Patriot Pages
December 2019/ January 2020 Edition
Happy Holidays from IDES
Leader in Me
Students are diving head first into personal WIGs (Wildly Important Goals)! All students should have a personal WIG they are working toward until Christmas break. Students are working closely with their teachers to track their progress, and modify/adjust their strategies. Ask your child what their personal goal is and help them track their progress at home!
Students will start working on academic WIGs after the winter break concludes.
Examples of personal goals:
I will say "please" and "thank you" without being asked by December 20th.
I will be able to jog for 10 minutes by December 20th.
I will be able to keep my room clean without being asked by December 20th.
November in Review...
Focus Five's #1 Priority- Safety and Security
Safety continues to be our #1 priority here at IDES! In November, all students participated in a tornado and fire drill. All studentS performed brilliantly during the drills. During the month of December, we will conduct our monthly mandated fire drill. We are so appreciative of Officer Roberts and the expertise he brings to these types of safety drills. If you have any safety suggestions for the exterior of the building (ie. Signs, cones, etc) please email Mr. Hamm at Rhamm@rhmail.org.
SAFETY REMINDER: Please drive slowly in the car loop and keep all cell phones stored safely away while your car is in motion. During morning and afternoon car rider dismissal, please make sure to be close enough to the curb as our safety patrol members are not allowed to step into the road. As the leading elementary safe school in the district, we are always looking for ways to strengthen our procedures to ensure that all Patriots are safe and secure while here at school.
Oh What Fun it is to ... READ!
Winter Break Reading Challenge
Beginning December 20, 2019 (the first day of our Winter Break), all of our students are invited to participate in our Holiday Reading Challenge. The challenge will conclude on Tuesday January 7, 2020 (the last day of our break). Here’s how it works:
• Students will keep track of their reading minutes on a reading log. We will provide one page for you but if you need more space, feel free to continue on another piece of paper. You can also download and print the reading log (see link below).
• Students will turn in their completed reading logs to the Media Center no later than Wednesday, January 8, 2020.
• We’ll be creating a digital scrapbook of our challenge. Email your pictures to rhamm@rhmail.org. Check our Facebook page and website (https://www.facebook.com/IDESPatriots/) to see what other students are reading!
Prizes:
• The class in each grade level that records the most reading minutes will receive a hot chocolate and cookie party.
(Idea adapted from Kenwood Elementary School)
Character Counts
WHY IS HELPING OUR KIDS FEEL FOR OTHERS IMPORTANT?
A person who has the ability to empathize with others will be able to effectively communicate with them. Empathy allows us to predict what others may be thinking and feeling and then to react to those feelings appropriately. A person with empathy is a better leader, employee and friend.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE:
- Actively listens while others are speaking
- Focuses on surroundings (notices the body language, facial expressions, and tone of voice of the people around them)
- Refrains from judgement (instead, finds ways to connect to the persona and looks deeper for ways to understand them)
Ways to help your child
TALK ABOUT THEIR FEELINGS…..
Helping your child understand his feelings will better enable him to recognize those feelings in others. Naming your child’s feelings can be a helpful strategy. You can say something like, “I know you’re probably feeling disappointed that we couldn’t go to the movies today. I am sad too.” Naming your own feelings for your child is important as well. Then, model the appropriate way to respond to those feelings.
…..AND OTHER PEOPLE’S FEELINGS, TOO
Whenever possible, name other people’s feelings for your child. Discuss situations in TV shows or movies where a character needs empathy from the other characters. Talk about how that character must feel, and how you know they are feeling a certain way. (ex: I see she’s feeling sad because she has tears in her eyes and she is looking down at the floor.)
CARE FOR OTHERS
Model empathy for your child by going out of your way to care for others. Reach out to others when they are having a difficult time. Consider volunteering with your child. Lastly, help your child see the importance of caring for others by asking, “How were you kind to someone today?”
HELP THEM LEAVE THEIR COMFORT ZONE
Most children are able to care about their immediate family and close friends, but it’s important that we help them extend those caring feelings beyond the people closest to them. Encourage your child to look for children who are vulnerable or alone on the playground. Discuss how they may be feeling and what your child could do to help.
News from our PTA
Holiday Shop
Attractions Coupon Books
Attractions orders/books are due this Friday, 12/6. Please send in the envelope with all orders and the sample book by 12/6 and your child can wear PJ's on Monday. If you opted not to participate in the fundraiser, please return the sample coupon book.
Volunteers Needed
Join us for our meeting on 12/10 at 5:30. We need some volunteers- can you help? https://forms.gle/eaHuUCKC6SrAUSkM6
Upcoming Events
10- SIC at 9 am and PTA at 5:30 pm
11- Ned Show 1-1:45
12- School Spelling Bee
13- First Grade Field Trip 9:45 am to the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte
17- PBIS Celebration at W.U. - Bag Lunches
19- Holiday dinner for 1,3,5- Bag lunches k,2,4
20- Winter Holiday Concert 9 am featuring 2nd and 3rd graders/Half Day for Students
Last Day of first semester
23 Winter Holidays Begin
January
6- Teacher PD Day
7-Teacher Workday
8- Students Return
10- College Day
14- PTA and SIC
17- Tribe Day
20- Dr. Martin Luther King’s Holiday
24- Terrific Kids and Beta Club Induction at 1 pm Ceremony
Dress to Impress Day
Social Media
Independence Elementary School
Website: https://www.rock-hill.k12.sc.us/Domain/13
Location: 132 West Springdale Road, Rock Hill, SC, USA
Phone: 803-981-1135
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IDESPatriots/