Glacier Ridge Gazette
August 18, 2023
September 22, 2023
PRINCIPAL MESSAGE
Tone
As a parent, have your children ever said to you, “Dad/Mom yelled at me” when you didn’t actually yell? That happened to me all the time. I would frequently then follow that up with the same phrase MY father would say, ‘I’m not yelling. If you want to see yelling, I’ll show you yelling!’ Now, my father is an amazing father, so I don’t want to paint a poor picture of him. However, isn’t it funny how that pattern from generation to generation continues even though it doesn’t seem to work for changing behavior or we don’t even know why we are saying it? That exchange left both me and my children frustrated and with a strained relationship. My actual message of whatever I was trying to communicate was muted and the only thing they internalized was that I was yelling - and I wasn’t even actually yelling. Why did this happen?
I love to learn and grow as a person and professional, so I dug into the social dynamics and child development research to see what was happening in this exchange and what I could do about it to make our exchange more productive and hopefully positive. So, what was it?
Tone! My tone was the problem. The tone of my speech was something that I had not even considered. My volume was always obvious. However, I had no idea that the tone I used with my children has a condescending sharpness to it. My children could sense that I was annoyed. I was sarcastic and judgmental with my tone and it was obvious. It came across as disgust in them as a person rather than concern and disappointment about their behavior. As a result, my children interpreted that as anger rather than concern. That is why they thought I was yelling at them. It’s more common for people to yell when they are angry rather than when they are concerned.
Look at the phrases below (similar to what I used to use). You can almost hear the tone just by reading them:
Why would you do that?
What is wrong with you?
Versus:
Tell me about how you decided to do that?
What did you need/want? Why?
How do you think that affected others?
As you can see in these questions, behaviors are a way of communication - granted, not always in the best manner. Therefore, using a curious tone and volume that truly seeks to understand will help determine the cause of the behavior.
In the article How Tone of Voice Shapes Classroom Culture, it talks about the use of tone in the classroom, although it is applicable to parenting as well. The article states:
“Emotions are contagious, researchers explain in a 2021 study. When teachers convey warmth and express interest in a topic, students are more likely to stay engaged—and stay out of trouble. Conversely, teachers who overreact to student disruptions or are emotionally distant can unwittingly create a combative or unfriendly atmosphere. Exhibiting passion for the topic works wonders: Teachers who enjoy being in the classroom “sustained their positive attitudes when students struggled and reported spending more time teaching,” the researchers report.”
How we talk in the workplace, public or with friends impacts those relationships. It’s ironic that I was less likely to use a frustrated tone in my other relationships, but I would use it with those in my family that I cared most about. Therefore, I have become much more cognizant of how I say things, in addition to what I am saying.
Have a great weekend,
Pete Kurty, Ed. D
Principal
GLACIER RIDGE INFORMATION
Tiger Trot
Tiger Trot a HUGE Success
Last Friday, our students participated in the Tiger Trot, one of our biggest events of the year!
Students spent part of their day participating in team building activities in which we focused not only on tiger conservation, but also themes like community building, kindness and empathy. At the end of the activities they enjoyed popsicles outside on this beautiful sunny day!
The culminating event in October will be a visit from the Columbus Zoo. The zoo will bring a variety of animals for students to see in person. Thanks to PTO event chairs Melissa Bogner, Jackie Ebner, and Ashley Homan for coordinating this event, and to all the parent volunteers who manned the stations.
In addition to the fun and team building, the Tiger Trot is the PTO’s biggest fundraiser. The school-wide goal this year was $18,000. The result of your combined contributions is a total of $19,881
Well done! We collaborated to make a huge difference together!
Fall Festival: Leed’s Farm, September 29
Join us Friday, September 29th from 6-8:00pm for the GRE Fall Festival at Leed's Farm! From zip lines and slides to pedal carts and hay rides, Leeds Farm has a lot of exciting activities perfect for fall fun!
Pre-Registration and Pre-Payment = $15 per individual (closes Sept 22)
Children 2 and under are free
Payment at the Leed’s Farm = $18 per individual
Refreshments and food will be available onsite for purchase from:
Chick-fil-A
Columbus Coffee Truck
Click here for more details and remember to Pre-Register your family by Sept 22nd to save on ticket prices! We look forward to seeing you there!
