CGES Newsletter

Dear CGE Families,

How is it November already?! I am writing this to you while watching small snowflakes fall outside and watching people walk by my window all bundled up thinking about how fast time goes. I’m not quite sure if I am ready for the cold weather, but I am ready for the fun and exciting things coming up here at CGE this month!

One such event that we are excited to have again this year is the CGES Book Fair and STEM Knight. This event is on Thursday, November 9th from 6-7:30 here at CGE. We have many community partners that have volunteered to run different stations to do fun STEM activities with our families; such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Master Gardeners of Johnson County, Johnson County Public Library, and others. Along with these community partners, we also have our amazing PTO running the Book Fair and a fun raffle that evening. More information will be coming soon. I hope to see you and your family there that evening!

Lastly, I have really enjoyed getting to know our students, staff, and families here at CG. It was so wonderful getting to meet so many of our families at Parent Teacher Conferences prior to Fall Break and discussing how our kids are doing. I am so proud of our students and excited to see how much they grow over the course of this school year!

As always, thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child’s education!

Warmest Regards,

Mrs. Johnson

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” -Helen Keller

Hello, and happy November-where the days are shorter and the temperatures are definitely colder. 🙁Feeling SAD about it? Please know that some of our kids truly are. SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, is fairly common for many of us during this time- especially if you are someone who spends most of those warm spring and summer days outside! For some, SAD may even present itself through symptoms similar to depression. During this time of year, you may find your child (or yourself) more moody, less energetic, and even struggling with focus. According to KidsHealth.org, “Shorter days and more hours of darkness in fall and winter may decrease serotonin and increase melatonin.” The good news? Seasonal Affective Disorder is just that- seasonal. For most of us, once the days become longer and brighter again, these symptoms seem to just disappear. “As the season changes and days become longer again, kids and teens with SAD will have higher energy levels and a better outlook.” (KidsHealth.org) Unfortunately, however, this is just the beginning of November- which means more dark days are in our future. With this in mind, there are some very easy things you can do to help to alleviate some of these feelings for both ourselves and our children. For example, spending more time outside during daylight hours is often enough to improve SAD. Taking a daily walk or getting other exercise outdoors are ways to do this. Believe it or not, full-spectrum (daylight) bulbs that fit in regular lamps can also help bring a bit more daylight into winter months and might even help mild symptoms.

You can also:

• Spend time together in ways that don't require much energy, like watching a movie.

• Try to serve lots of whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, brown rice, and oatmeal), vegetables, and fruit. Limit less healthy things like white bread, sugary snacks, and soda.

• Have your child go to bed and get up at the same time each day to get the most daytime light.

• Encourage your child to get plenty of exercise, especially outdoors.

But, most importantly, try to be patient. It may take time for symptoms to improve, and honestly, most kids can’t explain why they are feeling the way they are. Talking about this with them is another great way to work through these dark and dreary days. Helping your child to find something positive, or even something to be grateful for, are great ways to manage their emotions. It’s November, what a great month to be thankful, right?

And as always, please let me know if there is anything I can do to support you.

Mrs. Taylor