Principal Pattiey's Post
Some thoughts for the starting school year
Edition #8
Principal Pattiey's Post
October 1, 2023
Hello Woodsy Owl Families. Conferences are HERE. This Wednesday, Thursday , and Friday are minimum days and school will dismiss at 11:15. These will be minimum days for the families to conference with the teachers for the rest of the day. If you have not yet sign-up or been assigned a time, please call or come by the office so we can get you into our schedule.
Last Tuesday we had to cancel our fabulous BMX assembly due to inclement weather. It has been rescheduled for October 18th. Huge thanks to the Sierra Hills Parent-Teacher Club for providing this opportunity. We are excited for the kiddos to be inspired by all that they see.
It Takes a Village......
Principal Pattiey
New Bus Routes
Stop, Walk, and Talk
Sierra Hills School is a PBIS school. This means that we use the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports framework to approach our school climate. This is the system that helps us create and enforce rules and procedures throughout the campus.
One part of this system is our Stop, Walk, and Talk practice. This encourages students to walk away from potential conflicts. It also encourages them to talk to an adult to get help and guidance in how to handle the situation. Stop, Walk, and Talk helps teach students how to correctly and safely stand up to behavior that they feel is offensive or not wanted.
STOP: Here at SHS we use the ASL (American Sign Language) sign for STOP. We teach the students to hold one hand flat and palm up. With the other hand also flat, lower it pinky-first into the first hand so they collide. Children discover the importance of making a direct request to “stop”. They
understand, where possible and appropriate, how to share how the action made them
feel. This is a critical step that communicates to the other person that what they are doing is not
okay.
Walk: Sometimes, even when students tell others to “stop”, problem behavior will continue. When this happens, students are to "walk away" from the problem behavior. This shows students that they have the power to remove themselves from a bad situation. If in class or in a line and the student feels they shouldn't walk away, the students are taught to turn their back to the problem situation.
Talk: Sometimes a situation is dangerous or problematic enough that the student needs to report it. This is the TALK step. When that happens, students should "talk" to an adult. The adult will ask the student if they told the others to STOP. The adult will also ask if they walked away. Then the adult will proceed to help the student problem solve the situation. Sometimes this will involve the adult talking to the other student or referring a discipline matter to the office. Most of the time this will result in the adult reminding the student that we don't control other people and that possibly they should pick other people to play with.
Hopefully this will help you understand what your child is talking about if they reference Stop, Walk, and Talk. Who knows???? Maybe you can even use it in your home.
PTC Sponsored Running Club
Have you noticed your 1st through 3rd grader coming home with a necklace and feet charms? It's because we are off and running with Run club! It's everyday during lunch recess weather permitting. The kids earn feet charms for every mile they run, every five miles they earn a special charm, and they can earn a monthly charm. I can't wait to see how many miles we can do this year! This program is sponsored by our PTC and a big thank you to all our volunteers!
Each Charm = One Mile Run
Two Young Ladies Showing Off Their Achievements
October 11th is Picture Retake Day
Students are supervised by SHS during Picture Taking.
Woodsy Owls Who Give a Hoot!!
Sierra Hills School Has the Best Parent-Teacher Club EVER!
Meet Jaclyn Galica
Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Meet Patricia Leftridge
Our SHS Principal
Woodsy Owls are Reading!
I read a quick short article on encouraging children to read. I want to share with you their 14 ideas.
1. Read it again and again.
2. Make reading real.
3. Don’t leave home without something to read.
4. Dig deeper into the story.
5. Make reading a free-time activity.
6. Take your time.
7. Pick books at the right level.
8. Play word games.
9. Read to each other.
10. Point out the relationships between words.
11. Make books special.
12. Make reading creative.
13. Let your child choose.
14. Look for a series of books.
The article can be found at this LINK
I hope you have a great week and read a lot of great stories!!!
It Takes a Village.....
Principal Pattiey