MHS/WES Newsletter
Thursday, March 12, 2020
News from Administration
Our children's safety and well-being is always our top priority. We share your concerns about the coronavirus. Our interim superintendent, Sandra Rehler, will continue to send updates each day as they become available. Our district is in constant contact with state and local health officials. As a result, the district has created an informational website. Please go to: https://www.awrsd.org/district/awrsd-covid-19-information/
for information regarding the district's continued response to the COVID-19 virus.
At MHS/WES, we are constantly reminding students of the importance of properly washing their hands as well as keeping their hands away from their face. Many classes showed the video below from Mystery Doug on spreading germs and the importance of proper hand-washing. Please feel free to share this video with your family. The visuals and reminders are good for adults as well.
Mystery Doug - Germs and hand-washing video
IMPORTANT DATES
April 20-24 ~ No School ~ April Vacation
May 25 ~ No School ~ Memorial Day
2nd Grade News
Second graders are enjoying learning about the various habitats of the world. We have “visited” mountains, jungles, oceans, ponds, rain forests, tundra and deserts to name a few! The kids have identified many of the plants and animals in each habitat, and recognized how they adapt to their surroundings. The children have enjoyed reading books, playing games and writing about their favorites!
In honor of Dr. Seuss, Read Across America Day is celebrated each year on March 2nd. Our little ones were adorable in their jammies clutching their stuffed creatures! We were so fortunate to have valued members of our community join us in our classrooms as guest readers this year! Special thanks go out to our School Resource Officers Nathan Hawkins (and, of course, Merle) and Andy Loescher from the Westminster Police Department, as well as Ryan Major, Zack Spencer, and Kyle Halliday of the Westminster Fire Department. The kids truly enjoyed listening to our local heroes reading and rhyming some of their beloved Dr. Seuss stories!
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
~ Theodor Seuss Geisel
What's happening in third grade?
Third graders have been given an exciting homework project! They have been asked to create a trap to catch a leprechaun! Their creations will be used as a springboard for an upcoming writing assignment. Students have been practicing informational writing by describing how to do or create something of interest to them. They have also practiced using transitional words in their writing such as first, next, then, and last, to name a few. When their leprechaun traps come to school, they will write all about how to catch a leprechaun!
From our school counselors
We would like to reprint an article originally published in 2016 by Kayla Marston, M. ED.
What is Self-Esteem?
Self-esteem is our belief about our self, how capable and loved we feel. It is our shield against life's challenges.
Of all the things we help our children learn and do, helping them to develop a healthy self-esteem is probably most important. This is because self-esteem affects all aspects of their lives - how they learn, how they interact with friends, how they treat others, how they problem solve, how they handle adversity, and how willing they are to try new things. Here are some tips to help your child develop healthy self-esteem.
Praise your child:
Notice when your child has done something well and tell them!
Easy on the criticism!
They should hear 5 positive things for every 1 negative thing you say.
Criticize the behavior
When your child misbehaves, talk about the behavior, such as, "What you did was hurtful, and I know you are a nice kid. How can you make this better?" Do not label your child "bad."
Validate Feelings
If your child gets a blow to their self-esteem, they need you to allow them to feel sad, hurt or mad. After, you can boost them up with positives.
Give your child chores
Children learn how to function in groups by learning how their own family cooperates. Set your child up to be a team player by giving age appropriate chores at home. Offer praise for their work!
Give the Gift of Time
Your children know how busy you are, so when you find 10 minutes to listen about their day or play a game, they will worthy and loved. The gift of time spent is worth much more than the gift of money spent.
Avoid harmful comparisons
Do not compare your child to others, especially siblings. Instead of saying, "Why can't you be more like so-and-so?" try, "Do you notice that so-and-so does this?" Let your child know that it's okay to be different, and that you don't expect perfection.
2020 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION & ORIENTATION
Registration for Kindergarten 2020-2021 for all Ashburnham and Westminster students who will be five years old by August 31, 2020 has begun.
If your child is age eligible and you did not receive a registration packet, please contact Meetinghouse School at 978-874-0163 ext. 0 or email Mrs. McCarthy at kmccarthy@awrsd.org so that we may add your child onto our list of incoming students.
Enrollment packets may also be downloaded from the J.R. Briggs Elementary School and Meetinghouse School websites.
Parents/guardians of children in Ashburnham or Westminster may call the Special Education office (978-827-3062) to make a separate appointment for any three or four-year-old they feel may have a disability.