January 2008 Newsletter
By Pam Barker
January 18, 2008
Northfield Elementary “Learning and Fun All in One”
1900 Flaten Ave Phone: (308)436-5555
Gering, NE 69341 Fax: (308)436-4352
The mission of Gering Public Schools is to develop the academic,
personal and social skills of all
students and to prepare them to be productive, responsible global
citizens of the 21st century.
Dear Parents/Guardians:
Happy New Year! Welcome to 2008. We hope you enjoyed the holidays and were able to spend some quality time with your children.
The year 2008 is the time to be involved in your child’s education. Please visit school and work with your child’s teacher. Together we can make learning in 2008 a successful experience for your child.
SOCIAL SKILLS
During January, we will review the social skills “How to Make a
Request” and “How to Resist Peer Pressure.” We will learn the
following social skills:
Saying You’re Sorry
1. Think of what you are going to say.
2. Look at the person.
3. Say “I’m Sorry.”
4. Tell the person what you did wrong.
Controlling Your Anger
1. Take a deep breath.
2. Don’t hit, yell, or throw things
3. Tell yourself to calm down.
4. If possible, go to a quiet place.
Please talk with your child about these skills and practice the skills at home.
STAR
STAR is an acronym for the four steps in a problem-solving
model developed by B. David Brooks, Ph.D., a leading authority on
character education. The steps are:
Step One S Stop Take the appropriate amount of time to think
through the action about to be taken or to reflect on the action
that was taken.
Step Two T Think Make a mental or written list of options and possible consequences that are available or will result from a particular action; or consider what possible alternatives might have been available after an action was taken.
Step Three A Act Choose the best alternative and take
appropriate action; or discuss and think through other actions that
might have been taken.
Step Four R Review Ask, “Did my action get me closer to or further from my goals, and how did it affect others?” OR “Will my choice get me closer to or further from my goals and how will it affect others?”
Here is some thing you can do at home to support our STAR
efforts at school.
Set a family goal for using STAR. Post the goal in a place where
everyone can see it. At the end of the month use the fourth step of
STAR, and review whether or not the family accomplished its goal.
We know you will find STAR to be useful in many ways in your family
– to make decisions, to resolve conflict and to encourage
discussion.
WORD OF THE MONTH – SELF DISCIPLINE
Self-discipline means will power – taking charge of yourself
and choosing how to act, based on a set of internal rules. We all
feel lazy, rebellious, greedy, selfish, frustrated or angry
sometimes. If we always act on those feelings, other people have to
control us so we don’t hurt each other or ourselves. But if we are
self-disciplined, we control our own behavior and are more
independent and organized. Self-disciplined people create and
follow routine, habits and rules for themselves that bring order to
their lives, help them get along well with others and accomplish
their goals.
You show self-discipline when you:
• Stop and count to 10 (or 100!) before confronting someone you’re
mad at.
• Decide not to buy the candy you want right now, because you’d
rather save your money for a new skateboard.
• Do your homework first, so you’ll be able to watch your favorite
TV show later.
LUNCH TICKETS
Please remember to apply money to your child’s computerized
lunch card. Every morning in the gym from 7:15-7:45 students can
apply money to their card. To find out how much money is left on
the lunch card, you call the Central Office at 436-3125 and ask for
Deb.
LUNCH TIME
The cafeteria supervisors are concerned about students throwing
away their entire lunches or a majority of it at lunchtime. Please
discuss proper nutrition with your children, and encourage them to
eat their whole lunch. Thank you for your assistance.
RECEIPTS
Please continue to send COOP receipts, Box Top and Campbell
Soup labels, used printer cartridges, and Kemps bottle caps with
your children to school. Thank you for your continued support.
TRANSPORTATION
Once again we are requesting that parents do not let off/pick
up their children in the circle drive in front of Northfield. The
school and the transportation department are concerned about
student safety. When busses use this drive to let off/pick up
children and cars are parked in this area, it makes student safety
a concern. Please use the side street parking areas to let off/pick
up your children.
RESIDENCY/PHONE NUMBER CHANGES
Please let the Northfield School office know of address,
telephone number, and/or emergency phone number changes. It is very
helpful to have this information change in case the nurse, teacher,
and/or office needs to contact you about your child. Thank you for
your assistance.
