Ravine Drive School
June Newsletter
Upcoming Events
June
7 - Grade 3 Luau (Rain Date - June 8th)
13 - PTO Book Fair (BOGO) - See the Virtual Backpack for additional information
15 - PTO Ice Cream Social - 6:00 - 7:00
20 - Kindergarten Celebration - 10:00 (Doors will open at 9:45)
21 and 22 - Dismissal at 1:20
22 - Last Day of School
September 17th - Ravine Drive Back to School Night
Summer Reading and Math Resources
The Summer Reading and Math Packets are now available for you to view and/or print. Please click on the links below, selecting the grade level that your child will be entering in September 2018. The due date for all summer work is Friday, September 7, 2108.
Please be sure to read all directions carefully, as there are multiple assignments for students to complete in some cases.
If you have any questions regarding the summer resources, please contact the Curriculum & Instruction Department at 732-705-4061.
Elementary Summer Math Packet:
https://www.marsd.org/Page/13666
Elementary Summer Reading Packet:
Make Fractions Fun
Learning fractions can be a challenge for some children. Doing activities with your child that let her touch or see the concepts can help. Try these fun and practical fraction activities:
- Measure up. Give your child some measuring cups and two identical glasses. Have her pour one cup of water into the first glass. Then have her guess: How many half cups will it take to fill the second glass to the same level? How many quarter cups? One-third cups? Let her experiment to find out.
- Eat your fractions. Have your child put 32 pieces of cereal into a pile. Help her divide the piles into halves, fourths, etc. If she eats one-fourth of the pieces, how many will she have left? Or have her divide a pizza into equal portions.
- Feed the pet. Help your child figure how much pet food to give your pet. For instance, if your pet weighs 15 pounds and should be fed one fourth of a cup of food for every five pounds, how much food should your child give him? (Answer: Three fourths of a cup.)
- Change that recipe! Pick a simple recipe to make with your child. As you cook together, ask her to rewrite the amount of each ingredient you would need to double or halve the recipe.
Copyright 2018 The Parent Institute, a Division of PaperClip Media Inc. All Rights Reserved
A message from Ms. Koch, Ravine Drive's School Nurse
How Do I Remove the Tick
It's important to remove a tick as soon as possible. Follow these steps:
- Use tweezers to grasp the tick firmly at its head or mouth, next to the skin.
- Pull firmly and steadily until the tick lets go of the skin. Do not twist the tick or rock it from side to side. If part of the tick stays in the skin, don't worry. It will eventually come out on its own.
- Release the tick into a jar or zip-locked bag in case you want to have it identified later on.
- Wash your hands and the site of the bite with soap and water.
- Swab the bite site with alcohol.
Never use petroleum jelly or a hot match to kill and remove a tick. These methods don't get the tick off the skin, and can cause it to burrow deeper and release more saliva (which increases the chances of disease transmission).
What Are the Signs of Tick-Related Diseases?
Watch out for:
- a red bump ringed by an expanding red rash, which looks like a bull's-eye (Lyme disease)
- red dots on the ankles and wrists (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
- flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, vomiting, and muscle and joint aches
When Should I Get Medical Care?
Call your health care provider if:
- The tick might have been on the skin for more than 24 hours.
- Part of the tick remains in the skin after attempted removal.
- A rash of any kind develops (especially a red-ringed bull's-eye rash or red dots on wrists and ankles).
- The bite area looks infected (increasing warmth, swelling, pain, or oozing pus).
- Symptoms like fever, headache, tiredness, stiff neck or back, or muscle or joint aches develop.
How Can I Protect My Kids From Ticks?
- After kids play outside, check their skin and hair — especially the scalp, behind the ears, around the neck, and under the arms.
- When playing in wooded areas, kids should wear long-sleeved shirts and pants and tuck pant legs into their socks.
- Use an insect repellant with at least 10% to 30% DEET for protection against bites and stings in kids older than 2 years, always carefully following the directions for application.
- Avoid tick-infested areas
A MESSAGE FROM MRS. TAY, RAVINE DRIVE SCHOOL'S GUIDANCE COUNSELOR
The Importance of Learning During the Summer ‘Off’ Months:
School's out, but summer learning plays an important role for the upcoming school year.
