Focus for January – What is Going Well?

The holidays are over, and so quickly we swing into our old routines. For many of us, very quickly the holidays are a forgotten memory that happened some time ago, and we only remember the highlights. So, it may be time to swing our thinking to what is going well, particularly in the first week back to work, when we still have the holiday memories fresh in our minds. This is a great school wide activity and posting the findings makes kids and staff stop and take notice of great things about their school. It starts the year off positively and links the past with the future.

When teachers spend some time asking their students their ideas of the good things about school, it is an investment for the rest of the year. Topics to ask include: what students liked about the last term, their best memory and why, why they like about coming into the classroom, what they looked forward to at school, the piece of work they were most proud of and why form last term. Displaying these results publicly draws crowds of kids. They are truly interested in seeing what others celebrate. 

The next logical step is for students and staff to set realistic goals based on what they love best about their school and what part they play, as individuals in ensuring their own successes, and what part they play as members of the student body as a whole. 

It is important to ask about the affective contributions students make as well. Questions like: what have you done to make this a better classroom, a better school, really can impact kids and tells that that they are expected to contribute positively. Expecting kids to be welcoming and kind is a proactive approach to building a school culture and climate that has no room for bullying behaviours. January is a good time to take stock about the positive aspects fo the school, from the kids’ eyes, and start to use that foundation to build expectations that they belong to a school where staff and students take care of each other. 

 

January Newsletter: Parents

Checking In!
 

End of holidays – back to school. Here we go again! If you and your family have had a challenging Fall term, this may be the dreaded day finally arriving where your child has to return to school. In such cases, Christmas would seem like a reprieve.  
 

Perhaps your child had a better than normal Fall term, and going back in January does not seem to raise any undue suspicions or concerns. Perhaps your family lies somewhere in the middle of these two spectrums. Wherever you are, it is such a good idea, about mid month, to contact your child’s teachers and ask how things are going; not just academically, but socially as well. We know that children who do not feel safe at school, who do not feel connected to the school, who feel as if they hve to be wary of where they travel in the school do more poorly academically, perhaps because they spend so much fo their time and energy trying to stay safe.
 

This check in is most important if you have noticed any changes in your child’s behaviour once s/he is back at school. It is important to share these changes with the teacher and ask him or her to keep an eye on social interactions. At school, we need our children’s teachers to be our eyes and ears and help to confirm or allay our worries. 
 

Parents, please don’t wait to contact the school if you have concerns. Don’t be afraid to contact teachers, counsellors or the principal if you have concerns. If there are changes in sleeping patterns in your child, if you notice your child withdrawing, aggressing, or any other behaviour that seems abnormal, please follow up on them. School is the work of children. For many children under the age of 18, they spend over 65 % of their waking hours in a week immersed in some aspect of school. It is important that you are there helping to navigate this terrain for them. The trick, of course, is finding the balance between independence and support, between being there when you are needed and being overbearing. Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to that balance because each child is different.   However, take your cues from your child, and use the school faculty for support for you. Know that your child deserves to feel safe at school and connected with the goings-on of the school. Trust your instincts and partner with the school to do the best job with your child.