Glenwood News
What is happening at Glenwood, October 12, 2018
News from Dr. Cappucci
We Love It Here!
Here are two articles that discuss the importance of recess and unstructured play.
WHY RECESS AND UNSTRUCTURED ACTIVITIES PLAY A ROLE IN A CHILD'S ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT STUDY: TOO MANY STRUCTURED ACTIVITIES MAY HINDER CHILDREN'S EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING
By Ellen Wexler
When children spend more time in structured activities, they get worse at working toward goals, making decisions, and regulating their behavior, according to a new study.
Instead, kids might learn more when they have the responsibility to decide for themselves what they're going to do with their time. Psychologists at the University of Colorado and the University of Denver studied the schedules of 70 six-year olds, and they found that the kids who spent more time in less-structured activities had more highly-developed self-directed executive function.
Self-directed executive function develops mostly during childhood, the researchers write, and it includes any mental processes that help us work toward achieving goals—like planning, decision making, manipulating information, switching between tasks, and inhibiting unwanted thoughts and feelings. It is an early indicator of school readiness and academic performance, according to previous research cited in the study, and it even predicts success into adulthood. Children with higher executive function will be healthier, wealthier, and more socially stable throughout their lives.
"Structured time could slow the development of self-directed control, since adults in such scenarios can provide external cues and reminders about what should happen, and when," the researchers write in the study.
The Importance of Recess: Why Schools Need More Playtime
Physical activity may improve brain function
“Freedom to move, run and play, especially outdoors, has a tremendous impact on children’s abilities to focus and control themselves throughout the day,” Conti says. Maria Montessori, a pioneer of early childhood education, believed that “the mind cannot be educated without using the body,” Conti adds. “She viewed learning as an integration of thinking and moving.”
This isn’t just the belief of an influential educator—research has shown positive links between people who exercise regularly and their cognitive ability. Even if no such research existed, common sense makes a compelling case—would you feel mentally fresh sitting for hours learning a subject?
Recess promotes social skills
“Recess time gives more opportunity for socialization, teamwork and practice with conflict-resolution skills,” Conti says. Asking other kids to play, explaining the rules of a complex game and hashing out disputes are all important life lessons that kids can only learn if they’re given time to play.
Recess also offers the chance for children to strengthen their leadership and negotiation skills, and it can prevent bullying. Kids love playing—and when a conflict arises, it pushes children to practice these vital social skills so they can get back to having fun.
Recess fights childhood obesity
About one in five school-aged children has excess body fat, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).2 The CDC also recommends that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, but that’s tough to achieve if kids are sitting in a classroom for six to seven hours with no break for movement.
A healthy and active lifestyle is a routine that needs practice and reinforcement to make into a lifelong habit. Recess offers kids the chance to move their bodies and get closer to their 60 minutes of physical activity, thus making it less likely that they’ll struggle with obesity.
Recess reduces stress
“Outdoor recess also gives the benefit of experiencing fresh air and sunshine, both noted for increasing overall health and mood,” Conti says. Sunlight is also a key source of vitamin D, which increases learning and productivity.
The physical activity kids take part in during recess can also reduce stress levels and allow children to feel more relaxed. In an education system that continues to place higher expectations on children to perform to a certain standard, less stress is just what the doctor ordered.
Magazine Drive is coming to Glenwood!
Picture Day is Coming
Bus News
One of our buses is packed to the rim; therefore we cannot allow any other students on Bus 10. Please make note of this for our half days and early dismissals.
ALICE parent information night
Save The Date
October
12- Fourth Grade Field Trip to the Tsongas Center
15 PTO Meeting
19- First Movie- Hotel Transylvania
23- Picture Day
25 Half Day/ Lunch will be served
29- Chris Poulos and BMX bike anti bullying assembly.
