Friday, April 3, 2020

April 3rd Principal Message

Good Evening.
As you have heard from Dr. Tucker's recent communication, we will continue remote learning for the remainder of the school year.  I know this is disappointing for many students and staff and is truly new territory for all of us.  Our most important job right now is keeping students and staff safe in this very challenging time.  I will continue to keep regular communication and encourage you to reach out to either me or your child's teacher should you have any questions or concerns.

Monday, April 6th will be a teacher planning day to support staff as they launch into the planning of new learning, students will not receive any instruction or assignments on this day.  As you know the last two weeks has been primarily focused on learning how to 'do school' in an online format, so information has been review and practice.  Next week students will begin to have new learning, each teacher team will start this process slowly.  Teachers will be connecting each day virtually to teach a lesson, live or pre-recorded.  An important point to note as we move forward is that the learning day in this remote setting should not mimic an in-person school day.  Dr. Tucker has set a 4 hour or less limit on students to be engaged in the online learning format.  Please refer to our district's DCSDs Remote Learning Plan for more detailed information.

As you continue with this new sense of normal give yourselves lots of grace with how you tackle this ongoing challenge.  At FSE, and as a district, our first priority is the physical and social-emotional wellbeing of your family.   We know that many families are dealing with SO much more than supporting their children with learning and we don't want to add more stress to that dynamic.  If it becomes too much or you need support just reach out.  We are #oneflagstone.

Finally, look at this time at home as an opportunity to engage in your child's life in a way that you have not been able to before.  There is much educational research out there that supports children's most important growth through, play, recreation outside, cooking, chores, and time spent with family connecting and playing games.  I am trying my very hardest to cherish this time with my own girls who are growing up so fast.

ALSO!!!  My last plug for reading!  If you can do anything for your child during this time get them connected to a book!  I love this graphic below that describes the impact!





Sincerely,
Kelli Smith, FSE Principal


Some reminders:
Virtual Spirit Week April 6-10th
Please join us in our first virtual spirit week!  Have your parents post a picture of you on twitter with the hashtag #oneflagstone or email me your picture!
We want to see your spirit!

Monday: Teacher planning day: No lessons on this day
Tuesday: College Day: Wear your favorite college gear!
Wednesday: Workout Wednesday: Wear your workout gear and spend extra time outside
Thursday: Pajama Day: Get cozy all day and show us your PJs
Friday: FSE Spirit Wear: Show everyone that we are FLAGSTONE!


DSCSD is still offering FREE lunches to anyone under 18.  Please see the flyer for times and locations. HERE




Wednesday, April 1, 2020

April Principal Blog

Dear Parents,
Wow!  What a difference a month makes!  I hope you are all doing well, staying healthy and taking care of yourselves in the process.  As we acclimate to this new normal please reach out if you need support or have questions, we are learning right along with you!  I have been so appreciative of the kind words and helpful feedback we have gotten as we have launched into this new learning.  We have probably been overwhelming you with emails and updates and for that, I do apologize!  This will be my last daily principal message today.  Starting next week I will do a Monday Morning message for the week that will include updates and celebrations.  I am open to new ideas to include in these messages so send them to me!!  I hope you have a great last few days of the week!

Kelli Smith, FSE Principal

Virtual Spirit Week April 6-10th
Please join us in our first virtual spirit week!  Have your parents post a picture of you on twitter with the hashtag #oneflagstone or email me your picture!
We want to see your spirit!

Monday: Superhero Day: Dress like your favorite superhero
Tuesday: College Day: Wear your favorite college gear!
Wednesday: Workout Wednesday: Wear your workout gear and spend extra time outside
Thursday: Pajama Day: Get cozy all day and show us your PJs
Friday: FSE Spirit Wear: Show everyone that we are FLAGSTONE!

Class Placement 19-20 School Year
Please see this link to hear about our class placement process and to find out how to give input for the next school year.  CLICK HERE

Parent Support
Parent support through Coronavirus recorded session HERE
Upcoming interactive talk with Drs. Scott Cypers and Amy Lopez  HERE

Updates
  • School supplies for next year!  Please order HERE.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated to FSE.
  • CMAS: Our state assessments have been canceled this year.
Enrichment
  • Camp Invention registration is extended to May 12th with Promo code D25CAMP to save 25 dollars and D25CAMP through June 30 to save 15 dollars  CLICK HERE for registration






