Liestman Chipmunk News
March 2021 Volume 3 Issue 1
A Message from Mr. Galindo
Dear Liestman Families-
It’s hard to believe that we are now in March! We continue to focus on kindness as it is at the core of developing empathy and compassion for others. And, as we continue to recover from the recent winter storm it is so important to talk about the power of being kind to others in time of need. Our growth mindset focus for this month is on normalizing mistakes. Mistakes are opportunities for learning. We will focus on coaching students through mistakes using mistake-friendly teaching strategies.
There are only 18 instructional days this month. Please continue to send your child to school for in-person learning each day and to ensure that students learning remotely are engaged in their daily lessons. There are two important sources of academic feedback coming out these next two weeks- progress report #6 and report card #3. These reports may be accessed using the Home Access Center. Remember that the deadline for changing your child’s learning mode is this Friday. Check your email for the link to the google form.
Finally, it is critical to everyone’s health and safety that we continue to practice all of the CDC safety protocols. Upon showing any COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms, the student or staff member is required to stay home and consult with a physician before returning to school/work; by doing so, we are able to prevent spread and stay open for learning.
Stay strong!
Mr. Galindo, Principal
The Counselor's Corner
Hello Chipmunks!
It's "March Madness" time, which means this month we will find our balance through mindfulness practice. Here are some some great tips on basic mindfulness practice.
The Basics of Mindfulness Practice:
Mindfulness helps us put some space between ourselves and our reactions, breaking down our conditioned responses. Here's how to tune into mindfulness throughout the day:
- Set aside some time. You don’t need any sort of special equipment to access your mindfulness skills—but you do need to set aside some time and space.
- Observe the present moment as it is. The aim of mindfulness is not quieting the mind. The goal is simple: we’re aiming to pay attention to the present moment, without judgment. Easier said than done, we know.
- Let your judgments roll by. When we notice judgments arise during our practice, we can make a mental note of them, and let them pass.
- Return to observing the present moment as it is. Our minds often get carried away in thought. That’s why mindfulness is the practice of returning, again and again, to the present moment.
Mindfulness Activity:
Watch the sunrise/sunset. Notice the colors, the wind, the temperature, close your eyes and take a deep breath in and then slowly release the breath.
Or participate in the following video exercise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEfs5TJZ6Nk
In the month of March we will continue with our character trait of Kindness and our Social Emotional Learning trait is Social Awareness. Please read the information below.
Don't forget to follow us on social media:
facebook.com/LiestmanES
Follow me on Twitter:
@KarinaB15435636
Don't forget to follow me and join my Schoology Course
SGG5-VZ3F-7S5Z2
Love,
Mrs. Bonilla
Kindness
Kindness: the choice to act with words, gifts, or actions to bring appreciation, positivity, and encouragement to others and yourself.
As we continue to talk about kindness, The Mind Shift has an article that talks about the difference between kindness and cruelty.
Mrs. Bonilla's Schoology Page
Please make sure your students has accessed the Mrs. Bonilla’s Counseling Virtual Office Schoology Page. Below is how you can access it.
How to Access Mrs. Bonilla’s Counseling Virtual Office:
1. Access the Page to Schoology
2. Click on Course
3. Click Join Course on the right side
4. Enter the Group Access Code: SGG5-VZ3F-7S5Z2
Social Awareness
Social awareness is defined by CASEL as, “the ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Video: https://youtu.be/0IflFLzG_Jc