Edgewood's Tiger Talk
February 14th, 2020
1st Grade Writing
1st Grade Writing, Part. 2
Behind the Scenes...
We are committed to our journey of developing EACH child to be an inspired learner and a caring, contributing citizen.
From the Desk of Mrs. Boyd
“DOES YOUR FACE LIGHT UP?”: FIVE WORDS THAT CHANGED MY TEACHING AND PARENTING
Many years ago, I heard an Oprah interview with the novelist Toni Morrison, who passed away in August. Morrison described how, when her children came into the room, she thought she was showing care by fussing over their appearance, “to see if they had buckled their trousers or if their hair was combed or if their socks were up.”
But that was not what they were looking for, she said. Instead, she offered a different measure for care, “Does your face light up when your kid walks in a room?” Does your expression say, I’m so glad you are here?
Her words gave me an anchor point during the physically-intensive years of raising small kids. My children are a bit older now, but parenting remains beautifully messy work. We bump up against each other and fiddle with each other’s most vulnerable buttons. The emotions they hold in at school come roaring out at home. And sometimes the emotions I hold in at work do, too.
Morrison’s words offer grace. Something simple...that I can do every day.
Last year, when I was searching for the Toni Morrison video clip to share with a friend, I discovered that I had gotten her quote wrong – by one word. She does not say when “your” kid walks in a room. Rather she says, "When a kid walks in a room--your child or anybody else’s child--does your face light up? That’s what they’re looking for . . . let your face speak what’s in your heart. It’s just as small as that."
A kid. Anybody else’s child.
She wasn’t just talking about parenting. She was talking about our...obligation to see the dignity in every person -- a dignity that Mr. Rogers offered children every day when he signed off his show with, “You've made this day a special day, by just your being you. There's no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.”
Children and teens are great anthropologists. As school counselor Phyllis Fagell told me, “Your kids have a Ph.D. in you. They are watching everything you do.” My kids are watching my face in the grocery line. They are watching how I greet the woman in a hijab in front of us and the man in a wheelchair behind us. They are watching how I greet their friends on the playground and how I interact with a stranger who stops to ask for directions in halting English. They watch my comfort -- or discomfort -- in interacting with children with disabilities, visible and invisible. They are looking for clues. Does my face light up, still?
Harvard psychologist Dr. Susan David introduced me to the word “sawubona,” a Zulu greeting from her native South Africa. It means, “I see you.”
As she shared, “Every single one of us wants to be seen. For me, ‘I see you’ means creating a space in your heart and in your home or classroom where [a child] is seen. When children and adolescents are very upset, literally just the presence of a loving person helps to de-escalate and creates the space where calm is invited in...."
We tell students that smiling at someone can both boost your joy and spread joy. Give it a try this Valentine's Day.
Reading the Hallways..
Exploring Curiosities
Wondering and Researching
Art Updates
ART------ ART TO REMEMBER ONLINE ORDERING ONLY in MARCH.
Out beautiful art is being completed for our upcoming ART TO REMEMBER deadline.
Each student has created a piece which will be sent forth to the company. Soon in March, your child will bring home an order form. This is a fantastic opportunity to purchase some item with YOUR CHILD's art printed on it.
The prices are reasonable and a percentage goes to help fund the art department and Art Museum Field trips.
Keep an eye out for the order form coming in a month or so. Order Online!
This year we will not be accepting any money/check orders via school.
Thank you for supporting your child's creativity and our art program.
--Mrs. Nolan-Kaczkowski
PE Update
Thank you!
Edgewood Home and School Association (our version of PTO)
At our February EHSA meeting, 4th Grade teachers and students reported on their learning. In Reading and Social Studies, students are learning about historical events through a variety of sources- reading text, looking at pictures, and listening to music are just a few of the ways students can gather information. It is fascinating to see the amazing resources available for students to use as they research World War II, Slavery, the Great Depression and a variety of other events. Mrs. Schuett and Mrs. Stark really like “Kids Discover Online” which adapts text to meet the students reading level and has read aloud options. Then, the guest students showed us their marble roller coasters they built. In science they have been learning about how energy transfers and used their problem solving skills to get multiple marbles to the end of their course. Thank you for visiting 4th Grade!
Tom Fronha from the school board also presented at our meeting. He gave us a quick run down on our upcoming school board elections. There are 6 canidates, 3 seats available. The general election will be Tuesday, April 7th. Mark your calendars. (Note: In Greenfield there was a change to a polling station- see https://www.ci.greenfield.wi.us/675/Elections for details.) He also gave some insights into how school districts accommodate open enrollment students. As general info- Greenfield school district has approved 446 open enrollment spots for students in the 2020-2021 students. That is up from the 416 students that currently attend Greenfield Schools. As a parent, I love to see those numbers, not only because it is interesting but because that means we have many families that recognize Greenfield Schools as a great place to gain an education. (There is a long list of perks to the Wisconsin Open Enrollment program. For more information on open enrollment, google it.)
Lastly, we are on our way towards our fundraising goal. $5000 to go!
- · Thank you for those that attended movie night.
- · Join us at Sky Zone “Leap into the New Year” on Friday, February 28th 4-8 PM. If 100 people attend, 35% of sales will come back to EHSA and go directly towards our school sign! Look for Sparkles the Unicorn, Whiskers the tiger and other Edgewood staff that will be there throughout the night.
- · Mark your calendars for the St. Patrick’s Day Dance- Friday, March 13th 6-8 PM
A 5th Grade Book
A Message from Kindness Club
Another 5th Grade Book
Raise $ for Our Students by Doing What You'd Normally Do
Many of you shop on Amazon. Did you know that you can earn money for Edgewood's Home and School Association while doing it? You can give more $ to your child's school by doing what you'd do anyway!
1) Go to smile.amazon.com
2) Search for your charity: Edgewood Home and School Association, Inc."
3) This only works from the desktop site, not from the app.
Upcoming Dates
2/28: Edgewood Night at Skyzone, 4-8pm.
3/12: K5-2nd Concert at the PAC at GHS , 6:30 pm (Students arrive @ 6:00)
3/12: 2nd Trimester Report Cards come home in Thursday Folders
3/13: EHSA St. Patty's Day Dance, 6-8pm
3/23-3/27: Spring Break
4/8: 4K Open House @ GMS, 4-6pm (Know any incoming 4K students? Encourage them to attend and register early!)
4/10: No School (Easter Weekend)
4/13: No School (Easter Weekend)
5/21: Special People's Day will be in the afternoon (schedule to come out in April)
5/22: No School for students--Professional Learning for Staff
5/23: No School--Memorial Day