Principal’s Message:
This week, I want to continue to cover the school rule of ‘Resiliency’. This one gets two weeks as it is probably the most difficult “rule” to enforce, as it is more of a state of mind. Because of this, it might be one of the most important.
Resiliency is the ability to adjust to or overcome change or adversity. This is something that our students need now more than ever. It is a challenge to have a growth mindset (if you have not read the book “Mindset” by Carol Dweck, I suggest it!), and to be able to get through a tough situation. We often tell our kids “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Are we giving our kids the tools and freedom to get through hard things? In the world of “helicopter parenting,” constant communication, and technology, are our kids being set up to solve issues for themselves?
When students deal with difficult social issues, we want to make sure that they are supported, but we also want them to learn how to deal with each other in the correct ways. We need to guide, scaffold and support these lines of Christian communication so that one day we can pull back the scaffolds, and they learn to do it on their own.
The same can be said for difficulties surrounding challenging school subjects or specific assignments. The messaging we as staff and parents want to give our students is: “this is difficult, but with some help, you can do it,” not “this is hard and therefore you will never be good at it.” We want to make sure that they are viewing themselves as able, rather than only focusing on the trouble. Doing things we’ve never done before that are hard is how we grow!
In John 16, it says: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” The character, strategies, and tools that we learn in difficult times equip us to move forward the next time we are presented with a challenge. We are only hurting ourselves if we do not learn the incredibly important concept of resilience.
Announcements:
Preschool Registration is OPEN
Preschool registration is now open for the general public.
Registration opened up at 10:00 am yesterday. If you would like to register your child or have a friend who is looking to do so, please complete or pass on this link.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Lisa Gatzke at [email protected] or Amber Falk at [email protected].
Farewell, Mrs. Schultz
We would like to wish Mrs. Schultz from 8S all the best as she goes on maternity leave and awaits the arrival of her first baby! The students in 8S, along with Mrs. Knoppers, organized a farewell party/baby shower for Mrs. Schultz to say goodbye, and all the best!
We will miss you, Mrs. Schultz! We wish you God’s richest blessings as you welcome your little one and become a mama!
Virtual Student-Led Conferences – February 24th
A student-led conference is a meeting with a student and his or her family and teachers during which the student shares his or her portfolio of work and discusses progress with family members. The student facilitates the meeting from start to finish. Student-led conferences can be implemented at all grade levels, K–9. Preparation for a conference creates an authentic purpose for good organizational and communication skills. The structure builds students’ sense of responsibility and accountability for their own learning, and it helps to hone their understanding of what it means to meet learning targets.
Successful student-led conferences require changes in the roles that teacher, student and parent have played in traditional parent conferencing. Teachers become facilitators, students become leaders and parents become active listeners and questioners.
What this will look like in a virtual context:
K-3 – Homeroom classes will create student portfolios for students to take home. Inside a student portfolio would be student work that has been recently completed for a variety of subjects. It could/would show a collection of assignments/assessments/project /art pieces etc that have occurred in classes. We then would have teacher “office hours” from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. During this time, teachers will be on “Google Meet” awaiting for parents to come into the meet. The meet would/could also have an experiment or game set up that the students could take their parents through how it works, but mainly an area where parents and students can pop in to ask the teacher any general questions.
Gr. 4 – Gr. 6 – Students will be asked to create a digital portfolio that includes a personal statement, reflection on academics, spirituality, celebrations, and goals. The “knowledge portion” will have students take a look at their powerschool marks, and reflect on how they can continue to grow throughout the rest of the year. We then would have teacher “office hours” from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. During this time, teachers will be on “Google Meet” awaiting for parents to come into the meet. The meet would/could also have an experiment or game set up that the students could take their parents through how it works, but mainly an area where parents and students can pop in to ask the teacher any general questions.
Gr. 7 – Gr. 9 – Students will be asked to create a digital portfolio (example included) that includes a personal statement, reflection on academics, spirituality, successes, and challenges. It would give an opportunity for students to highlight some of the work they have done, and how it has moved them towards a goal they have established. We then would have teacher “office hours” from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm. During this time, teachers will be on “Google Meet” awaiting for parents to come into the meet. The meet would/could also have an experiment or game set up that the students could take their parents through how it works, but mainly an area where parents and students can pop in to ask the teacher any general questions.
