Bruneau Elementary Newsletter
December 20, 2018
Upcoming Events
December 20th End of 2nd Quarter
December 21st-January 6th Winter Break
January 7th School Resumes
January 8th School Board Meeting 1:00pm at Rimrock
January 18th Teacher Inservice
A Note from The Principal
Dear BGV Parents,
“No student fails who learns”
It’s hard to talk about grit without stumbling quickly into stories of failure. For many, the anxiety they feel when anticipating a failure can be paralysing. Someone once said that “anxiety is experiencing failure in advance”.
The other day, I was on a bike ride with my son and we encountered a steep, short hill near the end of our ride. As we approached, I gave him the typical encouragement to “attack the hill”. “Ride up to it, pedal hard, and don’t give up.” Pedaling closer, he looked at me at the start of the hill and said with certainty, “I can’t.” I encouraged him some more. “Yes you can. Be tough”. He pedaled with even less enthusiasm than before and rolled to a stop about a third of the way into the hill. Gritting my teeth, I shouted from the top, “go down and do it again. You didn’t even try.” He looked up at me from under his helmet. “I’m too tired. It’s too steep.” I realized now, looking back on this moment that he was letting the anticipation of riding up a steep hill stop him from even trying to get up it. He quit at the first moment it was hard. As a father, I was upset. I wanted him to be tough. To attack the hill. To be fearless. So, what did I do? I made him do it again. Three times, actually. I’m not sure that making him ride that hill an extra time was helping him to realize and enjoy the success of achieving something difficult. But, what he did do was try again. He turned back down the hill and built up some speed for another run. As he got to the hill, he stood up on the pedals, and rode straight towards me. As he did, I yelled encouragement to keep going, don’t give up, and you can do it! He made it.
Working with students at school is similar to the hill my son climbed. They can see the tasks we present them as unattainable. And, anticipating the struggle that may come with learning, they can give up before they start. Our hope at school is to change student’s experience with failure to show them that working hard, whether or not they succeed the first time will result in learning. Will Smith, the actor, has spoken out several times on learning and failure. Speaking from his experience, he shares that “practice is controlled failure”, and “failure is where all the lessons are.” Grit at school is exactly this, that students have within them the desire to try and fail over and over again in order to learn.
As always, our kids model their behaviors and thinking after us, their parents and teachers. Take some time this month to show students where you have tried and failed. Tell them how you are not giving up, but instead learning from your mistakes and trying again. Thanks for all you do for your students!
Sincerely,
Josh Noteboom
Inclement Weather
Children should dress appropriately for the weather each day. Children are expected to go outside except during extremely cold days (10 degrees or colder). Children need to have fresh air and exercise as a part of their school day. Please ensure that your child is appropriately dressed. All children will go outside for fresh air and a classroom break. If they are well enough to attend school, they will join all other classmates outside.
If school is canceled due to inclement weather, families will be notified via all-call and the school's closure will be posted on the school website.
Classroom News
K/1 Miss Wampler
In class we have been learning about the seasons and what different animals do during each season.
In math k/1 students have been comparing lengths that are shorter and longer and measuring with centimeters and inches. Kindergarten has been adding with totals up to ten. First grade is working on place value and finding numbers that are greater than or less than.
2/3 Mrs. Graham
The end of 2018 is almost here. It’s crazy to think how much time has passed since we started school. Both grades have been working hard in their learning and have made so much progress! With PBL over, we are back to our science and social studies curriculums and doing all of the fun activities that go along with them. We are also wrapping up our reading and math to end 2018 on an awesome note! I can’t wait to see how much more progress they’ll make when we come back from break.
A few weeks ago, the students wrote a letter to Santa and their letters were submitted to the Owyhee Avalanche! I’ll keep a look-out for when that paper comes out and snag a copy for you guys to see. The kiddos had so much fun writing them and they all used their best handwriting and their best drawings.
As a reminder, we will be having our Christmas party and Sock Swap on Thursday, December 20th and it will start at 3:20 pm. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about any of it. Thank you all for your continuing support and for giving me the opportunity to teach your kiddos. 2018 has been awesome and I look forward to what 2019 will have in store for us!
4/5 Mr. Meyers
In 4th and 5th grade math we are working on adding and subtracting fractions.
5th grade reading is learning about justice. We have been doing so through learning about The Underground Railroad.
In science we are learning about the engineering process. We have learned that before something is available to us to buy it must first go through the engineering process.
Our winter party will be on Thursday Dec. 20 at 3 pm. Please make sure your child remembers their Secret Santa gift.
P.E. Mrs. Pearson
Art Mrs. Pearson
BES Project Based Learning Night
BES Winter Music Program
"Is Santa Smarter?", Bruneau Elementary's 2018 Christmas Play was a success! Students found out that Santa was smarter as they helped him win gas money to make it to Bruneau, Idaho.