Sunday, March 29, 2020

Parent Support Blog Post



Dear Parents,
Thank you so much for taking the time to fill out our survey last Friday with your feedback on how our first week of online learning went.  We appreciated the overwhelming gratitude that you showed in your posts.  This is new for us so we are figuring it out right along with you, and appreciate your partnership.  Some things to know regarding last week and this coming week:
  • These first few weeks will not be new learning for any students in DCSD, meaning all activities should be review and be able to be completed independently.  We are working on connecting with kids and learning how to work within a remote learning platform. 
  • Grade K-1 will continue to have an email sent to the parents by 9 am (our usual start time) with daily activities.
  • Please communicate with your specials teachers if you are finding it difficult to scan/send etc.  They will work with you!
  • Grades 2-6 are conducting learning through google classroom, a platform that your children are familiar with and will continue to learn within.
  • Most teachers have already reached out and connected with the class via google hangouts or zoom.  Our K-1 teachers are taking this slow as it can be more difficult for them to do this independently.
  • Please reach out should you have any questions!
The most important thing I want all families to know is your health and well being are our very most important priority right now.  We know that there are many of you that are working remotely, may have lost income, or are working with extended families to help support child care.    If you are struggling please reach out to me, we can help connect you with resources if you need them.  School is important, however, our students' and families' well-being is more important and we are a community ready to help.  Again, please reach out and don't stress, these are unprecedented times that we will get through together. #oneflagstone

Kelli Smith, FSE Principal

Are you feeling overwhelmed with the added responsibility of supporting your child with their learning?  Please check out this parent/teacher blog titled: Homeschooling is NOT the Same as Crisis Schooling.  I thought it was a great article for me to read as a mom as I am working from home and managing remote learning for my two daughters.  Remember these are very uncertain times and your best is good enough!  Hang in there and please reach out if you need support.
--Kelli Smith


FSE Community Tackles Remote Learning Head On
I am so proud of this entire community!  Our staff, students and parents jumped right into our first week with an open mind and a positive attitude.  There were some hiccups but overall students were able to connect with their teachers and classes and get a feel for our online platforms.  Way to go!! #oneflagstone



David, a 6th Grader on Zoom with Mr. Blechar

Our First Virtual Staff Meeting

Check Out Mrs. Jaimes on the Screen Doing a Hangout with Julie in her Class.

Check Our Logan's Contributed to One of our Daily Challenges

6th Graders on Zoom for Book and Breakfast Chat








Monday, March 23, 2020

March Principal's Blog



Dear FSE Parents,
I hope you are all keeping safe and healthy during this crazy crazy time.  What a difference a few weeks has had on all of our lives, it really has brought into focus the really important things: family, health and community.  I am grateful to serve this community and the wonderful group of teachers that work daily to educate your children. I miss the children already!!!

I held our first staff meeting this morning on Zoom, realizing that this is the way it is going to be for a while.  I was humbled by the hard work that our staff has already done to ensure that your children feel supported and connected in this really crazy time.  My message and our district's message is first and foremost, to ensure that you and your families are supported by the DCSD community.  We are taking it week by week as we roll out online learning.  This first week you can expect the following:

  • Daily communication from your child's teacher (many have communicated their classroom plans today), learning tasks will start tomorrow
  • Communication on how to contact your child's teacher
  • Learn how to do school online so assignments will be review, practice or enrichment
  • If you are struggling on a particular day, close down and start new the next day
  • Support staff (SPED, Counselors, etc) will also be reaching out to families that they currently work with to see how they can support.
  • Mrs. Jacques and I are letting the teachers get this up and running this week so as not to overwhelm you or your kids, but after that, we are working on some virtual 'fun' for our FSE community as well.
In summary, please don't hesitate to reach out to me if you have questions and concerns.  I will be working as an online principal and homeschool teacher to my two girls as well so I get the struggle and we are in this together!  I will end with the below quote that I shared with my staff this morning.

Be well and let's support one another,

Kelli Smith, FSE Principal



"And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply.
Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed."
----Kitty O'Meara.














Sunday, February 9, 2020

February Principals Blog Post


Dear FSE Families,

As teachers, we see more and more young students unable to sit in chairs in classroom chairs.  As a matter of fact, I ran across an article where a first-grade teacher started tallying the number of times her first-grade students fell out of their chairs during one school day. The results were astonishing!  She tallied 44 times, 44 TIMES her first graders were sitting in chairs and without anyone around just fell out of them.  I see this every day, our teachers see this every day.  Why is this happing?  Here is an interesting article I read from a Neurochild publication.

