Dear Families,

We are quickly approaching Winter Break and the New Year! This is a combination newsletter for December and January, to keep you informed of the plans and events occurring at Ericson.

• All Month M-TH Soccer practice 2:35-3:40, games most Thursdays
• I-Ready Diagnostic #2 is in progress
• 12/7/22 Parent Engagement Hour- Cafeteria @8:30AM
• 12/14/22 Dress for Hmong New Year!
• 12/14/22 Donuts and extra recess for reaching I-Ready growth goals
• 12/15/22 Winter Program for Band, Strings, and Choir, at 8:30AM
• 12/16/22 Spelling Bee for 4-6th grade
• 12/16/22 Quarter 2 ends
• 12/19/22-1/6/23 Winter Break
• 1/9/23 Schoolwide Expectations Assembly
• 1/10/23 Quarter 2 report card
• 1/10-11 Quarter 2 awards sent home
• 1/16/23 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday- no school
• 1/18/23 Parent Engagement Hour- Cafeteria @8:30AM
• 1/18/23 Character Counts/ Student of the Month awards @1:40
• 1/19/23 Kona Ice after school
• 1/26/23 School Site Council Meeting @3:15PM
• 1/27/23 ELAC meeting @8:30AM in the cafeteria

Social Media

Students have been frequently reporting to Ericson staff that they are upset over things that other students have posted on social media. Our social-emotional support staff works hard to repair upsets that occur between students, regardless of how they occur. That said, Ericson staff is unable to research the owner of social media accounts, and unable to give consequences for incidents which occur off campus or on social media.

Please encourage your child to avoid social media. According to the Cleveland Clinic, "While experts are just beginning to understand social media’s impact on children, one study shows that children younger than 11 years old who use Instagram and Snapchat are more likely to have problematic digital behaviors like having online-only friends and visiting sites parents would disapprove of, as well as a greater chance of taking part in online harassment. In addition to problematic digital behaviors, there may be changes in children’s daily behavior at home like increased irritability, increased anxiety, and lack of self-esteem."

Consider restricting social media use until students are older to avoid issues such as online bullying, and anxiety.

Sports

Our Sea King Athletes are honing their skills! Soccer is practicing after school M-TH until 3:40PM. Thursdays are game days. Please speak with coach Sandoval if you have any questions. Basketball will begin in January.

Thank you, parents, for partnering with us. Please make sure that you continue to stay home if you are not feeling well. Let’s do our part to stay healthy, reduce the spread of COVID-19 and ensure students and staff can come to school in-person each day.

At this time, volunteers AND visitors are required to complete paperwork and sign in at the front office.

In order to volunteer in your child’s classroom you must complete a volunteer form and be cleared by FUSD prior to volunteering in your child's classroom.

When you enter the campus, you must sign in and get a volunteer badge from the office staff, and they will call ahead to the classroom to make sure the teacher is aware you are coming.

In addition, no small children (siblings) will be permitted inside the classrooms while the parent is volunteering.