S.O.A.R. Newsletter
March 18, 2008
by Debbie Fischgrabe
March 25, 2008
S.O.A.R. Program
Putnam Co. R-I School District
Newsletter – March 18, 2008
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEK
Students from the S.O.A.R. Program
Leprechauns, leprechauns, has anyone seen a leprechaun? The S.O.A.R. students built leprechaun traps last Friday in hopes of catching one of the little green faeries that Irish folklore and mythology claims to inhabit Ireland. Monday’s inspection of the traps provided evidence that “someone” had visited the classroom. Mysterious green footprints were found and gold chocolate coins were left. Reports indicate that no actual leprechauns were caught, but remember, they are tricky little creatures!
UPCOMING EVENTS
I have scheduled another photography class in the near future and Mr. Garber will be “buzzing” in to share information on one of his hobbies, beekeeping.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Kids who are physically active are more likely to be academically active and alert in school according to the National Association for Sport and Physical Education. The KidsHealth website which is provided by the Nemours Foundation tells us that “Ideally, sixty minutes is how much physical activity kids should get each day of the week. But as kids get older, with increasing demands on their time, getting a full hour of exercise can become a challenge. Some kids may gravitate toward sedentary pursuits like watching TV and computer time. Even doing a lot of studying and reading, while important, can result in too little physical activity.
But being active is a key component of good health for all school-age kids. It will strengthen their muscles and bones and ensure that their bodies are capable of doing normal kid stuff, like lifting a backpack or running a race. It also will help control their weight and decrease their risk of obesity-related illnesses. So how do you get kids motivated to be active, especially those who aren't natural athletes?
Your child can be fit even if he or she isn't the type to win sports trophies. The key is finding activities your child enjoys. The options are many — from in-line skating, to bike riding, to tennis, or even badminton. When kids find an activity that's fun, they'll do it a lot, get better at it, feel accomplished, and want to do it even more. Likewise, if you push them into activities they don't like, they're unlikely to want to participate and will end up feeling frustrated.”
This is an interesting website with lots of good information for parents. Ultimately, our children need us to be supportive and encouraging when considering activities for them to be involved in. Team activities are a wonderful learning opportunity which teaches many valuable lessons as well as offering an opportunities for strengthening and building young, developing bodies.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This afternoon your students have been involved with decorating eggs, and other fun activities. There is an excitement throughout the school, anticipating the break that all will have from classes and homework. I wish you all a fun-filled holiday—and a restful time with your families. Happy Easter!
Ms. Debbie, Ms. LeAnn, Mr. Reed, Ms. Nellie and Ms. Elladean
