Principal's May Newsletter

May 19, 2009

Dear Nixon Families,

Nixon’s staff felt so pampered during the recent Staff Appreciation Week.  One day we were served hot coffee and pastries right in the classrooms!  Another day teachers were greeted with a large envelope of notes of appreciation from students.  We were “kings” and “queens” for a day with crowns, and were treated with chocolate in champagne glasses, and a beautiful cake.  The fabulous culminating event was last Wednesday’s luncheon, which featured a Mardi Gras theme and plate after plate of fabulous home-made dishes of every kind!  We so appreciate the Nixon parents’ support of the staff, not only during this special week, but every day!  On behalf of the entire staff, thank you!

 

Budget and Class Placement

As you know, the state budget continues to be in flux, and it continues to be unclear what the impact will be on the town budget.  At all SPS schools, we have gone forward with classroom placements assuming that the nonoverride budget (@$700,00 of cuts, as I have described to you earlier), is the most likely scenario.  However, if the budget situation worsens, further cuts may be needed, and these cuts may require further classroom reductions and changes in students class placements.   Our current plan is to provide class placements via Constant Contact email around July 1, with the understanding that it is possible that they may change. 

It is critical that you update your Constant Contact information, so that we have your most current email address.  Please keep in mind that we do not update this email list; you must go to the district website and update it yourself.

Nixon’s parents give us what we need!

As a result of your generosity, Nixon will be receiving 13 new laptops.  These are sorely needed, particulary in the primary grades, where obsolete computers have been dying with no chance for replacement.  Every K-2 classroom teacher will receive a current model laptop.  (3rd-5th received laptops along with the ActiveBoards.)  Any remaining laptops will be deployed to specialists/special services staff based on the most critical need.  In addition, we are excited that our “Wish Tree” requests have been granted.   Nixon will receive everything from gift cards to teaching stores to playground equipment requested by the children through Student Council.  While we are currently again under a budget freeze in regards to the district budget, your incredible generosity provides Nixon’s children and staff with things that really make a difference in our everyday experience!

The flu

Mrs. Chabot has been keeping me current regarding the flu at Nixon.  At this point, Nixon has not experienced the increase in cases noted at some other schools.   As you have read in Dr. Brackett’s emails, the Massachusetts Department of Health is not recommending closing of schools, as it seen as ineffective in stopping the spread of flu.  Hand sanitizing is the recommended method for reducing the spread of infections  At Nixon, all classrooms are equipped with hand sanitizer dispensers (courtesy of the PTO and Nixon’s parents), however due to an increased national demand, we are currently unable to obtain dispenser refills.  To assist us during this high use time, we would very much appreciate donations of hand sanitizer, both for use of the whole school after recess and before lunch, and for use in your child’s classroom.

Assessments

Your child may report to you that the teacher is pulling children aside individually to take a reading test, and/or that the class has been taking assessments in reading, spelling, and math.  While not always students’ favorite times, these assessments provide important information that will help us to teach your child and evaluate and improve our effectiveness.   Although teachers are beginning assessments now in order to pace themselves, please know that we continue to focus on teaching and learning through June.

Bullying

As part of our initiative to address bullying, all children in grades 2-5 wrote me about what they think bullying is and reported any example they may have witnessed and what anyone did to help.  Through reading children’s writing, it is apparent that while Nixon students experience a variety of unkind behaviors, much of it is not actually bullying.  That is not to minimize the pain students feel if someone is mean to them, but rather to help students effectively cope and respond to the differing demands of the situations.  Younger children tend to believe anything that hurts them is bullying, even if it is unintentional. 

It is also the administrators experience that a significant number of situations initially reported as bullying are mean but not bullying, or situations in which both parties are behaving inappropriately.  We are not suggesting that you not let us know about these situations, but it is important that developmentally many children focus on what someone did to them as opposed to what their part in the problem may have been.

At recent School Meetings we have been working on an understanding of what kinds of behavior constitute bullying (as opposed to “annoying,”  “mean but not bullying” and “accidentally” hurting someone), as well as the power of bystanders to stop bullying, and the difference between tattling and getting help. 

Please review our definitions to make sure that you and your child are on the same page as the school when it comes to these ideas:

• Bullying—mean behavior that purposely hurts someone’s body or feelings, that is repeated, and involves a power imbalance.  Examples of power imbalance:  older child to younger, group to individual, “popular” kids to less popular, picking on vulnerable/special needs child, etc.  All bullying should be reported to an adult.

• Mean behavior—things that purposely hurt someone’s feelings, but are not repeated and involving a power imbalance.  Examples:  Saying someone can’t play with you today, a first grader pushing another first grader.  Some mean behaviors warrant getting adult help (e.g. hitting), while others students can deal with on their own (e.g. playing with someone else that day).

• Double D/Triple D Behavior—Dangerous, Destructive, and Discriminatory behavior.  This may be mean (e.g. saying girls can’t play the game), bullying (e.g. older child constantly tripping younger children on bus), or neither (e.g. smearing soap on the mirror in the bathroom).  However, all should be reported to an adult.

• Annoying Behavior—behavior that we don’t like, but doesn’t hurt us (e.g. someone tapping their pencil next to us, someone bragging about how well they do in their sport).  This category also includes accidental hurting, such as bumping into someone in line, or lack of clarity about the rules (e.g. if you don’t wan to play chase, just stop running).  As a rule, children are taught strategies to deal with annoying behaviors on their own. 

• Tattling—telling an adult about someone’s behavior simply to get them in trouble (may be when a behavior is annoying).

• Getting help—telling an adult to help someone get out of trouble.  (Always when the behavior is bullying, Double/Triple D, and some mean behaviors).

Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

Nixon parents are the best, giving both financially, and of your time and hearts!  You help in so many ways, and help provide a richness of experience that simply wouldn’t be possible otherwise.  As a token of our appreciation for you, we invite all parents who have helped out in any way—and that is all of you—to attend a Volunteer Appreciation breakfast on  June 16 from 8:30-9:30 a.m.   Please bring your children along.  Nixon students will be able to play supervised on the playground, and your younger children may stay with you.  You will have a chance to chat with staff informally before they go to class, and partake of some yummy breakfast treats. 

 

Enjoy the warm weather and being outside with your children!

 

Joni Jay