Student Flu Shot Clinics
Again this school year, Dublin City Schools is providing students who are at least 7 years old with the opportunity to receive flu shots at their school. Glacier Ridge Elementary School’s Flu Clinic for students will be on 10/10/23, from 12:00 PM-2:00 PM.
If you want your child to receive a flu vaccine on 10/10/23, please complete the consent form found here. Please fill out questions two through 10 on the form as well as the insurance information on the reverse side. We ask that you return this completed consent form to your school clinic by October 09, 2023.
*Please note, your child must be at least 7 years old to partake of the flu vaccine through Dublin City Schools.
Please l
Learn the Facts at a Community Conversation: Levy Information
Did you miss the community conversation about the levy at GRE this week? That's okay. You can attend one at another location around the district. You can also learn the facts about the levy HERE. Hopefully you can get all the information you need to make an informed decision for your family.
Tiger Trunk
Tiger Trunk is our weekly school store at GRE that is organized by the PTO. Students in grades 1 through 5 have the opportunity to purchase school items and trinkets during their lunch/recess period. The store is typically weekly on Fridays. Items are typically $.50 - $2.00. Students do not need to bring large amounts of money to spend. It is up to the families to monitor the items and amount that students spend.
You can also purchase Tiger Bucks for your child’s class as a birthday gift. Since students can’t bring in food items to celebrate their birthday with the class, families can purchase gift certificates that each student in the class can spend. You can purchase those in the school office.
SIGN UP & VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Tiger Student Announcements
Would you like to start your day saying “Hello!” to everyone at Glacier Ridge in the morning? Are you in 2nd thru 5th grade? Then sign up to read the morning announcements! If you would like to find out more about this opportunity and sign up to be a Tiger Student Announcer then go to this link via SignUp Genius: GRES Tiger Student Announcements
Glacier Ridge Student Greeter Team
Parent/Guardian Volunteer Background Check
SECURE VOLUNTEER BADGE - Dublin City Schools takes the safety of our students and staff seriously and requires a background check for all volunteers interacting with students. In order to attend field trips or volunteer in the classroom, you much go through the background check process. The process is free and easy and takes only a few minutes to complete. This is required for any parents or caregivers wishing to volunteer with students.
GRE EVENTS
Upcoming GRE Events
Sept 29: PTO Fall Festival @ 6:00 - 8:00pm at Leed's Farm
Oct 2: Yearbook cover art contest begins
Oct 16: Yearbook cover art contest ends
Oct 18: Family conferences - night 1
Oct 20: No school
Oct 23: No school
Oct 25: 5th grade class picture day
Oct 26: Family conferences - night 2
DISTRICT UPDATES
Mathematics and World Language Parent Survey
Dublin City Schools is committed to providing the best education possible to ensure all students are prepared for success. This year, we are inviting parents and guardians to provide feedback in the areas of Mathematics and World Language programming in Dublin City Schools via the survey below. Please complete the survey no later than Monday, October 2.
From the City
Shred and Destroy: Document Destruction Day
Bring your old docs to the City Fleet Complex, 6351 Shier Rings Road, from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 14. There will be one on-site shredding truck and one off-site shredding truck. The material in the off-site shredding truck will be securely transported to an off-site shredding facility. Be sure to read the full list of accepted items.
Help Build the Sustainable Side of Our Community Plan
As part of Envision Dublin, we invite your family to contribute to our Dublin Sustainability Plan at an evening input session on Thursday, Sept. 28, at the Dublin Community Recreation Center, Talla room 3! During this time, you will get to see the City's current sustainability conditions process and provide ideas about the goals and themes of the new sustainability plan. Mark your calendar.
GRE CONTACT INFORMATION
Attendance
If your child will be absent from school, please email our attendance line at gres_attendance@dublinschools.net.
Glacier Ridge Elementary
Email: glacierridge_info@dublinschools.net
Website: https://www.dublinschools.net/Domain/18
Location: 7175 Glacier Ridge Boulevard, Dublin, OH, USA
Phone: 614.733.0012
Twitter: @greDCSD