ORANGE You Happy It's Fall?!

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 October 9th, 2020

The first month of school seemed to fly by and now we’re off and running! Our students are all getting to know the routine, our classrooms, and each other. We’re making new friends, learning a lot, and having loads of fun! October marks the start of parties and festivities so please make sure you read the newsletter carefully.

Upcoming Events

Student Pictures

            Our individual student pictures this month will be taken by Emily B Hall Photography. Pictures will be during school on Tuesday, October 13th and Wednesday, October 14th. Please find your child’s assigned picture day below. Keep a lookout in your child’s folder as a reminder as well. We will be sending package information and prices for purchase via email after your child’s pictures have been taken.

 ·      Little Bluestem 2’s

o   T/TH students on Tuesday, October 13th

o   MWF or M-F students on Wednesday, October 14th

·      Little Bluestem 3’s

o   T/TH and M-F students on Tuesday, October 13th

o   MWF students on Wednesday, October 14th

·      Southern Sundrops

o   M-F students on Tuesday, October 13th

o   MWF students on Wednesday, October 14th.

·      Honeysuckle- All students on Wednesday, October 14th.

 

Fall Character Parade & Party

            Unfortunately, due to new COVID-19 social service regulations, we will not be able to have parents attend our fall character parade and party this year. We are all very saddened that families will not be able to join us, but we greatly appreciate all the support and understanding. We would like to invite ALL students to come to school dressed as their favorite book character on Friday, October 30th! If your child does not come to school on Friday’s they are welcome to join us at 10:30am, however please let us know in advance if you’re coming. The children will have fun singing and parading outside and in their classrooms, participate in pumpkin picking, trunk or treating, and pizza for lunch. We will provide the pizza and a Halloween treat on this day, however, please remember to pack your child a snack(s).

We encourage you to use items that are in your house. Be creative! Some examples are:

  • Pete the Cat-Blue jeans, yellow shirt, buttons made out of felt or construction paper, cat ears

  • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff- White long sleeve, jean overalls, cookie made out of cardboard box and black marker.

  • Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans- Blue dress, red scarf, white knee-high socks, black shoes, sun hat.

Pumpkin Decorating Contest

It’s time for our annual Classroom Pumpkin Decorating Contest! All classes will participate in decorating a pumpkin as their favorite book character. We need you to help us choose our winner! Make sure to check out their creations during gate duty on Friday, October 30th and vote for your favorite pumpkin!

Conferences

            Now that our students have learned the routine of the school day, our classrooms are busy with starting student assessments. Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Monday, November 2nd. The school will be closed for students on this day. Teachers have posted a sign-up sheet on Class Dojo for parents to reserve a time. Conferences will be scheduled in 20-minute increments. If you have not already done so, please sign up for a time. If the day/time does not work for you, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange for another day.

 

Cold & Flu Season

We are entering into the cold and flu season and with Covid-19 there are some concerns with what it will bring. Some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, making it hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone.  If your child has any of these symptoms you must keep them home and they may not return until they are symptom free. We will be calling parents to pick up any child who comes to school ill, in order to keep our teachers and the other students healthy. Diagnostic testing can help determine if you are sick with the flu or COVID-19.

Common symptoms that COVID-19 and flu share include:

  • Fever or feeling feverish/chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue (tiredness)

  • Sore throat

  • Runny or stuffy nose (outside of the normal)

  • Muscle pain or body aches

  • Headache

  • Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults

 

Growing Child

Family Chores: A Good Way to Develop Responsibility

 How can you help your child develop a better sense of responsibility as early in life as possible? Family chores-routine jobs around the house and yard-can be an excellent way to help a child develop responsibility. The primary purpose is to give the child an opportunity to grow and mature as a responsible human being. There is a fine line between not expecting anything from your child, and expecting too much. Responsibility is best learned in a happy home environment in which parents have realistic expectations based on their child’s developmental level. Here are some constructive ways in which family chores can be used to help a child develop responsibility:

  • Choose tasks which are developmentally appropriate for your child.

    • A five-year-old, for example, may enjoy sweeping the floor with a small broom because it enables him to use his newly acquired motor coordination skills. He also enjoys being assigned to do something he previously thought only adults could do.

  • Develop a system for assigning chores.

    • Make a list of all the chores that need to be performed

  • Involve each individual as much as possible in the decision-making of assignments.

    • A task that is unpleasant to one child may not be unpleasant to another. If a child prefers outdoor jobs or inside organizational jobs, take that into consideration.

  • Be a good role model.

  • Give guidance when needed.

  • Give reminders.

    • It is usually best to express a reminder in the form of a question. (“What is that you are supposed to be doing right now?”) Avoid nagging as it will elicit a negative reaction in your child.

  • Be generous with praise and encouragement.

    • Giving praise and encouragement helps a child develop a sense of competence and enhances self-esteem.

In summary, family chores can play a significant role in a young child’s development. When used in this manner, family chores become an enjoyable way for a young child to learn to become a more responsible person!

As always, thank you for sharing your children with us and for your continued support.

 

Fondly,

Rollingwood Academy Administration

Evelyn Paddack