The Shocking Phenomenon That Shows Just How Movement-Starved Modern Kids Really Are

The serene interior of an elementary school classroom. Sunlight streams through the windows as a teacher scribbles basic arithmetic on the board. Some students follow along while others daydream.
Suddenly, a crash. The kids immediately crane to see what caused the commotion. There, lying confused on the ground is a child who inexplicably fell out of their chair. They sheepishly climb back into their seat, and the lesson resumes. A couple hours later, it happens again—albeit with a different child. Then again. Then again.
It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but it's the reality in many modern classrooms. Children accidentally falling from their seats is now a daily occurrence.
Christina Heyding, a Canadian elementary school teacher, recounted her experience with a class of first-graders in a 2015 piece for The Globe and Mail. "Imagine 23 penguins trying to sit on chairs. This is what my classroom looks like. One week I took a tally. In total, my students fell off their chairs 44 times. There's a vast variety of falls—the backward flip, the wiggly-leg tangle, the forward bang, the sideways slide, and the slow-motion smash. No amount of cautioning can prevent these falls."
Ask anyone who works in an elementary school, and you'll hear a similar refrain. Kids dropping out of their chairs is the new normal. But why? What's going on that's making simply sitting in a chair a physical challenge for our youth?
Let's start with the vestibular system. The vestibular system, located inside our inner ear, is responsible for our sense of balance and spatial awareness. It also plays an important role in focus and attention, visual skills, and emotional regulation.
"Inside your inner ear are little hair cells. And we need to move in all different directions so that fluid moves back and forth and stimulates those hair cells, and that develops the vestibular sense. That sense is key to all the other senses. If that's not working right, it can affect everything," says Angela Hanscom, pediatric occupational therapist and author of the book Balanced and Barefoot: How Unrestricted Outdoor Play Makes For Strong, Confident and Capable Children.
Our vestibular system is stimulated and developed by moving through space in a variety of directions—particularly at high speeds. Thirty or 40 years ago, kids were getting all the stimulation they needed by participating in several hours of daily unstructured outdoor play. Not anymore. According to the Child Mind Institute, the average American kid now spends an average of just 4-7 minutes per day on unstructured outdoor play. Hanscom recommends, at minimum, three hours per day. Meanwhile, the average American kid spends about nine hours a day sitting down—whether that be at their desk or plopped down on their couch at home.
"They're not moving in all different directions," Hanscom says. "We're actually supposed to be moving in rapid directions on a regular basis. Kids should be rolling down hills, going upside down." Kids are naturally driven to move in all sorts of ways during unstructured outdoor play. They climb things, they chase one another, they jump from high places, they spin until they get dizzy. That wide array of movement helps develop a well-functioning vestibular system, along with countless other important physical and mental skills. Now that unstructured outdoor play has become an afterthought in the lives of children, that natural development has gone missing.
Modern playgrounds and overprotective adults don't help matters, either. In the early-to-mid 20th century, playgrounds featured towering slides, challenging climbs and fast-spinning steel merry-go-rounds. That all changed in the mid-1980s, as schools and local governments became increasingly fearful that litigious parents could have them fired or sued should a child suffer injury on their playground. Thus playgrounds began getting more and more watered down. Today, most American playgrounds are too short, too slow and too easy. Thus, fewer opportunities for diverse, challenging and vigorous movement.
"A lot of kids from an early age will master the playground equipment really quickly. My son, who is 3, can do the playground. My older girls, who are 11 and 14, they mastered it at 5 or 6. So it doesn't offer that challenge it was originally designed to be. It's just basic physics that if you shorten swings, you shorten slides, you're going to get less sensory input. The merry-go-round is a really powerful vestibular input (that's gone away)," Hanscom says. In addition to the neutered equipment now available to kids; teachers, parents and school officials have also become overzealous in their rule-making.
"Ironically, we tend to tell kids, 'Don't spin, you're going to get dizzy.' Or, 'Get down from that rock, you're gonna get hurt.' But as therapists, we purposefully have swings in our clinics and will spin (kids) in all different directions so that they have a really good sense of body awareness," Hanscom says.
"(Schools) are taking swings away, or if they have swings, the kids have to stay upright now. They're not allowed to go on their bellies, they're not allowed to spin on their swings anymore…We've created unrealistic rules and restricted their movement. They can't sit on the monkey bars. They can't go upside down. And in therapy, we literally try to get them in an inverted position so they have better body awareness. We're going against each other."
The reduction in movement isn't just leaving kids with underdeveloped vestibular and proprioceptive systems, but it's also making them physically weaker. In 2012, Hanscom conducted a pilot study on American fifth-grade students to see how their balance and core strength compared to an average American fifth-grader from 1984. She found that only one in every 12 children could meet the 1984 standard in both measures.
The problem isn't limited to America, either. A study published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport found that in 2014, 10-year-olds from a town in England had 20% less muscle strength and 30% less muscle endurance than 10-year-olds from that same town 16 years earlier. The average boy included in the study went from being capable of achieving over 26 Sit-Ups in 30 seconds in 1998 to 15.4 Sit-Ups in 2014.
Weaker core and postural muscles, an underdeveloped vestibular sense, and too many consecutive hours spent at a desk without a break for physical activity—you put these factors together, and you start to understand why a kid might fall out of their seat at school. In addition to that phenomenon, fidgeting now seems to be at an all-time high among students. Years ago, there might've been one or two fidgeters in each elementary school classroom. Now, huge numbers of students are constantly fidgeting in their seats, and more children than ever are being diagnosed with attention deficit disorders. In Hanscom's eyes, it's a clear indication they aren't getting enough movement.
"Extreme fidgeting, that's a huge indicator that something's not right with their environment. The more I do this, the more I realize it's our environment that's a huge problem. Because not this many children should have trouble with attention and not this many children should have a problem with sensory integration," Hanscom says. Since movement can help light up areas of our brain that relate to focus, fidgeting is often a self-regulation mechanism used by movement-starved children in an effort to better pay attention. Modern teachers also report that students now ask to get up to do things like sharpen a pencil or use the bathroom exponentially more frequently than students of previous generations, which could also relate to their craving for movement.
While our society can be quick to label kids who cause disruptions and can't pay attention as "problem children," Hanscom recommends considering the environment they're being asked to succeed in. "Some of this is hereditary, but a huge part is environmental. We have to look at, 'What are we doing? What are we asking of children?"


