Estabrook Buzz
November 5, 2018
Important School Calendar Notes
- Tuesday, November 6: NO SCHOOL – LPS Professional Development Day
- Monday, November 12: NO SCHOOL – Veterans Day Observed
- Wednesday, November 21: Early Dismissal – Thanksgiving Break
- Thursday, November 22 & Friday, November 23: NO SCHOOL – Thanksgiving
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, November 14
- Safe Routes to School Day
- 6:00 pm First Grade Parent Seminar
Thursday, November 15
- METCO Family Friends Day
- 6:30 pm Principal’s Evening Coffee
Principal’s Evening Coffee
Promoting Social Emotional Learning and Positive Behavior
Thursday November 15
6:30-7:30 pm
Next week’s Principal’s Coffee will shift from the usual Friday morning to evening. We are offering a couple of coffees this year in the evening in order to provide an opportunity for people who can’t attend in the morning. That said, we know that evenings present their own challenges for many families. We’ll assess how well they are attended this year and determine whether to recommend a mix of morning and evening times in the future. Let us know what you think.
The focus next week will be on some of the ways we promote social-emotional learning and positive behavior and will include:
- Parents will experience a classroom “morning meeting,” drawing on components from different grade levels. Teacher Amy Klotz will lead this meeting.
- I will present an overview of the “Responsive Classroom” approach that emphasizes “engaging academics, positive community, effective management and developmental awareness.” Responsive Classroom gives particular attention to building a positive classroom community and explicitly teaching and reinforcing routines and expectations. To read about the Responsive Classroom approach, go to: https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/.
- Assistant Principal Christina Gavin will present an overview of the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) approach. While “Esta-bees” is the most visible part of this work, it’s involves much more. To read more, go to: https://www.pbis.org/.
- Questions & Answers
We hope you can join us next week.
Rick Rogers
Big Backyard Fall Wrap-up
We have just concluded our fall Big Backyard walks, which were both fun and educational for our students, teachers, and many parent & grandparent volunteers.
The Big Backyard program is a series of nature walks on the Estabrook property and adjacent conservation lands that enrich our science curriculum in each grade by linking topically to classroom units. Walks emphasize observation, asking questions, problem solving, learning about the natural world, and respect for the environment.
Big Backyard walks take place during the school day, with most classes scheduling three walks per year: fall, winter, and spring. This program depends on parent volunteers to lead small groups (usually 4-5 students, including your own child). No previous experience is necessary, and first time parents are always welcome as walk leaders. Our Big Backyard Trainers (also parent volunteers) offer trainings on the morning of each walk before school hours and provide resources to support walk leaders. Big Backyard is a wonderful way for parents to support the classroom teachers and interact with students.
Classroom teachers circulate walk volunteer sign up sheets by email in advance of each seasonal walk, but the entire 2018-2019 Big Backyard schedule (dates & times) is available now. We hope having access to this information well ahead of the winter and spring walks will help parents planning to volunteer: Click here for the complete 2018-2019 Big Backyard Schedule.
Please note: All parent volunteers must have a valid CORI form to participate in Big Backyard and other activities involving students.
Below are photos from some of our walks this fall.