THE AVENUE - Edition 8 (9/30/2020)

Volume 3 | Edition 8 | 2020-2021

September 30, 2020

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Greetings Parents,

Thank you to the many families who attended the “Parents Need SEL Too” virtual presentation yesterday. The LGUSD Counseling & Wellness Team, The Heard Alliance, and all staff members continue to work diligently to support students and families in our community. In the coming weeks, I will be highlighting several of the take-aways from the presentation.

SEL is naturally and often intentionally integrated into the instructional day. Teachers have classroom rituals and routines including morning greetings, check-ins, story time, cooperative games, responsive communication, and service learning. However, did you know that SEL is not restricted to only the instructional day? SEL at home includes family rituals and routines including regular schedules, eating meals together, engaging in conversations about the school day, physical activities, story time, cooperative games, responsive communication, and service learning.

As we continue to partner in a parallel SEL quest to support ALL students in the school and home environment, I look forward to proceeding with grace and encourage you to do the same. Our students are counting on us!

In education together,

Jenna Mittleman

Principal, Daves Avenue Elementary School

Upcoming Meetings

Join us today for the School Site Council Meeting,

Wednesday, September 30, 2020 at 2:30pm

ZOOM LINK

All are welcome to join our next virtual School Site Council meeting of the 2020-2021 school year:

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

at 2:30pm

ZOOM LINK

All are also welcome to join our next virtual Daves Avenue Home & School Club (HSC) meeting of the 2020-2021 school year:

Thursday, October 8, 2020 at 2:30pm

ZOOM LINK

PARENTING CONTINUUM

Keep Your Bucket Full Series (Part 2 of 3) from Parenting Continuum

Last week, we talked about your mental-emotional well-being as a bucket that gets filled when you focus on positivity (empathy, gratitude, curiosity, joyful creativity, calm, etc.) and depleted with negativity (stress, anxiety, frustration, anger, disappointment, shame, guilt, etc.). We explored why your bucket may feel lower than usual and you got a baseline with Positive Intelligence (PQ) assessment.

To refer back to the last Avenue Newsletter, VIEW HERE

This week, we dig into strategies to drain less and fill more.

Drain Less

Focus on your Circle of Influence. Notice whether you are investing your time and energy on things within your control and influence or outside of them. For example, worrying about climate change or economic stability will not bring about change. Instead look for ways that you can take personal action or influence change. And then make peace with things outside your control knowing that you have done what you can.

Choose a healthy relationship with social media. Catching up on life events from close friends and family can bring great joy. Reading a recent article on a passion area can spark critical thinking. Limit your COVID-19 related news to 10 minutes or less, says a neurologist focused on leadership development. The same could be said for any other issue from natural disasters to political news to social justice. Focus your news on any new facts or perspectives and what actions you can take.

Reframe your self-talk. Remove SHOULD from your vocabulary - either do or do not and make peace with it. The word “should” is a clear sign of your inner critic messing with you. If it is important to you, try a reframe like “I get to workout”, “I get to learn something new”, or “I get to spend more time with my family”.

Fill More

Quarantine-innovate kudos! High five to all the new trial hikers, social distance picnickers, car parade celebrators, and businesses re-imaging work. Give yourself credit for all the things that you and your family have re-imagined and innovated this year!

Find the silver lining. This can be a great shift when running low on innovation and needing to find the good in what is.

Boost your happiness chemicals in your brain with simple activities like petting your dog or 1 minute of sunshine. One of my favorites is the laugh challenge. Find 1 or 2 other people (kids are amazing at this challenge). Set a timer for 60 minutes and at the same time each do the goofiest laugh you can. It starts out a bit contrived and before you know it you are cracking yourselves up.

Replace “I’ll be happy when” with “3 things I am grateful for today are”. Share your gratitude with others. It is contagious. My family likes to share what we are grateful for before dinner each night. This focus on gratitude shifts your brain chemistry.

Spark positive conversation. Acknowledge something about another person. Share something cool you are reading, watching, or making. Ask “what’s been your best quarantine hack?” Positive focus shifts our mind into curiosity, empathy, possibilities, and activation.

Ask yourself. “What do I need to do,

so that within one year I can say this current situation

is the best thing that could have ever happened to me?”

About the Author: Erin McAuley is a leadership expert and change coach trained in neuroscience and positive intelligence (PQ). She coaches working parents, leaders, and teams to thrive in the now and achieve their “what’s next”. She and her husband Jeff live in Monte Sereno with their 2nd and 3rd grader who are attending virtual school at home. “Our kids are constantly teaching us lessons in self-discovery and change agility.” www.bechange.coach

ONE COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN

DONATE TO ONE COMMUNITY LG

WHAT BEING ON THE BOARD MEANS TO ME

"Being on the board has really enriched my life, especially during Covid. Getting to know and meeting with a small group of parents and school leaders has kept me informed, allowed me to be a part of positive change and overall has been a fun way to keep my spirits up during tough times. The HSC board is a fabulous group of people who care a lot and work together to take action." -Barbara McInerney, Co-treasurer

Current positions open: The H&SC Board is looking for a new member ASAP to serve in the position of President-Elect. The President-Elect will be an invaluable member of the Board this year who will transition to H&SC President for the 2021-2022 school year, and then to Parliamentarian for the 2022-2023 school year. The ideal candidate will be a parent with children in the 3rd grade or younger, who wants to take on a leadership role at Daves Avenue supported by a great team! The role is absolutely open to working parents. Interested? Have more questions? Or know someone who may be a great candidate?

In addition, the Room Parent Coordinator position is now OPEN.

If any of the roles interests you, please email our Board Vice-President, Emma Garner.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Since 1947, our families have been residents of Los Gatos and K-12 students. Our focus has always been on how we can give back to this wonderful place in which we live, go to school, and raise our families. The betterment of our surroundings and the connection of our community is at the forefront of our thoughts and efforts at Hall & Burnett Orthodontics.

GIRL SCOUTS TROOP AT DAVES AVE.

The Girl Scout troop at Daves Avenue is calling all who may be interested in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade to dance like your favorite animal later today on September 30^th at 4 PM! Join us to have fun and learn more about Girl Scouts:

Event Link

FOOD SERVICES UPDATE

Ken's Top Notch Produce has agreed to donate some leftover organic fruits and vegetables at the end of the Los Gatos Farmers Market to LGUSD. Through the help of our wellness committee and food service staff we are able to preserve, clean and package this fruit on Sundays and Mondays. This allows us to provide a package of free organic fruits and vegetables to those who participate in our food programs. For those interested they will be available, while supplies last, with our meals on Mondays. Come participate at the Fisher drive through meal pickup.

Pickup at Fisher Middle School Monday - Friday

Breakfast 8am

Lunch 12pm

Meals are free to those 18 and under regardless of income.