THIS HOLIDAY SEASON….

Thanksgiving and Black Friday mark the “official beginning” for the Holiday Season. This is a great time to redirect some of our family attention on the media (that is bombarding us with sales and expenditures) and focus the TRUE meaning of the Holiday Season. Parents can take the opportunity to save money and teach their children lessons about generosity and kindness. No matter how elaborate your holiday plans are, it is important to talk to children about the true meaning of the holidays and the spirit of kindness and generosity that surrounds this special time of year.

 

Discovery School embraced three projects this 2016 Holiday season. One is the NPH Giving Tree which consists of an initiative to provide shoes and socks for each of these children at the NPH home in Talanga.   A giving tree was set up on the second floor of the secondary building.   Tree tags with the children's size information were provided.

The second project we embraced was preparing the traditional Christmas Baskets for our Support Personnel at school. We opened our hearts and shared with those around us that need it most. Discovery School students came together and contributed in assembling baskets of goods for our support personnel. 

The school also participated in the Jugueton 2016 organized by the first lady. The school donated 161 new toys that will be used in this magnificent event which makes children in dire need extremely happy.

Other important and effective ways to foster, teach and encourage children with the true meaning of the Holiday Season are the following:

ü      Get your children involved with volunteer work. There are countless opportunities for volunteering with church, civic, school, and charitable organizations. Just pick up the newspaper and you will find listings of ways in which the entire family can volunteer over the holidays. 

ü      Commit to quality family time over the holidays. Establish holiday rituals that don't involve buying lots of stuff or spending too much money. Baking cookies, doing a craft, reading a special book or setting family game/movie nights will provide with fond memories for all.

ü      Talk about beginning the new year with a family giving box and set it up during the Holiday Season. Everyone can regularly add a small amount of money to the box to contribute to a group or cause the family agrees to support.

ü      Encourage children to make cards and gift certificates/coupons that loved ones may redeem with acts of generosity and kindness. In doing so you are teaching  that the real meaning of the Holiday Season is NOT attached to a $ sign.

ü      Think of someone without a family - a soldier, a distant relative, a friend in the hospital - and write a letter as a family to make the person feel loved and included during the holidays. These letters can also include special friends and family members who we want to express our gratitude and appreciation for.  

ü      Be prepared to say “no”. Sometimes it’s not easy to say no, but you can do it. Get your mindset in gear to make what matters work--quality family time that will not get lost in the busyness or unnecessary expenditures of the season.

           

Why not make this the year to teach your children what’s important in life? Years from now, watch for the smiles as your adult children replay their memories and give thanks for the meaningful time you spent together.  Enjoy the Holiday Season!!!

BOOKS TO READ DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON

Happy Holidays! If your family will be celebrating Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or any other holidays this year or if you are just looking for some excellent winter-themed reading while your students relax during the holiday break, here is a list of books to read during this festive season

1.      The Kvetch Who Stole Hanukkah by Bill Berlin

Inspired by Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” this story is great for families and kids to read as they begin their Hanukkah celebrations. (Recommended for children ages 5 and up)

2.      The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes  by Linda Glaser

Celebrate the joys of Hanukkah from latkes to driedels. This story explains the importance of spending time with family and friends as Rachel embarks on a quest to get her stubborn neighbor to join in the festivities. (Recommended for children ages 6 and up)

3.      The Christmas Menorahs  by Janice Cohn

This book is not only a great read for families who celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas but also for parents looking for books that highlight the importance of community and togetherness.

