Principal's Message 08-09-22
Dear Blossomwood Families,
What a fantastic start to the school year! It was so much fun seeing our students back in the classrooms, and it is great for all of us to return to a sense of normalcy and routine.
How Was Your Day?
Recently, I reread an article by Elena Aquilar in coordination with the George Lucas Educational Foundation, and she suggested a number of questions that draw out pertinent information during conversations with children. With slight modifications, the following questions can be helpful with children from various age groups:
1) Tell me about a moment today when you felt excited about what you were learning.
2) Think about what you learned and did in school today. What's something you'd like to know more about? What's a question you have that came from your learning today?
3) Were there any moments that you felt proud of yourself?
4) Tell me about a conversation you had with a classmate or friend that your enjoyed.
5) What was challenging about your day?
6) What did you learn about yourself today?
7) Is there anything that you'd like to talk about that I might be able to help you figure out?
8) What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
9) What was your favorite part of your day?
10) Is there a question you wish I'd ask you about your day?
How and when we ask these questions can make a difference in the response we receive. For example, we would not want to ask all of the questions on the same day. Perhaps, you could ask one or two of the questions and with time you might be able to determine which ones produce quality responses. In addition, dinner time and during the ride home are often excellent opportunities for these conversations.
Lastly, here are a few additional suggestions to help produce positive conversations with our children:
1) Avoid interrupting.
2) Ask for more. ("Tell me more about that..." or "I'd like to hear more about that...")
3) Ask about their feelings. ("How did that make you feel?")
4) Validate feelings. (Let them know whatever he/she feels is normal.)
5) Share personal stories from your life experiences.
Thank You to Cornerstone Presbyterian Church
Thank you to Cornerstone Presbyterian Church Women's Ministry! They provide several platters of cookies and other treats for our teachers, and they also gave every teacher a small bag of office supplies for the first week. It is great to have supportive community partners!
Reminder for All Visitors
All school visitors must check in through the front office using his or her driver's license, so please have it with you if you plan to visit and/or check out your child.
Thank You for a Great First Week in Carline!
The first week in the carline went well. While the first two days were a bit long as we are all getting back into a routine as well as beginning to carpool when possible, Friday afternoon we were finished by 2:55 pm which is certainly fantastic for the first week!
Carline Reminders:
- Please seat your child(ren) on the right side of the car so they exit your car on this side. They should not get out on the driver’s side.
- Students should be ready to exit your car with their backpacks and lunchboxes when you pull up.
- Please continue to remind your child about how he/she gets home before he/she arrives at school.
- Please remember that for safety reasons you must have a namecard in the front dash of your automobile to pick up your student. Anyone without a namecard will be required to drive to the front of the school and show identification in the office to pick up the child.
Have a great week and appreciate conversations with your child.
Sincerely,
Bradley A. Scott, Ed.D.
Principal
