The Weekly Buzz 🐝
From Palmer River Elementary School
April 5, 2024
Dear Palmer River School Community,
On Monday, the PTSA sponsored a wonderful community event that was well attended and fun for all. The Teachers VS. the Harlem Wizards game left us cheering, laughing, singing and dancing along to the entertainment and basketball game! Pictured above are the "Benchwarmers" who played their hearts out! Staff from BMS and PRES were joined by members of the Rehoboth Police Department. Thank you to all who attended, participated, and planned this event for our community!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kristine Kefor, Principal & Dr. Cheryl Leandro, Assistant Principal
email: kkefor@drregional.org & cleandro@drregional.org
phone: 508-252-5100
#WeAreDR
Upcoming Calendar Events for PRES
- April PTSA Meeting at BMS: Thursday, April 11th at 6:30pm
- Spring Break/No School: Monday, April 15th to Friday, April 19th
- April BCSB Banking Visit for Grades 3/4: Thursday, April 25th
- Spot the Robotic Dog visits PRES: Monday, April 29th
- Teacher Appreciation Week: May 6th-May 10th
Autism Acceptance and Neurodiversity Awareness Spirit Days
The Masked Reader
The Masked Reader began on Monday! This special event was put together for our school to raise money for a Book Vending Machine. We are so grateful that the PTSA and Feinstein Foundation have partially funded the machine with grant money and now we are working to help raise funds for the rest! The event has already been lots of fun and next week we will have a big celebration to reveal "Who is Behind the Mask"...students will come home with a ballot this Friday (April 5th). If possible, please return it next week with a donation in the envelope. Students will submit their ballots to the "Magic Mailbox" on Monday and Tuesday of next week (no later than April 9th). A winner from each grade who has the correct or closest to correct ballot will be chosen to take their photo with all of the Masked Readers. Their favorite reader will visit their classroom for a VIP Storytime and their entire class will win an extra recess too! The videos and ballots are released each day and available at home via mrpearse.us
Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8th!
On Monday, April 8, 2024, there will be a Total Solar Eclipse around 2:00 pm, lasting about 2 hours until 4:30 pm. While no location in Massachusetts will experience totality, it is important to take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of your children during the upcoming solar eclipse. We have also contacted Bloom bus company to inform them of the solar eclipse and asked for their cooperation in being mindful during this event. Here are some important do's and don'ts to keep in mind:
Do:
If possible, provide your children with proper eye protection, such as solar eclipse glasses, to prevent eye damage from looking directly at the sun during the eclipse.
Educate your children about the importance of not looking directly at the sun without protection.
If your child is home, supervise them during the eclipse to ensure they are using eye protection properly.
Take advantage of this educational opportunity to teach your children about the science behind solar eclipses and the significance of this natural phenomenon.
Don’t:
Allow your children to look directly at the sun without proper eye protection, which can cause permanent eye damage.
Assume that regular sunglasses or makeshift eye protection, such as homemade filters, are safe for viewing the eclipse. Downplay the importance of eye safety during the eclipse, which can lead to retinal damage or blindness.
By following these suggestions and precautions, you can help ensure your children have a safe and enjoyable experience during the upcoming solar eclipse. Below you can find resources regarding the Total Solar Eclipse.
Spring MCAS Dates for Grades Three and Four
April's Monthly Mindset is...
RESILIENCY
Little Falcons Preschool Enrolling Now!
From the Health Office
Digital eye strain (DES) results from prolonged use of digital devices. This is also known as Computer Vision Syndrome. The symptoms associated with DES include the following:
Eye irritation and rubbing of eyelids
The sensation that a foreign body is in the eye(s)
Blurred vision
Colored halos around objects in the visual field
Photophobia (light sensitivity)
Frequent headaches
Itchy eyes
Diplopia (double vision)
Strabismus ( misalignment of the eyes)
Symptoms can last for a few hours to several days depending on screen time duration and intensity. Additionally, the size of the screen has been becoming more compact with the fast paced demands of technology on the go. Worthy of mention is the fact that displays emit glare from the backlighting which intensifies eye strain.
Digital exposure since the pandemic has brought about some interesting data. It has been reported that when comparing book print with digital displays, the average individual blinks 22 times per minute versus seven times. Prolonged near sighted work causes the eyes to experience a higher convergence demand. This increases eye strain. Children who face vision challenges such as farsightedness, poor eye focus, and coordination issues are at a higher risk of experiencing DES.
Why are we hearing about this now when computers have been around since the 1940’s? The pandemic has played a part in digital literacy demands. Kids ages four to twelve spent approximately four hours daily on recreational screens pre-pandemic. This number has increased by almost two hours per day. It is estimated that DES affects 50% to 60% of children.
According to John Hopkins, eye issues are directly correlated with screen time. In the past, children did not have the same incidence of early onset refractory errors (difficulty with far vision, near vision, double vision, and malalignment). Reading speed and fluency are affected by DES, in addition to vision challenges.
The American Optometric Association (AOA) reports that chronic DES may lead to long lasting vision abnormalities. Prevention and management of DES requires awareness of educators, parents, and clinicians. Close monitoring should be done for families with a predisposition of vision abnormalities. Children often require reminders to take breaks from screen time at home.
The AOA encourages adult and pediatric persons to implement the 20:20:20 strategy. Every 20 minutes, take a break from screen time and look 20 feet away, for a duration of 20 seconds. Another strategy is to ensure that individuals keep an elbow to hand distance from displays. Recreational screen time is recommended not to exceed a maximum of two hours daily.
Next week we will look at the American Academy of Pediatrics tips for families attempting to manage screen time at home.
Nurse Alyson Bellora abellora@drregional.org
PRES School Lunch Menu
Please click THIS LINK to view a printable PDF of April's Lunch Menu.
Scenes from the Week!
Community Events
The Portrait of a Graduate
Palmer River Elementary School
The Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District
#WeAreDR!
Website: https://pres.drregional.org/
Location: 326 Winthrop Street, Rehoboth, MA 02769
Phone: 508-252-5100/Fax: 508-252-5110
Dighton Rehoboth Regional School District does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected group.