s an invitation for us to think about moments when tech is going to be part of the equation and moments when we want to remove tech from the equation,” said Emily Weinstein, a researcher and principal investigator at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. “When our phones are within reach, it’s very hard not to look at the screen or check the notification.”
- Model the behavior you want to see. “Kids and teens are very sensitive to hypocrisy,” Weinstein said. Parents need to have the relationship with their smartphone that they want their kids to have, she said.
- Delay the age your children first get on these platforms. “That’s easy to say,” Murthy said. “It’s hard to do.” This rule may be easier to institute with like-minded parents who are doing the same for their children, he said.
- Ask them to turn off the smartphone before bed. Smartphones and tablets are keeping children awake at night, cutting into vital time for shut-eye, experts say. “Too many young people are robbed of their sleep,” Murthy said. “One in 3 adolescents are up past midnight on weekdays in front of screens.”
This is an issue we will be looking at closely over the summer to ensure we are doing all we can to support the mental health of our students. Summer vacation can be a time when students rely even more heavily on social media and much of the discourse is not positive. We will continue to work to educate our students about the dangers of social media, and we should all be aware of the impact it has on us, the relationships we form and how we feel about ourselves.
The United States Attorney's Office Distrct of Massachusetts will be holding an online webinar for adults that will bring awareness to the dangers children face online and to educate adults on how to keep children safe. You can register at the link below. Space is limited and registration is required in advance.
Keeping Children Safe & Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Parents
Date and time:
Wednesday, January 17, 2024 6:30 PM | (UTC-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada). Log in begins at 6:00 pm
Register link: (Copy and paste into Chrome browser for best compatibility)
https://usao.webex.com/weblink/register/r89884ccf204c605b8e466eb4be8aa854
Please direct questions to USAMA.PSCOutreach@usdoj.gov
Please maintain continued contact with your child’s teacher to seek updates on your child’s progress. This is imperative for ongoing growth and success. Teachers use a variety of communication tools to provide ways in which you can stay informed and reinforce/support your child’s learning, as well as recognize thier many successes at school, as there are many. Thank you in advance.
Teaching and Learning
Importance of Active Reading - Reading Comprehension is a key skill that will enable your child to become proficient in other subject areas. As a parent, finding the time to read to or with your child is not always easy. However, it is an investment that pays off in big dividends! Research shows that children who spend as little as 30 minutes a day reading books, magazines, and newspapers are more likely to become good readers. Engage your child by asking ‘higher order thinking questions’ about the text, such as: Why do you think that happened? What evidence in the text supports your reasoning? Compare/Contrast this piece of literature to another. What was the main idea of what was read? Summarize this paragraph, chapter, and article using details from the text. This type of discussion will reinforce what we teach during the school day.
Looking for simple and effective ways to help your child outside the classroom? Learn, play, and enjoy new games that will improve their math skills. Fluency starts at home!
Why play math games? Math games are a fun way to practice math skills. Playing these games can help your child feel less anxious about math. Playing math games together can also help you get a better sense of your child’s strengths and challenges.
PBIS
The new year provides a wonderful opportunity to revisit the academic and behavioral expectations throughout the school day. Routines and expectations on the bus, in the classroom, walking through the hallways, table manners, and appropriate recess play will be revisited. Please support us by reminding your child about appropriate, respectful behavior and the critical importance of treating one another with respect, dignity, and kindness. Together we develop responsible, educated citizens.
January’s Character Quality focus is: Courage: have the courage to do the right thing, even if others don’t.
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an approach used in schools to promote positive behavior and create a safe and supportive learning environment. The key components of PBIS include teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors, establishing clear expectations, and providing consistent consequences for inappropriate behavior.
For parents and guardians, reinforcing PBIS principles at home can contribute to the overall success of the program. Here's a brief summary along with some ideas to reinforce responsible, respectful, and safe expectations:
1. Understanding PBIS:
- PBIS focuses on teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors rather than solely addressing negative behaviors.
- It establishes clear expectations for behavior in various school settings.
2. Positive Reinforcement:
- Praise and reward your child for displaying responsible, respectful, and safe behavior.
- Create a simple reward system at home to recognize and reinforce positive actions.
3. Communication:
- Stay informed about the specific expectations outlined by our school's PBIS program (SWIS PBIS Matrix).
- Regularly communicate with teachers to discuss your child's progress and any concerns.
4. Consistency:
- Be consistent in your expectations and consequences for behavior at home.
- Reinforce the importance of following rules and guidelines both at school and in other settings.
5. Modeling Behavior:
- Demonstrate the behavior you expect from your child.
- Discuss and model responsible, respectful, and safe behavior in various everyday situations.
6. Problem-Solving:
- Teach your child problem-solving skills to handle conflicts appropriately.
- Encourage open communication and help them find constructive solutions to challenges.
7. Family Values:
- Relate PBIS principles to your family values and expectations.
- Discuss how positive behavior aligns with personal and family values.
8. Celebrate Achievements:
- Celebrate your child's achievements and milestones, whether big or small.
- Reinforce the idea that positive behavior leads to positive outcomes.
9. Regular Check-Ins:
- Have regular check-ins with your child to discuss their day and any challenges they may be facing.
- Use these discussions as an opportunity to reinforce the importance of responsible, respectful, and safe behavior.
By actively participating in your child's understanding and practice of PBIS principles at home, you contribute to a consistent and supportive environment that encourages positive behavior both in and out of school.
Please see the attached document from Big Life Journal about teaching children respect.
Classroom 📸
Ms. Terlizzi and Mrs. Cody/Mrs. Bankowski's classes conducted some animal research as zoologists!
Mrs Caplette’s, Mrs Furmanick’s and Mrs Murphy’s Winter Wonderland Fun!
Mrs. Connerton's class participated in a Snowman STEM Challenge.
Fun winter activities in Mrs. Fontaine's class.
Fort Day in Mrs. Locke's class.