november 2015 colt timesapps.swsd.k12.pa.us/.../11/nov.2015.newsletter.pdfnov 25-27: schools closed...
TRANSCRIPT
November 2015
COLT TIMES
Inside this issue:
Cyberbullying 3
Dates to remember 3
MMC News 4
Leaner/Facilitator 5
Phone calls 5
From the Nurse 6
Citizens of the Month 7
E
H
M
I
S
An Alternative Approach to Parent Involvement
By Daniel W. Hartman, EHMIS Principal
As fall parent conferences approach, it is a good time to reflect on the role parents
play in their children’s education. The phrase ‘Parent Involvement’ in schools often
invokes thoughts of parents volunteering in their child’s school, attending PTO meet-
ings, attending parent-teacher conferences, and helping to chaperone school trips.
Although having parents who can actively participate in school activities and give
their time serving their child’s school in various capacities is important, it is under-
stood that in today’s fast paced and busy world, there are many parents who want to
be an active participant in their child’s education, but may not have the time to physi-
cally serve in our schools. It is important to understand that parents can still be a
partner in their child’s success without being a familiar face around the hallways of
our schools. In fact, the most important kind of parental involvement may be how
parents choose to talk with their children about their school and learning experiences.
Recent research in learning and child development has shed light on the importance
of the language we use and the narrative we create when talking with children about
learning, achievement, and success. Learning is hard work, and although this may
seem like an unusual statement in comparison to how schools have traditionally
viewed success, “failure” is actually an important step in the learning process. The
following two suggestions for how we talk with our children about their learning
(and their struggle with learning) can help ensure that we are helping our young
learners navigate the learning process in a way that can lead to long term achieve-
ment and success.
Promoting a Growth Mindset
How we praise children can have a significant impact on their success. Several years
ago, every South Western School District staff member participated in a district-wide
book study of Carol Dweck’s book Mindset. The premise of this book is that indi-
viduals tend to have either a fixed-ability mindset, characterized by the belief that
ability is carved in stone and intelligence is fixed, or a growth mindset, characterized
by the belief that basic qualities can be cultivated through effort, application, and ex-
perience (Dweck, 2007). Research has shown that individuals who tend to have a
growth mindset stand a better chance at success in an increasingly competitive world,
and how we choose to talk with children can have an impact on whether they will
cultivate a growth mindset, or a fixed-ability mindset, which can negatively impact
effort and learning.
COLT TIMES
Parents can help promote a growth mindset in their children by being careful about how praise is given. The best
way to promote a growth mindset in children is to praise effort, not achievement. For example, when a child ac-
complishes a difficult task, praise the hard work they put into accomplishing the task rather than the accomplish-
ment of the task itself. Telling children that “they are the best” or “they are great” can create a fear that it is not
ok to not be the best and can discourage risk taking. Praising effort over achievement can help children face chal-
lenges more positively and prevent a fear of challenges, effort, or failure.
Building Resiliency Skills
Resiliency skills, also commonly referred to as “grit”, has become a popular topic in recent years in the world of
education. Resiliency skills include self-control, hard work, delayed gratification, curiosity, open-mindedness,
perseverance, sustained effort, and goal orientation.
Research on these traits has shown that these may matter more to academic success that native intelligence does
(Pappano, 2013). Parents can help promote these traits in their children not only through assistance with their
school work, but through various other family activities, home chores and responsibilities, and simply by having
conversations about what these traits mean and how they look in action.
Conclusion
The information on both growth mindsets and resiliency skills show that how adolescents approach learning may
be as critical as what they learn (Pappano, 2013). Over the past several years, teachers and other educators at
South Western have made it a point of emphasis to promote a growth mindset and to recognize and build resilien-
cy skills with our learners. Parents, even busy parents who do not have time in their hectic schedules to be in-
volved in their child’s school in the traditional sense, can still be an active participant in their child’s education
and learning by promoting these principles at home.
References
Dweck, C. (2007). Mindset; The New Psychology of Success. Random House, New York.
Pappano, L. (2013). “Grit” and the new character education: Researchers study how certain performance traits
may help students learn. Harvard Education Letter, v 29, no. 1.
Cyberbullying can be defined
as any ongoing intentionally
negative communication that
is directed at an individual or
group of individuals conduct-
ed via electronic communica-
tion. This can be done through
the use of any of today’s tech-
nology in the form of text
messages, e-mails, instant
messaging, social networking
sites such as Snapchat, Insta-
gram, Twitter or Facebook,
Websites, sending or posting
videos or pictures, or any oth-
er form of electronic commu-
nication. While cyberbullying
is an issue that parents and
schools must address, it is im-
portant to note that it is often
accompanied by traditional
methods of bullying.
