July Newsletter
Please read all the way through for important updates.
July Staffing Update
Although it is difficult to have beloved teachers leave, we both honor and respect teachers and their personal needs and choices in their lives and careers.
As many of you know, Ms. Beth (5th grade) is moving to Japan, Ms. Rebecca (3rd/4th looping) is moving to Santa Cruz and Ms. Lillian (6th) is going back to school for her Doctorate. We have celebrated them and sent them on with love.
Filling their huge shoes is not easy. Our hiring committee, comprised of teachers, worked hard to find candidates who are a perfect fit for our school. We have been fortunate this year to have had many applications for these open positions.
Our 4th grade position has been filled by Shelby Barthold. Shelby completed her student teaching at our school this year through USD with Ms. Clancy and now has been hired to team with her. Shelby feels passionate about math and science and of course loves teaming with Clancy. They are going to be a dynamic team.
Our fifth grade position is being filled by Whitney Schultz. Whitney has worked at our school for many years in our fifth grade program and knows it well. We were fortunate to have her complete her student teaching with us last year and knows the in's and out's of our program, constructivism and responsive classrooms. She is going to be a lovely addition to our Bridging program.
Jennifer Kelly will be dropping back down to 6th grade and Jared Gualtieri has been hired to teach Math and Science for our 7th grade. Jared completed his student teaching with us this year and actually stepped in as a long term sub with this group at the end of the school year.
We are so excited to have found such lovely candidates and know that we will begin the year without missing a step.
If there are any other changes to staff we will make sure to update you at orientation in August. We are feeling really optimistic about this next school year and are already looking forward to it.
Orientation
Graduation In Review
Graduate advice:
1. The only way through it is through it .- Dr. Wendy saying
2. It is not IF stuff is going to happen, it is, it's how you deal with it when it does
3. Make mistakes, lots of them, it's how you learn
4. Give love freely
5. Respect creativity imagination and individuality
6. Be honest, it takes bravery and it is appreciated by the kind of people you will want in your life
7. You will likely fail often, it is a part of life and how you grow
8. Be empathetic, when someone else fails, be there to support them and learn with them
9. If you’re going to curse, be clever. If you’re going to curse in public, know your audience
10. Happiness is not a permanent state and sometimes you really have to work at it
11. Can’t is a cop-out
12. If you have an opinion, you better know why
13. Ask for what you want. The worse thing they can say is no
14. Fall in love often, particularly with ideas, art, music, literature, food and far-off places
15. Fall hard and forever in love with yourself
16. Reserve I’m sorry for when you truly are
17. Question everything except your own intuition
18. You have enough. You are enough.
19. You are amazing! Don't let anyone ever make you feel you are not. If someone does....walk away. You deserve better.
And most importantly
20. No principal will ever love you more than I do ❤️
Graduation is always a weird thing because you have two audiences the kids, and the parents. Parents, the kids and I did not want to leave you out so together we have created a list of advice on how to parent a high schooler.
Sometimes I just need you to listen, I don't always need the advice.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Back away and let me try.
Even though I might act like I don’t want you there, I do.
Give me a chance to make good decisions.
I like it when you make me breakfast on the weekends.
Just because other kids might be doing it doesn’t mean that I am.
Stress is real, help me when I ask for it.
Construction Updates
Students had strong feelings about the Peace Tree being cut down and did a great job of advocating for something they love. Unfortunately there was no way to save the tree however the construction team we are working with has planed it and is turning it into a lovely bench for the kids. We have also taken several of the branches and are working on rooting them thanks to our Garden Committee.
We are making good progress in securing the lot next door. We feel optimistic that we will be able to use it for PE, recess, pick up and parking. We will keep you updated with any new information.
5 Ways to Advocate for your Great School this Summer
Motivating Kids For Summer Reading
Reluctant readers may hesitate to start the bingo board without prompting. Here are some ideas to give your child an extra boost of motivation.
Set a goal. With your child, determine how much of the board to complete and by when. For instance, your child might try to complete one row in a month. Another child may try to get in two or more rows, or fill out the whole board by summer’s end.
Give choices (and some guidance). Kids should be able to choose the books they want for independent reading. Allow kids to read books they might not otherwise read in school. Don’t worry about the reading level being too hard or too easy. If your child wants to read a book that is too challenging, read it together.
Keep in mind that too much choice can be overwhelming for some kids. It can be difficult to walk into a bookstore or library and know where to start. To help, present your child with four or five book options based on your child’s interests. To come up with suggestions, consult a list of books for reluctant readers. Or ask for recommendations from a librarian or your child’s teacher.
Keep a running list of books to read. Maybe your child heard about a great book from a friend or spotted a new book on display at the library. Create a list of books for future reading. That way, when your child finishes one book, there’s another book just waiting to be read. Here are summer reading recommendations for kids in elementary, middle school and high school. You can also find ideas in the Book Finder tool from Understood founding partner Reading Rockets.
Remember that reading takes many forms. Sometimes books can feel overwhelming to kids. But your child can read in all sorts of formats—from books to magazines, audiobooks to graphic novels. If your child likes to travel and explore, encourage him to read about museum exhibits online. He can also read monument plaques, park maps and more.
Make reading comfortable. Take note of the places your child is most likely to curl up with a good book. Leave books and other goodies in these places. For instance, leave a book and flashlight on your child’s nightstand. Set up a beanbag in the corner of a quiet room with a book and your child’s favorite snack. Sneak a book and sunglasses into your child’s pool or beach bag. By doing so, you’re creating opportunities for reading.
Be a reading role model. Show your child what it means to be a reader. Pull out a book or magazine of your own instead of turning on the television. Read a book together before bed. Encourage siblings to read to each other (or to a pet!). In doing so, you’ll create a family culture where reading is treasured at any time of the year.
—Kim Greene
Summer Math Activities
The “summer slide” isn’t just the fun kind at the playground or water park—it refers to loss of academic skills over the summer months. Math skills in particular take a hit, with kids sometimes losing two or more months of math knowledge by September, according to research from Duke University and the University of Missouri. Experts suggest doing math games and activities with your kids during the summer to beat the brain drain. Here are five we like:
1. Math hike
Take a math hike and look for different geometric shapes. Estimate the angles of tree branches or leaves and then check with a protractor. Measure and chart elements like daily temperature highs and lows, the growth of a plant or the amount of rainfall.
2. Put math on the menu
At a restaurant? After you order, hang onto the menus. Then, try these games:
- Ask your kids to find the most and least expensive items.
- Challenge them count up the total number of dishes between $8 and $12.
- Tell them you have $47.23 to spend on the meal and ask how that can be divided equally between each family member.
- Get them to estimate tax or tip.
- Issue a challenge to find the weirdest combination of menu items that totals $36.3. Math on the beach
4. Cook up some fractions
To practice fractions, halve, double or triple a favourite summertime recipe…then enjoy the delicious results!
5. Roll the dice
Each person gets a paper with a number written at the top—say, 300. The first person rolls a pair of dice and combines the two numbers that come up (for example, a 3 and a 4 makes 34). Subtract 34 from 300. Then the next person takes a turn. The first to reach zero is the winner.