Summer is an amazing time for growth and maturity in all children. In addition to practicing specific skills, parents can do many other things to help prepare their children to be ready for kindergarten or for a new school. Younger children can practice independence by playing alone for longer and longer periods of time, by following one, two and three-step directions, by having more chances to make age-appropriate decisions, and by caring for their own things like putting their clothes in the laundry, dishes in the dishwasher, or getting ready for bed.
When children become frustrated, it is helpful for them to practice communicating their feelings, using “I” statements, such as “I feel tired” or “I feel frustrated.” Teachers will appreciate children being able to communicate their feelings in place of meltdowns or acting out. Moreover, adults respond differently to children who communicate their feelings compared to children who tantrum or disengage. This can actually be practiced with children so they can see the behavioral difference, taking the perspective of a teacher or parent.
To keep up with early academic skills, fun tools like workbooks and games that teach vocabulary words, early reading, and early writing skills can help children to be engaged. It is also strongly recommended that parents read with their children every day.
In the second half of summer, or closer to the new school year, parents should begin talking to their children about going to a new school setting or returning to school. One helpful way to do this is to read books about starting kindergarten or starting a new school. In this context, parents can share their own positive memories about starting school. Kids who like imaginative play often like to role play a day at school where they can rehearse the structure of the day. During role playing, parents can practice saying goodbye to the children. In real life, parents who stay home with their children can practice longer and longer separations from their child that mirror the time of a school day.
Some children benefit from even more practice before they transition to school. Walking to the school to look at the grounds and going inside, if possible, helps children worry less and be more prepared on the first day. Also, parents and kids can take pictures and look back at them as the school year becomes closer to encourage familiar feelings of the new environment. If you feel your child is nervous, let him/her know that it is a normal feeling and that others are likely feeling the same way. Validating their feelings is important, so they feel heard and are comfortable with sharing what they are experiencing on the inside.
When children make the transition to school in the fall, it is important to remember that they are only a small part of a successful transition. Parents, teachers and the community are large influences on children, their confidence, attitude, and effort in school. This also means that positive parent and teacher relationships are important. Parents who are involved in their child’s education are more connected to student expectations, progress, and the overall community—aspects that promote positive academic outcomes for children. (Kirsten C. Sharma Psy.D. Children in Mind)
Idea of the Day
Encourage Outdoor Time
Children need to play outdoors. Being out in nature encourages active play, boosts a child’s observation skills, builds creativity and fosters a sense of well-being. Many children like going outside, but others need a parent to make it happen. Once your child is outdoors, help her make the most of the experience.
To encourage your child to observe nature:
- Give her undisturbed time to quietly watch the environment. At first, don’t talk at all.
- Ask some questions. "Can you feel where the wind’s coming from?" "What’s that ant doing?" "What’s happening with the water currents?" "Can you identify sounds with your eyes closed?"
To stimulate creativity:
- Encourage her natural inclination to build—forts, tree houses, hideouts, bridges, roads.
- Encourage her to make up poetry, songs and stories about what she’s seeing and doing.
To foster a sense of peace and well-being:
- Don’t hurry your child.
- Sit quietly as she absentmindedly moves a stick in the dirt. Let her aimlessly finger a flower, or swish her hand in water. This creates a calm, thoughtful state.
Copyright (c) 2018 The Parent Institute, a Division of NIS, Inc.
Review the School Year & Set New Goals
It’s nearing the end of a busy school year. Your child has learned a lot. He’s read new books and he’s mastered new skills. Now is the perfect time to talk about all of the lessons he’s learned.
Find a time when you can have a relaxing chat about school. You might even plan something special, such as going out for a treat or making a favorite meal together.
During your talk:
- Take a look back. What was your child’s favorite project this year? In what subject did he improve the most? Which book that the class read was his favorite? Which of his goals did he accomplish?
As he talks about these positive things, help him see the ways he has grown. “You really worked hard to master division this year. You can do hard things when you put your mind to it!”
- Take a look forward. What is your child looking forward to this summer? What is he excited about for next year? Is there a subject or an area he’d like to improve in next year? Are there books he would like to read?
- Discuss how learning doesn’t stop at the end of the school year. One of the great things about the summer is the opportunity to learn things that aren’t directly related to school. Help your child think about something he’d like to learn this summer. Would he like to learn a new sport? Would he like to teach himself how to paint? Would he like to learn a new language? Together, make a plan to help him achieve his goal.
Copyright 2018 The Parent Institute, a Division of PaperClip Media Inc. All Rights Reserved