Greene Notes
November 15, 2019
Our Flight Pattern
Attendance Line: (513) 686-1756
IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR
November 6 - November 22 - Canned Food Drive
November 20 - Board of Education Meeting 7:00PM Greene Cafeteria
November 21 - Purple Team PBL Exhibition 6 - 7:30 Cafeteria
November 27-29 - No School
December 4 - Orchestra Concert 7 - 8:30 Cafeteria
December 10 - Choir Concert
Letter Days this Week:
Monday, November 18 - A Day
Tuesday, November 19 - B Day
Wednesday, November 20 - C Day
Thursday, November 21 - D Day
Friday, November 22 - A Day
Greene Lightning!
Space!
Veteran's Day
Hearing and Vision Screening
Annual Hearing and Vision Screening will take place for all 5th graders who were not screened during Greene 101 on Monday, November 18th and Tuesday, November 19th. Please email the nurse if you do NOT want your child screened.
dobrowolskil@sycamoreschools.orgCanned Food Drive
HASSLE-FREE FUNDRAISING
Would you like to earn money while donating money to the PTO?
The PTO is looking into additional "Hassle-Free" ways for the organization to earn money to support the 40+ PTO-sponsored programs and events that take place at Greene each year.
We're exploring Shop with Scrip (https://www.shopwithscrip.com) - an online shop where you can purchase gift cards to over 750 businesses - including groceries, gas, restaurants, and tons of other businesses. A rebate percentage of each gift card purchased goes back to the PTO. There's no soliciting or selling involved. Simply order gift cards online; the PTO will deliver them for you to use in your everyday shopping. Click here to watch a quick video about how the ScripShop works...http://bit.ly/EHGShopwithScripVideo.
As an extra incentive, we have decided that we would share the rewards with our PTO members! We're offering to 'split the pot' with you...50% of the rebate amount will go into the PTO account, and 50% of the rebate amount would go back into your bank account! Shop with Scrip recommends that you start with businesses where you shop often...groceries, gas, favorite restaurants, holiday gifts, etc.
We're still in the initial stages of determining if the ScripShop is a good fit for our organization. In considering this as a hassle-free fundraising option at Greene, we want your input! Share your thoughts by participating in the Facebook poll. Go to...http://bit.ly/EHGFBGROUP and scroll down to the post containing the poll. Any other fundraising ideas for our busy Greene School families...share them in the comments!
Donations Needed
Know! To Put Kindness Into Action
While there appears to be a designated “day” on the calendar for everything these days, World Kindness Day is one to celebrate and share with the young people in our lives. It takes place annually on November 13th, and promotes putting kindness into action through caring and compassionate acts. In a world where far too many youth face bullying, deal with anxiety and depression, and fight the pressures to succumb to a variety of risk-taking behaviors, why not encourage kindness and compassion? The benefits can be far-reaching and long-lasting.
Richard Davidson and his team of researchers from the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say that humans are biologically hardwired for kindness and selflessness. He says that even very young children show a preference toward being cooperative, giving and warm-hearted in their interactions with others. Dr. Davidson also believes that kindness can and should be nurtured in youth, and is absolutely teachable. He says, “It’s kind of like weight training, we found that people can actually build up their compassion ‘muscle’ and respond to others’ suffering with care and a desire to help.”
While the motivation behind acts of kindness should simply be about doing something nice for a fellow human being, with nothing in it for ourselves, it cannot be helped that the giver receives a host of benefits in return. In addition to improving one’s relationships and connections with others, KINDNESS…
Kindness Increases
- Oxytocin and Serotonin - powerful hormones that stabilize mood, and provide feelings of well-being.
- Energy - some people report a spike in energy after doing good for others.
- Pleasure - kindness toward others lights up the brain’s pleasure and reward centers.
- Happiness - in a survey that spanned 136 countries, those who reported being charitable givers also reported being the happiest overall.
Kindness Decreases
- Pain - produces endorphins, the brain’s natural painkillers.
- Stress - reduces the stress hormone cortisol in the body.
- Anxiety and depression - kindness elevates mood, wards off social avoidance.
