Montclair Prints 11.8.19
#BEAWESOME
Montclair Elementary School
Principal: Alicia Kotlarz ackotlarz@mpsomaha.org
Admin. Intern: Jason Rohde jmrohde@mpsomaha.org
Secretary: Lisa Rieper lrrieper@mpsomaha.org
Website: montclair.mpsomaha.org
Location: 2405 South 138th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 402-715-1295
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MontclairElem/
Twitter: @MontclairElem
Office Update
New procedure regarding items brought to school: when parents drop off items for a student, the office will notify the teacher via email instead of calling into classrooms and disrupt active learning time. The students will be sent down to collect their items as classroom schedules permit.
Weekly Events
11/11-Veteran's Day-Thanks to Mr. Rohde for serving
11/12-
11/13-Project Wee Care Food Drive Begins
11/14-
11/15-
Safety Patrol
11/6-11/13
Chase A.
Bailey W.
Corbin N.
Nina S.
Damien A.
Joslynn M
11/13-11/20
Emma S.
Logan V.
Natayla R.
JD M.
Alyssa M.
Emily M.
Dress Warmly
The temperatures are falling and it can be quite
cold at recess. Please be sure that you’re
sending your student(s) with appropriate clothing
for the weather.
We will have outside recess unless there
is inclement weather or the temperature is below
10 degrees with the wind chill.
Watch Dogs
11/11-Mr. Vel
11/12-Mr. Kroeger
11/13-Mr. Edwards
11/14-Mr. Roger
11/15-Mr. Ficken
Math Mentors
11/11-
11/12-Mrs. Ganesan
11/13-Mr. Hurt
11/14-
11/15-
Lots of opportunities for November!
Click to sign up here!
Save the Date!
No School for students: November 27th-November 29th.
Winter Break Dec. 21-Jan. 5. School resumes Mon. Jan. 6
Chipotle Night!
“Guac On” Montclair Families!
The Food Night at Chipotle raised nearly $350 for Teacher Requests.
Thank you so much for supporting the school!
Collect Hy-Vee Receipts
Math Mentors
Calling all family members of Montclair Students! This year we are excited to add Montclair Math Mentors to our daily schedule in addition to Watch Dogs. Montclair Math Mentors ARE open to any adult family member of a Montclair student. Mentors would be assisting students across grade levels with Math based activities.
Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Please sign up at least ONE week in advance. Thank you!
Please use the following link to sign up for November Math Mentors. Click here.
Please use the following link to sign up for December Math Mentors. Click here.
A note from Dr. Kotlarz
12 Ways to Foster Empathy in Your Child
Marilyn Price-Mitchell suggests 12 ways for foster empathy:
1. Create a caring relationship.
To develop the capacity to feel empathy for others, a child must feel seen, felt, heard, and understood by at least one primary caregiver. Family members who know, appreciate, and respect a child regardless of external accomplishments help that child feel emotionally attached to a caring adult. These kinds of loving relationships increase a child’s ability to care for others.
2. Listen for understanding.
Active listening is a practice that helps parents and children grow in their understanding of each other. Three skills most often associated with good listening are: 1) Respect the other person, 2) Listen more than you talk, and 3) Always seek understanding.
3. Teach a growth mindset.
Let your child know that empathy is not a fixed trait—that it develops over time. Dr. Michele Borba suggests telling kids: “Empathy can be increased with practice just like your muscles stretch with exercise…. The more you practice, the better you’ll be at understanding another’s thoughts and feelings.”
4. Rethink how kids learn kindness.
It is no surprise that adults feel good about themselves when they show kindness to their children and grandchildren. Not only do good deeds make us feel better, but as David Brooks explained in his article “Nice Guys Finish First,” people who are kind and compassionate are often the most successful. That said, we don’t make children happy when we simply enable them to be receivers of kindness. We heighten their feelings of happiness, improve their well-being, reduce bullying, enrich their friendships, and build peace by teaching them to be givers of kindness.
5. Transform gift-giving into lasting family values.
Gift-giving during the holidays, or for other special occasions, can shape children’s lifelong identities. The values your family holds about gift-giving can be turned into powerful lessons that teach compassion, empathy, and kindness. Be proactive about your values as you develop holiday traditions. Include children in conversations about how to give to others.
6. Instill compassion at home.
Regarded as one of the greatest human virtues by all major religious traditions, compassion is an emotional response and attitude toward others that is deeply empathetic. It enables us to connect to human suffering with care and understanding, acting in ways that brings comfort to those around us. Families instill compassion at home by: 1) Providing opportunities to practice compassion, 2) Helping children understand anger; and 3) Teaching children to self-regulate their emotions.
7. Show kids why giving back matters.
Families who demonstrate caring, cooperation, compassion, kindness, service, teamwork, and the importance of getting along with others are powerful empathy-builders. From elementary school through high school, children should evolve through three developmental stages as they take on roles in society: (1) Being responsible citizens; (2) Improving their communities; and (3) Contributing to solve societal problems.
8. Expose children to different opinions and worldviews.
When families cultivate curiosity about how individuals and groups of people see the world differently, they expand children’s intellectual, interpersonal, and emotional boundaries. They help children recognize and understand differing perspectives. When challenged to explore prejudices, find commonalities, and glean meaning from what they imagine life would be like to walk in another person’s shoes, children build a greater capacity for empathy.
9. Nurture positive citizenship.
Raising children to become active citizens doesn’t happen by chance. It happens when children 1) Connect with others in need, 2) Confront moral dilemmas, 3) Reflect on their values, 4) Notice how social issues are connected, and 5) Create positive and passionate civic identities.
10. Help kids learn from volunteering.
Children gain developmental benefits from participating in community service. Tweens and teens are especially ready to stretch in ways that bring deeper meaning to life. But to do so, they need adult support and encouragement.
11. Lead with empathy.
Family values are reflections of who we are and how we parent. When parents lead with empathy, gratitude, and kindness, children learn to do the same.
12. Discuss money and giving.
Ron Lieber says, “Every conversation about money is also about values. Allowance is also about patience. Giving is about generosity. Work is about perseverance.” The more kids learn about money from an early age, the more they can contribute to family conversations that tap into deep emotions and moral dilemmas. These discussions can help children put themselves in other children’s shoes, help them understand people different from themselves, and provide opportunities for them to give their own earned money to benefit others.
Pre-Registration for Kindergarteners and New Students
Millard North Middle School Informational Night
School Improvement Team Notes
Lunch Menu
PTO Pointers
PTO Pointers:
2019-2020 Board Officers:
President: Deana Hammond
Vice President: Catrina Alexander
Secretary: Jenny Miller
Treasurer: Lucas Shook
Don’t forget about Montclair for your TAGG and Amazon Smiles purchases
Want to send your child a shout-out on the lighted marquee? Celebration Marquee forms are in the office and on the PTO website.
2019-2020 meeting dates/times:
Mon., Jan. 27 @ 7 PM
Mon., Feb. 24 @ 4 PM
Mon., Mar. 30 @ 7 PM
Mon., Apr. 27 @ 7 PM
MMPEA (Millard Montessori Parents Education Association)
Thu. 1/23 - Parent Education Night at Russell Middle School (student-led panel discussion), 6-7 pm, childcare provided
Tue. 3/10 - Community Night at Russell Middle School
Thu. 4/9 - Parent Education Night at Norris Elementary (topic: Montessori educational tools), 6-7 pm, childcare provided