The Principal's Corner:
What Is Learning?
I was in Kindergarten on Monday morning and I had a question from one of our students which caught me a little off guard. He came up to me and said, “Mr. Moore what is learning?” I know what he was getting at with his question because the word learning was on his paper, but I answered the question by trying to define the concept of learning. It was tougher than I thought. I ended up with explaining to him that learning is a change, you used to think one thing and then you learned and now you know something more or something different about it. He liked my answer, even though it probably didn’t quite make the most sense.
Google told me that learning is “the acquisition of knowledge or skills through experience, study, or by being taught” or this definition “Learning is about any experience for a person that leads to permanent capacity change, and not necessarily biological in nature or related to age” (Illeris 1999)
Most research studies suggest that learning occurs more deeply when the student can apply the classroom gathered knowledge to real world problems, and they do that when they take part in projects. A higher level of learning occurs when those projects require sustained engagement and collaboration. Gone are the days when I was a child and I would go and ask my teacher if I could, “just do it by myself.” We are living in an increasingly more connected and collaborative world than ever before.
The study from 1998 in England by Jo Boaler, the study done in 2000 from Challenge in Silicon Valley, and the 2006 study on Design Thinking from the University of Wisconsin also speak to the finding that students are most successful when they are taught how to learn as well as what to learn.
So what does that mean for the students here at Hutchings? It means that we are on the right track to creating the proper environment for students. It means the project-based learning path we embarked on last year, the visible thinking path we are on this year, and the design thinking process that our teachers are taking part in, are one great path to creating the most well rounded students we can.
I wish I could go back in time and give a much better answer to my Kindergarten friend, I would say, Learning is the journey you go on as you grow up, and if you do it right the journey doesn’t stop.
All the best,
Mr. Moore
From The PTO:
We are excited to announce the creation of some new positions at the request of the PTO, the teachers, and myself. The following PDF includes information on these positions which are titled Grade Level Ambassador and New Family Liaison.
New Family Liaison:
This person(s) would be a link between families new to Hutchings. Ideally, this person would be someone is an experience Hutchings parent who can answer questions, address concerns, and welcome new families to our school community.
Grade Level Ambassador:
These positions would communicate with grade level teachers about PTO events, communicate to PTO about grade level needs, assist in organizing grade level initiatives, and be a go to person for grade level activities.
Please see the attachment for more details! New Family and Grade Level
Forms Needed By: February 21st!
MacGregor's Message:
Second Quarter/First Semester Report Cards Now Available Online
Online report cards for the second quarter/first semester are now available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Instructions on how to access your child’s report card can also be found at HowellSchools.com/PowerSchool. If you do not have a PowerSchool parent account, directions on how to set up your account can be found at HowellSchools.com/PowerSchool. If you need help setting up your PowerSchool parent account, or if you would like a paper copy of your child’s report card, please contact our main office. Please note, that at this time, online report cards are only available through the PowerSchool Parent Portal website, not the mobile app.
Kindergarten Registration
We are so excited to welcome the Howell Public Schools Class of 2031 during our annual KIndergarten Registration event on March 6. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. This fun event will include a tour of the school, an opportunity for incoming kindergarten students to meet our kindergarten teachers and their principal and the chance to climb onboard a school bus. Additionally, all students registered on March 6, will receive a special stuffed animal with their graduation year on it. To learn more about our kindergarten registration event, please visit, https://goo.gl/o1AwH.
Job Opportunities
If you like working with children and are looking for a part-time job or want to earn a little extra income, several Howell elementary schools currently have job openings for general education aides (lunch aides). In this position, individuals typically work ten hours per week during lunch time and are responsible for supervising students in the cafeteria and during recesses. To learn more or to apply, please visit https://goo.gl/eLCzes.
Note: If you school has one of these openings, you could change this to talk about your school. Example: If you like working with children and are looking for a part-time job or a little extra income, Voyager Elementary current has an opening for a general education aide(lunch aide).
Counselor's Corner
Helping Kids with Stress Management
Everyone is impacted by stress - even kids! Conflict within families, problems with peers, school work, and too many commitments all can sometimes overwhelm even the most resilient child. A certain amount of stress is normal. For instance, taking an important test can be stressful for anyone. However, as children grow and develop, it is important to teach them how to appropriately manage stress so that they can take these skills with them into adolescence and adulthood. Parents cannot solve every problem for children as they venture through life. However, teaching children healthy coping skills is important. Specifically, teaching children to problem-solve, to plan, and to know when to say yes or no to commitments can be quite helpful. Below are some additional ideas to help a child who may be feeling stressed.
- Listen and Notice: Let your child know when you notice that something is upsetting him or her. Try to name the feeling you think your child may be experiencing. For instance, you may say, “It seems like you are still mad about what happened at lunch.” This is a casual observation that shows you are interested in hearing more. Be sympathetic and show you want to understand. Listen attentively and calmly. Sometimes younger children may not yet know the words for their feelings. If your child seems angry or upset, naming these emotions can help him or her learn to identify the emotions by name.
- Just be there. Sometimes children don’t feel like talking about what is bothering them, but this doesn’t mean that they want their parents to leave them alone. Let them know that you will be there when they are ready to talk. Sometimes you can help your child by just being there - keep him or her company, take a walk, watch a movie, bake cookies, or play a game together.
- Give your child downtime. Many kids feel stressed when they are overscheduled. Kids need time to rejuvenate - their bodies and brains need time for rest. Give your child time to play. The combination of unstructured play and physical activity can do wonders for a child’s well being!
- Get enough sleep. Sleep is crucial for everything from minimizing stress to improving school performance to improving one’s mood! Make sure your child gets enough sleep, and keep TV and other electronics out of your child’s bedroom.
- Prepare your child to deal with mistakes. Many children feel stressed by the fear of making mistakes. Let your child know that while making good decisions is an important skill to learn, we also all make mistakes from time to time. Help your child learn to figure out the next steps after a bad decision or a mistake. Encourage your child to think of some ideas of how to improve or how to avoid making the same mistake again. Support their good ideas and ask questions like, “How do you think this will work?” Your child’s participation in this process will build confidence and will help him or her grow into an effective problem solver!
Your Partner in Education,
Jennifer Starkey
Hutchings Elementary School Counselor