November
6- Election Day- No School
12- Veteran's Day- No school
16- After School Movie- Incredibles 2
17- Craft Fair
19- ALICE Presentation for Parents at 6pm
19- PTO Meeting
21-23 Thanksgiving Break
December
Movie
10- PTO Meeting
20- Winter Concert (snow date is the 21st)
24- Winter Break Begins
2- First day back after Winter Break
What is Happening at Glenwood
All Sports Day
Third Grade News
Makerspace
A true makerspace is defined not by what's in it, but rather by what comes out of it: projects, experiences, artifacts, and learning. At Glenwood we are looking to have a makerspace that opens opportunities for children to design, create and explore. We are looking for donations of materials we can use in our makerspace. Anything Rutland families are no longer using will be gladly accepted, such as the following: Lincoln Logs, Legos, bristle blocks, marbles, building blocks, K’nex, Tinker Toys, erector sets, clay, playdough, beads, and dominoes, as well as board games, masking and duct tape, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, craft supplies, cereal boxes, cardboard, plastic containers, or anything that may end up in the recycling bin, wood, nails, fabric, yarn, etc. We appreciate these and other materials that are in a clean and usable condition.
We are also looking for donations of sewing materials, broken radios, keyboards, anything that can be taken apart. A true makerspace gives students the opportunity to experience not only how to put things together, but also how to take them apart. This experience may not only happen in the makerspace. Sometimes makerspace activities occur in the classroom as well.
Learning strategies with Mrs. B
Third graders honed their keyboarding skills and explored creating music on chrome books with Mrs. Arsenault.
Third Graders created kaleidoscopes in art.
Fitness stations with Ms. Teevens.
Fourth Grade News
Field Trip to Tsongas Center in Lowell
Mr. Vickstrom
Mrs. Dumas
Mrs. Hovan's students explored the world of Eliza Paige
STEMscopes with Ms. Paulson
Storyworks with Mrs. Butterfield
Fifth Grade News
Math with Mrs. Daly
Writing with Mrs. Sanford
Ms. Tucker's class and the Aztecs
Science Experiments with Mr. Jaffe
Makeup in the Fifth grade
I know how quickly children grow up. It is our goal to help our students learn the skills to navigate middle school and beyond. We work closely to educate the whole child.We do not allow makeup in the elementary school. It is our firm belief that our students are beautiful the way they are and the time for makeup will come all too quickly. We appreciate your understanding.
Instagram, Google Classroom, and Class Dojo
If you ever have any concerns or questions, please reach out to the classroom teachers at Glenwood. All teachers have access to emails and will always respond within 1-2 school days. Working together as a team will enable all students to reach their academic potential.
Movies for October and November
Barktacular Celebration
Girl Scout News
Public Safety Day
Mayo School Craft Fair Flyer
BIG Y EDUCATION EXPRESS
Notes from Mrs. Lawton, School Nurse
Welcome to the Health Update-
To The Parents of 4th and 5th graders:
Thank You to those who have sent in recent copies of their children’s MD physicals and updated immunizations- I appreciate it! For those of you who haven’t been able to yet- if you could send them along as soon as possible, that would be great!
- The new Health Office website is up and running. Please visit this site: https://sites.google.com/wrsd.net/wrsdhealthservices/home
Reminders from Mrs. O'Coin, School Secretary
- It is important that we have the most up to date contact information for your child. Updates of contact information can be completed by contacting our school secretary Mrs. Veree O’Coin at 508-886-0399 or by email at veree_ocoin@wrsd.net
- If your child will be absent, please notify us by either sending a note with your child, or notifying the school at 508-886-0399.
- If your child has a change in dismissal, please send in a note with your child's full name and teacher's name.
- Please ensure your CORI has not expired. Contact Mrs. O’Coin if you are unsure of your expiration date. Mrs. O’Coin has current information regarding the CORI. We cannot rush CORI checks at the end of the year as systems are overloaded.
- Unless otherwise noted: Dismissal on Early Release Days will begin at 12:30 with lunch being served.
News from the Cafeteria
- Please email jennifer_jones@wrsd.net if you do not want your child to purchase a snack from their Schoolbucks account. An alert will be placed on your child's account.
- Breakfast will be served daily. Children will need a note from parents to purchase breakfast.
- Breakfast will consist of cereal, yogurt, fruit and milk or bagel, yogurt, fruit and milk.
- The cost for breakfast is $1.50. The cost for lunch is $3.00. Milk is $.60.
- If a child qualifies for free or reduced lunch, then they will also qualify for a free or reduced breakfast. Please contact Mrs. Jones if you have any questions.
- Lunch Menus are available on the Glenwood website: http://www.wrsd.net/glenwood/