The Panda Post

As I prepare for my retirement, I am reflecting on the last 12 years as the Principal of the BEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE WORLD and how thankful I am to have served this community. I am thankful for...

THE STUDENTS - who smile, wave, and greet me and work so hard at learning every day!

THE TEACHERS - who work tirelessly to prepare for teaching and learning!

THE PARAPROFESSIONALS- who support teaching and learning each day!

THE SCHOOL COUNSELORS- who support the students' social and emotional development.

THE CUSTODIAL TEAM- who keep our school and campus clean, safe, and beautiful!

THE SCHOOL NUTRITION TEAM- who prepare breakfast and lunch and know and care for your children!

THE FRONT OFFICE STAFF- who keep the school running smoothly!

MY ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS- who truly are the most amazing school leaders!

AND TO YOU, THE PARENTS! - who trust and support us to do what we love, which is to teach and serve children!

In this season of thanksgiving, please know how thankful, grateful, and blessed I am to have served this community! You are special and will always hold a special place in my heart!

Warmly,

Ms. Young

Children love school spiritwear! Orders made between November 1 - 12 will arrive prior to the Winter Break! Order forms will be in Monday folders TODAY!!!

If your child’s grades are lower than you expected, it’s only natural to be disappointed—especially if you know he/she isn’t working up to his/her potential. The most important thing to remember is to keep your emotions in check. Getting angry or showing your disappointment won’t help. Instead, look for ways to encourage your child to do the best he/she can:

• Ask him/her to talk about his/her grades. Does he/she think they accurately reflect his/her work? What does he/she think is going on? Does he/she complete his/her in-class assignments? Is he/she turning in his/her homework on time? Does he/she understand the lessons? Does he/she think there is anything he/she could do differently?
• Talk with his/her teacher. Is your child having any issues at school? Discuss ways you can work together to boost your child’s performance. What resources are available to help?
• Enforce a regular study time. During that time, the TV should be off and digital devices should be used only for studying. Set a timer for 20 minutes, then let your child take a short break before getting back to work.
• Offer support. Provide help when necessary, but don’t just give your child the answers. Instead, act as a coach and show your child how he/she can find the answers on her own. Always let your child take responsibility for completing her work.
  

Tuesday, November 9 is the 3rd Digital Learning Day for the school year. Make sure you mark your calendar.

Great reading skills have a HUGE impact on success in all of life! At Arcado, we have students that have already read 200 books this school year. We know they are preparing for college right now, and should excel at anything they want to be. We look forward to seeing many others in the 300 Book Club soon!

Happy Reading!

Dr. Underwood, Media Specialist

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to these students and their teachers:

From phones and tablets to streaming movies and YouTube, tech and media are everywhere. Kids love easy access to shows, games, and information. Parents and caregivers love that kids can learn on the go (and stay busy when dinner's cooking). But it's easy to overdo it when the phone never stops pinging and the next episode plays automatically. Families can keep media and tech use in check by following a few simple practices.

Click here to sign the Family Media Balance Agreement. Bring it back to Ms. Baratto for a 1.00 coupon for School Store!

Did you know that emotions influence childrens’ attention, decision making, memory, behavior, and learning? Children, like adults, can have feelings about many things. Times of uncertainty, stress, or change can cause feelings to feel even bigger. Children express these feelings differently and may need help from adults to learn how to manage their big feelings.

When children experience big feelings, they might not be able to pinpoint the problem. Young children often lack a developed “feelings vocabulary” which can make it hard for them to communicate what they’re feeling. Therefore, children need help from adults to learn what feelings look and sound like, and what to call them. At home, talk with your children about feelings. See how many emotions they can name and act out some together. Discuss sensations that might be felt in the body with each emotion.

Watch for changes in behavior that seem out of character for your child as this may signal that your child is dealing with big feelings. If this happens, let your child know that this feeling is okay. Then put a name to the feeling (sad, mad, frustrated, etc.) and remind your child that feelings come and go. This one won’t last forever. Offer a few options to express and release this big feeling (e.g., take some deep breaths, draw a picture of the feeling, write about the feeling in a journal, or simply count to 10 slowly). Finally, be willing to listen, offer comfort, and reassure your child. Responding to big feelings in this way can mitigate the effects of stress and help children learn to self-regulate.