CUB REPORTER
Thursday, January 6th, 2022
IN THIS EDITION:
- Upcoming Events
- Fox Star of the Day
- From the School Counselor
- From the Health Room
- Technology Tips
- PTO Posting
UPCOMING EVENTS
January Events
January 10th - Choice/Magnet Window Opens
January 12th - Second Cup of Coffee
January 13th - End of Second 9 Weeks
January 17th - NO SCHOOL: MLK DAY
January 24th - Report Cards go home
January 30th - Choice / Magnet Window Closes
Second Cup of Coffee
Parents and Guardians,
We hope you enjoyed the winter break. We are excited about our upcoming book club conversations on the book "Thrivers" during our Second Cup of Coffee on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. You may join either the morning session at 9:30 a.m. or the evening session at 5:00 p.m. Copies of the book Thrivers are still available. If your family would like a copy, please contact the front office and we will a book home with your student.
Use the following link to join the conversation.
Join by phone
(US) +1 505-738-1498 PIN: 599 325 174#
Thrivers: Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle & Others Shine
Chapter Three: SELF-CONTROL
Thrivers can think straight and self-regulate. Kids who are strong in self-control can manage stress and regulate
unhealthy emotions, can delay gratification and can stretch their focusing capabilities so to increase mental and
physical strength. Controlling attention, emotions, thoughts and actions are highly correlated to resilience.
KEY POINTS FROM CHAPTER THREE of THRIVERS
Self-Control Is a Superpower: Research shows that self-control is a better predictor of adult wealth,
health, and happiness than grades or IQ.
Untamed Stress Is Dangerous to Health. It reduces resilience, increases mental health risks, and
creates helplessness (“I can’t do anything about it, so why try?) and burnout.
Self-Control Is Teachable. A significant number of kids’ mental suffering can be prevented by teaching
coping skills to regulate unhealthy emotions.
3 Abilities Nurture Self-Control: 1. Attentive focus; 2. Self-management; 3. Healthy decision-making.
Use Mental Diversions. Reduce attention temptations that rob focusing: change kids’ focus (or least
appealing part of distractor), teach easy mental tricks to boost self-control, create “if-then” plans.
Teach ACT to Manage Emotions: A-Assess stress; C-Calm with slow breaths; T-Talk positively to self.
Thrivers Develop Autonomy. Enabling, impatience, coddling, competing, and rescuing rob autonomy.
Teach Healthy Decision-Making: To help kids learn to steer their own lives. Allow choices, offer “either or”
decisions, ask: “What might happen if…”, teach “Stop, think, act right.”
1-2 Breaths Boost Relaxation. Take a slow, deep breath and exhale twice as long as the inhale.
PERSONAL REFLECTIONS
How well do your children manage emotions? Which approaches (like mindfulness,yoga, meditation, and stress management) to nurture children’s self-control interest you?
How might parents join (playgroups, scouting, playdates) to teach stress management and self-control practices to your children together?
Take away: Parental stress spills over. How will I model calmness to my kids?
Application: What are my child’s stress signs? How can I help her learn them?
Family lesson: What coping skill will I use with my family? How will I teach it?
DFES TREX INFORMTION
We began collecting plastic wrap and bags for our TREX Recycling Challenge on Jan. 3rd. You can learn about the TREX Challenge here https://recycle.trex.com/
You can drop off your plastics at different locations at our school such as the car rider lines and front office entrance in any of the TREX collection bins. Smaller amounts and more frequent drops are requested. Please check the types of plastics we are taking below:
Parents we sure could use your help in getting the plastics to the drop off locations (Kohl's and Food Lion). If you are available to help in getting the plastics to the drop off locations, please email Amy Umberger at aumberge@lexrich5.org.
Fox Star of the Day
1/6 Terrence B.
1/5 Kristian W.
1/4 Bernice R.
1/3 Imani F.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE FOX STARS!
From the Counselor
Hello and Welcome to 2022!
This month at DFES, we are starting the new year by considering the practice of self control as part of our Essential Eight character program. As adults, we know it’s important to control our words and actions, but notice the use of the word “practice”. Our students need opportunities to practice the skills of focusing, patience, making positive decisions and managing emotions in order to achieve their highest level of success. If you have been attending our Second Cup sessions with Mr. Scott or reviewing the book Thrivers by Michele Borba, you may be aware that self control is one of the seven habits she identifies as a key to student achievement. January is a good month to find calm as we head back to familiar routines. Take time to breathe now that the holiday season has passed. Practice and model self control for your child with these suggestions from author and behavior specialist Amie Dean.
Be calm - When you demonstrate self control during a stressful moment, you bring a sense of order to the situation.
Respectful tone of voice and language - Being mindful of your voice helps your child learn how to respond appropriately to obstacles and feelings of frustration.
Eyes OR Ears - Allow your child to listen if eye contact is a struggle. Some people feel increased tension when looking someone in the eye.
Ask questions - No… not “What do you think you’re doing?” Be patiently curious about the decisions your child tries out. Good questions for understanding their thinking might be: What happened just now? Can you try that again? What do you need?
Take time to listen - It’s a great way to build mutual respect.
Help when you can - Resist the temptation to solve every problem. Give your child the time and space to think things through before offering your solution.
Expect the best - Children sense our expectations and tend to meet them. Set your standards at the upper limit.
Please contact me if you would like some assistance in making 2022 a great year for your family.
Sara Beckman,
DFES School Counselor
803-476-3912
From The Health Room:
In an effort to protect the health and safety of our school community, please report positive results, close contact exposures, or potential Covid symptoms to the school nurse.
Thank you for all of your support and cooperation.
Nurse Mitchell
TECHNOLOGY TIPS
PTO POSTING
Publix Partners is donating to our school
1. Sign up for or log in to your Club Publix account, click Publix Partners, and select our school.
2. Pay with the Publix app or enter your phone number at checkout.
3. Publix will donate a portion of qualifying purchases to our school!
Publix Partners has contributed $38.7 million to more than 4,950 schools across the Southeast.
Learn more at publix.com/partners.
Box Top for Education
DUTCH FORK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
7900 Broad River Rd.
Irmo, SC 29063