Star News
Ruby Bridges Elementary- Where the Stars come to shine!
Welcome Back Stars!
I write to share my thanks and gratitude for the first few months of the school year. The time has been memorable and progressive for our Stars. A huge shout of thankful appreciation to our Stars for being brilliant and to the All Star parents, families, teachers and staff, and community who support us. I hope the break was spent enjoying family and time away from busy schedules.
Moving into December, I'd like to ask for your continued support by:
- Keeping our Stars healthy so they can attend school
- Setting an early and regular bedtime for maximum rest
- Checking in with your student and providing homework support
- Communicating with your child and/or child's teacher about progress
- Encouraging appropriate school behavior and use of Toolbox tools
- Sending your child to school everyday and on time. When present, students have the opportunity to learn, when not present, they are missing out.
According to Attendance Works:
Over 8 million U.S. students miss nearly a month of school each year. Read more...
Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. One in 10 kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent. Read more...
Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade or be held back. Read more...
By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school. Read more...
Research shows that missing 10 percent of the school, or about 18 days in most school districts, negatively affects a student’s academic performance. That’s just two days a month and that’s known as chronic absence. Read more...
Students who live in communities with high levels of poverty are four times more likely to be chronically absent than others often for reasons beyond their control, such as unstable housing, unreliable transportation and a lack of access to health care. Read more...
When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating. Read more...
Attendance improves when schools engage students and parents in positive ways and when schools provide mentors for chronically absent students. Read more...
Principal Pharr-Matthews
Life Skill Focus for December: Empathy
"Empathy is about finding echos of another person in yourself" Mohsin Hamid
Our life skill for the month of December is: EMPATHY
Empathy- To understand and care about others
According to The President and Fellows of Harvard College, "Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human. It’s a foundation for acting ethically, for good relationships of many kinds, for loving well, and for professional success.Empathy begins with the capacity to take another perspective, to walk in another’s shoes."
How can parents cultivate empathy? The following are five guideposts based on research and the wisdom of practitioners.
https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-families/5-tips-cultivating-empathy
1. Empathize with your child and model empathy for others.
2. Make caring for others a priority and set high ethical expectations.
3. Provide opportunities for children to practice empathy.
4. Expand your child's circle of concern.
5. Help children develop self-control and manage feelings effectively.
We are also reviewing the following tools:
Empathy tool: I care for others and myself
Listening tool: I listen with my ears, my eyes, and my heart
Safe, quiet place tool: I remember my quiet safe place
Breathing tool: I calm myself and check-in
Here's how you can help us teach about empathy at home:
https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/key-strategies-teach-children-empathy
What examples of patience are in the video below?
Trimester Awards- THANK YOU!
Winter Craft Night- This Friday, December 6th
There will be no supervision on the yard.
Spirit Day- Pajama Day- Friday, Dec.6th
This Friday you are invited to wear your jammies to school. Pajamas must be school appropriate and you must also have on shoes. NO slippers are allowed. Thank you to Student Council for planning Pajama Day, and thank you Stars for partaking in the fun! Looking forward to seeing you comfortable , while learning, in your pajamas.
Monday Morning Meeting, 12/2/19, 8:20, at the Amphitheater- Weather permitting
Toys 4 Tots ----November - December 12th
Please donate new, unwrapped toys in the bins located in the school office any time between now and December 12th.
Thank you for your support!
Parking in Handicapped Spaces- Parking Lot Safety
This is a reminder that disabled/handicapped parking is for those displaying a current placard. In partnership with Alameda Police Department, your vehicle can be cited without proper identification displayed.
Also, in prioritizing student safety, there is no double parking. Please pick your child up from the curb. Do not allow your child to run into the street to meet your vehicle. Let's work together to keep our Stars safe.
New Menu Items
We are also mindful that some students have severe allergies to fish and shellfish, so please review the menu in advance and direct students to the allergy free table as necessary. You should also have medical forms and medication at school if your child has severe allergies. We are working with Nutrition Services to ensure safe choices for all Stars.
CAASPP scores- State Testing Results
Parent/Caregiver information on CAASP Scores:
Parents and caregivers are likely receiving communications from Educational Testing Service to deliver videos explaining students CAASPP reports. Parents have reached out wondering what these are and if they are spam. They are not spam. They are helpful in understanding the reports. Please be sure to let your families know that these are helpful videos that can help them to better understand their children’s CAASP scores.
CAASPP Samples:
English: https://prod.spotlight-education.com/v-Keh45mPXRPLw.mp4
Tagalog: https://prod.spotlight-education.com/v-KRHJp4PegPzy.mp4
Hmong: https://prod.spotlight-education.com/v-KRHJd5qTcXBb.mp4
Spanish: https://prod.spotlight-education.com/v-KRHI8I2YdF5m.mp4
Vietnamese: https://prod.spotlight-education.com/v-KRHJuigqDCNU.mp4
Chinese: https://prod.spotlight-education.com/p-KRYksbFluNhK
ALL LANGUAGES IN ONE VIDEO:
12/4- Popcorn Wednesday; $.50
12/4 Minimum Day- Dismissal at 1:20 p.m.
12/6-Spirit Day- Pajama Day
12/6-Winter Craft Night 6:00 Multi-purpose room
12/9-12/15 Hour of Code Week
12/20-PTA Family Cafe, 8:20 a.m.
12/23-1/3- Winter Break
Ruby Stars show the 4 Bs- Be safe, be responsible, be respectful, be a friend!
Ruby Bridges students, faculty, and families believe all students can be STARS by following the 4Bs ! Following the AUSD Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) system, we strive to Be: Safe, Responsible, Respectful, and a Friend to All. These expectations are taught, modeled, learned, and practiced at Ruby Bridges.
School-wide PBIS focus areas and behavior expectations:
Arrival and Dismissal- walking to and from safely
Cafeteria/respect property- remain seated; clean behind self
Basic behavior- indoor voices, following the 4 Bs, waiting calmly
Courtyard/line- 3 point touch following recess; walk calmly to line
Acknowledgements for following the 4 Bs:
Star Cards and lunchtime drawings
Positive acknowledgement
Shout outs during morning announcements
Classroom incentives
Assemblies
Nut Free Classrooms
Toolbox Tools
This month we are reviewing the first four tools: breathing tool, listening tool, empathy tool, safe, quiet place tool.
Please ask students about the tools.
Visit our Twitter page: @RB_Stars
How to reach the Stars:
Email: Dpharr@alamedaunified.org
Website: https://rubybridges-alamedausd-ca.schoolloop.com
Phone: 510-748-4006
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RubyBridgesElementary
Twitter: @RB_Stars