Blue Ash Elementary
February 22, 2019
Flexible Seating at BAE
Flexible seating is not just about the fun chairs....it is about students having ownership and control over how they learn best!
4th Grade parents, please join us...
Each year the counselors and administrators from E.H. Greene Intermediate School come to Blue Ash Elementary to present current 4th grade parents with information about their wonderful school.
This year they will be presenting March 28, 10:00 in the U.C. Wing.
We hope that you can make it, but if not, please know that there will be future sessions at E.H. Greene School, and future communication regarding this important transition.
Helping Kids Cope With Stress
Helping Kids Cope With Stress
By D'Arcy Lyness, PhD
To adults, childhood can seem like a carefree time. But kids still experience stress. Things like school and their social life can sometimes create pressures that can feel overwhelming for kids. As a parent, you can't protect your kids from stress — but you can help them develop healthy ways to cope with stress and solve everyday problems.
Kids deal with stress in both healthy and unhealthy ways. And while they may not initiate a conversation about what's bothering them, they do want their parents to reach out and help them cope with their troubles.
But it's not always easy for parents to know what to do for a child who's feeling stressed.
Here are a few ideas:
Notice out loud. Tell your child when you notice that something's bothering him or her. If you can, name the feeling you think your child is experiencing. ("It seems like you're still mad about what happened at the playground.") This shouldn't sound like an accusation (as in, "OK, what happened now? Are you still mad about that?") or put a child on the spot. It's just a casual observation that you're interested in hearing more about your child's concern. Be sympathetic and show you care and want to understand.
Listen to your child. Ask your child to tell you what's wrong. Listen attentively and calmly — with interest, patience, openness, and caring. Avoid any urge to judge, blame, lecture, or say what you think your child should have done instead. The idea is to let your child's concerns (and feelings) be heard. Try to get the whole story by asking questions like "And then what happened?" Take your time. And let your child take his or her time, too.
Comment briefly on the feelings you think your child was experiencing. For example, you might say "That must have been upsetting," "No wonder you felt mad when they wouldn't let you in the game," or "That must have seemed unfair to you." Doing this shows that you understand what your child felt, why, and that you care. Feeling understood and listened to helps your child feel supported by you, and that is especially important in times of stress.
Put a label on it. Many younger kids do not yet have words for their feelings. If your child seems angry or frustrated, use those words to help him or her learn to identify the emotions by name. Putting feelings into words helps kids communicate and develop emotional awareness — the ability to recognize their own emotional states. Kids who can do so are less likely to reach the behavioral boiling point where strong emotions come out through behaviors rather than communicated with words.
Help your child think of things to do. If there's a specific problem that's causing stress, talk together about what to do. Encourage your child to think of a couple of ideas. You can start the brainstorming if necessary, but don't do all the work. Your child's active participation will build confidence. Support the good ideas and add to them as needed. Ask, "How do you think this will work?"
Listen and move on. Sometimes talking and listening and feeling understood is all that's needed to help a child's frustrations begin to melt away. Afterward, try changing the subject and moving on to something more positive and relaxing. Help your child think of something to do to feel better. Don't give the problem more attention than it deserves.
Limit stress where possible. If certain situations are causing stress, see if there are ways to change things. For instance, if too many after-school activities consistently cause homework stress, it might be necessary to limit activities to leave time and energy for homework.
Just be there. Kids don't always feel like talking about what's bothering them. Sometimes that's OK. Let your kids know you'll be there when they do feel like talking. Even when kids don't want to talk, they usually don't want parents to leave them alone. You can help your child feel better just by being there — keeping him or her company, spending time together. So if you notice that your child seems to be down in the dumps, stressed, or having a bad day — but doesn't feel like talking — initiate something you can do together. Take a walk, watch a movie, shoot some hoops, or bake some cookies. Isn't it nice to know that your presence really counts?
Be patient. As a parent, it hurts to see your child unhappy or stressed. But try to resist the urge to fix every problem. Instead, focus on helping your child, slowly but surely, grow into a good problem-solver — a kid who knows how to roll with life's ups and downs, put feelings into words, calm down when needed, and bounce back to try again.
Parents can't solve every problem as kids go through life. But by teaching healthy coping strategies, you'll prepare your kids to manage the stresses that come in the future.
Lego League
Four FIRST LEGO League Jr. teams attended the iSpace FLL Jr. expo on Feb. 9. Two of the teams comprised 3rd graders representing Blue Ash Elementary. They were celebrated for their research and model about the potential to live on the moon.
· Lego Moon received the Shining Stars award.
· Rocket Invaders received the Solid-as-a-Rock award.
Congratulations!
photo links to each team:
Lego Moon - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ttvtwt1x99txccw/Lego%20Moon%20with%20poster%20at%20iSpace%20expo.JPG?dl=0
Rocket Invaders - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ilsvrbv4bv8buhs/Rocket%20Invaders%20with%20poster.JPG?dl=0
Notes From our Nurse
Illness Reminders:
If you child is ill, remember to call the school absence line at 513 686-1714. It can be difficult to decide when and how long to keep an ill child home from school. The timing of the absences is often important in order to decrease the spread of disease to others.
If your child has a fever, is vomiting or has diarrhea they must stay home until they no longer have the symptom for 24 hours without the use of medication to control the symptoms.
Check our school illness guidelines at .https://www.sycamoreschools.org/Page/2308 .The school district health handbook has more information and found on the district website at http://www.sycamoreschools.org/Page/2268 .
Attention Fourth Grade Parents Hold the Date:
Blue Ash Elementary will host a Growth and Development preview night on March 13, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash Elementary (UCBA) Wing. This is an information meeting for Fourth grade parents to preview materials used for 4th grade Growth and Development class. This is a parent only meeting no childcare will be provided.
