While each of these examples is not written specifically in any handbook or policy, they are rules and expectations that schools put into place in order to keep our school safe, respectful, and focused on learning.

Sadly, sometimes parents tell their students to ignore a rule or expectation. When that happens, your child may hear "ignore rule X" but what they start to do is decide that they also don't need to follow rules Y or Z either.

Please understand that we don't put rules or expectations into place thoughtlessly. We plan for, teach about, and then implement our rules and guidelines carefully. We do it so that our school remains a place that is safe, respectful, and focused on learning. And we need your support to do these things, even when you may not agree.

One of the things that makes a good school great is when kids have been taught and understand the rules and expectation and live up to them with the support of the staff and parents. Wredling is that place! And while kids may not always live up to our expectations or follow rules, we re-teach and give consequences so that they understand the importance of being part of a wider community that has set clear and positive expectations.

We appreciate your support in helping Wredling continue to be an outstanding school!

Enjoy your weekend!

Tim

Wredling is so excited to host Jennifer A. Nielsen on Monday, November 5th. Jennifer A. Nielsen is a New York Times best-selling author who wrote her first novel at age 11. All students will be able to attend her presentation and learn more about her life and career.

Prior to her presentation, she will be autographing copies of her books that were purchased through pre-order. Students who pre-ordered will be called down to the LRC.

In addition to academic content here at school, our Wredling students are also learning to be emotionally intelligent. This year, SEL learning will be embedded into all content areas to give students meaningful and real-world context. For this framework, Wredling is using RULER, an evidence-based approach developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. RULER stands for

• Recognizing emotions in self and others

• Understanding the causes and consequences of emotions

• Labeling emotions accurately

• Expressing emotions appropriately

• Regulating emotions effectively.

RULER hinges on four Anchor Tools. Students work with Charters to establish common goals in creating a positive learning climate. Students learn to identify and label emotions using a Mood Meter to develop self-awareness. Student are also instructed on taking Meta-Moments to reflect on how one’s “best self” would react in a situation. Blueprints help manage conflict effectively using empathy and perspective during interpersonal challenges.

We will be introducing just one Anchor Tool each quarter. Students worked explicitly on the Charter during 1st Quarter. At the start of the school year, students were asked to reflect on three questions and share their responses via a short survey.

• How do you want to feel here at school?

• What can we do to have these feelings each day in school?

• How can we prevent and manage conflict?

Once all students completed the survey, staff members on our SEL Team organized the responses to create a Student Charter that best captured all ideas. The Student Charter was then introduced to students on our Team Day (October 4th) in a lesson delivered by members of our Student Support Team. Students reflected on what the charter means and how it can be lived on a daily basis. Students then created “quilt pieces” (see included photo) to represent the Charter which are displayed throughout the school. This document is the way in which we do business! Students will be asked to refer to and reflect upon the Student Charter throughout the school year!

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City of St. Charles, IL News Release:

Don't let those Halloween Jack-O-Lanterns go to waste in a landfill. Pumpkins and squash are full of nutrients that can be composted and used as fertilizer for spring planting. If you don't have a compost bin, there are a few places you can bring your pumpkins to be composted:

• Pushing The Envelope Farm, 1700 Averill Road in Geneva - Bring your pumpkins Nov. 4 from 9 a.m. to noon, sponsored by Kane County and the Northern Illinois Food Bank.
• The Great Pumpkin Bowl - Nov. 4 at Pottawatomie Park from 1-3 p.m. $5/person, benefitting St. Charles Underground. First you can knock down bowling pins with your pumpkin, and then you can smash it! The Park District adds the pumpkin pieces to their compost pile.
• SCARCE Pumpkin Smash Events - For a list of more than 20 pumpkin smash events around Illinois, visit www.scarce.org/pumpkins.

Before you drop off your pumpkin, please remove any decorations, candles, stickers etc.