Dear Eisenhower Families,
A big THANK YOU goes out to all of our room parent party volunteers for putting together such wonderful parties. The children had a wonderful day, thanks to your tremendous efforts and partnership!
As we write, we just wanted to remind all of our families that we are quickly coming to the completion of our first trimester of learning. Your children, our students, are in outstanding hands with our teams. Achievement is occurring because the children are being nurtured, but, more importantly, growth is occurring because the children have advocates in both you and us. We all share in a partnership in seeing them grow and what an exciting endeavor it is to see! It gives all of our lives purpose and the future hope and promise. However, now more than ever, as learning expectations increase, we continue to ask your support with ensuring that homework review and reading time with your child continue to be scheduled on a regular nightly basis.
After Parent-Teacher Conferences, it's important to reflect with our children upon their growth. Just as important as earning grades, we are able to discuss their social-emotional progress as well as their classroom participation, focus, and level of enthusiasm. Even though assessment data, homework, and in-class assignments play crucial roles in understanding each and every child’s learning development, we always want to make sure that our conversations focus around several fundamental learning skills that you most likely discussed during parent-teacher conferences.
1) Are you having positive interactions with your classmates?
2) Do you participate in small group and whole class discussions;
contributing to the discussion, sharing your ideas, and asking questions?
3) These are some additional strategies that we discussed with your teacher
that we can reinforce at home to help you with this concept(s) and/or
skill(s) with 10-15 minutes of practice each night.
As we foster these conversations, you will find your relationship with your own child’s learning growing. Equally as valuable is the insight it gives our relationship with you and your child in continuing to nurture them down a path of lifelong learning.
As we move into the cooler months, please make sure your child is dressed for the weather. Elementary students have outdoor recess whenever possible. Students perform better when they get outdoors, even if only for a few minutes. We follow the recess guidelines below:
- Outdoor Recess: 10 degrees F and higher (including wind chill)
- Inside Recess: below 10 degrees F (including wind chill)
When the weather turns snowy, students must have boots, gloves and snow pants to play in the snow. Those who don’t must stay on the blacktop area. Parents should assist children in preparing and wearing appropriate clothing for the weather conditions.
Second Step SEL Program
In our bi-monthly newsletter, you'll see summaries and activities for the upcoming weeks' lessons in kindergarten and first grade. The activities below will allow you to reinforce Second Step language, skills, and goals at home. If you have any questions about Second Step Elementary, please don’t hesitate to contact me or your child’s teacher for more information. Thank you for your support as we work to build a safe and supportive school community.
Kindergarten
Lesson 10: What Are They Feeling?
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will show that they can use body language and context clues to figure out how someone is feeling. They’ll also show they can use slow breathing as a way to help themselves feel calm when they encounter strong feelings.
Try This at Home
Ask your child to tell you how they think others around them might be feeling, for example a sibling or a character in a story, a movie, or a TV show.
Lesson 11: We Can Be Kind
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that a kind act is something they can do to help someone feel good. They’ll practice suggesting kind acts to do for people in different scenarios.
Try This at Home
Encourage your child to think of a kind act they could do for someone, for example a sibling, grandparent, or neighbor.
First Grade
Lesson 10: Noticing Clues
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will show that they can use body language and context clues to figure out how someone is feeling. They’ll also show that they know ways to help themselves feel calm when they encounter strong feelings.
Try This at Home
Ask your child to tell you some ways they’ve learned to feel calm when they get upset. Have them teach you how to use slow counting to feel calm.
Lesson 11: The Power of Kind Acts
Summary
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that a kind act is something they can do to help someone feel good. They’ll practice suggesting kind acts to do for people in different scenarios.
Try This at Home
Encourage your child to think of a kind act they could do for someone, for example a sibling, grandparent, or neighbor.
Have a great weekend,
Your Eisenhower Family,
Luke Lambatos, Ed.D., Ed.S.
Principal
Please remember, if you have any
questions or concerns, do not
hesitate to contact me at
(847) 870-5040 or
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Inspiration + Dedication = Growth
