Thursday, May 19, 2011
HONORS PROGRAMS FOR K-6 GRADES
The Honors Program for grades 3-6 at Verbena High School will be held in the Verbena High School auditorium at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, May 25. The Honors Program for grades K-2 will be held at the Verbena School Annex on Wednesday, May 25, at 11:30 AM. Parents and guardians of the students are invited to attend.
HELPING KIDS COPE
The April 27th storms left not only a path of destruction but also
widespread fear and sadness across our state and especially in our
children. Experts at the Children's Hospital of Alabama feel it is
important to teach children the best ways to cope with the feelings of
loss, despair and hopelessness that accompany the aftermath of a natural
disaster.
"The tornados not only devastated infrastructure but also devastated
lives, said Andy McNeil, director of The Amelia Center at Children's
Hospital. "Those that were not directly affected were certainly touched
by these storms in one way or another."
McNeil offers these tips in helping children understand and cope with
either personal grief, or grief that others around them are
experiencing:
* Take care of yourself - get enough sleep, eat well-balanced
meals, stick to regular routines and reach out to others for support. As
an adult, you are a model to children of how to cope with traumatic
events.
* Discuss the tragic event with your child in a simple and
direct manner. Be honest and share clear, accurate information about the
tragedy. Children need to hear the truth from someone they love.
* Listen to and respect your child's fears. Let your child know
that it is normal to feel worried or upset.
* Give your child a creative outlet to express feelings. This
can be done through drawing, writing, listening to music, playing games
or talking with dolls or family pets.
* Keep rules and boundaries consistent. Children gain security
in knowing that daily activities will remain the same.
* Reassure your child that he/she is loved and that you are
there to take care of him/her. Following a tragic event, a child's sense
of safety is shaken. Reassure your child that your family is safe.
* Give your child a sense of control by providing him/her with
ways your family can help others in the community. Encourage children
to be creative in the way that they want to get involved and help
others.
* Most importantly, be there for your child. Give extra
attention and be affectionate. Spend quality time together as a family.
The Amelia Center is a Birmingham based non-profit organization that
serves as a comprehensive community grief-counseling center. The Amelia
Center is a support service of Children's Hospital and is a United Way
of Central Alabama agency providing individual and family grief
counseling services at no charge.
Services also include grief support groups, Critical Incident Stress
Management response teams that serve schools throughout the state of
Alabama when there has been a death, and a variety of training
workshops on bereavement and loss-related topics.
Although most work is done at the Center, the staff trains caregivers,
health care professionals, school counselors, teachers, clergy and
others in grief counseling. The staff is also available to work with
schools in crisis situations.
George and Jerrie Elliott, supported by Pastoral Counselor Joe McNulty
and Children's Health System, established the Amelia Center in memory of
their daughter, Amelia, a 17-year-old camp counselor who was one of four
teens killed in a car/train collision in 1995.
For more information about the Amelia Center, or to schedule an
appointment, please call (205) 212-7481 or visit www.ameliacenter.org.
To see Children's Hospital expert Andy McNeil discuss this topic, visit
this month's video.
widespread fear and sadness across our state and especially in our
children. Experts at the Children's Hospital of Alabama feel it is
important to teach children the best ways to cope with the feelings of
loss, despair and hopelessness that accompany the aftermath of a natural
disaster.
"The tornados not only devastated infrastructure but also devastated
lives, said Andy McNeil, director of The Amelia Center at Children's
Hospital. "Those that were not directly affected were certainly touched
by these storms in one way or another."
McNeil offers these tips in helping children understand and cope with
either personal grief, or grief that others around them are
experiencing:
* Take care of yourself - get enough sleep, eat well-balanced
meals, stick to regular routines and reach out to others for support. As
an adult, you are a model to children of how to cope with traumatic
events.
* Discuss the tragic event with your child in a simple and
direct manner. Be honest and share clear, accurate information about the
tragedy. Children need to hear the truth from someone they love.
