Principal Pattiey's Post
Some thoughts for the starting school year
Edition #9
Principal Pattiey's Post
October 8, 2023
Hello Woodsy Owl Families.
Thank-you to everyone who attended our Family-Teacher conferences. I am so thrilled that we had such a great turn-out. Thank-you to all of the teachers who met with you and explained all of the little educational language we use and how your child is achieving. After teaching for three plus hours, and then talking non-stop with parents often until late into the afternoon, I am sure they were exhausted. We have such a great, hard-working and dedicated staff, I truly am proud to be part of their great team.
I hope you are enjoying the changing (sometimes) weather of Fall and hope to see you at our upcoming Fall Festival.
It Takes a Village.............
Principal Pattiey
Toolbox Tools
The Breathing Tool
Stop, Walk, and Talk
Sierra Hills School is a PBIS school. This means that we use the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports framework to approach our school climate. This is the system that helps us create and enforce rules and procedures throughout the campus.
One part of this system is our Stop, Walk, and Talk practice. This encourages students to walk away from potential conflicts. It also encourages them to talk to an adult to get help and guidance in how to handle the situation. Stop, Walk, and Talk helps teach students how to correctly and safely stand up to behavior that they feel is offensive or not wanted.
STOP: Here at SHS we use the ASL (American Sign Language) sign for STOP. We teach the students to hold one hand flat and palm up. With the other hand also flat, lower it pinky-first into the first hand so they collide. Children discover the importance of making a direct request to “stop”. They
understand, where possible and appropriate, how to share how the action made them
feel. This is a critical step that communicates to the other person that what they are doing is not
okay.
Walk: Sometimes, even when students tell others to “stop”, problem behavior will continue. When this happens, students are to "walk away" from the problem behavior. This shows students that they have the power to remove themselves from a bad situation. If in class or in a line and the student feels they shouldn't walk away, the students are taught to turn their back to the problem situation.
Talk: Sometimes a situation is dangerous or problematic enough that the student needs to report it. This is the TALK step. When that happens, students should "talk" to an adult. The adult will ask the student if they told the others to STOP. The adult will also ask if they walked away. Then the adult will proceed to help the student problem solve the situation. Sometimes this will involve the adult talking to the other student or referring a discipline matter to the office. Most of the time this will result in the adult reminding the student that we don't control other people and that possibly they should pick other people to play with.
Hopefully this will help you understand what your child is talking about if they reference Stop, Walk, and Talk. Who knows???? Maybe you can even use it in your home.
October 11th is Picture Retake Day
Students are supervised by SHS during Picture Taking.
Woodsy Owls Who Give a Hoot!!
Sierra Hills School Has the Best Parent-Teacher Club EVER!
Meet Ashley Daniels
SHS TK/K Combo Teacher
Meet Kendra Pisias
SHS Special Education Assistance
Welcome to our 2023.2024 SHS Site Council
First Meeting this Monday at 2:30
Thank-you to all voted for out 2023/2024 Sierra Hills School Site Council. And most importantly of all, thank-you to this great team of parents, teachers, and staff that are doing the tedious work of reviewing and rewriting this year's School Plan for Student Achievement.
Curious on what a School Site Council is? Click on the link below and read the California Department of Education's explanation of the SSC and its duties.
Woodsy Owls are Patriotic!
Mrs. Van Sloten, Henry Van Sloten, Olivia Walker and Christian Goodman performing our SHS dignified weekly flag lowering
In an effort to demonstrate and teach the SHS community about proper flag etiquette, the local boy scout troop has some scouts helping raise and lower the flag. On Monday mornings the flag will be raised with dignity and respect. On Fridays the same loyal scouts from Troop 6 will lower the flag in the same manner. I want to thank Scout Leaders Jessie Cuccia and Christian Goodman for there assistance and instruction with this. Also much gratitude to Mrs. Van Sloten who lent a hand in helping the process. Scouts Amaray Cuccia, Olivia Walker and Henry Van Sloten are leading the charge with our new patriotic practice. Above is the Friday lowering of the flag with Mrs. Van Sloten, Henry Van Sloten, Olivia Walker, and Christian Goodman.
We hope to extend this to more days a week as we add to our SHS Flag Crew.
Have a great week.
Principal Pattiey