- Blood pressure – as oxytocin is produced, nitric oxide is released, a chemical that dilates blood vessels and lowers blood pressure.
Ways to Be Kind
Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes, cannot be measured by cost or skill, and can be done at any age. Since this tip focuses on tweens and teens however, here are some ideas geared toward their age group. Of course youth are more likely to become more engaged if they come up with their own ways to put kindness into action. But here are a few ideas to help them get started.
- Go through your closet and donate some clothing items.
- Send a positive text to someone.
- Rake a neighbor’s leaves or shovel someone’s sidewalk or drive (depending on where you live).
- Give someone a compliment.
- Give your mom, dad or other caregiver a random hug.
- Thank a veteran.
- Smile more often at others.
- Say hello to someone new.
- Offer to babysit for free one evening.
- Send someone a hand-written thank you note.
- Hold the door for someone.
- Do a chore around the house without being asked.
- Forgive someone.
- Bake cookies for a neighbor.
- Ask about someone’s day.
- Call your grandparents.
- Put a happy face sticky note on someone’s locker.
- Volunteer at any kind of shelter.
- Smile and say “good morning” to an adult in your school building.
- Invite someone sitting alone to sit with you at lunch.
These are so many simple ways to be kind. Challenge your child to rattle off or jot down some ideas of their own. Of course parents walking the walk is the greatest way to nurture and teach children the importance of doing good for others.
Also keep in mind that you play an important role if you or your child happen to be on the receiving end of a good deed. Kindness goes full circle when someone accepts that offer of help, smiles back or acknowledges another’s kind gesture.
Let World Kindness Day be the kickoff to purposeful acts of kindness among your family that in turn may grow and spread worldwide.
Sources
- Dartmouth.edu. Random Act of Kindness: Kindness Health Facts.
- Edutopia. Social and Emotional Learning: Nurturing Kindness in Young Children. Jan. 25, 2018.
- Informed Decisions Blog. Life, Social, and Emotional Skills: 60 Free Ways to Show Random Acts of Kindness for Teens. Feb. 13, 2017.
About Know! Teachable Moments
Everyone has a role in prevention. By reading this Know! Teachable Moment today, you’re doing your part to prevent substance misuse and create a healthier world for all.
We created these free tips to empower teachers and educators like you to protect your students from alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. However, we rely on donations from people like you to provide these tips. If you found this tip interesting or helpful, please consider donating at preventionactionalliance.org/donate.
Know! Teachable Moments are provided by Prevention Action Alliance with support from the Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, the Ohio Department of Education, and Start Talking!.
Know! Parent Tips are also available in Spanish at the Know! archives.
PTO Fall Gifting
Our PTO has a process set up to purchase items for the school from the funds raised through the Walkathon. Please submit the request form linked below by Friday, November 22, 2019. The Project committee will meet immediately following the deadline and you will be notified within a few weeks with their decisions.
Please submit any supporting documentation by providing a direct web link to your requested items. All submissions must meet the attached gifting criteria (either at one time or over a defined period of time).
Halloween Candy Donations
Greene Fest 2020
Planning for Greene Fest 2020 is underway! The Greene School Carnival is set for Saturday, February 8 from 11:00 - 3:00. Stay tuned for more info!!
Help Wanted!
The Sycamore HS PTO is looking for an individual to serve as the store manager and merchandise buyer for the Aves Hangar Bookstore and Spirit Shop, located on the school’s campus, anticipated to begin in January 2020. This will replace the role currently held by volunteer managers.
Retail experience and knowledge of sales and marketing principles is preferred. This is a contract position, with an average expected work-load of 20 hours/week. Schedule is somewhat flexible. Incentive opportunities are also available.
For more information on responsibilities, time commitment, requirements, etc., contact High School PTO Co-Presidents at hspto@sycamoreschools.org.
Activity Brochure
Edwin H. Greene Intermediate School
Website: http://www.sycamoreschools.org/Domain/10
Location: 5200 Aldine Drive, Cincinnati, OH, United States
Phone: (513) 686-1750
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EH-Greene-Intermediate-1777365652527973/
Twitter: @EHGreeneSchool