Westwood Middle School registration packet for incoming 6th graders
Parent Information Night
Where: Snowdon Elementary
When: April 21st from 6:00-7:00pm
Who: For 5th Grade Cougars transitioning to Cheney Middle School Hawks!
Hope to see you there!
My Body! What I Say Goes! by Jayneen Sanders
No Means No by Jayneen Sanders
Let’s Talk About Body Boundaries, Consent & Respect by Jayneen Sanders
NetSmartz Curriculum (www.NetSmartz.org)
If you are wondering why we teach these topics in school, you can go to the OSPI website here or the Erin's Law main page here and read about Erin's Law. Our standards include the following:
Let's celebrate our veterans!!
This Thursday, November 11th is Veteran's Day. Thank you to all who have served or are currently serving. Take a look at a reading of H is for Honor in honor of all of our veterans.
Bullying in Schools...Still an Epidemic?
We continue to hear the stories of kids who are tormented daily by the effects of bullying all across the nation. The staff and students here at Snowdon Elementary work very hard to keep our school safe. Everyone is affected by bullying and we can all do our part to make sure bullying doesn't happen at our school. Wondering what you can do as a parent- there is some information below that discusses what bullying is, what parents can do and what kids need to know to be safe. Snowdon Elementary will be having our annual required Anti-Bullying and Harassment training for all students. This is currently happening in the classroom for all students, which will include a lesson and discussion. This year’s focus is on preventing bullying before it even happens by BEING KIND to others and being an ACTIVE BYSTANDER. We hope students, staff and parents take a stand as a bystander and not allow bullying to happen to others by speaking out.
For 3rd-5th grade, we are using the Second Step Bullying Prevention
Unit. In the lessons, your child will learn specific skills to help stop bullying.
Students will learn how to:
For K-2nd grade, we will be reading various children's books that focus on kindness. We will have discussions in the class about recognizing bullying type behaviors and what to do about it.
Communication is Essential to Preventing Bullying
In order to know what’s going on with your children, you need to ask. Talk to your children regularly about school so they can understand what bullying is and how your child should respond if they are being bullied or if they know someone else who is.
A good way to begin is by asking the right questions. Rather than asking, “How was your day?” which usually leads to: “good” or “ok,” consider asking questions that encourage a longer conversation. Some examples include:
Knowing the right time and place to talk is also important. For young children, after school snack or dinner time offers a chance for meaningful communication and gives children an opportunity to share while they are also focused on eating.
As they get older, car rides offer a great opportunity for talking with your child.
What to Do If Your Child Thinks They’re Being Bullied
If your child discloses that they think they are being bullied, make sure they understand that it is NOT their fault. Reassure them that they did the right thing by telling you. Do make sure to talk to your child about the difference between a conflict and bullying. Conflict is a disagreement that happens when people want different things. If what your child starts to explain is sounding more like bullying, below are the questions needing to be asked:
Once you understand the facts, it is important to communicate with your child’s school. As the school tells your child, if the incident is not reported we cannot help set up plans, monitor the situation, or help. Sometimes, children witness bullying and want to do something about it, but they’re not sure what to do. In our bully prevention lesson, we call this action empowering the bystander. It is important to recognize that how children respond may vary depending on the particular situation, how well they know the people involved, and whether they are older or younger, etc.
Did you know?
“When children intervene in a bullying situation, it can have a powerful effect. Research shows that when peers intervene in a bullying situation, the bullying stops nearly 60% of the time.”
Empowering the Bystander
Our first priority at Snowdon is to create, ensure, and sustain a safe and positive learning environment. Please partner with us to support your children.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email me.
October Feed Cheney Information- There will be coats available along with meals and groceries.