Sheffield Spotlight
January 26, 2024
SNOW much fun this week!
We have had a blast at recess this week! However with warm temperatures came wet snow and puddles. Unfortunately we do not have enough clothes in the nurse's office. Please remind your learner that snowpants and boots are not always waterproof. You may also opt to send another set of clothes and socks in their backpacks. Thank you!
Grade 4 STEM with Ms. Neeley
Ms. Calkin's class worked with Snap Circuits to continue their learning about circuits in STEM with Explorer Neeley.
Grade 2 and Grade 4 Buddies
Student mentors in Explorer Calkins class read to the learners in Explorer Pelis class.
Free Dental Care! Contact Nurse Billie for the Registration Forms
From the Office of Nurse Billie - SLEEP HYGIENE
Adequate sleep contributes to a student’s overall health and well-being. Students should get the proper amount of sleep at night to help stay focused, improve concentration, and improve academic performance.
According to the Center for Disease Control, children and adolescents who do not get enough sleep have a higher risk for many health problems, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, poor mental health, and injuries. They are also more likely to have attention and behavior problems, which can contribute to poor academic performance in school.
Sleep hygiene for school aged children
Sleep hygiene — a collection of habits and behaviors that promote good sleep — is vital for children. Many sleep struggles are caused or made worse by poor sleep hygiene. When practicing sleep hygiene, remember that consistency is key. Sleep strategies take time and repetition to be effective.
Create a Routine: Humans are creatures of habit. A consistent bedtime routine lets your child’s body and mind know that it’s time to settle down and prepare for sleep. The actual routine can be specific to your child, but it should last around 20 minutes and consist of three to four quiet, soothing activities such as putting on PJs, brushing teeth, a warm bath, and reading. Bedtime routines provide children with a sense of familiarity and comfort, which acts in direct opposition to the uncertainty of insomnia.
Set a Bedtime: A sleep schedule works with your child’s natural biological clock to promote dozing off with regularity. Bedtimes are most useful when they’re consistent, so try to keep the same bedtime on weekends as on school nights. Altering bedtimes during the weekend will make it more difficult for kids to maintain their normal weekday schedules.
Implement a Screen Curfew: The wide use of screens makes this rule hard to implement, but it’s well worth it. Mobile devices, TVs, and tablets emit a type of blue light that suppresses melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. Children may be particularly vulnerable
to the effects of light from screens. Screen time also stimulates the brain, making it harder to wind down for sleep. **Electronic devices should be kept out of the bedroom and ideally not used within one hour of bedtime.
Get Exercise: Physical activity is proven to help people of all ages fall asleep faster and stay asleep. Most children need at least one hour
of exercise per day. Just make sure to avoid vigorous activity within two hours of bedtime. Otherwise, your child may feel wound-up and find it harder to fall asleep.
Avoid Scary or Violent Content: Feeling scared or worried is a common reason kids can’t sleep. So it’s no wonder that scary or violent movies, TV, video games, and even books in the evening are linked to sleep disturbances in children. If your kiddo likes the gory or spooky stuff, save it for the daytime.
Nix Caffeine: This is a no brainer. Caffeine is a stimulant that can both make it harder to fall asleep and reduce the quality of sleep. In addition to the usual suspects like soda, coffee, and energy drinks, watch out for more discreet sources like tea, decaf coffee and chocolate. Don’t let your child consume caffeine within six hours of bedtime , or preferably, avoid it all together.
Friends of Sheffield (FOS)
Events and Fundraisers Survey
Friends of Sheffield needs your help planning the remainder of the school year. Please take a moment to take our quick 2 minute survey to let us know what events and/or fundraisers you'd be interested in participating in. The survey can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/365x2avc. Thank you in advance for your response!
Friends of Sheffield
Upcoming Programs at Montague Public Libraries
MPL would like to hear from you! Please take the following survey:
https://montaguepubliclibraries.org/n/20277/Story-Time-Survey
If you would like the survey printed and sent home, please contact the Sheffield Main Office.
Meeting for Youth with DMH Services - February 12 at 6 pm
Save the Date!
Wednesday, January 31 - All School Sing at 11:30 am
Wednesday, January 31 - Early Dismissal at Noon
Friday, February 16 at 2:20 pm - All School Meeting
Thursday, March 21 from 5:30 - 7:00 pm - GMRSD Math Night at Sheffield
MCAS Testing Dates
Tuesday, April 9 - ELA for grades 3-5
Wednesday, April 10 - ELA for grades 3-5
Tuesday, May 7 - Math for grades 3-5
Wednesday, May 8 - Math for grades 3-5
Tuesday, May 14 - STE for grade 5
Wednesday, May 15 - STE for grade 5