January 13th, 2017
Principal's Message
 
The Balance of Technology Challenge

Handheld devices such as iPods, iPads and smartphones are now a part of a child's life, beginning at a very young age. In education, we use these devices to enhance curriculum and instruction and to best meet the needs of all students. At Highlands, we have had iPods in circulation for 10 years; currently we have one to one chromebooks in grades 3-5. Primary age students have chromebooks and ipads involved in their learning daily too.These have been used for math and reading basic skills practice as well as for writing and creative projects, really everything. Technology has become another way in which students learn today. As students become more comfortable with these devices, we as a community need to be continuously talking about appropriateness and safety.

As a parent 12 years ago, I was frustrated with my eight-year old son's use of his Nintendo Game Boy (a handheld gaming device). I limited him to only playing in the car when we were traveling longer than 30 minutes. Now with our third child she has been creating Google presentations and movie trailers for her book reports as well as messaging with friends since around second grade. As a family, we are trying to find ways to accept and embrace her love for technology while striking a balance of what is age-appropriate. Today, parents are faced with new technology challenges daily. The world is utterly accessible to our children, and this is wonderful but also daunting. How do we keep them safe, treating each other kindly and engaged in "real" life? These are questions I pose to you as families at Highlands to discuss with your children. Kids are going to be actively engaged in technology for the rest of their lives, it is their reality, but how do we manage it and keep it in control?

As principal, I have had multiple incidents with students and their personal devices (mostly phones and chromebooks). The guidelines and rules for the devices need to be very clear for children. Some rules are established by the school, but most are assigned by you at home. Here are a few ideas taken from a Yahoo News article to begin the discussion with your child as he/she begin or continue to use a personal device.

 

  • The device is mine, I am allowing you to use it. Aren't I great!
  • Always have the device locked with a passcode (that I know).
  • The device will always have a curfew. It will be plugged into the charger at ____time and not taken until _____time the next day.
  • You are responsible for the device at all times. If it breaks or vanishes, it is your responsibility to replace or fix.
  • Do not use the device to lie, fool or deceive another. Do not involve yourself in conversations that hurt other feelings. Be a good friend. Let an adult know if you receive a hurtful message about another child.
  • Never text, email or say anything through the device you would not say in person. Also understand that once you send a message, it is impossible to completely delete. Do not say or do anything you do not want everyone to know. Photos and videos included, once sent they live in cyber world and can be seen. (It is not always comfortable to have these discussions, but kids need to understand how serious it is.)
  • You will not use it while we are out at a restaurant or a guest in someone's home.
  • When I tell you to put it away, there will be no arguing or complaining.
  • You will make mistakes. I will take away your device, we will sit down and talk about it and you will be able to try again.

It is important for children to know we are all on the same team, and that the parameters are in place so they can be successful in life with technology. So much has changed in the brief time that I have been a mother; who knows what things will be like in another ten years? I do know that technology will continue to be a wonderful tool for us all, but I will still be asking children to wonder, to read a book with (literal) pages, to listen and explore nature, to draw with colored pencils, to debate their own ideas, and to play without technology, and I hope you will as well.

I invite you to come to the PTO general meeting on January 24th at 7-830 For a discussion about technology in the district. We will try and answer all the questions you might have around Infinite Campus, Schoology and anything else that is on your mind.
Wonderful things are happening every day! We want to share. Twitter= @Highlands_ELEM FB= @HLHappenings
Have a very happy break and welcome 2017!
Warmest regards,
Katie
I would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes and give me some feedback about how the year is going and how I can keep improving my work, energy and efforts for you. This is anonymous form unless you decide to add your name. Thanks!