Attention Third Grade Parents:
Third grade students will begin Basic Aid Training (BAT) presented by our school nurse,
Diana Wyrick, RN. Classes will be held on February 26, 27, 28 and March 1st. This program is adapted from The American Red Cross. Your children will learn the following:
1. Steps for an Emergency Action Plan.
2. How to treat for shock.
3. Where to call in an emergency.
4. How to do Citizen CPR
5. What to do if someone chokes.
6. How to treat wounds.
7. How to treat animal bites.
8. What to do if someone falls.
9. What to do if electric shock is suspected.
10. How to prevent poisoning and what to do.
The students will be asked to share their knowledge with you. Please, encourage them to teach you what they know.
Coin Challenge
District Art Show
~ ~ PTO Information ~ ~
Step up to the PTO!
A community is a group of people with diverse characteristics who are linked by social ties, share common perspectives, and engage in joint action. As I reflect on the roles of our PTO leaders and volunteers, this is exactly what I have experienced at Blue Ash Elementary... A group of dedicated parents with varied backgrounds, interests, talents and passions, who have united together with the same purpose – to enrich the lives of our children. There truly is no better way to support our school, than for a parent to give a little of his/her time and energy. Whether it is as a homeroom volunteer, or sharing a leadership position that plans and supports beloved events like Haunted Festival...there is a place and a need for everyone to serve. As we begin to plan for next year, we are again looking for parents that love our school, that support our focus on children, and who love to work with a network of other parents and teachers who feel the same. I sincerely hope you will consider being a part of our team at BAE. In talking with parents who have, and continue to serve, you won’t find a more fulfilling and entertaining way to spend your time!
Leslie D. Combs
Principal
Blue Ash Elementary School
Dear Parents,
From the Kindergarten Meet and Greet to the Fourth Grade Celebration, the dozens of events and programs that the PTO sponsors at Blue Ash Elementary are the icing on the cake of your student's school experience. Unfortunately, many of these events and programs are headed for extinction due to lack of parent support. If you have a student at Blue Ash Elementary, we are asking you to step up and help out in the PTO.
The PTO is comprised of parents of current students at Blue Ash Elementary. When their child graduates fourth grade, they retire their positions, leaving vacancies. As we look at where we stand for next year, there are three big holes on our PTO team:
1. Treasurer(s). This position is vital. The PTO literally cannot function without a treasurer. The treasurer prepares and presents the annual budget, arranges for and files the audit report, ensures taxes are filed, keeps records of all receipts and expenditures, writes reimbursement checks and pays other bills, presents financial reports at PTO meetings, and ensures bank statements are reviewed regularly by a separate board member. They are also responsible for maintaining insurance for the PTO. These duties can be shared between two treasurers. Please email the treasurers at baptotreasurer@sycamoreschools.org if this position is a good fit for your skills and interests.
2. Haunted Festival Chair(s). Go it alone, or team up with a small group of your besties to make Haunted Fest 2019 the best. You would oversee the 15 Haunted Fest Chair positions, manage the Haunted Fest budget, and organize and attend planning meetings as well as the actual event. This year's chairwoman whittled the process down to a science and organized the heck out of everything in an effort to set you up for success. Haunted Fest is more than just a fun event. Each year, thousands of dollars and hundreds of volunteer hours are poured into this event making it not only a screamin' good time, but also our major source of income. With the $16,000 we brought in this year, teachers have received new carpets and varied seating options for their classrooms, books, art supplies, and many other items by special request. Please contact Victoria Margroum at bapto@sycamoreschools.org today if your inner event planner can't wait to take on this challenge!
3. Yearbook Chair. Create the Blue Ash Elementary yearbook, filled with memories of events and activities. Take pictures, design pages using the Lifetouch online software, and sell/distribute the book to students. In the past few years, the yearbook also included dedication ads, managed by the yearbook chair, but that section is optional. As a side benefit, you'll enjoy getting to know and interact with a lot of teachers, staff, parents, and students! Contact Christine at ckatzman@nualumni.com to throw your hat in the ring.
In addition to these big openings for next year, there are plenty of ways you can lend a hand during the last few months of school this year. For example, we have the Variety Show and Cultural Night coming up, as well as Active Aves when the weather turns. Please email bapto@sycamoreschools.org if you have a few hours to spare.
Join us, and have fun with other friendly, happy, volunteers who are committed to making sure Blue Ash Elementary stays a place where kids want to be. Support our teachers. Support our kids. Support the Blue Ash Parent Teacher Organization!
Thank you,
The Blue Ash PTO Board
Cultural Night
We are excited for Blue Ash Elementary’s Cultural Night scheduled for Friday, April 5th at 6:00-8:30. We are beginning the process of finding acts and booths to present at Cultural Night! We want to celebrate the wonderful cultures represented by our students at Blue Ash Elementary! Please complete the form below if you would like to run a booth, be a part of the performance or fashion show, or volunteer to help with this event! If you would prefer to send your information to us through Kid Mail, feel free to send it to Anna McIlwain in Miss Willhoff’s Room 602. Thank you!
Click here for form
Recipes Needed for Blue Ash Elementary PTO Cookbook
~ ~ District Information ~ ~
Symmes Carnival
Master Facility Concept Testing Sessions
There are only two more Master Facility Concept Testing sessions left! Please join us at one of the following dates:
Saturday, February 23 10:00 a.m. at Sycamore High School
Wednesday, February 27 6:30 p.m. at Terwilliger Lodge
Have a question about the options? Email mfp@sycamoreschools.org or check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Aves Hangar
Junior High Presents...
Boosters Winter Social
Link for SAB Winter Social:
Please use this link to buy your tickets to the SAB Winter Social: