Oldham Observations

We are looking forward to focusing on Gratitude this month! One way to think about Gratitude is “choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives.” Practicing Gratitude can increase our well-being and even our happiness! Gratitude is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Well. Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like emotion regulation, positive self-talk, and stress-management.

Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Gratitude. Here are 2 “PurposeFull Pursuits” you can complete together! What are some small, specific things that you are Grateful for? Maybe it is your favorite water cup, the way the cat sleeps on the chair, or when your grandma bakes banana bread. Spend some time as a family trying to think of at least 10 small things that you have Gratitude for and then choose to notice them this week with a smile. Review Gratitude as a family! Remember that Gratitude is choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives. Find a place in your home to display a glass jar. Cut up small slips of paper and place them next to the jar. Use the jar to collect special people, places, events, and memories that your family is thankful for. Find a time each week to add slips of Gratitude to the jar and assist students in writing or drawing gratitude as needed. Having a gloomy day or a challenging time as a family? Pull out the slips of Gratitude and read them aloud together as a reminder of your Grateful moments.

Conversation Starters:

Can you share or show what it means to practice Gratitude?

What is something you are Grateful for every day?

Unfortunately, I have to undergo surgery on January 8th. It will require 6 weeks of recovery. The good news is that Mr. Quigley, a former Norwood Superintendent, will be at Oldham as the Principal in charge during my absence. My anticipated return date is after February Vacation on 2/26/23.

It’s cold and flu season, so be sure to keep your devices germ-free!

Some suggest cleaning your phones once per day, but check with your phone’s manufacturer for specific recommendations.

In general, most phone companies advise the following:

• Unplug your device before cleaning

• Use a lint-free fabric with a mix of soap and water (be sure it’s not too wet!)

• Don’t spray anything directly onto your phone

• Avoid harsh solutions - they could damage the protective coating of your screen

• Be sure any openings on your phone don’t get wet

• See the FCC's Guide to Sanitizing Your Phone and Other Devices

While everyone's looking forward to break, a lot of downtime can turn into a LOT of screen time. Check out Common Sense Media’s article on how you and your family can unplug (a little) this holiday season!

The Neponset River Watershed Association Presents “Flora, Fauna, and Friends” at the Morrill Public Library in Norwood

The science staff of the Neponset River Watershed Association (NepRWA) is offering a special hands-on science program for elementary-age children on Wednesday, December 27 from 2-3:30 pm at the Morrill Memorial Library, 33 Walpole St, Norwood.

Young students and their families are invited to learn about watersheds, rivers, and the life that depends on them. With the guidance of NepRWA and library staff, students will use microscopes to look at different plants, feathers, and macroinvertebrates collected in the Neponset River Watershed. They will also be invited to engage with the concept of an ecosystem through story writing and drawing.

“Flora, Fauna, and Friends is an exciting way to introduce children to the Neponset River and Watershed, as well as ecosystems as a whole,” said Benni Marques, NepRWA’s Environmental Fellow, who is spearheading the event.

NepRWA is committed to fostering a love for the environment in young people. “Flora, Fauna, and Friends” provides an opportunity for children to connect with the Neponset River ecosystem in a hands-on and exciting way. We believe that by nurturing an early appreciation for our environment, we are sowing the seeds for future environmental stewards.

The program is for ages 5 and up, and children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required and can be found on the library website at www.norwoodlibrary.org/morrillcalendar

Please contact NepRWA Environmental Science Fellow, Benni Marques, with questions at marques@neponset.org or by phone at 781-575-0354 x313.

The Neponset River Watershed Association is a grassroots, member-supported conservation group working since 1967 to clean up and protect the Neponset River, its tributaries, and surrounding watershed lands. To learn more, visit neponset.org

Click on this link to enjoy the Oldham Holiday Concert. A special shout out to Ms. Lorance and Ms. Bedard for putting together this annual concert. The hard work and growth of our Oldham musicians is a joy to watch.

On February 8th, the school will host a pop-up library in partnership with the PTO and Morrill Memorial Library. Students with library cards can check out books right in the gym. Paperwork to sign up for library cards will be sent home with students in advance, and can be returned to teachers to pass on to the public library.

The Oldham PTO is an essential part of the Oldham community. Check out their website, (https://www.oldhampto.org/) for more information.

We have started a new routine at Oldham. It is the RESET ROUTINE. We use this when students are moving from a very exciting activity (like recess) back into a learning environment. We used strategies we learning from our PTO sponsored work with Shine Bright. Ask your child to show you the new routine. You can also see the routine in this short video we created to teach it to our students.

School attendance is essential to student success. The state defines chronic absenteeism 10 or more absences. Research is very clear, students who are chronically absent are at risk of not meeting grade level standards. Once a student has 10 absences a letter is sent reminding parents of the importance of consistent school attendance and a meeting is requested to discuss a plan to improve attendance. At that time we can discuss extenuating circumstances and work together to ensure improvement. You can review the Elementary Student Handbook at this link. Page 39 details the attendance policy.