Cardinal Family Newsletter
It's A Great Day to Be a Cardinal!
March 8-12
Dear Cardinal Families,
Here we are...fourth quarter. The week students will be taking the Pro-Core C assessment this week. It is important that students do their best to show their growth this year in the academic areas. Teachers will analyze the information to guide their instruction to best meet their students needs in the next few weeks leading up to the state exam. We are so fortunate to have been able to have students in school this year.
Track and field starts Monday. If your child is interested they can stay after school for practice which ends at 4.
On March 17th some teachers will be receiving their second vaccine shot. Therefore, we will be on a remote schedule March 17th, and since it is hard to know the effects of the second vaccine shot, will also be on remote learning Thursday, March 18th. Face to Face learning will resume Friday, March 19th.
Have a great week and feel free to reach out with any questions.
Mrs. Hiler
March 8-12- Pro-Core (C)
March 17-18- Remote Days
March 22-26- Spring Break
April 2- Good Friday- No School
April 5-23 Ohio’s State Tests – District English Language Arts Window* Grades 3 - High School
April 9 Alternate Assessment Window Closes* Grades 3-12
April 19 -- May 7 Ohio’s State Tests – District Math, Science, Social Studies Window*
FFA News
PTO FUNDRAISER
Track and Field 2021
Virtual Talent Show
Character Trait- Perspective
This week we will be talking to students about Perspective
PERSPECTIVE TAKING
Perspective taking is the ability to look beyond your own point of view, so that you can consider how someone else may think or feel about something.
To do this successfully, you must have some understanding of others’ thoughts, feelings, motivations, and intentions. You must also have some background information about the other person or be able to make some smart guesses about their background and or how they experience the world.
For example; If you are a child speaking to another child, you may easily talk about lots of details in the latest video game…
but… if you are a child talking to an adult, it is helpful to realize that most adults don’t play a lot of video games and they may not be interested in this topic or be able to follow along with what you are saying.
The 4 Parts To Successful Perspective Taking
- Set aside your thoughts, feelings, motivations & intentions, momentarily
- Consider others’ thoughts, feelings, motivations & intentions
- Determine whether or not your behavior should change based on that information
- Make any necessary changes
Good perspective takers continually monitor these 4 steps and reassess their interpretation of others. Most of us develop perspective taking skills as children through natural development, without giving it much conscious thought. But for some children, these skills need to be explicitly taught.
What might happen if children are unable to take the perspectives of others? Do you have any acquaintances that you would describe as “inconsiderate”? How about “self-centered”? Most likely you think of those people that way because they are not good at perspective-taking.
To be thought of as a considerate person, we must consider other peoples’ perspectives before we act or speak. When we don’t consider how our actions will make others feel, we end up seeming rude, inconsiderate, and self-centered.
Children that lack good perspective taking skills are often considered inconsiderate and rude by their peers. These children tend to do what is in their own best interest and disregard what is best for the group or anyone else they are with.
When children have trouble with perspective taking, they usually have difficulty making or maintaining friendships, being on teams, or being a member of a school group.
Positive Results of Improving Students Perspective Taking Skills
Students who improve their perspective taking are better able to:
- interpret the needs and wants(motivation) of others
- demonstrate consideration and empathy toward others
- safely navigate around people who may have ill intentions
- adjust their behavior so that others’ feel comfortable
- interpret assignments at school (especially reading and writing assignments) by understanding the perspective of the characters studied or the person who will be reading their writing
- share in the happiness of others even without sharing the same level of interest in the topic, purely because they like the other person
- think critically about social situations and relationships and engage in personal problem solving
Perspective taking is an essential skill children need to interpret “why” and “how” situations happen and then respond appropriately to that information.
Strategies To Teach Perspective Taking
Helpful strategies for taking another’s perspective include:
- imagining yourself having the same experience as another person
- using your own similar past experience to understand another’s situation
- applying general knowledge (e.g., stereotypes) about how people are likely to react in particular situations
So how do we teach children to take others’ perspectives and improve their perspective taking abilities?
- Model The Skill/Behavior
Practicing what you preach can be harder than it seems, but demonstrating perspective taking skills, in real time with your students, is good for you and them.
It is easier to be fair and just, if we take the time to see how a situation looks from someone else’s point of view.
Young children learn much by watching you, so when you show them the value of perspective taking, they will be more likely to engage in it too.
- Talk about challenging feelings
Talk about all feelings with your students, not just the positive emotions, and teach your students that all feelings are valid.
Acknowledge and respect your students feelings. Children will be better able to understand others’ perspectives when they feel their thoughts, feelings, and experiences are understood and respected.
- Demonstrate Understanding
Show your student’s that you understand their perspective by repeating back to them what you hear them saying or describing to them what you think they may be thinking or feeling, wanting or intending.
- Respecting Different Opinions vs. Agreeing
Remember that understanding someone else’s perspective does not necessarily mean that you agree with them, it is however, an acknowledgement of how they are thinking, feeling, what they want or need.
- Show Them The Other Side
For example, when you see someone help someone else, talk to your students about what each person might be feeling or thinking. Help them build connections between people’s actions and their motivations.
It’s also important to help children understand how their behaviors affect other people.
If your student throws a toy and it hits another child, help your student build that cause-and-effect connection by talking about how their actions impact other people or their environment.
- Be A Detective
Just like real-life detectives search for clues to solve a crime, people who are skilled at perspective taking look for clues to understand other people. Help your students develop these skills by encouraging them to observe and evaluate other people’s actions or behaviors.