FROM THE COUNSELOR’S OFFICE
Happy New Year! I hope you all had an enjoyable break and are
ready for 2008. I am sure it will be packed full of fun and
memorable events. Some people choose to start the year by making
resolutions. I have never been one of those people. I was always
afraid I would end up breaking them and then feel even worse about
myself because I couldn’t follow through on a resolution. It was
just easier not to make them. While I am still not planning on
making any resolutions, there are some things that I plan on doing
in 2008.
I plan on making sure that my children get enough sleep. Did you
know that an extra 15 minutes of sleep can turn a “B” student into
an “A” student? According to an ABC news report, (here is a link:
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/sleep-loss-lowers-grades/3033927232)
“A” students get 15 minutes more sleep every night than “B”
students. As a result, they score about 7 points higher on
standardized tests. Children’s brains are still a work in progress
until the age of 21. Kids between the ages of 5 and 12 should get 9
to 11 hours of sleep a night. Making sure my boys get enough sleep
is something I can do to help them be successful.
I also plan on sitting down with my family to eat. According to Parade Magazine, the University of Minnesota completed a study that showed that teens that ate with their parents on a regular basis received higher grades and were less depressed. Other studies done by Harvard University, Emory University, and Columbia University, showed that kids who ate with their families on a regular basis were less likely to be overweight, had better relationships, and were more likely to stay away from drugs and alcohol.
While I still do not plan on making any earth shattering resolutions, I realize there are things I need to do to help my boys, the two items above are just a start. There are a variety of other ways to help our children. Let’s resolve to make 2008 a great year for us, and our kids.
PBS NOTES
2007 has ended and 2008 is here. In 2007, Northfield students
showed that they know how to be safe, respectful, and responsible,
and in 2008 they will continue to demonstrate their incredible
abilities and talents. PBS incentives are still occurring and the
students continue to be successful. Checkered flags are still being
given to those classrooms that have demonstrated they know how to
be safe, respectful, and responsible. Tickets are being handed out
to those students caught being good. Classes are presenting skits
at monthly assemblies. Good citizenship awards are being presented.
The students continue to earn coins during lunch for good
behavior.
This month’s poster was created by Sydni Schledewitz, a fifth grader in Mr. Pauley’s homeroom class. In her illustration, Sydni has two students being safe while swinging. One student is saying “This is safe and fun” while the other replies, “Yeah this is safe.” Thanks Sydni for showing us that being safe can be fun too.
Upcoming Events in Physical Education:
Last year, I was proud to say that Northfield Elementary was
one of the top five schools in Nebraska for the amount of money
raised for the American Heart Association. Our final total was
$5,816.36. I am proud, yet humbled, to say that Northfield School
is one of the best schools in the state when it comes to the act of
giving. Last month, I was again reminded of this generosity when
our students raised over $1000 dollars for the Gift of Love program
to give to families in need.
This year, our Jump Rope for Heart activities will begin the
first week of February. My goal for 2008 is to hopefully hit the
$6000 mark. Instead of kissing a pig (which was far worse than I
imagined), I would like to create a PowerPoint presentation as a
tribute to all the loved ones we have lost to a heart condition. I
encourage your child to bring in any pictures of family or friends
who have either suffered or died from a heart condition. Please
include names, ages and any other information you would like
presented. This tribute will be shown to the entire school as a
closure to the fundraising events.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at school.
YMCA AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
After school day camp is offered in Gering Public Schools. The
YMCA after school camp is licensed by the State of Nebraska as a
care provider. The trained staff assists students with daily
homework. They also take field trips and have monthly,
multicultural, Science and Drama activities as well as weekly
crafts. After school day camp meets in the gym at 3:00 Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and 2:00 on Wednesday. Day camp is $80
monthly, $25 weekly or $6 daily. Scholarships and co-pays are
available and can be applied for at the YMCA, ask for Brandon or
you can register on site.
DISMISSAL TIME
Students are dismissed at 3:00 daily except for Wednesdays and
students are dismissed at 2:00 on this day. For the students’
safety, if no one has picked them up by 3:30 p.m., your child will
be taken to the YMCA After School Program in the gym where the
parent can pick them up. We have numerous students who are
consistently waiting for a ride well after 3:30 p.m. Thank you for
your assistance in this matter.
Any questions or concerns please call the office 436-5555.
Sincerely,
Pam Barker
Pam Barker, Principal
