The Lawrence Elementary School

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Principal's Corner     

             Principal’s Message for January 2021

The staff and I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year in 2021! The New Year is often a time for reflection, so we selected REFLECTIVE as our IB Learner Profile for the month. When I reflect on being the principal of Lawrence School, I definitely appreciate the community of families and teachers that we have who are 100% committed to our children’s education.  THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!

Goal Setting is a very important and purposeful activity that we want all children to do. We want the children to learn that once you create a goal, there are specific actions and steps they can plan to help them achieve the goal. Effort and a great attitude help children reach their goals. Here are some simple things you can do at home to help with the development of this skill:

1. Talk to your children about the goals they have for themselves. Ask them what they need to do in order to meet their goals and share strategies. (Example – if your child wants to be a better writer, what do they need to do in their writing to make it better? It could be adding more specific details, using the 5 senses in their writing, or rereading their work more carefully for spelling and punctuation errors.). Creating goals around work habits, behavior, and following daily routines are also effective at this age.
2. Share with your child the goals that you have or had. Talk with them about how you met your goal and how that made you feel. Children usually look to their families as positive role models, so discussing your goals will help them with their goals.
3. Talking to your child about visualization helps with goal setting. Asking your children to picture themselves achieving the goal and taking the necessary steps to meet the goal is an effective strategy. As a strategy from social-emotional learning, we ask students to picture how to be their best selves. There is a connection between these two strategies. Here is a good question to ask your child: What will it look like if you have met your goal?
4. Distinguishing between a long-term goal and short-term goals. A common goal for a 2^nd or 3^rd grader is to learn ALL of their multiplication facts (long-term goal). A more reasonable short-term goal could be that the student will learn all of their 4 times tables by February. Breaking up long-term goals into smaller, doable chunks helps with children feeling that they have accomplished something in a short period of time.
5. Celebrating each success as the children meet short-term goals builds confidence and internal motivation in children. Seeing a child proud of himself/herself is the best feeling.

Reflecting on Remote Learning:

Now that all students have been participating in remote learning for the past four months, reflecting on what aspects are working for you and your family and which are not is important. As the principal, I hear feedback that ranges from many families feeling successful every day with what is in place, to hearing some families state that they are struggling daily with remote learning. There is not one plan that works for every family, so identifying what the struggles are and working with your child’s teacher to better  support your family and child’s learning are key.

The School Governance Council is currently working on helping children/families with remote learning. Our five goals are listed for you. If you have any ideas/resources to share, please contact me.                                                      

2020-2021 School Governance Council Goal: In order to create a center of excellence that supports the development of the whole child, the School Governance Council will advise and support personnel and families in the areas of remote learning and school transitions by providing resources, supports, communication and effective SEL interventions to enhance the learning and behavior for students and families.

ACTION STEPS:

1. Create best practices/tips for families on setting routines, organizing materials and schedules to optimize zoom times and work times from the home
2. To help young children who need to develop independence, co-create with child visual/auditory reminders, tangible/ interactive tools, reward system, frequent breaks, short/engaging activities based on age 
3. Creating lessons that take into account children’s attention span (age)
4. Emphasizing interactive, fun-based Specials activities to lessen stress
5. Provide families with resources to support remote learning and stressful times: Internet safety, social appropriateness online, DARE, video library of resources, Russell Library (survey on students’ interests and they receive resources), fun things to do around town, REC Dept., virtual events, fun community resources, positive school community activities 

 IB update for January: Our Learner Profile attribute that we are focusing on in January is Reflective.  Being a reflective global citizen means we thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience.  We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.  This seems to fit in very nicely with this time of year. 

 January Food Drive: We will start our January collection of non-perishable food items this week and continue until January 22, 2021. Our food of the month is beans, but of course, all non-perishable food items are greatly appreciated. Thank You for being such a caring and giving community!  The Amazing Grace Food Pantry is incredibly appreciative of our donations.    

                                              YMCA KIDS KORNER PROGRAM

The YMCA still has open spaces at Lawrence School as well as our Distance Learning Program located at the Middlesex YMCA. The Middlesex YMCA Kids’ Korner program is a place for children to extend the school day by exploring new interests, engaging in enrichment activities, and benefiting from academic support. The Kids' Korner Program follows all health & safety guidelines recommended by the CDC. For more information, please contact Amy Cardoza at acardoza@midymca.org or visit our website at www.midymca.org

Social-Emotional Strategies: A focus for us is to help students recognize their feelings and to help them learn strategies to self-regulate and respond appropriately to triggers. Learning to recognize our triggers and the triggers of others helps us with our emotional responses. We have recently focused on #4 See Your Best Self. When something occurs that may make us sad or angry, how can we respond while being our best selves. Children were asked to share examples of things that may make them or others upset, and then brainstormed how to best respond. Reinforcing these strategies at home can help your child learn to respond in a safe and responsible way.