This hurtful and sometimes
harmful communication can
follow a student 24/7 as many
teens and tweens rarely discon-
nect. Students are often reluc-
tant to report that they are a
target of this behavior for fear
of having their cell phone or
computers taken away. The
media has highlighted stories
containing horrific outcomes
when students who had been
targets of bullying behavior
retaliated in the schools.
Parents and caregivers need to be
aware of warning signs that chil-
dren might be a target of this be-
havior or are engaging in cyber-
bullying. Being extremely secre-
tive with their use of technology,
taking their cell phones to bed at
night, refusing to go to school and
any other unexplained change in
behavior are just a few examples.
Please remind your children that
there is no true privacy when
online. An online social network-
ing site is not the same as a diary
kept under lock and key.
Cyberbullying: 21st Century Style of Bullying
Please keep lines of communication
open. Incidents of cyberbullying or
harassment may be a school matter if
a district owned device or account
was utilized to commit the bullying,
or if it occurred during school hours.
If this is not the case, it may be ap-
propriate to contact local law enforce-
ment with your concerns.
For more information on bullying go
to:
Center for Safe Schools: http://
www.safeschools.info/bullying-
prevention
Federal Stopbullying:
http://www.stopbullying.gov/
Dates to Remember
Nov. 16-20: Book Fair Rm 119
Nov. 17: Parent/Teacher Conferences
Book Fair Open 4-8pm
Nov. 19: Parent/Teacher Conferences .
Book Fair Open 4-8pm
Nov. 23: Parent Teacher Conferences
3:30-6:15.
Nov. 24: Early dismissal 12:15
Nov 25-27: Schools Closed
Nov. 30: Schools Closed
Dec. 1: 2 hour delay
Dec. 3: 6th Gr. Band and Chorus Concert
Dec.10: 7th Gr. Chorus & Show Choir
Concert 6:00. Gr. 8 at 7:30
Dec. 16: Gr. 7&8 Band Concert 7:30
Dec. 23: Early dismissal 1:30
Dec. 24-31: Schools Closed
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Jan. 1: Schools Closed
January 4, 2016 SCHOOL RESUMES
*Dates are subject to change
E . H . M . I . S.
The library has undergone a transformation to start the new school year. Old storage rooms have been repurposed
into new learner friendly spaces and a makerspace invites learners to create, invent, and make. The new EHMIS
Technology Center is housed in the former library classroom. Mr. Leipold, the middle school technology “go-to
guy”, not only keeps the computers and devices working, he also lends his support in helping the learners and li-
brarian use new software and programs, and keeps our technology tools working smoothly.
Another old, overstuffed storage room was emptied and transformed into our One Button Studio. The One Button
Studio is a video recording room accessible to both teachers and students. Learners have already been in the studio
creating video projects for a variety of subject areas. Our movie makers are excited to create the projects, run the
studio themselves, and finish with a professional product that they can share.
A makerspace has been added to the main section of the MMC. Students are using Mindstorm robot kits, Legos,
littleBits, and Makey kits to build, invent and create new products. Websites to Instructuctables and Pinterest are
displayed for learners to tap into their inner maker and try some DIY projects. The Scratch website and challenge
cards are available for learners to try their hand at coding. A Maker Club is also up and running giving learners
extra opportunities to try their hand at making. Even the Book Chattin’ Club members became makers. After read-
ing and discussing The True Meaning of Smek Day the members created their own aliens in the makerspace; a fun
activity that allowed the learners to tap into their imaginations and create something new.
The MMC is an exciting place to be and is truly living up to its name as the Multi Media Center!
Multi Media Center NEWS!
E . H . M . I . S.
New Language at South Western — Learner and Facilitator
In today’s society it is extremely important that our student’s become independent and critical thinkers. Students must not ex-
pect teachers to give them all the answers and do all the work. The teacher becomes the facilitator while the students become
active learners and participators in their educational process. Whereas a traditional approach to teaching emphasizes the role of
the teacher as the holder of the wisdom, facilitation puts the responsibility on the students to become involved in their own
learning. The facilitator’s role is to introduce subjects of discussion, encourage sharing of perspectives, and integrate students’
shared experiences. It’s about leading learners to a new understanding within themselves. The facilitator’s job is to stimulate
thinking, encourage exploration, make associations, and be a connector. Students are able to gain information and facts quickly
through the use of the internet. At any moment in time, students are able to be learners by exploring the World Wide Web. For
example, if a student wanted to learn facts about presidents, the student could search Google and find the facts on his/her own.