(Recommended for children ages 7 and up)

4.      The Nutcracker by Susan Jeffers

The story of Clara and her nutcracker is an excellent choice for families to share with their kids just before seeing the ballet this holiday season. (Recommended for children ages 4 and up)

5.      The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

Start your own family tradition by reading this holiday classic as you tuck your kids in on Christmas Eve. (Recommended for children ages 4 and up)

6.      How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

Share this classic, rhyming Christmas story by Dr. Seuss about how the Grinch forms a devious plan to steal Christmas, only to learn that Christmas and the holiday spirit doesn’t come from a store. (Recommended for children ages 5 and up)

7.      Seven Candles for Kwanzaa by Andrea David Pinkney

For families with young children beginning Kwanzaa celebrations, this is an excellent book that explains the origins and history of the holiday with stunning illustrations. (Recommended for children ages 5 and up)

8.      Celebrate Kwanzaa with Boots and Her Kittens by Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy

Read about one family’s quest to find their beloved, but missing cat while learning the seven values of Kwanzaa. (Recommended for children ages 4 and up)

9.      Happy New Year’s Everywhere by Arlene Erlbach

As your family counts down to 2013, share this book with your kids to show how people around the world celebrate the coming of the new year. (Recommended for children ages 4 and up)

10.  The Night Before New Year’s  by Natasha Wing

This book tells of one family’s determination to stay up until the clock strikes midnight. A great read for explaining the excitement of New Year’s Eve for young children. (Recommended for children ages 3 and up)

11.  Cecil’s New Year’s Eve Tail  by Marie Fritz Perry

This charming tale shows the importance of acceptance and friendship when Cecil the snake attends a New Year’s Eve ball. (Recommended for children ages 5 and up)

12.  Magic Tree House #32: Winter of the Ice Wizard  by Mary Pope Osborne

This magical winter’s tale is a great book for kids of all ages who love exploring worlds of magic, mystery and adventures. (Recommend for children ages 7 and up)

13.  The Mitten by Jan Brett

This heart-warming story, which details what happens to Nicki’s glove after he loses it in the snow, is a great read to share with your kids this winter. (Recommended for children ages 3 and up)

14.  Dear Rebecca, Winter is Here by Jean Craighead George

Winter is coming for those in the Northern Hemisphere, but for those down under, its summertime. The book is an excellent choice for parents looking to explain the difference between seasons in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. (Recommended for children ages 3 and up)

Taken from http://www.kumon.com/resources/14-great-books-to-read-to-kids-this-holiday-season/

NEWSCAST PROJECT

FOR THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS

The Elementary School students will be embarking in a new project during the second semester of this school year. This project is the perfect digital compliment to the Listening and Speaking part of our Language Arts Curriculum.

Each month, a grade will work on putting together a news cast that will encompass many aspects of our school life. This video will help student become aware of their social responsibility, and foster school pride and culture.

Consent forms will be sent home after the Thanksgiving holiday, and need to signed and return for students to participate.

Here is a small taste of what this project will look like:

S.O.S.

The Steps for Conflict Resolution in “Todo Tranquilo”

Calmadores are learning that S.O.S in Todo tranquilo refer to the steps a person can use when trying to resolve a conflict.  Here is a brief explanation of these steps:

S – Story - Each person tells his/her side of the story using  “I” messages to say how each feels.

O – Options - Both people suggest possible solution options, bringing forth as many ideas as possible.

S – Solutions - Both agree on a solution from the ideas that were suggested. IMPORTANT: make sure the option agreed to is safe, fair and will work for both people. 

TODO TRANQUILO!

A Student-Led Conflict Resolution Program at Discovery School    

TODO TRANQUILO is a conflict resolution program for Discovery School Students. Conflict Resolution is a way to resolve differences effectively. During school, our students will be expected this effective technique both in the classroom and on the playground.

The reason why this program is so important is because our students will have the freedom to resolve their differences/conflicts on their own.

For this program, children from grades 3-5 have been invited to volunteer as “Calmadores” – students who are willing, responsible, mature and motivated to assist peers in solving conflicts successfully.

These volunteers will be training during lunch time for the next two weeks, learning about the process of S.O.S. and how to use it to resolve differences and/or disagreements.

More information regarding this program will be shared in following posts. 