- Encourage Community
Children learn to value and respect others through the building of community, developing relationships and a sense of belonging.
Encourage your students not only to engage with others but to work together, collaborate, problem solve and truly value their relationships with others.
This mutual respect and sense of community will encourage your students to think about others’ points of view.
Perspective taking is an extremely important social skill. I hope you found some helpful ideas for how and why to teach your students to improve their perspective taking skills.
REMOTE LEARNING PLAN
FFMS Expectations for Remote Learning
EXPECTATIONS FOR REMOTE LEARNING -- STUDENTS
When you were learning remotely in the spring, many of you did your best to be successful, no matter the circumstances. This year, we have had more time to think ahead and to plan for the possibility of remote learning. We have NOT decided to learn remotely at this time. However, in case we do, you need to know the expectations.
REMOTE LEARNING IN THE FELICITY-FRANKLIN LOCAL SCHOOLS
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
You will participate “live” in all your scheduled classes via Google Meet.
Teachers will teach lessons from their classrooms using the technology tool identified for your grade level. You will be expected to log into:
Grades K-1 SeeSaw
Grades 2-4 Google Classroom
Grades 5-12 Schoology
Teachers will teach on screen and/or use an interactive whiteboard.
You will be given opportunities to practice and get teacher feedback.
Digital resources will be organized in ways that allow you to get to them easily.
Of course, teachers will check in and make sure you’re doing well emotionally. Remember, our main focus is your academic achievement.
Teachers will be introducing and assessing new content. It won’t simply be a review of what has already been taught. We have to keep moving forward.
DAILY SCHEDULE
You will follow the daily schedule on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
You and your peers will be learning together in real-time, following your daily schedule (see pages 3-6).
Teachers in grades 2-12 will use Google Meet as their video conferencing tool.
You are expected to be seen on screen during instructional time.
You may use different, school-appropriate backgrounds if you desire so that your family privacy is protected.
Homework and practice are to be completed outside of your Google Meet time.
PLEASE NOTE: Students who are already participating in distance learning through Accelerate Education (K-5) or APEX (6-12) will remain on those programs until the end of the academic quarter. At the end of the quarter, they may switch to the district’s remote learning plan if they choose to do so.
WHAT ABOUT WEDNESDAYS?
Wednesdays will be used as Teacher Communication Days. Teachers will communicate with your parents/guardians if you have poor attendance, are struggling with content, and/or are not actively engaging or participating during class.
Wednesdays will also be used for teachers to provide remediation (scheduled in advance).
You may be assigned and expected to log-in to virtual support meetings on Wednesdays or at other times, as scheduled and agreed upon by your teacher.
You are expected to use Wednesdays to complete assignments, seek assistance, and/or monitor your own progress.
GRADES
Your grades will NOT be based on only your participation or simply doing your work. The quality of your work will be the basis for your grades.
As always, grades will be entered into ProgressBook, and your parents/guardians will have access to your progress.
ATTENDANCE
You will be expected to attend all classes Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Your parents/guardians are still required to contact the building secretary if you are absent, just as they would do if you were attending school in person.
Excused and unexcused absences will continue to be defined by the school district.
Make-up work for absent students is up to the teacher. They may record their classes and post them on the digital platform for you to review, or they may ask one of your peers to partner with you to get class notes, etc.
Teachers will make sure you feel supported in catching up if you are absent.
Please remember, students may be assigned and expected to log-in to online support meetings on Wednesdays or at other times, as scheduled and agreed upon by the teacher.
STUDENT TECHNOLOGY
You will be provided with the technology necessary to actively participate in remote learning activities.
Grades K-1 iPads Grades 2-12 Chromebooks
WI-FI ACCESSIBILITY
Hot spots are being distributed to families who are in need of them.
Your parents are asked to contact building principals if you are in need of hot spots to connect to the Internet.
All parking lots on the Felicity-Franklin Local Schools campus are now wi-fi equipped if your family chooses to access the Internet that way.
MEALS
Cafeteria staff will be preparing non-heated meals for district families during the time you are learning remotely.
Because the weather is getting colder and because you need to be online learning, delivery vans will bring meals for the entire week to families on Mondays. No pick-up is necessary.
Parent Survey
Parent Survey
March Character Trait-
The way parents talk about ability and learning can have powerful effects on their kids’ beliefs. Below are three ways parents can instill a growth mindset. And remember, developing a growth mindset in yourself and in your kids is a process that takes time. Have a growth mindset about developing a growth mindset!
- Recognize your own mindset: Be mindful of your own thinking and of the messages you send with your words and actions.
- Praise the process: Praising kids for being smart suggests that innate talent is the reason for success, while focusing on the process helps them see how their effort leads to success.
- Model learning from failure: When parents talk positively about making mistakes, kids start to think of mistakes as a natural part of the learning process.
Parent Referral Form for the YMCA Program
Parent Tips
FINAL FORMS
Please keep Final Forms Updated
2020-2021 School Calendar
Charge the Chromebooks!
Please make sure your child gets in the habit of charging their chrome books each evening. It is important that they come to school prepared and the chrome books are as important to class as bringing paper and pencils. They will need their computers to fully participate in instruction in most classes.
OPT-OUT OF NOTIFICATION SYSTEM
Attendance
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To Contact Me
email- hilert@felicityohioschools.org
Phone- 513-362-5382