Eagle Express
Silver Springs Elementary School - October 1, 2018
Mark Your Calendars
Let's make it a great week!
This Week’s Events:
October 1st – 3:45-5:00 p.m. Young Rembrandt's
October 2nd - 3:45 - 5:30 p.m. - After School Art
October 3rd - Picture Day!!
3:45 -5:00 p.m. After-School Science
6:15 - 7:30 p.m. K-2 Always Basketball
October 4th - 3:45 - 5:30 p.m. - After School Art
6:15 - 7:30 p.m. 3-5 Always Basketball
Next Week's Events:
October 8th – 3:45-5:00 p.m. Young Rembrandt's
October 9th - 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. - Robotics Club
October 10th - 6:15 - 7:30 p.m. K-2 Always Basketball
October 11th - 3:45 - 5:30 p.m. - After School Art
6:15 - 7:30 p.m. 3-5 Always Basketball
Follow us on Twitter @sspringselem or by clicking on the following link:
https://twitter.com/sspringselem
Have a great week!
Katie Booth, Principal
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A Message From the Principal
October is Bullying Prevention Month
This month schools around the world will be kicking off a campaign to raise awareness about bullying prevention in our schools. Here at Silver Springs will be doing things to promote kindness and celebrate our unique qualities.
Northville Public Schools has a policy about bullying. We do not tolerate bullying. You can find our policy here:
Additionally, NPS addresses bullying, and the penalties for bullying in the student code of conduct, accessible here:
Student Code of Conduct - See item #28
Bullying is defined as any behavior that any reasonable person would know is likely to cause harm to another. Bullying tends to be repetitive, it is often targeted behavior (meaning the bully is looking for, or coming after a particular person or group of people), and bullying features an imbalance of power. One person is powerful, the other is powerless.
So what are the differences in bullying behavior vs. rude behavior, or mean behavior? There are differences, though none of these behaviors are acceptable.
An article in Psychology Today by Signe Whitson, L.S.W., details the differences in these three socially unacceptable behaviors.
Rude behavior = Inadvertently saying or doing something that hurts someone else.
The operative word in the above definition is "inadvertent." These are socially insensitive behaviors that come from a failure to care about or read social cues. Most of us have been rude or insensitive at times. There's no doubt these behaviors can be hurtful, and certainly interfere with the development of normal, positive relationships. People who are rude may have a pattern of insensitive behavior. They're likely not targeting anyone in particular. Rude behavior is an equal opportunity offender.
Signe Whitson describes mean behavior as different than rudeness as it is intentional where as rude behavior is unintentional. Mean behavior carries intention:
Mean behavior = Purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone once (or maybe twice).
Mean behavior is impulsive, but intentional behavior. It's the kind of thing that may happen more than once and it tends to be a result of anger or disagreement. Whitson writes, "Very often, mean behavior in kids is motivated by angry feelings and/or the mis-guided goal of propping themselves up in comparison to the person they are putting down." On the playground this can look like posturing when playing a team sport, or criticizing someone else's choices, or their way of doing something, or even excluding someone from an activity. "Your team cheats," is an example of a mean comment designed to hurt. Siblings and family members can be deliberately mean. Children may be mean to friends during a disagreement. Meanness becomes bullying when it's repetitive and controlling.
Ms. Whitson defines bullying as:
Bullying = Intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated over time, that involves an imbalance of power
The literature on bullying features these three elements: an imbalance of power, repetition of mean, rude, hurtful behavior, and the targeted intention to cause harm.
When I investigate a charge of bullying I'm looking for answers to the following questions: Has this happened more than once? Does the "bully" respond when the "victim" says "no" or "stop?" Is the behavior intentional? Is the behavior targeted? Does the "bully" behave this way only to one person, or one specific group; or does the "bully" behave aggressively toward everyone? Was there anger involved? How is the recipient of this behavior chosen? Who else does this behavior happen to? Is it planned behavior or is it impulsive behavior? What is the motive of the behavior? Was the behavior witnessed by anyone else or experienced by anyone else? Is there an implied or actual threat? Would any reasonable person recognize the threat or harm?
Allow me to be clear - in a civil society there is no room for any of these three behaviors, and we handle all these behaviors when they crop up at school.
Children must learn to interact in a kind and respectful manner, even when we disagree - perhaps especially when we disagree and when we're angry!
To recap:
• Rude behavior is self-centered behavior. Think the old "bull in a china closet" analogy. This is socially inept behavior that wounds indiscriminately. The rude person may not know or care that they're being rude. They're very focused on themselves.
• Mean behavior is behavior that happens in times of anger and it may happen once or twice. It's often personal. Siblings and friends can be mean. They know what buttons to push and what comments to make that will wound or get a reaction based on their relationship. No one likes a meanie. Sometimes kids are mean to one another and the next thing you know they're inviting each over for play dates. Kids who are regularly mean will eventually find themselves socially ostracized.
• Bullying behavior is usually intentional, repetitive, targeted behavior that features an imbalance of power. Bullies will intentionally pick their time and place for maximum effect. The victim feels powerless to stop the behavior. Bullies may be very popular people by virtue of their social power. Families can have bullies too.
Habit 8 - Finding Your Voice - is the habit that helps kids with bullying.
