Washington Post
Family Newsletter for Washington Elementary
A Word from Mrs. Wolf
Happy Belated Valentine's Day GWES families! Boy, the ingenuity we saw with Valentine boxes was amazing! What creativity and effort! As I know you can imagine, the world is full of those who love Valentine's Day and those who despise it! However, in an elementary school, it is a fun day to learn expressions of friendship. Often, school, as a mini version of society, invites perspectives from all walks of life. That is part of the beauty of a public school experience. We work very hard through several modalities to teach students about unconditional acceptance of others-and of course, kindness.
We also teach children about the reality of conflict. Conflict is a struggle between two or more people who perceive they have incompatible goals or desires. Conflict occurs naturally as we interact with one another. It is a normal part of life that we will not always agree with other people about the things we want, what we think, or what we want to do. Most conflicts arise in the moment because people of the same relative amount of power see the same situation from two different points of view. There may even be times when the conflict results in mean or rude interactions. Mrs. Trent, Mrs. Swearingen and I spend a portion of each day working with students when conflict occurs. We often talk to both parties either together or separately to help them understand what happened and how it impacted them, others and their classroom community. We help them reflect on what they could do differently and how to reconcile. Here are a few strategies that we teach students about conflict:
- Use an "I message"-I feel_____, when you _____ and I wish you would _____
- Use the strategy "talk, walk, tell"- Try to talk it over, if that doesn't work walk away, and lastly tell an adult so they can help you.
- Refer to the wheel of choice for a list of solutions (shared last month or so)
- Consider the other person's point of view and commit to compromise
- Restorative conferences with the child who has harmed (this may include family)
- Referral for counseling internally or externally
- Written plans that include reducing proximity and opportunity
- Referral to social services
- School consequences
- Identifying the root cause and writing specific intervention plans to teach replacement behaviors
The school counseling classes spend a portion of time teaching specific "look fors" and includes tattling vs. reporting, kids size problems vs adult size problems, and blaming vs. non-blaming language. In addition, classroom morning meetings provide time for community building, trust between adults and students and student to student, a problem solving approach to conflict, and time to role play dilemmas.
It is our sincere hope that through this explicit programming and support along side academics, we can actually create the future we hope for in our world. One where kindness prevails, mistakes are opportunities to learn, mutual respect is essential, and society seeks solutions rather than blame. Your children are worth it!
Just a reminder about this new state law:
Handheld Devices in School Zones
55-8-207. Prohibited use of hand-held mobile telephone in marked school zone -- Prohibited use of mobile telephone with hands-free device by person under 18. [Effective on January 1, 2018.]
- (a) As used in this section:
- (1) "Hands-free device" means a device that is designed to allow two-way communication via mobile telephone without the necessity of holding the mobile telephone, such as a speakerphone or headset; and
- (2) "Mobile telephone" means a cellular, analog, wireless, or digital device that provides for voice communication or for both voice and data communication. "Mobile telephone" does not include a two-way radio or push-to-talk device.
- (b)
- (1) It is an offense for a person to knowingly operate a motor vehicle in any marked school zone in this state, when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation, and talk on a hand-held mobile telephone while the vehicle is in motion.
- (2) It is a delinquent act for a person under eighteen (18) years of age to knowingly operate a motor vehicle on any road or highway in this state and talk on a mobile telephone that is equipped with a hands-free device while the vehicle is in motion.
- (3) This section does not prohibit a person eighteen (18) years of age or older from operating a motor vehicle in any marked school zone in this state, when a warning flasher or flashers are in operation, and talking on a mobile telephone that is equipped with a hands-free device while the vehicle is in motion.
PTA in need of board members
Thanks for a great PTA family fun night
Coming soon:
February 19 we DO have school on President's Day
February 19 Insight KCS group tours GWES
February 21 LCD hosts a Uniqueness Fair for the school
February 22 PTA Santa Fe Restaurant Fundraiser 4-9
February 23 LCB Public display of their Polar Park Project-more info to come 2:00-3:00
February 28 Barter Players at GWES
February 28 Birthdays with the Principals
March 2 Gift of Reading and Read Across America Day
March 9 LCA Field trip to Eastman Employee Center