TEACHING VALUES TO OUR CHILDREN

Now more than ever, teaching values to our children is a priority. Of course, this is often easier said than done. Teaching values takes time, and a conscientious effort that we as parents need to make. Outside influences like peer pressure and the entertainment industry—through the Internet, television, movies, video games and music—are having a greater affect on children, shaping their perspectives more than ever before. Thus, our intervention as parents needs to be consistent and well planned.

As a general rule, it’s up to the parents to teach their children what to believe, and how they should live their lives. However, there are universal values that are shared by many, and which are cornerstone to raising well rounded human beings.

1.     Compassion - A life of compassion can lead to understanding, strength, friendship and joy. Compassion includes selflessness, empathy, mercy, tolerance, kindness, love and charity. These values help us build positive relationships with surrounding people, along with ourselves. We must teach children to find opportunities to show compassion. This may be through helping children understand other people’s backgrounds — lessening judgment of others’ situations, helping children do nice things for their siblings or friends who are having a bad day or teaching them self-compassion when they feel like they don’t measure up. Teaching children compassion will go far. As they grow older, compassionate children will be able to find opportunities to make a difference for others, leading them to feel more secure, joyful and self-confident.

2. Gratitude - When we aren’t grateful for what we have, life feels less satisfying. If we teach our children to be content with what they have and grateful for the little things that happen in their lives, it will be game-changing for their futures.

3. Integrity - Integrity is a high level of honesty in all dealings with yourself and others. A person’s ability to act with integrity will have a direct correlation to their reliability, responsibility and self-confidence.

4. Patience -Children can learn patience by doing chores to earn an allowance and saving their money to pay for things they want. They can learn patience by learning to garden and patiently nurture the plants to help them grow. Children can learn patience by accepting failure. They might not win that basketball championship, master the piano right away, or get an A on their report card, but as children continue to work hard to achieve their goals, they will learn the art of patience. Good things come over time, and the reward is so much better after heart and effort have been put into achieving the goal.

5. Commitment -  The ability to commit to something and see it through is a talent that must be practiced. It’s easy to quit to escape the hard things in life. However, taking ownership and facing trials builds a strength that is necessary for living a life of fullness and joy. Children can learn commitment through things such as doing chores or being involved in extracurricular activities.

6. Courtesy and Respect - Children learn respect at home based on how parents and others in their lives treat each other. Your child will strive to model your behavior, so if you are courteous, using “please,” “you’re welcome,” “thank you” and similar phrases, your child will follow suit. It is also important to teach your child how to respect others’ opinions and property so that he can create healthy relationships.

7. Responsibility - Responsible children grow into responsible adults. It is important to teach children to take responsibility for both the good and bad actions they do. This helps to prevent your children from growing into whiny individuals who are always trying to blame others for things they have done wrong.

8. Perseverance - The lesson of persistence starts when kids are young, learning to feed themselves, walk or speak. As a parent let your child know that you are always proud of him, and when he feels discouraged try to guide him to the right solution without simply solving a problem for him. If your child learns to be persistent at a young age, then as he gets older he will always have the urge to try his best.

As adults we need to remember that children learn by example and experience. If as parents we create an atmosphere and set an example of these values in our home, they will catch on and live a fuller life with high potential.

Adapted from:

http://www.newkidscenter.com/Values-to-Teach-Your-Child.html

http://familyshare.com/parenting/5-values-we-must-teach-our-children

HELPING YOUR CHILD MAKE FRIENDS

Each beginning of a new school year presents an opportunity for our children to make new friends. This is especially true at Discovery School, where we welcome new and exciting families every year. Through the new friendships that are made, our children have the wonderful opportunity to live and experience new cultures, beliefs and traditions.

Making friends is a task comes easily to some, but not to others. And as much as parents would like to step in, we simply cannot make friends for our children. We can, however, give our children the tools they need to be social and to make new and be a good friend.

1.      PLAY DATES – As parents we can offer a variety of opportunities for play and socializing. Host friends over for play dates or lunch. See if you can participate in a carpool and sign-up your child for group activities such as art, drama or dance. Exposing children to different areas of play will help them learn to socialize.

