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 |
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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!
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