Tuesday, May 5, 2020
Keep in Touch: Memorial Pride Video
Here's to Mrs. Rzasa and Mrs. Niu for putting this fabulous video together to remind us that even when we are separated, there are many different ways for us to stay connected.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
From Assistant Superintendent Patrick Larkin:
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and we will continue to share resources and ideas that can support staff, students, and families during this time. Today’s article is titled Best ways to help kids through the pandemic. It reiterates a few key practices that can help us help our kids get through some of the anxiety they may feel during the pandemic:
Talk to your children. Sharing can be helpful.
Write about feelings or do art to express emotions.
Mindfulness techniques can help you and your children focus and keep calm.
Exercise at home or in your yard.
SEL Newsletter
Memorial Elementary School
Dear Memorial School Families,
During this uncertain time, your child may feel stressed and anxious. Remember, most children are likely feeling this even if they are unable to identify or verbalize their feelings. Stress presents differently in each individual. We encourage you to continue conversations with your child about how they are feeling and any fears or stresses they may be experiencing. If you feel like your child needs to speak to his/her Guidance Counselor or our School Psychologist, please contact us at emails provided below.
In the next few weeks, Mrs. Alper and Mrs. Ouellette will be focusing on social emotional learning and providing mini lessons for your child to work on. We encourage students and parents to try out some of the different strategies in these lessons throughout the next couple of weeks. It will be a great opportunity for you to determine what works best for your child and your family. While we will be talking a lot about coping, mindfulness, and gratitude, there are many other calming strategies and coping skills that can be helpful during this time. Many of you find deep breathing, counting to 10, going for a walk, practicing yoga or talking to a friend to be helpful. Remember, coping skills should be healthy and safe and should help you manage your thoughts and feelings. Below we have attached some social/emotional resources. We will also be posting more resources and helpful information to the Memorial School Guidance Blog in the upcoming weeks.
If you have any questions, concerns or need additional support for your child or your family during this time, please reach out to your child's counselor or school psychologist.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Alper Mrs. Ouellette Ms. Sedovic
Guidance (K, 2, 4) Guidance (1, 3, 5) School Psychologist
jalper@bpsk12.org Douellette@bpsk12.org msedovic@bpsk12.org
Videos:
How to Talk to Your Kid about Coronavirus
Julia Cook reads The Yucky Bug (K-2 grade)
Documents:
Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID …
25 At Home Social Emotional Learning Activities
Coping Strategies for Children:
Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Kids
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
April 2018: Sportsmanship
This month students will be learning about and discussing the importance of good sportsmanship. Throughout the day students work in groups in the classroom, in P.E., at recess, on field day or in sports and other activities outside of school. It is important to teach students to work together and how to be a good sport.
When thinking about good sportsmanship, students should remember to:
- Have fun
- Encourage others
- Be respectful to the other team
- Follow the rules
- Be kind when you lose
- Don't argue with others
Grades K-3
Students will be listening to the the story
Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen
Winning Isn't Everything
By: Howard Binkow
Grades K and 1 will also be watching a short clip on sportsmanship
Then students will work together to discuss the difference between what good sportsmanship is and looks like and what poor sportsmanship is and looks like.
Grades 4 and 5
4th and 5th graders will be reading the story
Sally Sore Loser
A Story About Winning and Losing
By Frank J. Sileo
Grades 2-5
OVER, UNDER, THROUGH
In addition, students in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grade will practice working together doing a group challenge. Using two ropes, they will need to get their whole group to the other side without touching the ropes. One student will need to go over the top rope and one student will need to go under the bottom rope. The rest of the students can go through the ropes. If anyone touches the ropes they will need to start over. This is a great exercise for students to learn to work together to reach the same goal.
Tuesday, March 20, 2018
March 2018: Kindness Rocks
At Memorial School we put a tremendous effort into building a safe community where children learn and grow by building strong academic and social emotional skills. We celebrate and create opportunities for children to demonstrate our core values; kindness, safety, respect and responsibility. In that effort, Memorial school created "Kindness in the community" project. Each student will have an opportunity to paint and create a rock with a positive message on it. Some classrooms will be distributing the rocks as a group and other classrooms have decided to have the children share the experience with their families. Some classrooms will be placing rocks at the Burlington Police Station, St. Margret's Church, Marshall Simons Middle School, Burlington Fire Station and the Town Common. Our hope is that the kindness rocks bring a smile and comfort to people who find them. KINDNESS ROCKS!
Watch a clip on the Kindness Rock Project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf9-TuM5eSM
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
February 2018: Self-control
Students will be learning about self-control this month and why it is important to maintain control over their words and their actions. We are always experiencing different feelings and sometimes it is harder to control your mind and your body.
Students were taught to STOP, THINK, and then ACT. Sometimes students will act without thinking about how their words or their actions affect other people.
Students were taught to STOP, THINK, and then ACT. Sometimes students will act without thinking about how their words or their actions affect other people.
First, students will have a discussion about self-control and what it means using prior knowledge and new information. Then students will practice having self-control using a bubble machine.
- We will turn on the machine and the students will be able to pop as many bubbles that come near them.
- We will turn on the machine and students will have to maintain self-control and not pop a single bubble.
After the students practice using self-control, we will read the story
You Get What You Get
by Julie Gassman.
This story is about a squirrel named Melvin who throws a fit when he doesn't get what he wants. At school, he has to follow the rule "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit". He is able to maintain his self-control at school but still thinks it is ok to throw a fit when he doesn't get what he wants at home. He quickly realizes that rule is just as important at home too when his sister gets upset when she doesn't get what she wants.
After reading the story we will also talk about the importance of maintaining self-control with your words too. Your brain acts like a filter and your words need to go through the social filter to determine whether it is a thought that you can say out loud or a thought that should stay in your filter and you should only think it.
Students will be given examples of thoughts they can "say" and thoughts that they should only "think".
Then students will partner up and work on a worksheet where they will have to put each "thought" in the column it belongs.
SAY IT or THINK IT
Our goal is for students to continue to practice self-control and to be more aware of their words and actions and how they impact their social settings.
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
January 2018: Having the courage to be who you are
Having the COURAGE to Be Who You Are
This month students will be reading "Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun" written by, Maria Dismondy. This is a great story that shows how to have courage to treat others the way you want to be treated. Lucy's papa teaches her that “Not everyone likes the same things, Lucy. It doesn’t mean one person is right or wrong. We’re all different. What a boring world it would be if we were all exactly the same?” In the book, Lucy accepts herself as being different and learns to celebrate those differences. This story empowers children to always do the right thing and find the courage to stand up for yourself when someone is being unkind.
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| As a class we will discuss how Lucy and Ralph are similar and different. A discussion will be about not being the same as another person doesn't mean you have to change who you are or what you enjoy. Students will learn that having the courage to be you is important and special. |
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| Students will partner up and compile a list of traits on how they are similar and different from each other. This activity includes topics such as diversity, tolerance and acceptance while they learn more about other classmates and community. |
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