2.      BE A GOOD FRIEND YOURSELF - Perhaps the most important lesson you can provide your child with about friendship is setting the example. You need to show your child how to be a good friend and how to make friends.

ü  Be kind, give compliments, wave to a friend.

ü  Be understanding of what others are going through by showing empathy.

ü  Don’t complain. Instead, teach your children to accept what can't be changed by working hard to change the things that can.

ü  Help your friends when they are in need

3.      KNOW YOUR CHILD –Ask your child how school went, what he/she did during recess, who he likes in class. Listen to what your child says happened on the playground. Support your child’s choice of friends and welcome them to your home. Try getting to know her friends and their parents.

4.      BE OJECTIVE AND FAIR – When things are hard for your child, stay balanced and keep things in perspective. Making friends is a lifelong process and it may have its ups and downs. Pain, unfortunately, is a part of it. We can support our children by listening and acknowledging their feelings.  Talk about your concerns with other adults who can support you -- such as a coach, teacher, friend, or family member.

If you’d like to learn more about how to help your child make friends visit http://www.parentingscience.com/kids-make-friends.html or watch http://www.greatschools.org/parenting/social-skills/4356-helping-your-child-choose-good-friends-video.gs to learn about talking to your children about making good friends. 

STARTING ON THE RIGHT FOOT!

As a parent, you are your child's first and most important teacher. When parents and families are involved in their children's schools, the children do better and have better feelings about going to school. A partnership between the school and home is crucial for student success!

There are many ways that parents can support their children's learning at home and throughout the school year. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1.       Meet your child's teacher. If you have not done so, try to find a time to meet your child's teacher. Let the teacher know you want to help your child learn. Make it clear that you want the teacher to contact you if any problems develop with your child. If you feel uncomfortable speaking English (or Spanish), don't let a language barrier stop you. What you have to say is more important than the language you say it in! Ask us and we will provide someone who can interpret for you.

2.       Get to know who's who at your child's school. There are many people at Discovery who are here to help your child learn, grow socially and emotionally, and navigate the school environment. Get to know all your child’s teachers, area coordinator, school counselor, and others.

3.       Find out how your child is doing. Ask the teacher how well your child is doing in. If your child is not keeping up, especially when it comes to reading, ask what you or the school can do to help. It's important to act early before your child gets too far behind. Also be sure to review your child's blogs every Monday morning.

4.       Make sure that your child gets homework done. Your child needs to see from you that you think education is important and that homework needs to be done each day. You can help your child with homework by setting aside a special place to study, establishing a regular time for homework, and removing distractions such as the television and social phone calls during homework time. If your child is struggling with homework, you should contact the teacher and let him/her know.

5.       Encourage your child to read. Helping your child become a reader is the single most important thing that you can do to help the child to succeed in school-and in life. The importance of reading simply can't be overstated. Reading helps children in all school subjects. More important, it is the key to lifelong learning. Reading is an expectation at Discovery School!

Welcome to all parents and students to what promises to be a fantastic school year!. I am very excited to be your full time assistant principal at Discovery School, and it is my hope that as the year progresses you will get to know the staff, the programs and the policies we offer in Discovery School.

It is the goal of the staff at Discovery to work with you to create a rich learning environment for our students. Student success is a shared responsibility between the school staff, students and parents. Our staff of highly qualified professional educators and support personnel is committed to providing our students many opportunities - both inside and outside of the classroom -for high caliber and quality learning, continual growth, leadership opportunities, and achieving at a high level of excellence!

It is a very exciting time at Discovery School. Our campus has never looked better, and our teachers have been working hard in preparation for the beginning of school. Children will be excited as they make new friends, embrace new challenges, and use the new facilities that have been purposely built and redesigned for their educational needs.