The first seven of Steven Covey’s habits are about becoming an effective person. We really work on that at Silver Springs. But there IS an 8th Habit as well. That 8th Habit is what takes a person from being effective to great. The 8th habit is “Finding your voice and inspiring others to find theirs.” In my experience, many of the conflicts that arise among people, and among children, begin with a breakdown of communication. Somewhere along the line we quit communicating clearly, carefully, and respectfully, and problems occur. So finding and using your voice, and inspiring others to find theirs is about communication, and feeling empowered to speak for yourself.
Can you see how finding the ability to speak up contributes to powerful leadership skills? Can you see how silence allows wrongs to fester and grow? Teaching children to find and maintain the ability to speak for themselves is critical in raising happy, healthy children.
To bully-proof your kids, they need to learn self-advocacy skills. Most bullies will target victims who are seen as powerless, unwilling or unable to speak up, or stand up for themselves. Children who speak up tend not to become victims of bullies. We're working at Silver Springs to help every child find their voice.
Here's to a fun, kind, October!
Katie Booth, Principal
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Let’s keep swimming…we have 206 members who have joined the PTA so far!
Thank you to everyone who has joined our PTA. The SS Springs PTA benefits all our students, teachers, and school. There is no obligation to join…just show your support by joining. Your membership covers basically the dues so we still need everyone to donate to Invest In
Your Child also. Look for your fish in the Silver Springs display case. It gets updated each week as memberships come in. Students will receive an ocean themed pencil when their parent joins. Check for the next round of pencils in Monday envelopes.
There is 1 more week to help your child’s class have the TOP PTA membership for a class reward. A pencil is removed from each class bucket in the display case when you join the SS PTA. The TOP classes with the MOST PTA members will be rewarded.
Top Classes
Lower El – Sepich and Heron tied for 1st place
Upper El – Kiebler in 1st place with 12 and Georgoff in 2nd with 11
You can join the PTA at anytime if you want to later.
Thank you for swimming into the school year with us…the SS PTA!
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Get Caught In This Important Wave at Silver Springs… Please Invest In Your Child
The PTA greatly appreciates the generous donations from our Silver Springs families so far. Thanks to your donations we are around $7, 900. We still need to help to reach our goal of at least $10, 000 and hopefully more. Please IIYC if you have not done so yet.
Just to give you an idea of how much money is needed to cover our costs:
$50 from 4 families = 1 classroom teacher $200 for classroom supplies
$50 from 40 families = Time For Kids subscription for the year (approx.)
$50 from 7 families = Reflections (National PTA Art Contest) at Silver Springs
$50 from 40 families = Science Alive for the grade levels this year
T
his is just a FEW of the things the PTA covers…
We truly need all our Silver Springs families to give what they can to help ensure the SS PTA can support and fund all we do for our students, teacher, and school. Your donation is tax deductible. All the money donated stays at Silver Springs. You don’t have to be a PTA member to help this important fundraising campaign. This is a fuss free way to raise money for our PTA. You are helping to make a difference at Silver Springs. We want to help make educational and rewarding experiences and lasting memories at Silver Springs for all the students.
All families who IIYC will have a fish with their family name placed around the display case.
The next round of raffle winners for Principal for an hour are:
Elle Charters, Carley Cardenas, Rana Pajurri , and Evelyn Rundell
Swim with our SCHOOL…the Silver Springs PTA!
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Fall Portrait Sessions - Additional Slots Available!
Fall Family Portrait Sessions with Jessica Octernaud - Additional Time Slots Available
When: Sunday, October 7th (limited time slots available)
What: 20 minute mini-sessions; 10 edited images provided on a CD to each family
Sign-up here: http://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0D4DA5A928A75-fall1
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AFTER SCHOOL ART
Northville Art House Classes at Silver Springs Elementary School!
Come Join us once a month! Your child will learn drawing skills and art techniques using a variety of mediums such as pastels, pencil, watercolors, acrylics, mixed media, clay and fiber arts taught by master artists.
Registration is now open for October, November and December. Click the link below to register!
https://campscui.active.com/orgs/TheNorthvilleArtHouse?season=2521706
Be a pART of it!
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Reserve your BIRTHDAY LUNCH Celebration Now
This is a special opportunity to celebrate your child’s birthday at school and help raise some extra money for the PTA. This birthday celebration lets you bring in lunch and eat with your child at your own decorated table. Please fill out the Birthday Lunch Celebration form and return to school before you forget to reserve the date. All reservations need to be made in advance.
Don’t miss this chance to CELEBRATE your child’s special day!
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Elementary Engineering Exploration Day
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Supporting the The 7 Habits at home!
Habit #3 Put First Things First- "Work First, Then Play"
What this means: Focus on what is important, schedule the important things first. Don’t be a dreamer - stay focused!
“I spend my time on things that are most important.”
“I say no to things I know I should not do.”
“I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan.”
“I am disciplined and organized.”
How can I do this in my life?
1. Do your homework as soon as you come home from school.
2. Do something you have been putting off for a long time.
3. Think about your most important responsibilities. Do them first.
Great Books for Habit #3- Put First Things First
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Pokey and the Spelling Test by Sean Covey
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats
Froggy Gets Dressed by Jonathan London
The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone
Silver Springs Elementary School
Email: boothka@northvilleschools.org
Website: http://silversprings.northvilleschools.org
Location: 19801 Silver Spring Drive, Northville, MI, United States
Phone: (248) 465-2300
Twitter: @sspringselem