Down below, you will find a full slate of activities for the year - this list may not be exhaustive, but it can be exhausting! We wanted you to have these dates, so you can plan and take off as needed. As events draw closer, we will send more details.

Next week is Texas Public School Week - we invite you to stop by Monday between 5:30 and 6:30 to visit your child's classroom and see the things they are doing. The book fair will be open in the music room for some family shopping!

One of my focus areas each year is centered around anti-bullying. This can be a difficult topic but it is so important. With upper grades, we discuss the importance of understanding the difference in being rude, mean, or bullying. We spend time understanding that by definition bullying is intentional, repetitive, & involves an imbalance of power. We talk about the appropriate steps of action are if we encounter rudeness, meanness, or bullying:

1. Tell them to stop (say it like you mean it)
2. Report it to the teacher (when/where it occurs)
3. Let that teacher know if it continues
4. Tell another trusted adult if the problem continues

My rule of thumb is: if someone at school isn't treating them with kindness to the point it is still on their mind throughout the day, the instance is big enough that an adult at school needs to know about it. This is reporting not tattling.

Watch this quick video to empower your student to move from being a bystander to being an upstander. Often times, it is in the courage of the upstander that issues get reported and resolution can be found. Check out the video below that gives 4 simple steps to take to help make today better than yesterday.

Reference article below by Signe Whitson entitled, Rude vs. Mean vs. Bullying: Defining The Differences