Highlands Happenings
All are welcome!
Tuesday January 17 5:30-7:00
RACE Dinner and Discussion(Goal setting)
 
This meeting will be to establish a 3-5 year plan for the Highlands Race dinner and discussions. I have included the Dine w/9 crew to launch us as well into a year of dining, discussing and learning together. Mike Kosim and I will discuss Dine w/9 and have a sign-up sheet for the when and where for the months ahead. Exciting!
Lena Jones and John Ford will be leading our goals setting dialogue. This will be a great way for us to begin the new year. Thanks to all who can participate. This is not a closed event so please share with anyone who may be interested the more voices at the table the better. Below is the community forms happening over the next few months. We will be making a commitment to not only push the HL work forward but also to support the community's efforts as well.

"A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota,
Normandale Auditorium.   
 Here is the webpage, which includes the following highlights:
 
"A Good Time for the Truth: Race in Minnesota," is a collection edited by local author Sun Yung Shin of 16 essays by diverse Minnesota writers.  It will be the subject of three of the sessions.  Each will feature a panel of essay writers, with an opportunity for facilitated discussion reflecting on their stories and how they impact the Edina community.
 
These sessions will take place from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
·          Monday, January 23
·          Thursday, March 16
·          Tuesday, April 18

Coming Soon...
Need: Yarn donations would be great!

January- MAHONEY MAKERS CHALLENGE-
1/16-1/27- Lunch/recess Knitting circles

1st step- Finger knitting - I will be having knitting circles during lunch/ recess in the lab all of next two weeks. I need any and all students interested in learning to finger knit and/ if he or she already knows how, all the better! The more finger knitting we have the brighter and more interesting the the end project will be. Please have your child tell his/her teacher if they are interested! 


January Open Lab- Sewing Challenge
Week of 1/30-2/ 3 classes throughout the week and students will be able to come during lunch/recess. Take advantage of the space, project, supplies and learning fun for students? The schedule and information google slides will be out next week. We might have a family Open lab event as well that week so keep a look out and be sure to come and play/learn.


We had a fun lunch guest this week!
 
Please welcome Laura Burger our new speech teacher. She will be partnering with Isabel to provide our students with high quality service. 

You're invited to please join us for a
Parent Informational Night - Using District Web Tools 
at the General PTO Meeting
Tuesday January 24th 7:00 - 8:30PM
in the Highlands Media Center
 
Having trouble with Infinite Campus?  Wondering how to pay for your school lunches?  You are not alone.  Please join the PTO and panel with Lisa Dooley for a Parent Informational night about using District Web Tools.
 
We will discuss;
  • Infinite Campus
  • FeePay/Lunch accounts
  • Schoology  - for Elementary
  • District, School, PTO and Media Web sites
  • What to teach kids about reliability of sources and fake news
  • and any other questions..
Media Message
By Lisa Dooley, Media Specialist
 
Happy New Year everyone! Here is a link to the American Library Association's list of the best children's books published in 2016. We own many of these thanks to the generous funding from the Highlands PTO!


PTO News
Learn what is going on and volunteer.
 
IFSE 2017 Tuesday, February 28 - Save the date!
Calling all scientists, inventors, researchers and dreamers. Registration for the 2017 Highlands Imagination Fair and Science Expo is open. Visit the IFSE event page for event details, project idea resources and to register.

DAVANNI'S PIZZA NIGHT & FUNDRAISER
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Take the night off from cooking! Eat in or carry out - either way Davanni's on Gus Lane in Edina will donate 20% of your pretax order amount to the Highlands PTO as part of Davanni's Fundraiser. NEW THIS YEAR - Lunchtime sales count too! So plan your lunch or dinner at Davanni's on January 31st 11:00 - 1:00 and 4:00 - 8:00.
 
CARNIVAL is coming soon - We need help planning
Another FABULOUS PARTY    Tuesday, January 31, 2017
The next planning meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 31st at Davanni's. Come join the team, eat pizza, plan a party and raise funds for Highlands. All in one night! Specifically need help with communications, art, donations, volunteer coordinator and dinner. Email any questions to Diane Lindquist < dianelindquist99@gmail.com or Mary-Pat Pusey at maripatpusey@yahoo.com

Shopping For Others or Just Yourself?
Don't forget to use Amazon Smile when shopping at Amazon. Sign up and the Highlands PTO will receive a portion of each sale. Every bit helps.