* Listen to and respect your child's fears. Let your child know
that it is normal to feel worried or upset.
* Give your child a creative outlet to express feelings. This
can be done through drawing, writing, listening to music, playing games
or talking with dolls or family pets.
* Keep rules and boundaries consistent. Children gain security
in knowing that daily activities will remain the same.
* Reassure your child that he/she is loved and that you are
there to take care of him/her. Following a tragic event, a child's sense
of safety is shaken. Reassure your child that your family is safe.
* Give your child a sense of control by providing him/her with
ways your family can help others in the community. Encourage children
to be creative in the way that they want to get involved and help
others.
* Most importantly, be there for your child. Give extra
attention and be affectionate. Spend quality time together as a family.
The Amelia Center is a Birmingham based non-profit organization that
serves as a comprehensive community grief-counseling center. The Amelia
Center is a support service of Children's Hospital and is a United Way
of Central Alabama agency providing individual and family grief
counseling services at no charge.
Services also include grief support groups, Critical Incident Stress
Management response teams that serve schools throughout the state of
Alabama when there has been a death, and a variety of training
workshops on bereavement and loss-related topics.
Although most work is done at the Center, the staff trains caregivers,
health care professionals, school counselors, teachers, clergy and
others in grief counseling. The staff is also available to work with
schools in crisis situations.
George and Jerrie Elliott, supported by Pastoral Counselor Joe McNulty
and Children's Health System, established the Amelia Center in memory of
their daughter, Amelia, a 17-year-old camp counselor who was one of four
teens killed in a car/train collision in 1995.
For more information about the Amelia Center, or to schedule an
appointment, please call (205) 212-7481 or visit www.ameliacenter.org.
To see Children's Hospital expert Andy McNeil discuss this topic, visit
this month's video
Monday, May 2, 2011
Special Days in May
May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
May 8 – Mother’s Day
May 11 – National School Nurse Day
May 21 – Armed Forces Day
May 25 – Honors Program for grades 3-6 at 9:30 A M
May 24-25 – Semester Exams
May 25 - Honors Program for grades K-2 at 1:30 at Annex
May 26 – Last day of school for students
Senior Graduation
May 30 – Memorial Day
May 8 – Mother’s Day
May 11 – National School Nurse Day
May 21 – Armed Forces Day
May 25 – Honors Program for grades 3-6 at 9:30 A M
May 24-25 – Semester Exams
May 25 - Honors Program for grades K-2 at 1:30 at Annex
May 26 – Last day of school for students
Senior Graduation
May 30 – Memorial Day
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Helpful Website for Parents and Educators
I found this website in a search for resources, http://www.educationcoffeehouse.com/k12/index.html. Maybe someone else can find some useful information in it. I really did!
Monday, April 25, 2011
Fourth Nine Weeks Progress Reports
Parents/guardians should be looking for their children or teens to be bringing home their fourth nine weeks progress reports today (04/25/11).
If you have any concerns about your child's grades, please call the school at 280-2820 to set up an appointment with your child's teacher(s). There are five weeks left in this school year. Keep your child on their homework schedule and do not let them slack up with studying.
If you have any concerns about your child's grades, please call the school at 280-2820 to set up an appointment with your child's teacher(s). There are five weeks left in this school year. Keep your child on their homework schedule and do not let them slack up with studying.
Good Sportsmanship
The character education word of the week is GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP. The following article on sportsmanship is from the website kidshealth.org.
Emily was crying by the time the softball game ended. It wasn't because her team had lost. It wasn't because she was unhappy about her own playing. It wasn't even because of anything the other team had said or done. Emily's tears came after her dad yelled at her — in front of all her teammates — for missing the fly ball that could have saved the game. Emily is just 8 years old.
If your child has ever participated in a sport, you've undoubtedly met people like Emily's dad, parents who behave inappropriately and upset their kids. These parents get so wrapped up in winning and losing or how well their own kids perform that they lose sight of what's really important. They forget that one of the most important goals of kids' sports is to promote a sense of good sportsmanship.
What Is Good Sportsmanship?
Good sportsmanship is when teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. Kids learn the basics of sportsmanship from the adults in their lives, especially their parents and their coaches. Kids who see adults behaving in a sportsmanlike way gradually come to understand that the real winners in sports are those who know how to persevere and to behave with dignity — whether they win or lose a game.
Parents can help their kids understand that good sportsmanship includes both small gestures and heroic efforts. It starts with something as simple as shaking hands with opponents before a game and includes acknowledging good plays made by others and accepting bad calls gracefully.
Displaying good sportsmanship isn't always easy: It can be tough to congratulate the opposing team after losing a close or important game. But the kids who learn how to do it will benefit in many ways.
Kids who bully or taunt others on the playing field aren't likely to change their behavior when in the classroom or in social situations. In the same way, a child who practices good sportsmanship is likely to carry the respect and appreciation of other people into every other aspect of life.
Good Sports Are Winners
Ask first- or second-graders who won a game and they may answer, "I think it was a tie." It's likely the question isn't of any real interest at that age. Kids may be more eager to talk about the hits they got or the catches they almost made.
But as they move into older and more competitive leagues, kids become more focused on winning. They often forget to have fun. Without constant reminders and good examples, they may also forget what behavior is appropriate before, during, and after a sporting event.
Kids who have coaches who care only about being in first place and say that anything goes as long as they win, pick up the message that it's OK to be ruthless on the field. If parents constantly pressure them to play better or second-guess their every move, kids get the message that they're only as good as their last good play — and they'll try anything to make one.
Adults who emphasize good sportsmanship, however, see winning as just one of several goals they'd like their kids to achieve. They help young athletes take pride in their accomplishments and in their improving skills, so that the kids see themselves as winners, even if the scoreboard doesn't show the numbers going in their favor.
The best coaches — and parents — encourage their kids to play fair, to have fun, and to concentrate on helping the team while polishing their own skills.
Fostering Good Sportsmanship
Remember the saying "Actions speak louder than words"? That's especially true when it comes to teaching your kids the basics of good sportsmanship. Your behavior during practices and games will influence them more than any pep talk or lecture you give them.
Here are some suggestions on how to build sportsmanship in your kids:
Unless you're coaching your child's team, you need to remember that you're the parent. Shout words of encouragement, not directions, from the sidelines (there is a difference!).If you are your kid's coach, don't expect too much out of your own child. Don't be harder on him or her than on anyone else on the team, but don't play favorites either.Keep your comments positive. Don't bad-mouth coaches, players, or game officials. If you have a serious concern about the way that games or practices are being conducted, or if you're upset about other parents' behavior, discuss it privately with the coach or with a league official.After a competition, it's important not to dwell on who won or lost. Instead, try asking, "How did you feel you did during the game?" If your child feels weak at a particular skill, like throwing or catching, offer to work on it together before the next game.Applaud good plays no matter who makes them.Set a good example with your courteous behavior toward the parents of kids on the other team. Congratulate them when their kids win.Remember that it's your kids, not you, who are playing. Don't push them into a sport because it's what you enjoyed. As kids get older, let them choose what sports they want to play and decide the level of commitment they want to make.Keep your perspective. It's just a game. Even if the team loses every game of the season, it's unlikely to ruin your child's life or chances of success.Look for examples of good sportsmanship in professional athletes and point them out to your kids. Talk about the bad examples, too, and why they upset you.Finally, don't forget to have fun. Even if your child isn't the star, enjoy the game while you're thinking of all the benefits your child is gaining — new skills, new friends, and attitudes that can help all through life.Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: October 2008
Originally reviewed by: Steve Sanders, PhD
Emily was crying by the time the softball game ended. It wasn't because her team had lost. It wasn't because she was unhappy about her own playing. It wasn't even because of anything the other team had said or done. Emily's tears came after her dad yelled at her — in front of all her teammates — for missing the fly ball that could have saved the game. Emily is just 8 years old.
If your child has ever participated in a sport, you've undoubtedly met people like Emily's dad, parents who behave inappropriately and upset their kids. These parents get so wrapped up in winning and losing or how well their own kids perform that they lose sight of what's really important. They forget that one of the most important goals of kids' sports is to promote a sense of good sportsmanship.
What Is Good Sportsmanship?
Good sportsmanship is when teammates, opponents, coaches, and officials treat each other with respect. Kids learn the basics of sportsmanship from the adults in their lives, especially their parents and their coaches. Kids who see adults behaving in a sportsmanlike way gradually come to understand that the real winners in sports are those who know how to persevere and to behave with dignity — whether they win or lose a game.
Parents can help their kids understand that good sportsmanship includes both small gestures and heroic efforts. It starts with something as simple as shaking hands with opponents before a game and includes acknowledging good plays made by others and accepting bad calls gracefully.
Displaying good sportsmanship isn't always easy: It can be tough to congratulate the opposing team after losing a close or important game. But the kids who learn how to do it will benefit in many ways.
Kids who bully or taunt others on the playing field aren't likely to change their behavior when in the classroom or in social situations. In the same way, a child who practices good sportsmanship is likely to carry the respect and appreciation of other people into every other aspect of life.
Good Sports Are Winners
Ask first- or second-graders who won a game and they may answer, "I think it was a tie." It's likely the question isn't of any real interest at that age. Kids may be more eager to talk about the hits they got or the catches they almost made.
But as they move into older and more competitive leagues, kids become more focused on winning. They often forget to have fun. Without constant reminders and good examples, they may also forget what behavior is appropriate before, during, and after a sporting event.
Kids who have coaches who care only about being in first place and say that anything goes as long as they win, pick up the message that it's OK to be ruthless on the field. If parents constantly pressure them to play better or second-guess their every move, kids get the message that they're only as good as their last good play — and they'll try anything to make one.
Adults who emphasize good sportsmanship, however, see winning as just one of several goals they'd like their kids to achieve. They help young athletes take pride in their accomplishments and in their improving skills, so that the kids see themselves as winners, even if the scoreboard doesn't show the numbers going in their favor.
The best coaches — and parents — encourage their kids to play fair, to have fun, and to concentrate on helping the team while polishing their own skills.
Fostering Good Sportsmanship
Remember the saying "Actions speak louder than words"? That's especially true when it comes to teaching your kids the basics of good sportsmanship. Your behavior during practices and games will influence them more than any pep talk or lecture you give them.
Here are some suggestions on how to build sportsmanship in your kids:
Unless you're coaching your child's team, you need to remember that you're the parent. Shout words of encouragement, not directions, from the sidelines (there is a difference!).If you are your kid's coach, don't expect too much out of your own child. Don't be harder on him or her than on anyone else on the team, but don't play favorites either.Keep your comments positive. Don't bad-mouth coaches, players, or game officials. If you have a serious concern about the way that games or practices are being conducted, or if you're upset about other parents' behavior, discuss it privately with the coach or with a league official.After a competition, it's important not to dwell on who won or lost. Instead, try asking, "How did you feel you did during the game?" If your child feels weak at a particular skill, like throwing or catching, offer to work on it together before the next game.Applaud good plays no matter who makes them.Set a good example with your courteous behavior toward the parents of kids on the other team. Congratulate them when their kids win.Remember that it's your kids, not you, who are playing. Don't push them into a sport because it's what you enjoyed. As kids get older, let them choose what sports they want to play and decide the level of commitment they want to make.Keep your perspective. It's just a game. Even if the team loses every game of the season, it's unlikely to ruin your child's life or chances of success.Look for examples of good sportsmanship in professional athletes and point them out to your kids. Talk about the bad examples, too, and why they upset you.Finally, don't forget to have fun. Even if your child isn't the star, enjoy the game while you're thinking of all the benefits your child is gaining — new skills, new friends, and attitudes that can help all through life.Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: October 2008
Originally reviewed by: Steve Sanders, PhD
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