SO...... in summary!  Let's get our kids outside, let's get them moving, let's see if we can reduce the number of students falling to the floor in our school this year!

---Kelli Smith




20-21 Enrollment Verification
February is upon us, which means spring is just around the corner and preparations are starting for the launch of a new school year.  In order for us to staff appropriately, we need to know if you are planning on NOT returning to FSE next year.  If you have moved and have a new address that may not be in our boundary area please contact the office so we can update your address and have you fill out an intent to remain form.  If you have additional questions please contact the office.

Kindergarten Registration
Please see THIS link for our Castle Rock Kindergarten Registration day for the 2020-2021
School year.


Special Education Information
Hello Parents and Caregivers of student/s receiving Special Education support in the DCSD!
Douglas County Special Education Advisory Committee (DCSEAC) has opened 
nominations for 2019-20 Shining Stars!  Shining Stars are DCSD staff member/s and schools nominated 
for outstanding service by the parents and/or caregivers of students receiving special education services.  

                     All nominees will receive a notification of their nomination/s, a Shining Star 
certificate, and recognition via district communications, school communications (where possible), 
and on the DCSEAC website.
                     Staff: Staff nominations will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 10 gift baskets 
($100 in value sponsored by Developmental Pathways).
                     Schools: One elementary, one middle, and one high school will be selected to win 
prizes valued at $250 (sponsored by Developmental Pathways).

If you know a person or school deserving of recognition, please click here to complete a nomination 

Counselor News

Please see THIS link that is referred to above.

Thursday, January 9, 2020

January Principal Message

Upcoming Week
Friday, Jan 10:  
  • 8:15 Student Council Meeting
  • 3:15 Spirit Assembly
Tuesday, Jan 14:
  • 8am Young Rembrandts Art Class
  • 7pm PTO Meeting
Wednesday, Jan 15
  • 4:15 Spelling Bee
  • Raising Cane's Spirit Night
Thursday, Jan 16
  • 8am Battle of the Books
  • 8:15 JRC Meeting
Monday, Jan 20th
  • NO SCHOOL: MLK Day
Wish Week: First Week of February


Principal Message

Happy New Year!

I hope the holidays were wonderful and time was spent with family and friends.  Thank you to all the parents that came out for our Winter Writing Celebration the day before winter break.  It was so wonderful to see all our students so excited about sharing their work with parents and staff.  If you missed the celebration please reach out to your child's teacher and coordinate with them so you can see the wonderful writing that your children have completed up to this point.  This semester we will continue with the next unit of study in writing which will be informational writing.  I am excited to see your children excel in this area as well!

