A Note From Mrs. Bateman...
This week has been a flurry of activity at BIA. Our yearbook club has been busy creating layouts and taking group photos (see the link below to order your book), our basketball team has been preparing for their last tournament, and our middle school life skills class cooked delicious burgers (and fed the entire staff), our youngest learners went on a field trip to the Kohl's Childrens Museum, and our office has been busy with tours and registrations for both next school year, and summer camp. As we head into our final week prior to spring break, we are looking forward to the filming of our 5/6 grade social studies play (taking place this afternoon), the arrival of our 1st/2nd-grade hermit crab supplies (crabs to arrive after Easter), and the drawing of our big Raffle winner (taking place next Friday). We have so much to be thankful for!
Teacher Appreciation Week Is Coming Soon...To celebrate our incredible teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, I am looking for a few parents who would be willing to spearhead a week of surprises. If you have ideas, or would like to lend a hand, please let me know (abateman@biachicago.com) and I will coordinate a time that we can all get together to plan out this very special week. Thank you!
Raffle Reminder...There is just one week left to sell your BIA Bobcat Bonanza raffle tickets! While you have no obligation to sell/purchase them, it is our hope that each family will try to sell 10 tickets. Tickets are $10 each and 100% of the money raised will be used for such things as classroom supplies, teacher needs, curriculum, and staffing. The grand prize is $500, the second prize is $250, and the third prize is $100! We thank you in advance for helping us reach our goal of $4000!!
Happening Soon...
- 1st - 4th Grade Basketball Tournament - St. John's - Saturday, March 18th
- Spring Break - March 27th - 31st - No School
- Easter Break - April 7th - 10th - No School
- Mid Term - April 19th
- CLEF Annual Gala - April 22 - Soldier Field (www.clefchicago.org)
- Administrative Professionals Day - April 26th
- Walk-A-Thon Fundraiser - April 28th - All grades - During the school day
- Youth Lock-In (grades 3 - 8) - April 28th - 7:00 PM - 8:00 AM
- Teacher Appreciation Week - May 1st - 5th
- Cinco de Mayo Family Event - May 5th
Blessings,
Andrea Bateman
Executive Director, Bethesda International Academy
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Let's Go Bobcats!
Track & Field will be starting up soon. Please see Mr. D. if you would like more information.
Bowling will have their practices and tournament over our spring break. We wish them the best of luck. Questions? Contact Mrs. Noble.
Save the Date...
Our 22/23 school year Athletic Banquet is scheduled for May 23rd. From 3:15 - 4:15, we will host an open gym for athletes. Families of athletes are invited to join us at 4:15 for pizza and awards.
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Yearbook Club | Robotics Club | Button Club |
Yearbook Club
Robotics Club
Button Club
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Supporting Local Food Pantries with our Offering
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Helpful Tips From Dr. Neely....
Creating a Schedule/ Routine for your Child
For many kids, having a daily routine is reassuring. They know what to do and when to do it. They get used to that routine. But some kids won’t follow a routine or schedule, particularly if it’s new. That can be stressful, especially when you’re counting on that routine to help keep everyone on track and the day running smoothly.
If your child resists following a routine, here are five tips to try:
1. Let your child help make the routine. Kids like to be part of the decision-making process. When they have choices and a say in what’s part of their routine, it’s harder for them to refuse to do it. It also builds confidence. They feel like they can do what they need to do without your help or with just a little help.
2. Be realistic about time and priorities. Sometimes kids don’t follow a routine because it’s too stressful to get it done in the set time frame. Do a run-through to see exactly how long it takes. If you need your child to get dressed, eat breakfast, pack up, and get out the door in the morning, try it on a day when you aren’t in a rush. If it takes 10 minutes longer than you planned, go back, and adjust it.
Be sure to prioritize what’s important. It all feels important. But if you and your child are fighting every night about doing the dishes right after dinner, maybe they can be done a little later or first thing in the morning. Postponing the “extras” can cut back on stress and bad feelings.
3. Be clear when you explain the routine. Sometimes when kids don’t follow a routine, it’s because they don’t understand it or know how to tackle it. Be clear in setting out the order of what needs to happen and at what time. Then, go over each part of the routine and explain exactly what’s expected for each task. Be specific when you give directions. Instead of “You need to vacuum today,” try “Today, please vacuum your room and the hallway.”
4. Put the routine in writing. How often do you make yourself a to-do list, so you won’t forget what you need to do? Kids need those reminders, too. Write out routines and post them where they make sense. (For example, you could post the morning routine on the bathroom mirror.) Just make sure to chunk the tasks into three to five items at a time. Any more than that can be overwhelming. For younger kids, you can also pair written items with picture schedules to help them see the task in action.
5. Know that kids need support to learn routines. It takes time to learn and get used to new routines. Don’t expect to see a change right away. Instead, keep an eye out for small improvements. Keep giving gentle out-loud reminders and pointing out the written schedule. If your child is having trouble, it’s OK to help. And remember to praise the effort, not just the end result. Trying to follow a routine is much better than just not following it at all.
