School-Home Connection

The world seems to be moving so fast and our children are growing up so quickly. Information is readily available and they have access to things we would have never imagined possible. Is too much of something a bad thing? As the adults in our children's lives, we take on the role as shaper of information. It is often difficult to know when to allow them to advocate for themselves and when we should intervene. The following articles focus on both of these aspects in an effort to help us think from different perspectives about how we might handle these situations.

Parent-Teacher Relationships

Simplifying Childhood

Calendar of Events:

May 3rd, 4th, 5th - PARCC ELA

May 10th, 11th, 12th - PARCC Math

May 17th and 18th - 8th grade MCAS - Science and Technology

May 30th - NO SCHOOL - Memorial Day

May 31st - 5th Grade Family Orientation Night

Most Likely to Succeed

Earlier this week, the entire Hamilton-Wenham faculty participated in a Professional Development Day.  To kick off the day, we viewed a documentary called "Most Likely to Succeed".  This documentary was also available for parents and the community later that night.  The documentary focused on taking a different look at education and what is truly important for our students to learn in order to be independent, responsible, successful global citizens.  The demands we are making on them are changing to fit the needs of the workforce and the way they go about acquiring these skills must also change.  It is becoming increasingly important for students to not only meet academic goals, but also acquire what the documentary called "soft skills", which includes perseverance, collaboration, and resiliency.

The following article focuses on these "soft skills" - how our students can acquire them and how parents can help in the process.

Top 10 Skills Middle School Students Need to Thrive and How Parents Can Help

Calendar of Events
Wednesday 4/6/16: 6th Grade Field Trip
Friday 4/15/16: 3rd Quarter ends
Monday 4/18/16 - Friday 4/22/16: Vacation - No school

Change Your Words - Change Your Mindset

 

In our most recent Olweus class meetings, we have been focusing on fixed vs. growth mindset. This has allowed the students to view the same situation through different perspectives, which opens the door for more positive and creative problem solving. We are hoping that discussions and lessons around growth mindset can easily correlate to more conversations that foster resiliency. Protective factors are the leading cause for successful resilient students. By practicing our growth mindset philosophy, we hope to have school become a place seen as a protective factor.

Here is a video focusing on the differences between growth and fixed mindset:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brpkjT9m2Oo

This article focuses on mindsets and how they shape our worldview:

http://www.drrobertbrooks.com/monthly_articles/changing-mindsets-about-stress

Calendar of Events:

March 15th - Field trip to Peabody Essex Museum for 6th Grade

March 16th - Field trip to Peabody Essex Museum for 6th Grade

March 17th - St. Patrick’s Day

March 25th - Good Friday - No School

March 27th- Happy Easter!

March 28th - No School for students- Professional Development

The Ever-Changing Struggle of Parenting

With today's ever-changing social landscape, the majority of young peoples' interactions occur mostly through social media sites, and it is often difficult for parents to monitor, control, and navigate their child's interactions.  The feedback given through social media often guides our children towards relationships and responsibilities that they might not be ready for.  In an effort to help them blend in with the social lexicon, parents have, in some cases, allowed more freedom to younger children than would have been acceptable in the past.  Dr. Leonard Sax is a well-known pediatrician who addresses the effects of social media as well as the loosening of parental controls and the expectations we place on our children - or don't - in the following article.

To Rebuild the Collapse of Parenting Its Going to Be A Challenge

Calendar of Events:

• February 5th: Quarter 2 reports go home with students

• February 8th: 8th Grade Parent Night at 7pm in the Multi Purpose Room - all parents of current 8th graders are welcome

• February 15th - 19th: Vacation

• February 26th: High school class registration opens for 8th graders

Happy 2016!

As we transition into 2016, many people often make resolutions surrounding various personal goals such as weight loss, organization, etc.  One area that we never seem to focus on is the mind.  Why not clean out the mental clutter that we have collected over the past year?  A healthy mind and emotions often connect to a healthy body and outlook.  

Here are some articles we have chosen that focus on mental health resolutions, which is an area that is frequently forgotten.

Mental Health Resolutions for 2016

Declutter Your Mind

Calendar of Events:

January 14th, 15th, and 16th: SHREK! the Musical at the Ferrini Auditorium
January 18th: NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Day
January 29th: Quarter 2 ends

Holiday Burnout

Holiday Burnout

With the holiday season approaching, we often find ourselves more scheduled than our usual busy lives.  Both parents and children have found this time to be fun and exciting as well as tiring and overwhelming.  Between holiday gatherings, family events, shopping, cooking, and decorating, we get wrapped up in the season and can neglect our own needs.  It is important to find time for self-care both for ourselves and for our children in order to recharge so we can truly enjoy this time of year.


For children, here are 3 suggestions on how to slow down while keeping in the holiday spirit:

1.  Enjoying a holiday movie together as a family or with friends
2.  Take part in family holiday traditions - with NO distractions - such as tree decorating, making latkes, and baking holiday cookies
3.  Attend community events associated with the holidays (Here is what is going on in your community!)

This article is a reminder for parents about the small things in daily life that they may do to keep from getting overly stressed, especially during the holiday season.

http://www.today.com/parents/15-keys-happiness-overwhelmed-overburdened-parents-t42201

Calendar of Events:

December 6th: Hanukkah begins

December 14th: Hanukkah ends
December 23rd: Last day before Winter break
December 24th: Christmas Eve
December 25th: Christmas Day
December 31st: New Years Eve

Happy Thanksgiving!

In honor of Thanksgiving, we would like to use this month's blog to focus on what we are truly grateful for.  We hope that this month everyone is able to recognize the basic joys in life.

With that being said, sometimes there are struggles in life that prevent us from participating in these everyday tasks.  If your family has encountered a hardship such as unemployment, illness of a family member, or some other unusual circumstance, Holiday Assistance is available.  The Hamilton-Wenham Holiday Assistance Fund is a confidential program coordinated by a dedicated community volunteer and is supported by the generous donations of many community members. If your family meets the criteria and you would like to request assistance, please contact one of the school counselors to discuss this program and eligibility. Jessica Merritt, guidance counselor, can be reached at 978-468-0396 or Elizabeth Hortie, adjustment counselor, can be reached at 978-468-0366. Assistance will be in the form of gift cards for winter clothing and/or food or in some instances, gifts of essential clothing such as winter coats, hats, pajamas, socks, etc.  Requests for assistance should be made no later than November 6th. If you are interested in making a monetary donation to the program, you may also contact the counselors for details.

We would like to wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving - and remember to take some time to enjoy the small things in life.

Calender of Events:

11/2/15: NO SCHOOL/Teacher Workshop Day
11/3/15: Auditions for MRMS musical (this year it is Shrek!)
11/6/15: 7th & 8th grade "Black and White" dance (6:30 to 8:30)
11/11/15: NO SCHOOL/Happy Veteran's Day
11/13/15: End of Quarter 1
11/16/15: Start of Quarter 2
11/20/15: 1st Quarter report cards sent home
11/25/15: Early release at 12:05; No lunch served
11/26/15: Happy Thanksgiving!
11/27/15: NO SCHOOL/Thanksgiving break