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Ridgeway RAP November 10, 2023
Phone (573)214-3550 ~ Fax (573)214-3551
Upcoming Events
November
- Saturday, November 11: PTSA Garden Work Day
- Tuesday, November 14: Parent Advisory Council 6:00 PM
- Tuesday, November 14: PTSA Meeting 6:30 PM
- Wednesday, November 23 - Friday, November, 24: No School - Thanksgiving Break
- Thursday, November 30 - ASC Meeting 4:00 PM
Ridgeway Clubs
November 6 to November 10
Before School:
Wednesday, November 15 - Running Club
Friday, November 17 - Running Club
After School:
Monday, November 13 - Building Club
Tuesday, November 14 - No Clubs
Wednesday, November 15 - Math Club, Photography & Yearbook Club and Puzzle Club
Thursday, November 16 - Coloring Club and Choir
Friday, November 17 - No Clubs
PTSA Garden Work Day
PTSA Garden & Grounds Committee has a workday set for Saturday, November 11 from 1-4 pm. Volunteers are needed to come help prep for the new pre-made garden beds, clearing out grass and weeds, moving and placing them, and filling them with compost. Also to turn the soil in the existing beds that Unit A is pulling the finished veggie plants out of.
Snacks and drinks will be provided. Tools as well. Please dress for the weather (If it ends up rainy we will reschedule).
Email or text Committee chair Tom Paige to volunteer: tompaige@hotmail.com (310) 569-1648
Principal's Pen
Thank you, Parents, for an amazing conference week! We had almost all of our parents at Ridgeway over the last three days. It was fun to see so many smiling faces walking out of classrooms. Conferences are a great opportunity to celebrate our student accomplishments and learn more about their needs to ensure we help them grow.
The relationship between school and home is so important, and we want to work as a team with you to support your child. If you have not had a conference with your child’s teacher, please reach out to them to find a time to meet. I encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher if you ever have questions or concerns. We are always happy to communicate how our kiddos are doing at school!
Special thank you to the PTSA Teacher Appreciation Committee and all who contributed to the yummy meals and snacks for our staff this week. On long conference days it’s nice that our teachers didn’t have to worry about packing a lunch.
Thank you for ALL you do as parents to support us here at Ridgeway!
Reminders
The district goal for attendance is to have at least 90% of students attending school at least 90% of the time. At Ridgeway we ended last year with 89.9% of our kids attending 90% or more. Currently we are at 91.4% of our students attending at least 90% of the time. Our ultimate goal is to have 95% of our students attending at least 90% of the time.
All school field trip to see TRYPS production of Annie on November 17th.
PTSA Meeting November 14th - I will be sharing information from the district improvement plan as well as our building improvement plan and what action items we have in place to meet our goals!
Unit News
Unit B
Unit C
Please have a conversation with your child about a routine regarding charging and bringing back iPads back to school every day.
Specialist News
Mrs. Ryberg - School Counselor
Greetings RWE Families,
It is a great privilege to be a part of the RWE educational team. The Comprehensive School Counseling Program reaches all students in the areas of academic, personal/social, and career growth. Classroom lessons, small groups, individual counseling, crisis counseling support as well as system support within the school is part of a school counselor's job. 😊 Helping students build resiliency, belief in their strengths, and growth in learning is the goal. RWE is a great place to be. If you would like more support for your student or family, please reach out anytime. I am here to help. 😊
This Semester in Counseling Class:
Counselor Intro: What does a school counselor do? Children’s Literature: The Rabbit Listened, students were encouraged to reach out for support and how to get help when needed, ie. letting the teacher know how they are feeling and reaching out to me. Students learned that a school counselor’s job is to listen to students and help support them in the areas of academic, personal/social and career growth.
Getting to know you: community building games, building listening skills, children’s literature: we read Howard Wiggle Bottom Learns to Listen to focus on how to be a better listener. Students took part in listening skills through discussion/conversation and sharing strengths and interests with each other using listening skills of eyes watching, ears listening, brain thinking, heart caring and body still.
Executive Functioning, Focused Attention Practices, and Listening Skills:
All students take part in focused attention practice (which may include breathing, and stretching exercises) to get their brains ready for learning, discussion, and role-play. Students took part in role-play using games and listening skills, listening to understand, repeating back what they heard, asking questions if they don’t understand, paying attention, and being alert. Some games included: telephone, going on a vacation, and Play-Doh building structures using listening skills.
Here is a list of focused attention practices that can help with calming and energizing which can help students to focus: https://revelationsineducation.com/100-focused-attention-practices/#:~:text=In%20our%20focused%20attention%20practices,of%20their%20own%20safe%20place.
Feelings recognition: Recognizing feelings in self and others.
Children’s Literature: In my Heart, A book of Feelings: Recognizing feelings in self and others. All feelings are okay, using calming strategies when needed such as Five Finger Breathing, Rainbow Breathing, etc.
Empathy and Perspective Taking: What is empathy? Being able to understand another’s feelings. Students took part in role-play, discussion, and children’s literature. I can listen to understand another’s perspective which can help me to be a better listener, friend, and problem solver.
Child Protection Unit: Second Step Curriculum
A letter was sent home on the day of the Child Protection Lesson. Students learn about safe, unsafe, and unwanted touches and the importance of the Touching Rule: No one should touch your private body parts except to keep you healthy. Private body parts were defined as the areas covered by a swimsuit. We also reviewed the Ways to Stay Safe, known as the 3 R’s:
1. RECOGNIZE Is it safe? What’s the rule?
2. REFUSE Say words that mean no.
3. REPORT: Tell a trusted adult.
You can access the lesson on the Secondsteps website using the codes below (codes were also listed in the letter that was sent home):
Grade
Streaming Lesson Media
Online Activation Key
Kindergarten
Julie Stays Safe
CPUK FAMI LYGK
First Grade
Julie Stays Safe**
CPU1 FAMI LYG1
Second Grade
David Speaks Up
CPU2 FAMI LYG2
Third Grade
David Speaks Up
CPU3 FAMI LYG3
Fourth Grade
Digital Scenarios
CPU4 FAMI LYG4
Fifth Grade
Digital Scenarios
CPU5 FAMI LYG5
** First-grade parents/guardians must add the kindergarten activation key to their dashboard to view Julie Stays Safe and access the video discussion guide. Julie Stays Safe was initially designed for kindergarten. However, the CPS Elementary School Counseling Department felt this video would also be well-suited for first grade. David Speaks Up, the video referenced in the first-grade curriculum, is used for grades 2 and 3.
It is important to continue talking with your child about unsafe or unwanted situations and how to handle them. These can feel like difficult conversations to have. To help make these conversations easier, a streaming lesson and discussion guide are available online in the Families section of SecondStep.org.
You can create an account at www.secondstep.org and enter the grade-level activation key to access these Second Step online materials and other helpful tips. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about this lesson or would like more information about how to reinforce this lesson at home.
Sincerely,
Beth Ryberg M.Ed.
School Counselor
Ridgeway Elementary
573-214-3550 ext. 3