The Flores Flyer
Special Edition - March 14, 2020 Volume 2, Issue 6
We Got This
Dear Davis Ducks,
“Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new center of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand.” - Oprah Winfrey.
We’re currently finding our “new way to stand” as we witness major historical events. I’m thankful to be a part of this Davis Magnet School community, which has always been collaborative and supportive. I have no doubt that our community will remain strong and get through this uncharted territory together.
There have been significant changes to our everyday lives that have left us with many unknowns. This can be scary, overwhelming and stressful. Thankfully, there are resources available to support all families.
First, always refer to the NMUSD website for the latest updates. Second, our teachers will be working diligently, with the support of the district, to provide you information and resources to guide your child’s continued learning at home, which will technically begin on March 20. Until then, I’ve designed this special edition of the Flores Flyer to help our families adjust and prepare for the next few weeks.
I know there are many questions swirling around our community. I don’t have all the answers, yet. As of right now, all field trips, camps, events scheduled for April - June are ON HOLD. I will also get back to you regarding March deadlines like batteries, yearbooks, etc. Information is forthcoming regarding your child’s chromebooks, library books, instruments, personal belongings, etc. that were left behind on Friday. Your patience and understanding is greatly appreciated as we work out the details.
Below is a list of ideas and resources to hopefully help parents provide some structure and focus while students are away from school. I gathered these resources from many amazing educators who are currently working really hard to support families. HUGE shout out to the dedicated Professional Learning Network of educators who are sharing and helping one another. We have to keep it up!!! I will do my best to add resources and updates to this newsletter as time permits.
I know all of this is overwhelming, but believe in yourself and know that you are doing a good job. Do the best that you can and take one day at a time.
Don’t forget about our school wide theme for the year: EMPATHY. Continue to teach it, model it, and practice it at home with your children. Keep reading UnSelfie for ideas. Here is my list of read aloud books that focus on KINDNESS and EMPATHY.
Thank you for your partnership, flexibility, and continued support. We got this.
Mrs. Flores
Principal
#1 Priority: Mental Health and Wellness
Ways to keep you and your family in a healthy state of mind:
Get plenty of sleep.
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Exercise.
Spend time outside and get fresh air.
Practice proper hygiene. Wash those hands!!!
Limit time on social media.
Practice mindfulness and deep breathing to stay calm when stressed. Use the 3x3x3 strategy: Take a deep breath in for 3 seconds. Let it out for 3 seconds. Do it 3 times.
Find the positives and focus on them.
Our children are watching us and paying attention to how we handle stressful situations. Here are some apps to help both adults and kids to stay calm.
Action for Happiness - Mindful March 2020 daily calendar
Structure is good for ALL kids. Here is a sample daily schedule that I came across to help parents organize their day for their children.
Learning Ideas Listed In No Particular Order
Keep reading!!
Newsela - Apply the strategy of “Think Like a Disciplinarian” and read the expository texts through different lenses...political scientist, biologist, historian, economist, mathematician, humanitarian, etc.
Reading comprehension questions beyond the basic who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Apply Depth & Complexity icons while reading, looking for the big idea, details, author’s viewpoint, trends, patterns, change over time, etc.
Continue classwork on Lexia, Spelling City, Freckle, and STMath.
GoNoodle for fun movement breaks.
150+ Enrichment Activities for Children While Parents are Working Remotely
Write letters/postcards to senior citizens at nursery homes who cannot have any visitors right now.
Write letters/postcards to friends and families.
Write letters/postcards to your Davis teachers, staff, and principal.
Keep a daily journal.
Commonsensemedia.org’s recommendations for Free Educational Apps, Games, and Websites
Commonsensemedia.org’s recommendations for Top Time Management Apps
Commonsensemedia.org’s recommendations for 17 Apps to Help Kids Stay Focused
Commonsensemedia.org’s recommendations for Best Music Apps for Kids
Give your child the choice to select a topic they’d like to learn about and spend 30 minutes each day researching that topic.
Bake - focus on measurement.
Practice those math facts.
Practice counting. Dump out a large number of items...LEGOS, pasta, beans, blocks and have students count them and record their strategies. They can count by 1’s, 2’s, 5’s, 10’s...Ask them to explain their thinking.
Races of various kinds in the backyard (hopping on one foot, crabwalk, walking backwards, etc.)
Try stop motion animation with playdough
Facetime with grandparents
Inventory the plants & wildlife (from bugs on up) in your yard.
Learn the parts of plants/flowers & how they function (bonus if they learn the Latin names).
Write a short story and illustrate it. Then write another story using the same characters, but from a different perspective.
Play board games, card games, and puzzles.
Build with blocks and LEGOS.
Design a Leprechaun trap for St. Patrick’s Day.
There are many educational websites that are waving fees. Here is a long list of them with a short summary of what you can find at each site.
Watch all the hand washing videos & vote on your favorite. Discuss why each is good, helpful, funny.
Put everyone to work and do a deep cleaning of your house.
Have your children design their own board games, card games, arcade games, etc.
Check out the Rube Goldberg challenge.
Write a story cooperatively. One person picks a character and the other picks a setting and then go gangbusters together.
Art - beading, painting, drawing, play dough or kinetic sand, sewing, etc.
Davis Magnet School
Instagram @davis_magnet_school
Facebook @facebook.com/DavisMagnetSchoolDucks
Twitter @DavisMagnet
Email: cflores@nmusd.us
Website: http://davismagnet.nmusd.us/
Location: 1050 Arlington Drive, Costa Mesa, CA, USA
Phone: (714)424-7930
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavisMagnetSchoolDucks/
Twitter: @DavisMagnet