Yesterday
our second and fourth graders were treated to a planetarium show from the OCM
BOCES Science Center. Our second graders saw the “Day and Night” program while
our fourth graders learned more about moon phases. If you have a second or fourth grader, make sure you ask them what they learned!
This is an exciting time of year for many families, and a stressful time of year for others. Thank you again to everyone who helped out many of our local families these past few weeks. Thank you also for your contributions to the Salvation Army Food Drive. We continue to accept donations of canned goods until next Tuesday.
Two years ago I came across this column in the On Board journal put out by NYSSBA, the New York State School
Boards Association. I meant to include it in my blog last year but forgot. It
was written by Thomas Perillo, superintendent of the Greater Amsterdam School
District. He begins the article by explaining that some of the gifts we can give the children in our lives will last longer than trendy boot's or this year's latest toy; they don't have to cost a penny. Here is an abbreviated version of the column:
10 Gifts to Give a Child This Holiday Season
1.
Gift #1 – A love of reading. Reading is one of
the most effective and inexpensive ways to spend time with your children that
will promote literacy and help them do better in school.
2.
Gift #2 – A desire to learn. Being excited about
learning is different from studying to earn a grade or please teachers and
parents. Passion for learning begins at home.
3.
Gift #3 – A chance to learn something new. Kids
need opportunities to experience new things so they can find out what they
enjoy, what they are good at and what inspires them.
4.
Gift #4 – A challenge to do well in school.
Children who do well in school have more opportunities available to them –
whether it’s a better paying job, a chance to continue their education or
simply enhanced self-esteem that helps them believe they can achieve any goal
they set.
5.
Gift #5 – Acknowledgement of their individuality. Children have different personalities, possess different
strengths, develop differently and require different kinds of support to meet
their individual needs.
6.
Gift #6 – Involvement in their education.
Research shows that when families are involved in their children’s education,
children earn higher grades and receive higher scores on tests, attend school
more regularly, complete more homework, demonstrate attitudes and behaviors that
are more positive, graduate from high school at higher rates, and are more
likely to enroll in higher education than students with less involved families.
7.
Gift #7 – Encouragement. There is a saying that,
“A child needs encouragement like a plant needs water.” Encouragement helps a
child grow and flourish.
8.
Gift #8 – Affirmation. Children need for us to
be supportive, but they also need us to tell them we care about and value them.
They need to hear that we love them – no matter what.
9.
Gift #9 – Laughter. Laughter is one way to connect as a
family. Share jokes, play games or watch a movie together. Laughter also makes
us feel good, and who doesn’t want to feel good?
10.
Gift #10 – One-on-one time. Time is not
something you can wrap in a box or put a bow on. It’s not something you can get
back or take back. But the value of time spent with a child is immeasurable.
This week’s words of the day are dividend (M), synonym (T), antonym
(W), pedestrian (Th), and comfortable (F). Next week’s words are equation (M),
infer (T), and predict (W).
Holiday parties will take place next Tuesday at 2:15. There will be a
full day of school on Wednesday.
I hope you have a safe and happy holiday and a Happy New Year!
-
Lisa
