Flynn Flyer
December 17, 2021
Important Dates
12/22-Dark of December Firefly Celebration
12/23- Winter Break Begins
1/3- Back to School
1/6- PTO Meeting 6:30 ( A new link will be available in the next Flynn Flyer)
1/17-Martin Luther King Day- Early Release 11:30/ No Burlington Kids/Sarah Holbrook
From The Principal
Greetings Flynn Families
We've already seen some very cold days over the past couple of weeks and we are glad to see so many children arriving at school with clothing that will keep them warm. The Flynn expectations are that children will wear their winter clothing for recess. All go outside for recess and lack of boots or snow pants means they must remain on the plowed pavement.
Wearing their winter clothing may seem obvious, but there are always those who seem to think that their bodies are exempt from the impact of cold temperatures. They will attempt to go outside wearing only a sweatshirt or t-shirt despite very cold temperatures. We will send them back to get their coats and instruct them to put their coats on, but they may remove them during recess. The strange phenomena of refusing to wear winter gear seems to increase with a child's age, and seems to be more common among boys. Unbeknownst to me, my son did this in 6th grade to such an extreme that his body eventually fought back, giving him hives wherever his skin was exposed to cold (with the exception of his face). The hives were itchy and uncomfortable and lasted for hours, so - lesson learned. It took several years for that condition to go away. Feel free to share that story with your children if they are refusing to wear winter gear.
Having frostbite scars on my feet (from teaching skiing) and my face from my time living in the Arctic, I take dressing for the cold seriously. The District policy is to go outside up to a "feels like" temperature of 0 which includes wind chill. Vermont's winters can be wonderful if one is dressed for them. We hope that having the students get fresh air and light in the cold months teaches them a lifelong for that winter fun outdoors.
When Superintendent Flanagan asked me to take on the role of Acting Principal, I explained that I had planned a trip to see family in Florida and North Carolina after the New Year and would still be taking that trip. I have shortened my visit somewhat and will be back on Jan. 10. We are fortunate to have Ms. Julie Benay substituting for me. Ms. Benay is very familiar with Flynn students, faculty and staff as she has been substituting here for three years. A brief bio of her is below.
I hope that all have a wonderful break. I wish you all the best and very happy Holidays and New Year!
Shelley Mathias
Meet Julie Benay
From the Nurse's Office
As we all prepare for the end of the year, and the students receive a well deserved break from their academic obligations, let's discuss the impact excessive screen time has on their wellbeing.
Over the last several decades there have been incredible advances in technology that allow students to learn from their smart devices anywhere, and anytime. Since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic technology has proven itself to be indispensable, allowing us to connect with family and friends, attend work, and attend school all while remaining socially distanced. Despite all of the great ways that technology enables communication, there is no denying that many households have seen screen time usage exceed previously established parameters. One research study looked at data collected before the start of the pandemic and found that children in the United States ages 10-14 spent an average of 3.8 hours each day on a screen device. The study found that during the pandemic that value skyrocketed to 7.7 hours a day, which excluded time spent on a screen for school purposes.
The excessive screen time that students sometimes can’t avoid has a physical impact on their wellbeing. Blurry vision, headaches, difficulty concentrating, dry eyes, and fatigue are some of the ways that prolonged screen usage can manifest physically. These symptoms can be distressing to children and so it is important that we institute healthy practices when it comes to screen time usage. The American Optometric Association recommends the 20:20:20 Rule to help relieve dry eye, blurred vision and other symptoms. This requires you to look away from your screen every 20 minutes, and look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Others suggest the 1/2/10 Rule to help alleviate symptoms by positioning your mobile device one foot from your face, laptop or computer two feet from your face, and television 10 feet away. And, it is also important to ensure that screens are put away one hour before bed because the blue light emitted from the screen can keep children up at night. Not only that, but a recent study found that it’s estimated that children today are getting an average of one hour less sleep than children got a century ago, which seems to be linked to advances in technology. The study also found that children who used screen devices more frequently experienced worse sleep.
So, as students begin to spend more time inside as the cold weather seeps in, remember to encourage a healthy relationship with technology that includes frequent breaks and proper distancing of screens to the face.
For Additional Information:
Pandemic Screen Time Use in Children
Screen Time and Physical Manifestations
My name is Emma, and I am a Nursing Student at the University of Vermont. Over the last several weeks I’ve had the opportunity to work closely at JJ Flynn Elementary with the school's nurse, Mary. Thank you to the school community for being so welcoming, and for fostering an environment conducive to the student’s learning in a time of great uncertainty.
LOST AND FOUND to be PACKED UP! Encourage your child to check it out before break!!
Does your child need Outerwear!
Items Needed for Firefly Celebration! Can you Help?
We need your help! As part of a special event happening next week at Flynn the students will need some special items. We are looking for bean bag chairs or large floor pillows, low-to-the-ground beach chairs, and strands of string lights (often called "christmas lights"). These items will only be used in school and will not leave the building. We are asking if you can help. If you have any of these items that students can borrow please bring them in and leave them in the box located near the main office. Please label it with your name and your child's classroom teacher. Items will be returned the week of 1/3 following the winter vacation. Unfortunately we do not have the storage space to take donations of these items. Thanks for your help making this event possible!
Flynn Elementary PTO