Principal Pattiey's Post
Some thoughts for the starting school year
Edition #10
Principal Pattiey's Post
October 15, 2023
Hello Woodsy Owl Families.
I hope you enjoyed your Friday with your kiddos. Your SHS teaching staff was meeting learning about how we can assist all of our students to experience academic success. The SHS staff meet together in their grade levels and worked on creating lessons to help our students learn about the coping skills for life. We refer to these as the Toolbox. You will see down below a description of the Listening Tool as we are finishing up on that tool this week.
The SHS staff also worked on creating some Accountability Lessons for students that make mistakes and need to restore relationship with those they offended. Little ones often forget that their actions hurt others and so when we have an issue of hitting or taking something that isn't ours, we often lose recess and spend that time thinking about how to restore the trust we may have damaged. This is what we refer to as restorative practices. It does not take the place of a consequence for an action it just supports that the student understands the harm they have caused.
The highlight of the day for me was when Ms. Heidi Polewaszyk, our very own SHS Preschool SDC Teacher, offered a fabulous presentation on how we can help those students that are struggling. It was eye opening and very engaging. It led me down a rabbit hole of reading online and reflecting on my beliefs related to academic success. I found an article I enjoyed that you might as well The article at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9741340/ was of particular interest to me as it seemed to sum up many of the other studies. If you are as time-pressed as most of us, reading this long study might be a bit much, so here are the points that I felt were most salient.
- Set High Academic Expectations: Encourage your children to have higher academic expectations for themselves. The study shows that students who aspire to complete higher education are more likely to become resilient learners.
- Foster Academic Motivation: Help your children develop a strong motivation to learn. This can include intrinsic motivation, identity motivation, and performance-approach goal orientation, which have been found to increase the likelihood of resilience.
- Cultivate Positive Emotions: Create a positive and supportive learning environment for your children. Positive academic emotions significantly contribute to academic resilience. Encourage a happy and productive attitude toward learning.
- Maintain Strong Teacher-Student Relationships: Teachers play a crucial role in helping students overcome challenges related to their family background. Encourage positive relationships between your child and their teachers as it can enhance resilience.
- Support Peer Relationships: Facilitate positive peer relationships for your child, especially in grades 6 and 11. These relationships contribute to resilience and can provide valuable support during their educational journey.
- Share Educational Expectations: Communicate with your child about their educational expectations and goals. High parental expectations, along with student expectations, are important in promoting motivation and achievement.
- Provide Learning Opportunities: Create an environment where your child has access to knowledge and information, encouraging self-thinking and the development of internal motivation for self-improvement.
It's important to note that these suggestions aim to increase your child's academic resilience and motivation, which can lead to improved academic performance. Remember that each child is unique, and parental support should be tailored to their individual needs and preferences.
Have a great week!
It Takes a Village.............
Principal Pattiey
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 @ 8:30 am
This Wednesday morning as you drive into the parking lot you may notice some cones blocking off certain areas. This is because the SHS's PTC has provided a fabulous opportunity for our children to be awed and inspired. The Forward BMX team will be here to amaze us with their awesome bike tricks and inspire us with their powerful words. Please remember to ask your student on Wednesday afternoon about the cool tricks AND what the riders had to say about Growth Mindset and the power of believing in one's self.
Toolbox Tools
The ListeningTool
Woodsy Owls Who Give a Hoot!!
Sierra Hills PTC is Selling Pie from Ikedas
Sierra Hills Ikeda’s Pie sale
Place your orders for amazing Ikeda’s Pies October 23rd through November 3rd. You will be able to receive your frozen pie just in time for Thanksgiving!!
Sierra Hills School Has the Best Parent-Teacher Club EVER!
Principal Pattiey's Perfect Presence Parties
On last Thursday we celebrated 40 days of perfect attendance with donuts. We had over 90 students that haven't missed a day of learning (Travel study counts as attendance - another great reason to always get travel study when you are gone.) Monday we will start another period of attendance. For students that have already missed some time, no fear. We are starting all over. On Tuesday, December 19th, we will celebrate 40 days of perfect attendance with Rootbeer Floats.
Meet Katerine Guevara
SHS Special Education Assistant
Meet Ashley Rutledge
SHS Kindergarten Teacher
Woodsy Owls are Patriotic!
Mrs. Van Sloten, Henry Van Sloten, Olivia Walker and Christian Goodman performing our SHS dignified weekly flag lowering
In an effort to demonstrate and teach the SHS community about proper flag etiquette, the local cub scout pack 6 has some cub scouts helping raise and lower the flag. On Monday mornings the flag will be raised with dignity and respect. On Fridays the same loyal cub scouts from pack 6 will lower the flag in the same manner. I want to thank Scout Leaders Jessie Cuccia and Christian Goodman for there assistance and instruction with this. Also much gratitude to Mrs. Van Sloten who lent a hand in helping the process. Cub scouts Amaray Cuccia, Olivia Walker and Henry Van Sloten are leading the charge with our new patriotic practice. Above is the Friday lowering of the flag with Mrs. Van Sloten, Henry Van Sloten, Olivia Walker, and Christian Goodman.
We hope to extend this to more days a week as we add to our SHS Flag Crew.
Have a great week.
Principal Pattiey