S.O.A.R. Newsletter
November 9, 2007
by Debbie Fischgrabe
November 09, 2007
S.O.A.R. Program
Putnam Co. R-I School District
Newsletter – November 9, 2007
FAMILY FUN NIGHT COMING SOON
A Family Fun Night is planned for Monday, November 19, 2007, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The students are preparing some entertainment for you to enjoy and each family will make a pizza to take home for their dinner. Please complete the attached form and send it back with your student on Monday so that Mr. Reed can assign parts for the puppet show and we will have adequate supplies available for the pizza for your family.
HIGLIGHTS OF THIS PAST WEEK
This has been a very busy week with all of the S.O.A.R. activities that your children have been involved in. Mrs. LeAnn shared the story of Helen Keller with the students and Donna Altiser, PC deaf education teacher, visited the classroom to teach the children the basic alphabet and how to sign their names. They practiced what they learned by playing Hangman.
The Unionville Fire Dept. visited on Wednesday to share information on fire safety. The students got a close-up look at the fire truck and were deputized by Chief Dover.
PC high school freshman, Jake Hyde, spent time with the S.O.A.R. Program on Wednesday as part of an F.C.C.L.A. project that he is designing on all aspects of safety. He will continue to work on his on-going emergency plan over the next few months.
Wednesday was the first early out Wednesday that we have had in our new facilities. It was a great opportunity to do fire, earthquake and tornado drills. And, around all of these activities, we still found time to work on homework and class assignments.
Walter Griffen visited the classroom on Friday to share stories and singing.
THE FOUR RULES
Mr. Reed and Mrs. LeAnn discussed the “Four Rules of Respect” which will govern the S.O.A.R. Program: (1) Respect yourself; (2) Respect your classmates; (3) Respect your teachers; and (4) Respect the school property. Mrs. Fischgrabe talked to the students about proper behavior on the bus and explained that riding the bus is a privilege.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Last week I provided the first ten recommendations from, Raising Kids with Care: 50 Ways to Help Your WHOLE FAMILY Thrive. To continue with that thought: 11) Set clear boundaries and expectations for your children; 12) Ask your kids where they’re going and who they’ll be with; 13) Avoid doing too much – say no to some requests without feeling guilty; 14) Eat together as a family whenever possible; 15) Read aloud with your child; 16) Be excited about your child’s interests; 17) Take time to develop your own special strengths and talents; 18) Ask for a your child’s opinion; 19) Spend time alone with your significant other and your adult friends; 20) Don’t worry if the house is a little messy sometimes.
FINAL WORDS FROM THE STAFF
Again this week we continue to adjust our classroom for additional students that have enrolled. We are excited about the positive changes that we continue to make to accommodate the needs of our students. We thank you, their parents, for your support, your flexibility, and willingness to partner with us to help our program continue to grow and prosper. In closing I want to pass on a story that I read recently. It spoke to me and I want to share it with you . . .
AND, AND,
AND...
A Motivational
Story
Peeking out
from the corner of my desk blotter is a note, slowly yellowing and
bent from time. It is a card from my mother, containing only four
sentences. In it, she praises my abilities as a writer
without qualification.
Each sentence is full with love, offering
specific examples of what my pursuit has meant to her and my
father. The word "but" never appears on the card; however the
word "and" is there almost a half dozen times.
Every time I read it -- which is almost every
day -- I am reminded to ask myself if I am doing the same
thing for my daughters. I've asked myself how many times I've
"but-ted" them, and me, out of happiness. I hate to say that it's
more often than I'd like to admit.
Although our eldest daughter usually got all A's
on her report card, there was never a semester when at least one
teacher would not suggest that she talked too much in class. I
always forgot to ask them if she was making improvement in
controlling her behavior, if her comments contributed to the
discussion in progress or encouraged a quieter child to talk.
Instead, I would come home and greet her with, "Congratulations!
Your Dad and I are very proud of your accomplishment, but could you
try to tone it down in class?"
The same was true of our younger daughter. Like
her sister, she is a lovely, bright, articulate and friendly child.
She also treats the floor of her room and the bathroom as a closet,
which has provoked me to say on more than one occasion, "Yes, that
project is great, but clean up your room!"
I've noticed that other parents do the same
thing. "Our whole family was together for Christmas, but Kyle
skipped out early to play his new computer game." "The hockey team
won, but Mike should have
made that last goal." "Amy's
the homecoming queen, but now she wants $200 to buy a new dress and
shoes." But, but, but.
Instead, what I learned from my mother is that
if you really want love to flow to your children, start thinking
"and, and, and..." instead. For example: "Our whole family
was together for Christmas dinner, and Kyle mastered his new
computer game before the night was through." "The hockey team won,
and Mike did his best the whole game." "Amy's the homecoming queen,
and she's going to look gorgeous!"
The fact is that "but" feels bad -- "and" feels
good. And when it comes to our children, feeling good is definitely
the way to go. When they feel good about themselves and what they
are doing, they do more of it, building their self-confidence,
their judgment and their harmonious connections to others. When
everything they say, think or do is qualified or put down in some
way, their joy sours and their anger soars.
This is not to say that children don't need or
won't respond to their parents' expectations. They do and they
will, regardless of whether those expectations are good or bad.
When those expectations are consistently bright and positive and
then are taught, modeled and expressed, amazing things happen. "I
see you made a mistake. And I know you are intelligent enough to
figure out what you did wrong and make a better decision next
time." Or, "You've been spending hours on that project, and I'd
love to have you explain it to me." Or, "We work hard for our
money, and I know you can help figure out a way to pay for what you
want."
It's not enough just to say we love our
children. In a time when frustration has grown fierce, we can no
longer afford to limit love's expression. If we want to tone down
the sound of violence in our society, we're going to have to turn
up the volume on noticing, praising, guiding and participating in
what is right with our children.
"No more buts!" is a clarion call for joy. It's
also a challenge, the opportunity fresh before us every day to put
our attention on what is good and promising about our children, and
to believe with all our hearts that they will eventually be able to
see the same in us and the people with whom they will ultimately
live, work and serve.
And if I ever forget, I have my mother's note to
remind me.
Author Unknown
Have a great weekend!
Ms. Debbie, Ms. LeAnn, Mr. Reed, Ms. Nellie and Ms. Elladean
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PARENT NIGHT PLANNING SHEET
Student(s):
_______ I will attend the Parent Night on November 19th, 2007 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. How many will be attending from your family? _______
________ I will not attend the Parent Night on November 19th, 2007 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. How many will be attending from your family? _______
Please fill out the above information and send it back with your student on Monday, November 12, 2007 so puppet show parts may be assigned and grocery items may be purchased for the pizzas.
Parent’s Signature