Examples of Discussion Starters:     What would be the best way to react if …

            *someone pushed you in line                         *your math homework was very hard

            *you lose a video game                               *someone takes your ball without permission

 Sen. Murphy's 2021 Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest

Senator Chris Murphy invites students to participate in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest! We are asking students from across Connecticut to participate in honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. by submitting individual essays that reflect on Dr. King’s dream, their own aspirations, and their importance of what Dr. King means to them.

The contest is open to students K-12. Essays should be no more than 500 words for high school students (grades 9-12), 300 words for middle school students (grades 6-8), and 100-200 for elementary school students (grades K-5). Pictures are optional for elementary school submissions.

The deadline is January 13th. If you have any questions about the contest please reach out to MLK_Essay@murphy.senate.gov or contact Kay Muñoz at 860-810-8729

Essays can be mailed to the Hartford office:     ATTN: Kay Muñoz

                   120 Huyshope Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut 06106

All submissions must be received by January 13^th.  One winner will be chosen from the elementary, middle school, and high school submissions per Congressional District. Once the winners are chosen, we will notify all schools of the winners. Winners will have their essays displayed in his office. Have fun!

Meal Service Pick-Up: LAWRENCE SCHOOL provides FREE breakfasts and lunches every Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. You do not need to call ahead; simply park near the cafeteria doors (labeled # 4 & 5) and you can get FREE food for you and your family.

Important Dates:

Friday, January 15:     9:30 – 12:00                Cohort C students in grades 2-5 can come to school to take NWEA Winter Test

Monday, January 18:                  NO SCHOOL for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Wednesday, January 27:   7:00-8:00 pm            UNCONFERENCE for students with special needs.  Please pre-register using flyer previously sent 

Social-Emotional Strategies:

A focus at Lawrence School is in helping students to be able to recognize their feelings and to help them learn strategies to self-regulate and respond appropriately to triggers. Communicating their feelings in a constructive way is emphasized, and the Meta-Moment is shared with students.

We discuss that all of us – every student in the school, every teacher, every parent – we all have triggers, something that may get us angry or upset. Learning to recognize our triggers and the triggers of others helps us with our emotional responses. Taking the time to stop and think about the best way to respond to a peer or adult when one is triggered is emphasized.

Sample Strategies:     Take 3 deep breaths, Get a drink of water, Count to 10, Go to the Calming Corner [take a break], Draw, Write, Read a Book, Think of a Place/Person/Pet that makes you happy, Talk to someone you trust, Squeeze or hold a comfort object, Positive self-talk

VISION:

The Lawrence School is an inclusive community that supports and values the academic, social, physical, and emotional development of every student through an engaging and relevant transdisciplinary curriculum that fosters students as collaborators, communicators, thinkers, and global citizens.

MISSION STATEMENTS:

1. We foster students’ emotional intelligence because we believe social-emotional learning is key to the development of the whole child.

    

2. We cultivate a growth mindset among students, families, and staff because we believe in the value and importance of perseverance, varied learning dispositions, risk-taking, goal setting, and reflection.

    

3. We foster a safe and welcoming environment that promotes a mutually-supportive school community of empathetic and collaborative individuals who are globally responsible, curious, and action-oriented.

    

4. We engage learners by purposefully planning lessons that encourage inquiry and critical thinking, value student interest, and promote collaboration and discourse among all students.

    

5. We value a balanced and comprehensive arts and physical education program that enhances the core curriculum and allows students to explore, experience, and appreciate world cultures and language experiences while encouraging creativity, curiosity, and healthy movement.

    

6. We provide rigorous challenges so students take ownership of their learning as they use reasoning and thinking skills and academic risk-taking in order to develop creativity, perseverance, and recognition of their role in the global environment.

Statement of Non-Discrimination

The Middletown Board of Education is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and it does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, civil union, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or past or present physical or mental disability in any of its education programs, activities, or employment policies.  All educational programs and offerings, including vocational education and extracurricular activities, subscribe to this policy. Marco Gaylord, Director of District Operations, has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the district non-discrimination policies and may be reached at 311 Hunting Hill Avenue, Middletown, CT  06457; phone (860) 638-1485.