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From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parents,

Sometimes, it’s just a nagging feeling—the sense that maybe what a child is experiencing isn’t just a normal phase but is something that needs looking into. Whether it’s moodiness or baby fat, it’s helpful to know when to check with the experts.

Putting on Pounds. All children go through times when their weight varies. It’s common, for example, for kids to gain a pound or two right before they have a growth spurt, after which they return to their normal shape. But it’s important for families to be aware when a child’s weight gain is more than normal. Not only is obesity linked to a host of serious, lifetime diseases, like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, but it can also cause a child to have self-esteem issues.

The best way to determine if a child is carrying too much weight is to look at the Body Mass Index (BMI) formula for
children. The chart is available online at [Click to view link]. If the results
show that your child has a weight problem, you may want to confirm it with the doctor or nurse, who can use methods like a skin fold test to give a more accurate result. Some children with a high BMI are not overweight, but most do end up needing to shed a few pounds. Following through on this might be difficult at first, but the payoff will last a lifetime.

Acting Out. Is your child simply acting out, or can it be something more serious, such as attention-deficit disorder (ADD) or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? While there are many tests that children undergo before they’re actually diagnosed with one of these conditions, it’s safe to say that these children have an unusually hard time concentrating. Their energy levels are so high that they are restless and have real difficulty keeping still. They also find it unbearably hard to wait their turn.

A child who is dealing with problems like these is suffering and needs your help. If you notice these problems or if your child’s teacher has indicated that your child is having behavior issues in class.  A counselor will be able to discuss with you the process of getting your child tested, which will involve working with your family doctor and a child psychologist, as well as the school.

Feeling Down. Adults are not the only people who can suffer from depression; children have been diagnosed with it,
too. The first thing to consider is how long the feeling of sadness has lasted.

Everyone is sad from time to time, but depression can last for weeks, months, or even longer. Also, when children
are sad, they can usually tell you why; however, children who are depressed typically can’t express why they’re feeling so low. Some of the symptoms of depression in children include problems with sleeping, nightmares and unusual anger.

 

Schoolwork often suffers, as children who are depressed don’t feel motivated to try or participate. Depressed children also pull away from their friends and family members. It is absolutely vital that, if you sense your child is suffering from depression, you have him or her seen and evaluated. You can begin with a child psychologist. Depression is treatable and often curable. The important thing is to get help.

 

Debbie Bohn, Principal

Food Drive for “Help the Children”

For the month of April, the Student Council will collect peanut butter and jelly.

 

Sixth Grade Promotion Parent Meeting

There will be a Sixth Grade Promotion Parent Meeting on April 14^th at 7:00pm in the Little MPR.  More ...

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Abajo se encuentra el boletin en Espanol

 

From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parents,

Disrespectful, disruptive behavior that begins as early as kindergarten has become a very serious problem in many

classrooms across the country. School children who once uttered “yes ma’am” are now openly challenging and defying teachers, “acting out” in class, and turning important instructional time into a battle for control.

While principals and teachers have roles to play in teaching proper behavior, parents should lead the way. Children learn what is and is not acceptable from their parents. It’s not an easy task, but without parental and home support,
classroom disruptions will continue to increase.

Respect begins at home. Make sure your children are raised to respect all adults. It may sound old-fashioned, but children need to know their “place.” As much as they would like to be, they are not the equals of their parents, teachers, or other adults.

Do not allow rudeness and disrespect. Most children try to challenge the authority of adults. The ones who get away with it are the ones who become the most disruptive in school. Parents need to be firm and consistent from the very beginning.

“You can’t make me.” Children need to know that parents and teachers do have authority that they must respect. Don’t allow your children to get into the

“you can’t make me” mindset. Let them know what punishments they will receive if they disobey you or their teachers.  Follow through with the punishments every time they disobey, or they will soon realize you are not serious.

Communicate with the teacher. Parents should set up a method of communicating with their children’s teachers. Send an e-mail or note to the teacher, asking about your child’s academic strength or weaknesses, as well as about his or her social skills and behavior. If anything troubles you, set up a meeting as soon as possible.

Schedule a meeting. If what the teacher is telling you about your child’s behavior differs a lot from what your child says, the best thing to do is to set up a meeting with all of you so that everyone gets the story straight. The key is to do your best to keep your emotions and temper under control—getting angry at your child in front of the teacher or at the teacher in front of your child is no way to resolve the situation. By teaching your children to respect teachers and behave in the classroom, you’ll be helping to create a better learning environment for your children and all of their classmates.

 

Debbie Bohn, Principal

Food Drive for “Help the Children”

For the month of April, the Student Council will collect peanut butter and jelly.

 

 

 

Moms and dads we need your help

Can you spare 30 minutes one morning a week? We need moms and dads to help with valet drop More ...

