Are you Ready for a Good Time?
Come one come all to our annual Jog-A-Thon!
by Jeanna Bland
Friday, February 1st for grades K-3rd
Friday, February 8th for grades 4th – 8th
Here are a few tips & reminders:
- Please make sure that your child comes to school well rested and fed.
- Make sure your child has a nutritious lunch brought from home. (Lunch will not be provided this year)
- Cover exposed skin with sun block. (we are not allowed to apply sunscreen to your child)
- Water will be provided, but children may bring their own water bottles if they wish.
- Children may wear hats to block the sun.
- If you are taking your child home afterwards you will need to sign out with your teacher.
- Jog-a-Thon t-shirts will be distributed and changed into at school Friday morning.
If you are able to come, we need your help with:
- Setting up the jogging track and clinics
- Signs at school and at the park
- Stamping lap cards and cheering the kids on
- Helping teachers guide kids through sports clinics
- Serving water & clean up
Please continue to get as many pledges as you can! Completed lap cards will be sent home on Friday and pledges will be due in by February 15th.
Thanks for supporting our children and wonderful school!
Learning from Bumps and Bruises
by Rebecca Crissy
As I visit with preschool administrators around the country a common theme emerges: the dynamics of smaller families are affecting children's abilities to learn how to endure the bumps and bruises of everyday life. Many school principals and teachers hear from upset parents the first few days and weeks of school because children go home and complain about preschool. Used to being the center of attention of adults who listen and take care of their every request, these children are frustrated by the interpersonal demands of a preschool classroom.
''I told my friend I wanted to use the crayons, and she didn't listen.''
''I hurt my knee on the playground, and I didn't get a Shrek bandage.''
''I didn't eat a snack because they didn't have my favorite cookies.''
''I didn't get a turn on the swing.''
Teachers report that parents are increasingly reluctant to let children endure any discomfort. These parents are more likely to remove their children from preschool than in previous years. Teachers say that parents in the quest to raise a perfect child have forgotten that important, yet basic, lessons are learned the hard way. We break a treasured toy. Friends don't listen to us. Friends won't play the game we want to play. We skin our knees on the playground. Lunch isn't our favorite hamburger with fries. Somehow in these interactions we learn important coping skills.
At the moment of our discomfort most of us are usually not happy campers. In retrospect, though, we may see a pattern of rough moments that have polished our character into a gemstone. The hurts endured--a friend sitting with someone else, of being hungry and not liking the foods offered--are growth experiences. These situations help us become resilient.
I'm reminded of six-year-old Caiti who visited my home. We found only one thing in the kitchen that Caiti could eat on her wheat-free diet. Crunchy peanut butter. I knew that Caiti preferred smooth.
''I'm sorry, Caiti, but I only have crunchy.''
''That's fine," Caiti said. ''I'll deal with it.''
Caiti exhibits the kind of flexibility that comes with getting a few bumps and bruises and knowing that somehow it's all going to be okay. Not everything is going to go your way in life, and we do our children a disservice when we try to protect them from every disappointment or discomfort.
''Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail,'' wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. There will be ups and downs in our children's lives. It is the small irritations that smooth and polish character as our children learn to take the good with the bad, and to get up every time circumstances knock them for a loop. Remember that any unnecessary help is a hindrance to a child's development. Everyday jostlings teach our children to have the flexibility and strength to keep moving forward in order to enjoy and appreciate the experience of being alive.
Reprinted from www.kidstalknews.com “Learning from Bumps and Bruises” by Maren Schmidt. Kids Talk™ is a column dealing with early childhood development issues written by Maren Stark Schmidt. Mrs. Schmidt founded a Montessori school and holds a Masters of Education from Loyola College in Maryland. She has over 25 years experience working with young children and holds teaching credentials from the Association Montessori Internationale. She is also Creative Director for a video-based reading series for children ages three to six, The Shining Light Reading Series. Contact her via e-mail at maren@shininglightreading.com.
Success in the New Year
Diana Capirano -
Certified Personal Trainer, Healthy Lifestyle Coach
Now that the New Year is here, there is no doubt that many of you have included a resolution to get healthier. You may want to commit to better eating, more exercise, joining a gym, or other self-help goals. It is important to translate your new state of mind into ACTION not just words.
- Specify a “Plan of Action” and Write it Down. For example, if you have resolved to join a gym; begin by reinforcing your resolution by asking and answering many detailed questions that will help facilitate ACTION. Why do I need to do this? What gym? What will it entail? Who will I enlist to go with me? How will I pay for it? When can I commit time to go? Be detailed and specific as possible. Using the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How questions will lead you to really define your goal and set a path for success.
- Include Others in the plan, (if possible) so that they may act as a support system. Those that care about you will want to help and share in your success
- Plan to Succeed with a Positive Outlook. Look to all of your new resolutions with the focus that you CAN and WILL succeed. If you have tried to lose weight before and let go of the reality, ask yourself “why did that happen?”….analyze but do not allow excuses! What will be different this time?