 
You're invited to please join us for a
Parent Informational Night - Using District Web Tools 
at the General PTO Meeting
Tuesday January 24th 7:00 - 8:30PM
in the Highlands Media Center
 
Having trouble with Infinite Campus?  Wondering how to pay for your school lunches?  You are not alone.  Please join the PTO and panel with Lisa Dooley for a Parent Informational night about using District Web Tools.
 
We will discuss;
  • Infinite Campus
  • FeePay/Lunch accounts
  • Schoology  - for Elementary
  • District, School, PTO and Media Web sites
  • What to teach kids about reliability of sources and fake news
    
Box Tops - Please k eep them coming.
BoxTops is a great fundraiser and so easy to do. You'll find BoxTops on so many of the products that you use on a daily basis. Just clip the BoxTops and send them in to the collection box in the office or to your teacher.   Thank you.
Announcements
Impact Lives was a marvelous success.
Thank you for all you did to help impact so many.
 
What a generous community we work in! 
The totals for Impact Lives: 
$14,785.00 raised = 73,925 meals = 14,785 bags = 616 boxes
Thank you to everyone who participated to make our service learning project a huge success!


Edina PCN presents
Kids, Parents and Power Struggles:
The Secret to Managing the Intensity   by Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, Ed.D.

Monday, January 30th, 2017
Edina Performing Arts Center (EPAC)
Edina High School   7:00 - 9:00 Free.

How do you discipline the child who refuses to take "no" for an answer and seems to know the perfect trigger to push your buttons? Do you worry that if you "give in" today, you will be giving in forever? What do you do when every day activities like bedtime, homework and getting out the door become battles nobody wins? Mary Sheedy Kurcinka will help parents develop an understanding about what is behind their child's
challenging behavior, how to build a better relationship with their children and effective tools and techniques for preventing the daily struggles and managing the intensity. Known for her real-life examples, Mary Sheedy Kurcinka links research-based information with typical challenging behaviors and provides practical solutions which really work. She is an internationally recognized lecturer and parent educator and the
author of the top selling parenting books Raising your Spirited Child, Sleepless in America: Is Your Child Misbehaving or Missing Sleep and Kids, Parents and Power Struggles . She recently earned a spot on Amazon's Top 25 Parent Education authors list.

Mary Sheedy Kurcinka holds a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership
from Hamline University and a Master's degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota.

CEU credits available for $20 Donations always welcome
www.edinapcn.com
Edina PCN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing recognized parenting resources to the Edina community. All forums are free.




Edina Students Art Show

Join the artists and their families for this reception to celebrate the art created by students from the six Edina elementary schools.  Art will be on display December 15th, 2016 through February 9, 2017.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Edina Library and presented in collaboration with Edina Public Schools.



Upcoming Events - Bulletin
Week of January 16th  - 120th

Monday 16th - No school Martin Luther King Day Observed

Tuesday 17th 
 N. Baker/Gilmore Field Trip

9:30 - 11:45
Nature Center
Finger Knitting Circle

11:50 - 1:30
Lab
Paulsen/Stageberg Field Trip

1:30 - 3:45
Nature Center
Leadership

3:00
Gym
Dinner & Discussion

5:30 - 7:00
Media Center

Wednesday 18th
Literacy Rubric Help (Linden)

8:00 - 9:00 Media Center
Annamarie Thomas in K

9:30 - 12:30
Kindergarten
Finger Knitting Circle

11:50 - 1:30
Lab
UST Play Date Makey Makey

7:00 - 9:00
Lab Makers Space

Thursday 19th
5th Graders Skiing

9:30 - 3:45
Hyland Hills
Community Ed - Chess

3:55 - 4:55
Rm 32
Community Ed - Piano Lessons

4:00 - 7:00
Rm
5

Friday 20th No School - Teacher Data Day
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
Highlands Elementary School
5505 Doncaster Way,  Edina, MN 55436
Office: 952-848-4500 | 
Attendance: 952-848-4502

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