It is my hope that we will all meet any challenges with determination and excitement and celebrate all that makes everyone special. Education is a joint venture between school and home. As we work with our students to help them learn about the world around them through the prescribed curriculum, we very much appreciate the support that parents give their children at home as they strive to reach their learning goals. The foundation of a successful school is the cooperation between the students, staff, parents and community. Parents are a vital part of the Discovery School Community. Your contributions are invaluable to the school through volunteer time and support of school activities.

We look forward to a very positive and productive year together!  We extend a special, yearlong invitation to our parents to join us at school activities and events whenever you can.

I look forward to working with you and developing a relationship that will assist in the growth of your child/children.

Sincerely yours,

Ms. Cristiana Banegas

Elementary Assistant Principal 

SAYING GOOD BYE! 

As we are getting ready to bring this school year to an end, we would like to thank the unconditional support that we receive from our wonderful Discovery School parents. 

We wish our students a relaxing and fun summer vacation. To those of you for whom life has new horizons to discover, we wish you the best in your new endeavors. For those who will be returning, we will see you back on Wednesday, August 12, 2015 . 

COME JOIN US! 

BRING YOUR FAMILY AND FIENDS! 

MAP PRACTICE SITES

Our MAP Spring Testing Session is around the corner! Once again, we would like to remind you of the following links that your child(ren) can benefit from as additional practice in Reading, Language Usage and Math.

For reading, look at your child’s RIT range by goal strand for Fall 2012. Use these numbers to select appropriate activities under each goal area. This website is aligned to Minnesota standards, so there are some discrepancies in the categorizing. Our suggestion for finding comprehension activities is to use the overall RIT score for reading.

            Website Wording                                                        MAP Wording

Word Recognition, Analysis, and Vocabulary            

Word Analysis and Vocabulary

Comprehension: Narrative                                          Literal, Interpretive, and Evaluative Comprehension

Comprehension: Informational                                   Literal, Interpretive, and Evaluative Comprehension

            Literature                                                                    

             Literature Response/Analysis

Here is the reading website:

http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/reading.htm

For math, look at your child’s RIT range by goal strand for Fall 2012. Use these numbers to select appropriate activities under each goal area. For example, if your child’s RIT range for Geometry is 175-190, you would go to the click on the 171-180 and 181-190 links under Geometry and Measurement in order for find activities at your child’s level. Since Geometry and Measurement are grouped together, you would be looking for geometry skills, such as shapes.

            Website Wording                                            MAP Wording

            Number and Operation                                   Computation and Number Sense

            Geometry and Measurement                          Geometry and Measurement 

Data Analysis                                                  Statistics and Probability

            Algebra                                                            Algebraic Concepts

Here is the math website:

http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/

We know that parent support and at-home practice are essential for student success. We hope you find these resources useful. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher with any additional questions.

RAISE INDEPENDENT AND RESPONSIBLE CHILDREN

As parents, we need to start helping our children become competent in the world. To do so, you have to learn to step back and let your child take risks, make choices, solve problems and stick with what they start.

Let your child take healthy risks

Force yourself to stand back while your child takes a healthy risk. To build confidence in the world, children have to take chances, make choices and take responsibility for them. Parents trying to rescue their children from failure all the time does more harm than good.

Let your children make their own choices

When kids make their own age-appropriate choices, they feel more powerful. This teaches children as young as two can start considering the consequences of their decisions. Age appropriate is the key term here. Adult decisions must be left for the adults.

Let them help around the house

In building self-esteem, children also need opportunities to demonstrate their competence and feel that their contribution is valuable. At home, that means asking them, even when they’re toddlers, to help with cooking, setting the table and making beds. House chores teach a powerful lesson about collaboration and responsibility.

Set goals

Teach your kids to work towards a goal and to have pride in their accomplishments. Provide them with opportunities for success.

Try, try again

Encourage your children to try things their own way, face challenges and take risks.