- Use Reality Checks and Set Smaller Goals Along the Way. Smaller bites go down easier than one big gulp! The plan may need revision….life throws curves.
- Visualize yourself achieving that goal. What does it feel like? What does it look like? What will be different? Be in that moment, NOW. Call upon this visual when focus seems lost. “A picture speaks a thousand words”
- Celebrate the Continued Commitment and Successes until the goal is reached. Check in on a regular basis (daily/weekly) to keep the momentum so they are not just words on a tablet in the bedside drawer.
Maybe you have sat down with your children to flush out some of their goals. Our kids perform goal setting everyday, but there is something refreshing about the chance to start new and plan ahead.
We can help them look at goals outside of the school environment. For our kids it could be learning an instrument, better grades, fitness, making new friends, community service. We are their immediate support team.
Let’s partner with them to achieve their higher good. The time shared goal setting is valuable time spent as we can learn about and appreciate each others needs and desires, not just our own. Follow the steps above with them as well.
May your New Year be blessed with Success!
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The "Island Village Musical Review"
Saturday, March 15 at
Venice Little Theatre!
More information coming…
(We need parent volunteers to help the week of March 10 and on Saturday,
March 15 at Venice Little Theatre for the technical rehearsals and
performance. Please contact Jan at
484-4999 ext 224 to help!)
Choir has started!!! Rehearsals are now Wednesdays Only, 3:30-5:00.
IVMS Music Update
Music is moving forward here at IVMS.
We had a "Ton O' Fun" at the Winter Performance. There will be several
opportunities for the kids to perform during the year.
We now have a "Jazz/Blues Band"! I personally purchased an electronic drum
set, a bass, and an electric guitar for the kids to play. There now is
the opportunity for the kids to achieve a competent level of
musicianship on one of these instruments. If they want it and work at
it, they can "make it happen!".We also have a new "Bucket Drum Line"
(lots of fun) that they can participate in.
This school year, the
school also purchased a new digital piano! Changes are happening and I
have quite a few plans that require a little help. If you're
interested; my e-mail is music@islandvillage.org.
If you have any
questions or desires for the music program, please let me know. I'm
interested and more than happy to roll up my sleeves in order to get
things done.
That's it for now... more to come!
Peter Simms (Mr. Peter)
P.S….thank you to the “anonymous” donor for the wonderful boombox/CD player!!!
Casa Tips
by Alice McCann
Valentine’s Day is coming up and the teachers have some great ideas! Send a note to your homeroom and find out if your teacher needs help. Draft a letter yourself and ask if you can send it home. It’s not hard! When I started, I had never done it before. Just say something like “ VOLUNTEER PARENTS NEEDED IN CLASSROOM #8 FOR VALENTINES DAY!!” See how easy that was! It is only capital letters, but I bet it was the first thing you looked at! Now all you have to do is copy it on colored paper and you have started the ball rolling. Remember, you don’t even have to be there yourself if you have enough parents helping.
Pre School News
By Rene Artur
Welcome to 2008!
The preschoolers are busy exploring all of the new and
interesting changes in their classrooms and meeting new classmates. Soon
they will be discovering all of the new outside playground equipment that
was ordered earlier this month.
We are practicing for the upcoming jog-a-thon scheduled for February 8.
The preschoolers and visitors will be running laps for pledged around the
IVM Charter school sunshade. All student joggers and IVM staff will receive
a jog-a-thon shirt to wear during the jog-a-thon and may be worn as a
uniform shirt to school.
Volunteers are being sought after to help with our
Big Truck event this spring. If you are interested in helping with this
event or know of an equipment truck, personal 4X4 or neat sports car, boat,
motorcycle etc., please contact the preschool office at 484-4997. Event
information will be posted soon.
Flu season is hear, please remember to wash your hands frequently, eat
healthy choices and set an early routine bed time.
The School Store will be open from 12:00 to 12:30 on Tuesdays. We will also be having a “Clearance Sale” the first week of February.
Please stay tuned for details.
We are happy to announce we have a person to answer questions and help set up transportation for our
families.
For Carpool or busing information, contact Kristin Richardson. You may contact her at: kristincomeau@islandvillage.org
Open Enrollment for the 2008-2009 school year ends Feb.8. This is for NEW,
age eligible students to IVMS. The application can be filled out and
submitted on-line. For information: Call Jan, 484-4999 ext.224
Council for Exceptional Children - Sunset Chapter 296 is hosting a Silent Art Auction and Soiree at the Ringling College of Art and Design in the Exhibition Hall, Saturday, March 8th, 2008 at 2700 North Tamiami Trial and MLK Blvd.
Money raised will be used for summer camp scholarships
for execptional students.
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