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Abajo se encuentra el boletin en Espanol

From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parents,

Whether you’ve been out of school for five years or fifteen, the thought of taking a test probably still makes your heart race and palms sweat. Now imagine what it’s like for your children. Today, with the No Child Left Behind Act in place, testing is more fre­quent and taken more seriously than ever before. Here are some ways to help your child shine when testing time comes.

Know your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Stay in contact with your child’s teacher during the year to see if there are any areas your child might need a little extra work on. Find out what you can do at home to help reinforce what students are learn­ing in the classroom and help your child feel at the top of his or her game when testing time comes.

Get them moving. Children know test-taking time is a big deal at their schools. And, whether they show it or not, most of them are feel­ing stressed about it. Doing something physical can help them let off steam.

But not too much. While working off a little pressure is great for kids, participating in organized sports during test week can actually add to the stress. If your child is in a competitive sports activity, cut back during test week.

Scale back the excitement. Although many kids enjoy relaxing by watching movies or playing video games, it’s important that they scale back on any high-energy programs during test week, particularly when it’s getting closer to their bedtime. They need quiet minds so they can relax and get a solid night’s sleep.

Bedtime is important. Endless studies have shown that Ameri­can school children get far too little sleep on the average night. You may be surprised to know that elementary and middle school children do the best on 10 hours of sleep. Kids who aren’t thoroughly rested do more poorly on tests, so get them in bed early (making sure they’re not watching TV, if you allow it in their rooms).

Give them the fuel they need. Many families are so rushed in the mornings that breakfast is an afterthought. A toaster pastry and a bottle of water just don’t provide the energy your kids need to keep their minds and bodies functioning strongly until lunchtime. They need to have a complete breakfast every day of testing. Cut back the high-sugar cereals and pastries and make the time to have a healthier, more substantial breakfast.

Help them relax. People who are anxious about their perfor­mance on a test do worse than those who are relaxed—the anxiety actually hurts your children. Teach them a few tricks to use during the test. If they get stuck on a question, instead of frowning and con­centrating, teach them to smile for a few seconds. Their bod­ies will automatically get less tense. (Try it!) And help them learn how to take a nice, slow, relaxing breath in and out.

Let them know you believe in them. While it’s really important to let your children know that you believe in them and know that they’ll do well, it’s also key to make sure they understand you’re not judging them on what their test scores report. Certainly, they need to realize that it’s important to try their hardest and do their best, but they also need to know your love for them and respect for their abilities has nothing to do with what some computerized report says about their scores.

 

Debbie Bohn, Principal

 

Lockdown Drill
We had a Lockdown Drill on Friday April 17th. This is a drill where all students, staff, and students are More ...

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Abajo se encuentra el boletin en Espanol

 

From the Principal’s Desk

Dear Parents,

When was the last time you had a real conversation with your child, face-to-face, with no TV in the background, music blaring, or computer blinking nearby? The “sit down together” interaction that makes strong bonds
between parents and children can be a challenge in the electronic age. Here are some suggestions.

Facial expressions tell stories. While e-mails and phone calls are important ways to keep in touch, make sure you
have “face” time every day too. You need to see the emotions on your children’s face to understand what
they’re saying and how they’re feeling.

Body language is vital.

Watching your child’s body language is a great way to decipher some of the things that he or she may be thinking, but may not be telling you. For example, does he look away when you ask him how he’s doing on a project, or does she fold her arms defiantly across her chest while describing a situation she had to deal with at school?

Are you listening? Multi-tasking has become a way of life. If you’re constantly typing on the computer, writing a note, or making dinner while your child is trying to tell you something, after a while, they may say less until you lose what could have been good communication between you.

Teach them to listen. When you need to talk with your children, make sure they know how to really listen. Turn off the TV or music and make eye contact. If you need them to remember what you’re saying, have them repeat it.

Be there for them. Is your mind elsewhere when you’re in the stands at your child’s games or sitting on a bench on your trip together to the park? When you’re talking on the cell phone, your child is aware of what you’re doing. Kids whose parents come to watch them perform or play can feel let down when they see that their parents aren’t attentive.

Notes bring smiles. It doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to drop an encouraging note in your child’s backpack or lunch bag. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

Car rides are great. Instead of turning on the radio, try chatting. You may find that your child is more open and talkative in the car, when no one’s around to overhear the conversation and there’s no eye contact.

The ability to talk easily and often with your children, and to have you both really listen to and care about what’s being said is a huge advantage. A big part of being a parent is to offer help and

advice—and you need to know what’s going on in their lives to be able to do that. Plus, there’s something wonderfully comforting for all of you just knowing that you’re there for each other.

 

Debbie Bohn, Principal

 

Food Drive for “Help the Children”

For the months of April and May, the Student Council will collect peanut butter and jelly.

 

District Level Toastmasters

Lauren Gibson and Amber Moynagh did a wonderful job representing Skyblue Mesa at the District More ...

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