Blue Ash Elementary OCTOBER
October 20, 2017
Learning Targets
These targets remind our students what they are being challenged to learn in each content area, and keep them invested in their learning.
Please ask your child about their learning targets so they can share the great things they are learning, and how they are growing every day!
BOOK FAIR!!
It is an exciting week next week in the Media Center! We begin both our Book Fair and our pumpkin contest! Information about both events has been sent home through your child’s responsibility folder. Please contact Jennifer Kolde at koldej@sycamoreschools.org with any further questions. For your convenience I am also attaching the Book Fair schedule below. Can’t wait to see you there!
Bombard the yard update!
Happy Friday! We are pleased to report we have received all the houses necessary for second, third, and fourth grade to partake in this exciting service and learning opportunity. If you have signed up, more information will be coming your way in the next two weeks. Our next step is to collect sidewalk chalk. We need quite a bit! If you have some at home you don’t need anymore, or are willing to donate some new chalk, please send it in with your student. He or she can deposit it in the marked bin in the media center. Donations can begin next Monday, October 23rd and will be collected through next Friday, October 27th. No time and no chalk? There will also be an envelope available for monetary donations and we will be happy to go purchase the chalk on your behalf. Please contact Jennifer Kolde or Jim Weeks with any questions. Thanks for your continued support.
Mindfulness at Blue Ash Elementary
MINDFULNESS at Blue Ash Elementary
Who: Beneficial to all ages!
What: Mindfulness is-
Intentionally paying close attention to whatever is happening as it is happening in the present moment
Observing/noticing sensations, perceptions, thoughts, feelings in non-reactive way even if unpleasant, distressing, painful
Acting with awareness instead of being on automatic pilot
Mindfulness can be part of breathing, eating, brushing your teeth, feeling your feet on the ground and smelling the air if you’re outside taking a walk, and much more
Why: It is helpful for our brains and bodies!
Mindful Schools reports that research has found improvements in anxiety, cognitive functioning and self-regulation among children trained in mindfulness. http://www.mindfulschools.org/about-mindfulness/research/
Learning to be mindful of what’s happening in the moment helps kids make sound decisions rather than be ruled by their emotions. When we’re calm, we can more easily be mindful and make good choices.
https://move-with-me.com/research/why-mindfulness-practices-are-worth-your-instructional-time/
Where: At BAE in the classrooms, media center AND can be implemented at home if desired
How: At BAE we are incorporating mindfulness into the student’s experience in the classroom with mindfulness activities including breathing and gratitude journals, the media center with the addition of mindfulness related books, on the playground at recess and through yoga for select classrooms within grades.
To implement at home: Search for mindfulness on the Internet. You will find links to yoga, meditation, activities, apps, worksheets, etc. Feel free to reach out to the Wellness Committee as well for additional resources.
Try these ideas from the Kids Activities Blog:
Blowing bubbles. Have your kids focus on taking in a deep, slow breath, and exhaling steadily to fill the bubble. Encourage them to pay close attention to the bubbles as they form, detach, and pop or float away.
Pinwheels. Use the same tactics from blowing bubbles to encourage mindful attention on the pinwheels.
Texture bag. Place several small, interestingly shaped or textured objects in a bag, and have each child reach in to touch an object, one at a time, and describe what they are touching. Make sure they don’t take the object out of the bag, forcing them to use only their sense of touch to explore the object.
Other things to try:
SpiderMan meditation. This meditation from Kids Relaxation teaches children to activate their “spidey-senses” and their ability to focus on all they can smell, taste, and hear in the present moment. http://kidsrelaxation.com/uncategorized/spider-man-practicing-mindfulness-and-increasing-focus/
Counting the Breath. You can start with counting the in-breath and out-breath. One breath in and out is “1”, then “2”, and so on, up to ten.
https://www.mindful.org/body-scan-kids
Make a mindful glitter jar to teach kids that they can calm their bodies and minds with deep breathing
Practice deep, calming breathing at times when the kids are already calm. Shake the jars and then breathe calmly while watching the glitter settle.
Keep the jars in an accessible area so you can get them if kids need to use them to calm down.
When kids get upset, encourage them to remember this exercise and get their jar. *This part only works if kids practice using the jars at times when they are NOT upset.
Wondering What is for lunch?
'Smore Stuff...
100 Yards!!
Thank you, Big Lots!
Senior Service Day
Harvest Time!
~~PTO INFORMATION~~
Active Aves FAll 2017 Session
Active Aves is a fun recess running program at Blue Ash Elementary. We are so excited to kick off the Fall Session! Each year, the children can't wait to get involved with Active Aves! The program will be every Tuesday and Thursday starting September 19th through October 26th, only when outdoor recess is occurring. Volunteers are needed to help cheer on the kids, punch lap cards and hand out prizes. The children love this running program so much, as do the volunteers! Each shift will have two spots available. Fourth and Second Grade recess, 11:50am-12:30pm. First and Third Grade recess,12:50pm-1:30pm.
To sign up, please visit http://bit.ly/2eyH4Ga or email stephaniesheard@hotmail.com. If no available shifts remain, please feel free to come, as we can always use an extra set of hands. Keep in mind, younger siblings are encouraged to come! You are also welcome to walk or run laps with the children. Thanks in advance for your time and energy, so we can provide this fun activity for our kids!
Co-Chairs: Aisa Claybon & Stephanie Sheard
~~District Information~~
Sycamore Robotics Event
The Aves Hangar Bookstore & Spirit Shop
Upcoming Bonus Shopping Hours
Thursday, October 26, 6-8 pm
Where do I park at the high school when visiting the Aves Hangar?