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD IN THE LAST PART OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

As we come back from the Semana Santa / Easter Break, we enter the last part of the school year. There is still much to do, and we will all be very busy. The warm weather that is characteristic of this time of the year can be distracting, but year-end learning is critical. With three smart tips, parents can help children wrap the grade with an academic edge.

1. Reassess the requirements - meet with the teacher to see what work remains to be done. Clear up confusion over missing grades and incomplete past-due work, even if there’s a penalty. Later learning builds on early lessons, and all course concepts may be covered on final exams.

2. Make a plan - check your child’s notebooks and folders to stay on top of things. Reorganize. Put notes in order. Get a bigger notebook if needed. Stock up on pencils, erasers, paper, printer ink or any other school supplies that are needed.  Organize homework time. Experts recommend students focus on a task for no more than 45 minutes before taking a break – younger learners need even shorter sessions. Downtime allows the brain to consolidate learning and re-energize.

 

3. Ease anxiety - Maintain a healthy sleep schedule and sustain energy with nutritious food. Start children off with a protein-packed breakfast and plan healthy snacks every two or three hours throughout the day. Brain work burns fuel. Remind your child of his/her strengths. Boost their self-confidence. Star students use their academic talents to overcome (or compensate for) weaknesses.

Now is the time to take and deep breath and remember: help your children finish this school year strong!

IMPORTANT SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

UPDATE ON PAVING - Because of the need to pave the entrance and exit to school and leave the paving unused for sufficient time to harden, the last day of classes before Semana Santa will be March 25.  THERE WILL BE NO CLASSES ON THURSDAY, MARCH 26 AND FRIDAY, MARCH 27.  Faculty and staff may not enter the school without permission during that time period, including Semana Santa.  Any entry will require special arrangements and permission from the Head of School

We will still meet the standard of 180 days of classes set by SACS and by the Honduran Ministry of Education.  Enjoy an extra-long vacation! We will resume classes on April 7, as planned.

EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY READ-A-THON –This is the last week of our Read-a-thon! Grades Kindergarten through five are participating in this month long competition. Students should be completing the reading logs and turning them in this Wednesday  The winner from each class will go out to lunch as a special treat from our DPTO!

BRICKS4KIDZ - After conducting exit surveys that reveal what a success this activity was, and given its educational value, the school will be offering a Second Module of Bricks4kidz. The session will be held on Fridays (in April 10,17 and 24; in May 8,15 and 22) from 3:15 to 4:15 and will be open for students in from kindergarten to grade five. Registration will be available on the afternoons of Friday, March 20 and Wednesday, March 25. Hurry and save your space!

DISCOVERY SCHOOL PARENTS!

ACCREDITATION PROCESS – SURVEYS FOR PARENTS- Below you will find the link that will take you to the corresponding survey that you need to complete. This is the last week that the surveys will be available for parents!  Please take some time from your busy schedule to complete the survey that will provide valuable information towards the accreditation process and therefore, school improvement.

A Spanish version of the survey for parents is available in this message; however the survey needs to be completed in English. The Spanish version will help parents complete the English version as it is an exact copy of the survey.

Parent Survey: http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/3799898

Surveys will be available Monday, March 2 – Friday, March 20.

END OF THE THIRD QUARTER REPORT CARDS AND CONFERENCES–Notices for the third quarter conferences (on a need basis) will be sent home today. Report Cards will be sent home on Thursday, March 19. However, if you would like a conference, and one has not been called for by a teacher, please contact the school to set an appointment for the afternoon of Friday, March 20. 

IT’S BACK!

The Discovery School

READ-A-THON! 

At Discovery School we love to read and we want to motivate our students to continue to discover the wonderful world found in books, where just about anything can happen! Through our second  READ-A-THON our Early Childhood and Elementary (Grades K-5) students will be encouraged to read more often in the classroom and at home.