As you all know from my prior communication Kellie McKenzie, our current registrar moved to Chicago with her family over the holiday break, we were very sad to see her go!  We are excited, however, to announce that our very own Lesly Verry will be our new registrar.  She will begin transitioning to the front office from her current position as a kindergarten educational assistant.  As she is getting trained on the many aspects of the position, please be patient with us if you need assistance at the front office.

A HUGE thank you needs to go out to Mr. Aaron Carter, one of our amazing dads!  He worked super hard over winter break and re-did our buddy bench.  It was looking worn out and needed a refresh!  Check out this amazing bench!  We are so grateful for his craftsmanship and expertise!


We are looking forward to a great second semester of learning and growth for our students. As always please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.

Kelli Smith, FSE Principal

Wish Week 2020 is Coming!

Emily, 5 years old and our Wish Week child this year. She suffers from a genetic disorder and her wish is to have a greenhouse. She lives right here in Castle Rock and we are excited to support her in her wish this year. Below are some fun things about her. If you are interested in buying a shirt so support wish week please see info below (the design of the shirt is also below). The cost of the shirts is $15 for youth sizes and $20 for adult sizes.  Orders are due Friday, January 17th.  Please fill out THIS form to order your shirt, checks can be dropped off with Mrs. Talley in the office (checks can be made out to FSE).
Color:  Blue
Book/Story: New Baby, Mr. Rodgers, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
Game: Baby Alive
Food: Pizza (Pepperoni)
Restaurant: Blue Moose
Cake/Candy: Chocolate, Any Kind
Snack Food: Pretzels
Other: I was Peppa Pig for Halloween
When Outside: I like to plant different plants, I like to play with my brothers (David and William)
When Inside: Play with my dolls
When I'm with Family: Plant plants, Go swimming





From Our Counselor

           The article referred to above is HERE

FSE Enrichment

FSE Happenings!








Excellent Video on Grit and Perseverance
A Must SEE Video!!
As an educator, I see the difference in kids that have grit and those that do not. Please take a minute and check out the 6 min. video by Angela Duckworth on the importance of teaching our kids grit.


Angela Duckworth and grit are household names in education circles (and in many households as well). Her “grit” theory goes hand-in-hand with growth mindset. Her talk focuses on how grit or that stamina, hard work, and sticktoitiveness is more of a predictor of success than IQ and academic talents. Use this talk to start a discussion with your children about what it means to have grit and what obstacles they’ve had to overcome. You may be surprised at the stories you’ll hear from your students or even your own children.
See video HERE

Sunday, December 8, 2019

December Principal Message

Dear FSE Families,
As the calendar year comes to a close, like many of you I begin to reflect on the past year.  The year 2019 has been a blessed one for FSE. We continue to show growth in academics and have been successfully implementing many social-emotional structures for our students so they are better able to access their learning.  Our teachers and staff put students first and work diligently every day to personalize learning for your children.  I am so proud of the work FSE is doing as we partner with you to grow our students.  I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday season and are able to reflect on the many celebrations of the 2019 calendar year!

Winter Writing Wonderland: December 19th!
Please make sure you check the communication coming from your child's teacher on our upcoming Winter Writing Wonderland Celebration. This is a time for you to come to school and celebrate the writing accomplishments of your children as we close out the first semester. As you know, we adopted a new writing program this year and are very excited to highlight the work that your children have been doing as they advance their skills as writers. Please make sure to take time out of your busy schedules to attend! See times below.

Grade K 9:30 - 10:30
Grade 1 10:00-10:45
Grade 2 & 1/2 12:00-12:45
Grade 3 & 2/3 12:45 - 1:30
Grade 4 1:00-1:45
Grade 5 2:30-3:15
Grade 6 3:00-4:00


2019-2020 Calendar Change
On October 22, 2019 the DCSD Board of Education approved changes on our 2019-2020 school calendars to accommodate the state’s three-day testing window for PSAT and SAT. Please see the date changed below:

No School April 20, 2020
Was April 16, 2020, there will now be school as usual on April 16, 2020


Note from our Counselor
Hello FSE Families!

I hope you all had an enjoyable Thanksgiving and some time off as we prepare for a busy few weeks. During my break, I was reminded that during the holidays we have an opportunity to teach our kids about the importance of giving. I overheard my kids (ages 7 and 5) talking about how excited they are to get presents for Christmas. So I asked them, “Who’s excited about giving gifts?” And then silence. I realized there is a need to shift our focus around the holidays. 