How many of us have searched You Tube to figure out how to solve or fix something? We are all learners! The district has de-
cided to begin using the terms learners and facilitators instead of students and teachers. So, over the next few months and years,
you will be hearing the words learner and facilitator more often.
PHONE CALLS
Just a reminder that teachers cannot accept phone
calls or respond to email communications during
classroom instruction time. You can ask to be sent to
the teacher’s voicemail when calling into school.
Please leave your name, contact information and a
brief message so the teacher can be prepared when
returning your call. The district goal is to return com-
munication within 24 hours. If you do not hear back
within that time frame, please contact the school
again. Emergency or transportation changes for that
day should be left with the office as teachers may not
have the opportunity to check their voicemail before
dismissal. If you miss a call from the school please
check for a message before calling the school office.
Unfortunately, we cannot track who may have called
you. All school staff will leave a message when call-
ing and learners are encouraged to leave a message if
calling home.
From the Nurse’s office
Screenings for vision, hearing, scoliosis, and growth
are beginning! Vision & Growth Screenings are for 6th, 7th, and 8th
grade Hearing Screenings are for 7th grade Scoliosis Screenings are for 6th & 7th grade
If your child wears glasses, PLEASE HAVE THEM BRING THEM TO SCHOOL
Immunization News: If your student if missing any required immuniza-
tions, you will be notified directly from the school nurse – a letter will be arriving in the mail with a copy of your child’s immunization card, a copy of immun-ization laws required by the State of Pennsylvania.
I will also be following up with a phone call to the parent/ guardian.
Flu Season is approaching- remind your child- hand washing is the best defense! Information can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html
September Citizens of the Month
6th Grade: Alex Nice, Richard Plesic, Grace Merrell, Will
Coulson, Kyle Snyder, Ryleigh Sprague, Brendan Storey,
and Alyssa Diehl
7th Grade: Madison Wickline, Ryan Grap, Josh Martz, Tay-
lor Truelove, Gabe Lesher, and Ella Chick
8th Grade: Courtney Maqueda, Mason Khan, Evan Myrdal,
Nicole Norris, Anna Fiordimondo, and Austin Latham
October Citizens of the Month
6th Grade: Lauren Berger, Jadon Rill, Tia Wherley, Cole Warn-
er, Jake Lippiatt, Jesse Snouffer, Zach Derry, Shannon Brady,
Lauren Lippiatt, and Joshua Urbain
7th Grade: Erin DeWald, Gavin Stevenson, Jonah Roth, Logan
Lonczynski, McKenna Knaub, and Savannah Long
8th Grade: Chloe Carroll, Logan Chase, Molly Watts, Dylan
Tucker, and Meghan Hinsche
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
Emory H. Markle
Intermediate School
225 Bowman Road
Hanover, PA 17331
P:717-633-4840
F:717-633-7073
Principal:
Dr. Daniel Hartman
Assistant Principals:
Mrs. Lori Billman
&
Mr. Eric Klansek
MISSION STATEMENT:
EHMIS recognizes the unique needs of mid-
dle level students: provides a safe, student-
centered environment, develops academic,
interpersonal /intrapersonal skills, and
strives to develop life-long learners through
a variety of age-appropriate experiences.
PTO NEWS
Thank you to everyone that could make the PTO meeting this past Tuesday. We
have exciting things happening at EHMIS! Ask your kids about S.T.R.I.V.E. The
PTO just turned in $1,700 in Box Tops which we are going to use to buy some
BIG prizes for S.T.R.I.V.E. raffles.
Please remember to put your child's name and homeroom number on their Bag-
gie of Box Tops. We are recording all Box Tops for Block Party ticket redemp-
tion throughout the entire school year. We've had a few bags turned in without a
name. Please contact Catherine Reiblich ([email protected]) if it is your
child. We want each child to get credit they are due.
Our Fall Book Fair is November 16th-20th. We will be open for the students for
a preview and purchase from 8:30 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. We will also be open
during Parent/Teacher Conferences on Tuesday, November 17th and Thursday,
November 19th, from 4 - 8 p.m. Checks are accepted for purchases of
books. Please make checks payable to EHMIS-PTO.