In organizing this READ-A-THON our objective is to help our students re-discover the joy of reading.  A READ-A-THON  is an event that encourages students and their families to read more, try new books, and have fun doing it. Extensive research proves that children who read for pleasure will gain advantages that last their whole lives. Research also demonstrates with overwhelming evidence that literacy has a significant relationship with a person’s happiness and success. Furthermore, the academic benefits of a strong leisure reading habit are not confined to improved reading ability. Leisure reading makes students more articulate, develops higher order reasoning, and promotes critical thinking – all of these skills for lifelong learning skills!

Our READ-A-THON will take place from March 2 to March 27, 2015. Each student will be given a Reading Log sheet and a special bookmark for this event. The goal is for every student to read as many books as he or she can, and keeps a record of his or her reading. Once the sheet had been filled out, each student will need to turn it in to their homeroom teacher, and will be given a new one. The student in each class who, at the end of the month, reads more grade level (or above grade level books) will be honored in an assembly, and will be treated to a special lunch  (Sponsored by the DPTO) outside the school on Friday, April 11. 

We ask our parents to support his initiative at home by providing their child with appropriate books for reading. Parents can borrow books from their child’s class library, check out books from our school library, download (free or purchased) books for their e-readers, borrow from a friend…the possibilities are endless! Let’s face it, parents will LOVE seeing their child lost in the world of a “cant-put-it-down” book! Who doesn't want to bring reading back into family time?!

WHAT ARE SOME SPECIFIC BENEFITS OF READING?

We all know that reading is beneficial to children. But why is that? Here are some specific benefits that as parents we need to know about reading and our children.

v  Reading to your child makes you bond with him or her.

v  Reading calms your child, especially when restless.

v  Reading promotes increased communication between you and your child.

v  Many studies show that students who love learning and do well in school.

v  Reading promotes longer attention span, which is an important skill for your kid to be able to concentrate.

v  Reading builds listening skills and imagination.

v  Books teach your child thinking skills early. When you read to your child, he/she learns to understand cause and effect, he learns to exercise logic, as well as think in abstract terms. He/she learns the consequences of actions, and the basics of what is right and wrong.

v  Books teach your child about relationships, situations, personalities, and what is good and what is bad in the world he lives in.  Fantasy books provide material for his imagination and free play.  Fairy tales fascinate your kid, and help him distinguish between what is real and what is not.

v  Children who read gain new vocabulary and syntax

v  They become familiar with story and text structures

v  Reading stimulates and expands their imaginations

v  Fosters empathizing with other people's feelings and problems, and teachers ways to cope with their own feelings and problems

v  Helps in developing an interest in new subjects and hobbies

Our School READ-A-THON will begin on March 2, 2015, and will carry on throughout the month of March.  We hope our parents will encourage our students to read, read, read! 

TEACHING OUR CHILDREN TO BE GOOD FRIENDS!

Making friends (and keeping them) are important life skills to have. Friendships can be developed in many different settings. Having good friends makes you happy. Being a good friend is not a skill that kids just pick up from hanging out with other children on the playground. Developing friendships takes a lot of work (both by parents and kids), but can be one of the most rewarding things to happen in a child’s life.  Here are some simple ways to help teach your child about being a good friend. 

v Explain to your child what good friends do. Good friends…

ü Remember important things (birthdays, accomplishments, etc.)

ü Use kind words.

ü Are reliable.

ü Help out when a friend is sad or has a problem.

ü Share ideas and treats

ü Like to spend time together.

ü Respect each other's differences.

ü Have fun with one another.

ü Make each other a better person.

v Read books about friendship. There are so many amazing friendships that are portrayed in children’s books, such as Frog and Toad for the little ones, and Charlotte’s Web for the older ones.

v Set a good example and be a good friend yourself. As with anything you are trying to teach your child, setting the example with your own actions is the most powerful lesson you can ever teach.

v Role play how to be a good friend. Take advantage of the opportunity to “act out” how a good friend behaves –in school, in church, at a friend or family gathering.

For more child friendly reading, visit http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetailsKids.aspx?p=335&id=1636&np=286