Lilja Lions
Your Weekly Update from Lilja Elementary School
A Message from our Special Education Coordinator
October is ADHD Awareness Month!
Please take a moment this month to consider folks in our community who live with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Although each person with ADHD is a unique individual, there are similarities. According to the CDC, ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 10% of children. Certainly, we all work to manage our attention and impulsiveness at times (long meetings come to mind). However, our students with ADHD find that regulating attention is so difficult that it affects how they learn, play and develop. Importantly, students with ADHD present with a neurodiversity that also has positive traits including hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy.
The timeline of Executive Function (completing tasks, organizing materials and activities, and managing emotions) development can be delayed for children with ADHD. However, it is important to remember that, at the elementary age, our children’s brains are still developing and that the prefrontal cortex, which regulates these skills, is not fully mature until early adulthood. Parents of all children can expect messy bedrooms for a while!
Attention and Executive Functions are developing skills and, as with all skills, there are differences between children. We should expect that children are still learning to manage their attention, emotions and behaviors and allow for moments of independence (and discomfort). This helps them to learn coping skills and to develop confidence. We can also support students' development by encouraging them to plan tasks and activities ahead of time. For example, before starting an activity take a moment to plan with them. Ask them what materials they will need, how long they expect they will work on it and what steps they will take. Ask how they will know if it’s going according to their plan and what they will do if it’s not. The skills they will develop with your coaching will be helpful to them throughout their lives. Interested in more information about ADHD? Please follow this link.
Five Things You Need to Know
1- FALL FESTIVAL OCTOBER 31ST
Lilja's annual fall festival will occur on Monday, October 31st. We are pleased to welcome Ball in the House courtesy of our PTO!
2- COSTUME GUIDELINES
Students MAY choose to wear a costume at a designated time of the day on October 31st. Teachers will communicate expectations for arrival (regular clothes or costume). Please see these guidelines. All costumes MUST adhere to these expectations, or the student will not be permitted to wear it.
3- KINDERGARTEN PARENTS
Weather permitting, Kindergarten will do its annual Fall Festival Parade at 8:50 on October 31st. The Kindergarten parade will come out the recess doors by the lower field, walk along the blacktop, and reenter the building through the front office doors. Kindergarten parents are invited to line the playground and upper field to view the parade. No parents will be permitted to observe the parade from inside the building.
4 - PHOTO PERMISSIONS
We have many families who have yet to complete their '22-'23 yearly forms. This forms include photo permissions. WITHOUT THESE FORMS YOUR CHILD CANNOT BE REPRESENTED IN THE YEARBOOK. Please complete these mandatory forms through Powerschool, or call our front office if you are having difficulty.
5- EARLY RELEASE/CONFERENCES
Next Wednesday, November 2nd will be an early release. This is the first of two conference days.
Dance along with DJ Mike at Morning Mischief on October 30th! Please visit the PTO website for more details.
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COVID-19 Updates
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- Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title II
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title VI
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Title IX
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
- MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5