The Principal's Corner:
Dear Families,
Well, that was an unexpected Thursday, to say the least! To the families who took work off to attend the Greenfield Village Trip, I apologize that we were unable to go but Michigan Weather struck again and put a wrench in our plans. Hopefully, you’ve got an e-mail from your 3rd-grade teacher regarding the trip and the plans moving forward. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Elementary Student Spring Showcase:
This is for 3rd-5th grade students. Within this document is the link for your students to sign up if they are interested is sharing their work. Remember we will have May 17th as the cut off date for your students to RSVP. If you have any questions feel free to contact the school. We are excited for this optional opportunity to have the elementary schools shine.
Drop Off and Pick Up:
I wanted to take a moment and share out some of the results from the parent survey on our new drop off and pick up procedures and I wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded and provided some feedback to the new system. We had some great questions come in on the form and I wanted to take a moment to address some of the questions.
1: Is it possible to have someone standing outside before 8:35 to watch the kids?
Unfortunately, our bus supervisors do not start their shift until that 8:35 time when we open the door. My best suggestion would be to drop the students off as close to 8:35 as possible and stay with them until the doors are opened.
2: Is it possible to have a card like a grocery store card on a key chain, different style sign, sticker, or another type of item besides an orange sign?
This was just our version of a pilot to work through logistics we would have a much larger conversation at a district level on what the final “sign” would be.
3: What do we do in inclement weather or snow when standing outside doesn’t make sense?
We would encourage families in these situations to use the Kiss and Go Lane as much as possible, we understand it adds a few extra cars to the Kiss and Go Lane. The other option would be to park and walk into the building with your sign at the end of the day, or prior to 3:30, to pick up your student. We do this when we pick up our 1st-grader and kindergarten kiddo as well. It does add a few minutes to the routine but I do understand the need for it as well.
4: There are still a lot of people that skip by the office in the morning can we do something about that?
When the bond proposal passed the restructuring of the vestibule got the green light and over the next several years the physical layout of the building will change so that everyone would have to pass through the office to enter the school.
MacGregor's Message:
Summer Food Resources
With summer approaching, the Livingston County Hungry Council has prepared a list of summer food resources. This list includes summer meal programs, food pantries, and other resources. You can view the resource guide at https://tinyurl.com/y3qrq9nn. Additionally, the Summer Lunch Bunch, a food assistance program put on through a partnership with The Salvation Army, the Livingston County United Way and the Livingston County Hunger Council will kick-off their summer program on Tuesday, June 18. To learn more about the Summer Lunch Bunch, please visit https://tinyurl.com/y2urp68f.
Counselor’s Corner
MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH!
When Children Have Emotional or Behavioral Struggles: Tips for Parents
Children feel a variety of emotions, and they often feel these emotions strongly. To encourage mental health in children and to support parents along the way, below are tips from Mental Health America to help parents care for children’s emotional or behavioral struggles.
- Cover the basics. Before you dismiss the outburst as a lack of control or disrespect, ask yourself if there is a simple explanation for the behavior. Are they hungry or thirsty? Too hot or too cold? Overstimulated? Tired? Are they feeling under the weather (i.e. - colds, allergies, etc.)
- Pick your battles. Ask yourself if the specific behavior is doing any harm or if it’s just annoying. If it’s annoying, it’s not worth arguing over. If you do engage, resist the urge to raise your voice. Be matter-of-fact and stand your ground.
- Environment matters. Do your best to create a home that is low on stress, safe, and supportive. Give reasonable timelines for getting homework and chores done. Praise your child for the things they do well and let them know you love them.
- Encourage communication. Let children know that they can talk to you about their thoughts, feelings, or difficult situations they are dealing with. When you talk with a child who is in crisis, do your best to soften your voice and use short, clear directions. “Come with me.” “Sit down.” “Take a deep breath.” “Tell me what’s going on.”
- Timing is everything. If your child is in a stressful situation or has heightened emotions/behaviors, they will need some space. Address issues later when they have regained control over themselves.
- Help them to help themselves. It is great for children to learn coping skills. Praise successes and use failures as learning opportunities. Ask questions such as, “What can you do the next time you’re in this situation?” or “What made you feel better the last time you felt this way?” A few coping strategies include the following:
- Mind boosters (read the story of someone you admire, play with an animal)
- Address basic needs (drink some water, have a healthy snack, take a bath or shower, take a nap)
- Process feelings (draw how you are feeling, make a gratitude list, let yourself cry)
- Problem-solving (make a list of solutions to problems. Go over the list with a friend or family member)
- Volunteer/do acts of kindness (do something nice for someone you know)
- Relaxation exercises (belly breathing, mindfulness exercises, yoga, go for a walk)
- Ask for help (talk to a parent, trusted adult, teacher, counselor, etc.)
As always, feel free to reach out for additional support or for more specific information!
~ Jennifer Starkey, LPC
School Counselor