December Newsletter
Principal Dangleis
Bridging Staff and Families
This month, I'd like to let you hear from the many staff members who contribute so much to your children's school experiences. Below you will find messages that are meant to offer tips and strategies, informational tid-bits, and suggestions for bridging school and home life.
From the Stony Hill PTO:
Just a reminder to return the cookie walk forms if you plan on bringing in cookies or are willing to help with the annual Cookie Walk. The form is due on the 12th. The next PTO meeting is scheduled for January 9th. All staff members expressed how much students enjoyed the Prismatic Laser Show, with a focus on anti-bullying, that was brought to Stony Hill by the PTO.
From Music Teacher, Ellen Harris:
On Monday, December 17th, the Stony Hill School will gather as a community in the cafeteria to participate in our annual Holiday Sing A-Long. This is a wonderful, festive time for everyone to sing some favorite holiday songs such as Frosty the Snowman, Let It Snow, I Have A Little Dreidel, Winter Wonderland and Rudolph to name a few. We all look forward to the festivities!
From Nurse Fryer:
All the elementary schools use the Child Care Weather Watch, http://www.c-uphd.org/documents/wellness/weatherwatch.pdf, guidelines to decide indoor and outdoor recess. Children stay in when in the red zone. Please send children in with hats, gloves and winter coats.
From Physical Education Teacher, Lori Mooney:
Along with several Evacuation Drills done this fall, last month we had our first Reverse Evacuation Drill. A Reverse Evacuation Drill is done to practice coming into the building quickly due to an outdoor threat. The drill was done during a second grade recess and I am happy to report our recess monitors and students did a great job! This month, our next drill will be a Lockdown.
From Reading Specialist, Tracey Sugermeyer:
Winter break is right around the corner and the holiday can get pretty hectic. Working with your child to maintain good reading habits over their school break will give them the best possible start for when they return to school.
Here are a few suggestions;
- Make reading fun! Read some holiday books together, as well as holiday cards when they are received in the mail. Have your child read ingredients from holiday recipes while you bake together.
- Stock up on books at our local library, allowing your child to choose books that they have an interest in.
- Make the most of travel time. Read street signs, billboards and even practice sight words that you keep in the car.
- Have a “screen free night” where everyone in the family picks up something to read.
Remember, by simply interacting with children around books, you can show them that books are important and worthy of our attention.
Have a wonderful holiday season!
From Librarian, Janet Dawson:
Thank you, everyone who purchased a book for our Library Gift Giving program. This allows us to add many new books to the library. Also, if you are looking for book ideas for holiday gifts, you are welcome to talk to me or look at my blog, www.kidsbookaday.com.
From School Psychologist, Melanie Furman and School Adjustment Counselor, Amy Crisafulli:
Here's an article that provides us all with a few refreshers that help us support and guide our children as they go through these formative years.
From Science, Technology and Engineering Teacher, Christine Goonan:
Here are a few experiments you can do with your child over the winter break. (See PDF attachments below this section.)
Sock Drive
In the spirit of building bridges between the school and the community, we are holding a Sock Drive to benefit local shelters. This is a great way to build on the idea of empathy and do a good deed for others during this holiday season. Although our children will learn so much from this experience, it is those whose feet will be warm and cozy this winter who are the real winners. During the month of January, kindly send in new socks in men's, women's, and children's sizes. This is the number one most requested item at shelters across the nation. The Sock Drive will begin on January 2nd and end on January 31st. During the month, we will hold an assembly to talk about the drive and will schedule a Crazy Sock Day to celebrate families' acts of kindness.
CARES Assemblies
This Friday, we will hold our CARES assembly on the trait of Self Control. In class, teachers read the story, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, to generate a discussion of self control. During this assembly, Junior, our mascot, will make his first appearance. He will let students know that Junior CARES about them and encourages them to use expected behaviors. We will teach the Junior handshake and Junior will be a presence in the school letting children know he is noticing their efforts. Now that each trait has been introduced, we will continue to have monthly assemblies to highlight the traits and celebrate children's efforts toward showing they are a ''Stony Hill Kid Who CARES'. Anything you can do to reinforce these traits at home would be a big help.
Happy Holidays
As the holidays and new year approach, I am always moved to reflect on what has transpired during the previous year. Like many of you, I have had both incredible joy and loss brought into my life in 2018. I'm grateful for all of it, because each experience teaches a lesson - to be humble, to appreciate, to share love and kindness, and to ask questions. Please know that I bring this gratitude and curiosity to school each day and approach your children with genuine interest and concern for their happiness and success. I know I speak for all of Stony Hill staff when I say that we consider each day with your children a gift and we wish you a holiday season filled with laughter, love, and the making of memories that will last a lifetime
Stony Hill Spirit Days!
12/14 is Ugly Sweater Day - everyone is invited to wear their ugliest holiday sweater to school. Don't feel the need to buy one at a store, the best ones are sometimes homemade with pieces of tinsel and a few carefully placed bows.
12/21 is Pajama Day - all students are invited to wear their jammies to school. Grade 2 has this day planned as an annual tradition with a few extra special events, but staff and 3rd graders are invited to join in the fun by wearing pajamas.
Thanks for reading!
Email: mdangleis@hwrsd.org
Website: https://sh.hwrsd.org/
Location: 675 Stony Hill Road Wilbraham, MA
Phone: 413-599-1950