As parents, its natural for us to want to give our children everything. Often we respond to every "I want" because we can and it makes us feel good, not necessarily because we should. There are an infinite number of toys, games, and treats in the world. And no matter how much our children have, they will always want more, and there will always be a friend who has more. How can we change this mindset and raise caring children who know the importance of giving rather than getting? Here are some ideas (that I will be using) on how we can teach our children to moderate their wants, be thankful for what they have, and give to others. 
  • Make quality family time the major holiday goal that children look forward to, even in shopping expeditions. For example, adding breakfast or lunch at a restaurant to your shopping trip can become its own cherished tradition.
  • Encourage your child to give to a child in need through Toys for Tots or other similar programs, and include that in the shopping goals.
  • As a family, model restraint and sharing with the less fortunate through local programs to aid the impoverished and homeless here and in other countries. 
  • Actively teach your children as they mature that media advertising is trying to shape our thinking to want more and more.
  • "Adopt" a senior citizen and help him or her with necessary chores or visit an elder care home.
  • Plan or cooperate with existing paper drives or other recycling endeavors.
  • Collect food for local food banks.
  • "Adopt" a service person stationed overseas, collect items and send them a gift box.
  • Make toys, games, or crafts for a child care center or pediatric unit of a hospital.
If your family employs the help of Elf on the Shelf in December, these Kindness Elves are a creative alternative to the tradition. You may also consider a Kindness Calendar as your family counts the days before the holiday. 

Sincerely,
Patti Roberts
Flagstone School Counselor

proberts1@dcsdk12.org
13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do by Amy Morin
I am currently reading this book and find the content to be very good! I thought that I would share a synopsis of a few of the principals in each newsletter, in the event you could benefit (like I can!) with some of these tips on parenting.
Strong parents don't condone a victim mentality
Mainstream sociologists say our ''victimhood culture' is evidenced by the increased complaints from individuals who claim to be victims whenever they encounter minor offenses. In today's culture, people complain to third parties over minor offenses, they advertise their oppression and demand assistance each time they feel offended. Then they try to gain support for their cause by claiming the minor offense they experienced is part of a much bigger cultural problem. Social media is a common tool to convince others to see themselves as victims.


Raising a mentally strong child who accepts personal responsibility for his life can be challenging when everyone else is trying to convince him he's a victim. Failing a class, being overlooked for a job, and being benched by a coach doesn't necessarily mean he's a victim. But if he has a victim mentality, he'll view criticism and failure as proof that other people are trying to prevent him from succeeding. Here are a few ways you might be instilling a victim mentality in your child:


  • Role-modeling a victim mentality: saying things like, "Why do these things always have to happen to me?" when you encounter a setback sends a message that you're a powerless victim.
  • Feeling sorry for your child: Sometimes parents secretly feel sorry for a child who has a disability or who has endured a traumatic circumstance. But pitying your child-even when it's never openly discussed-teaches your child he's a victim.
  • Underestimating a child's capabilities. Whether your child has a physical disability or a cognitive impairment, or you just doubt his abilities in general, focusing on what your child can't do, rather than what he can, leads to a victim mentality.
  • Refusing to watch a child struggle. Watching a child grow frustrated by her inability to do something is tough. But rescuing your child at the first sign of a struggle teaches her that she must depend on others to do things for her.


What's Helpful

  • Looking for warning signs of a victim mentality
  • Focusing on what your child can control
  • Looking for the silver lining
  • Giving your child unstructured playtime
  • Teaching your child healthy ways to get attention

What's Not Helpful

  • Feeling sorry for your child
  • Attending your child's pity parties
  • Rewarding your child for being a victim
  • Minimizing your child's feelings
  • Pointing out the negative more than the positive
  • Underestimating your child's capabilities

FSE Happenings
Students during writers workshop sharing their writing with others.





Huge Shout out to Mrs. P!
We thank Mrs. P for all the hard work that she did preparing and running the Scholastic Book Fair! This is one of the sole ways she earns money to buy books for the library. Thank you, families, for helping to support by buying lots of books!
Mrs. Jacques enjoyed reading silly stories to the children that attended the late-night book fair!  Thank you, Mrs. Jacques!







April 3rd Principal Message

Good Evening. As you have heard from Dr. Tucker's recent communication, we will continue remote learning for the remainder of the schoo...