JACKSON JOURNAL
NOVEMBER 2021
Principal's Corner
November is a great time of year at Anna Ware Jackson school! It's the time of year when we really start hitting our stride with curriculum and instruction. Routines are established, classrooms are working like well-oiled machines (for the most part!), beginning of the year assessments are complete, data is analyzed, curriculum demands are increasing, and interventions for striving readers are about to get underway.
Mrs. Hegarty, our reading teacher, will be reaching out this week to parents who's child qualified for additional support in reading. Please understand that with the major reduction in our budget two years ago in conjunction with learning loss from the pandemic years, we do not have enough intervention staff to provide additional support to all of our striving readers. We had to prioritize reading support with our reading teacher for students who demonstrate the greatest need, but please understand all students are getting high quality differentiated instruction in reading from their classroom teacher.
In Social-Emotional Learning news, all K-2 classes are in the midst of Unit 2 of our Second Step program. The Unit 2 theme is "Emotion Management." Students are learning all about feelings: how to identify them in ourselves and in others and how to manage strong feelings when we have them.
I have some exciting personal news to share this month. I am pregnant! My husband, Ben, and I are anticipating the arrival of our first child, a baby girl, in early March. Arrangements will be made to cover my maternity leave and I will share more information about that as the date draws nearer. We are thrilled to be building our little family and I am so excited to become a mom!
Be sure to check the dates section below for two upcoming "Spirit Days" (Nov 10 and Nov 24). I hope you all have a wonderful November and a Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrate!
Mrs. Robbins
Parent Teacher Conference
As a reminder November 10 is a half day for students so teachers can hold afternoon conferences. All preschool will dismiss at 11:20. K-2 will dismiss at 12:00.
We hope you enjoy having the opportunity to touch base with your child's teacher to get an update on how they are doing this year in school!
From Tracy Slater, Our New School Adjustment Counselor
It is hard to believe that I am only heading into my third month as the Adjustment Counselor at the Jackson School - the staff and students have made me feel so welcome that I feel like I’ve been here for much longer. Your children make me smile each and every day and I am so grateful to share them with you. In September and October, the focus of SEL lessons has been on having a “Growth Mindset”. Students have learned how turning unhelpful thoughts into helpful thoughts can change their feelings about a situation, that mistakes are OK and that practice makes us better (ask your second graders what “neuroplasticity” means!). It’s been so wonderful to watch them integrate these ideas into their day-to-day lives at school and I hope you’re hearing some great growth mindset language at home as well. We had a great time turning mistakes into art after reading “Beautiful Oops” and the children astounded me with their creativity. A picture of our Beautiful Oops bulletin board is below.
Focus on Bullying Prevention:
In Second grade we’ve begun talking about a big word: “self-advocacy” - particularly surrounding how they can advocate for themselves and get help from a grown-up in the face of bullying. The “Stop, Walk and Talk” strategy was introduced and kids were taught that when someone does something they don’t like the first step is to clearly and confidently tell the other person to “stop” what they are doing. If that doesn’t work, kids were taught to remove themselves from the situation by walking away. If the behavior still continues, kids were taught to talk to an adult about what is happening. Ask your kids about how to use “Stop, Walk & Talk” to stand up for themselves, and consider doing some role plays with them. Confrontation is hard for people of any age so when parents can help kids practice how to appropriately and confidently stand up for themselves it can feel a lot less scary.
Mandatory Health Screenings
According to Massachusetts general laws, all students are required to have vision, hearing, BMI, and postural screenings at certain grade levels in school.
The Vision/Hearing/BMI screenings will begin in our schools on November 8th.
The required screenings by grade for the Plainville Public Schools are as follows:
Vision Screening: Grade 1 through grade 5
Hearing Screening: Kindergarten through grade 3
Body Mass Index (BMI): Grades 1 and 4
Postural Screening: Grades 5 and 6 (to be done in the Spring)
Students who do not pass the vision and/or hearing screenings will be rechecked again at a later date. A referral letter will be sent home for students who do not pass the vision or hearing screenings at school.
Please contact your child's health care provider promptly for an evaluation if you are notified that your child has not passed the vision/hearing screening. Early detection and correction may prevent problems in school performance and further vision/hearing problems. Optimal vision and hearing is essential in order for your child to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to maximize his/her educational experience and success.
Parents and Guardians may opt out of any screening. Please notify your child's school nurse in writing by November 5th if you do not want them to participate in the screenings.
SCHOOL PICTURES
FOOD BANK FUNDRAISER
IMPORTANT DATES
11/9 Parent Teacher Conference - Evening
11/9 School Committee Meeting - 6:00 pm
11/10 Parent Teacher Conference - Afternoon
11/10 NOON DISMISSAL - 12:00
11/10 We Salute You Day - Wear Red, White & Blue for Veteran's Day
11/11 Veteran's Day - NO SCHOOL
11/15 Special Town Meeting @ Wood School
11/17 SEPAC Meeting 7:00 pm
11/18 Picture Retake
11/23 School Committee Meeting - 6:00 pm
11/24 NOON DISMISSAL - 12:00
11/24 On the Mayflower - Wear black & white
11/25 No School - Thanksgiving Day
11/26 No School - Thanksgiving Day
ABOUT US
Suzanne Roberts - Administrative Assistant
Jaclyn Callahan - Receptionist/Security Assistant
Email: crobbins@plainville.k12.ma.us
Website: plainville.k12.ma.us
Location: 68 Messenger Street, Plainville, MA, USA
Phone: 508-699-1304