Teacher Role: To organize the conference environment and guarantee success. This includes guiding ‘portfolio’ collection, training students to walk through the folio with parents, and setting up the google meet situations. The teacher would guide students on how to take their parents through the process.
Student Role: Through all stages of the student-led conference process; preparation, implementation, and evaluation, the student becomes the key participant. The student becomes responsible for working with the teacher to identify strengths, identify learning needs, and collect evidence to validate learning. In student-led conferencing, as students prepare to conference with their parents, they engage in a self-reflection process about their achievement and future goals.
Parent Role: Parents become partners in learning when students led a conference. The opportunity for parents to have one-to-one time with their child focused on learning and achievement is important to the conferencing process. The parent’s role is to listen.
Celebration
We continue to do weekly virtual assemblies, which we call Celebration. Celebration will be held on Wednesdays for the month of February. An invitation with the link for Celebration will be sent out via email on Tuesdays.
Spring Program Request
We are now in the thick of planning for Shrek Jr. The Musical this March 23-24, 2022
We are asking for a bit of community assistance to replenish some of your building supplies to help keep our costs down.
- WOOD – The price of lumber has skyrocketed these past few years; if you have any building lumber that you don’t mind parting with (especially 1X1 and 2×4), we could use some for set building.
- PAINT – Our oil and latex paint stock is low. If you have any half-full paint cans at home (especially earth tones, gray, and black) and are not planning on using them, we will take them off your hands!
Please email Mr. Ward at [email protected] with what materials you have to donate/offer and we can then arrange to drop off.
Dress-Up Days!!
90s Day – On February 15, we will have made it to the 90th day of school! Students can dress in 90s attire to mark the day!
Twin Day – to celebrate February 22, 2022 (02-22-2022), we are going to have a twin dress-up day! Students and staff can choose a friend and dress alike for the day!
Lost & Found
In order to continue to limit the number of visitors in the school this year, we will continue to post a photo of our Lost & Found each week in the Chronicle. If you see an item that is your child’s, please have them pick it up the next day or email the office and we will make sure it gets home with them. We will only be holding items until the next Chronicle.
Athletics:
Basketball
Practices will continue weekly, however, games will be postponed at this time.
If your child is on one of the basketball teams, please complete the permission form on PowerSchool. That being said, you do not need to make payment at this time as we are uncertain as to what the season will look like this year. We will keep you posted.
LSCE Update:
Notice of Special Meeting
Special Society Meeting March 8 (save the date): – We are planning to hold a special meeting of the Society on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at 7:30 pm. At this meeting, we will present for your approval the budget and plans for the replacement of the school parking lot and an addition to the front of our main entrance. We anticipate this meeting will be held virtually, given the current COVID-19 restrictions. Further details will be provided in future issues of the Chronicle.
Calendar:
February:
- 10-11 – ATA Teacher’s Convention
- 15 – Hot Lunch – Dominos Pizza
- 15 – 90s Dress-Up Day
- 21 – Family Day
- 22 – Wok Box
March:
- 1 – Hot Lunch – KFC
- 2 – Early Dismissal @ 2:30 pm
- 2 – 100s Dress-Up Day
- 8 – Hot Lunch – Boston Pizza (Pasta)
- 11 – PD Day
- 15 – Hot Lunch – Subway
- 22 – Hot Lunch – Dominos Pizza
- 28 – Spring Break Begins
Community Events:
Please click on the image below to learn more about community events in our area! Also found under our Parents menu on the website.
Odds & Ends:
Sign In/Out Form:
In an effort to reduce the amount of shared touched surfaces, we will be using a QR code that you will need to scan with your phone for signing in and out of the school. You can also use this link if you are in your vehicle and need to sign out a student but can’t scan the code. This means that students/parents/visitors can scan the QR code when entering or leaving the office/school to sign in or sign out on their own phone/device.
Parents will also be able to sign their kids out from their vehicle in the parking lot when they arrive to pick them up for appts. etc. please use the link above if you can’t scan the QR code. We do ask that parents pull into a spot (not bus lane) where you can contact the office to let them know you have arrived and we can make eye contact with you
from the staff/office door. Students must also stop by the office before leaving the school. At that point, once a connection is made, we are able to send students out to you.
Facebook Page:
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