It was a week filled with excitement and joy as the children filled the schools and began to settle into their new groups with new teachers and some new friends. Everywhere around me I saw students, teachers and parents with smiling faces. It is my hope that all of these smiles remain throughout the year as learning can be a joyful experience for all of us. In the classrooms I observed community building activities and the establishment of rules and routines that will help to keep things running smoothly. I also saw many children with healthy snacks and lunches. Please send healthy food with the children and keep treat type foods for home. Healthy foods make healthy brains and alert children and that is just what we need.
Sleep, like food, is necessary for us to function optimally. I share the following study of elementary-aged children which recommends 10 hours of sleep per night:
“In a study of 74 six- to twelve-year-olds, researchers found that the children generally had more trouble with their schoolwork and more attention problems during the week when they stayed up late each night. The study, published in the medical journal Sleep, included healthy grade- schoolers without sleep or academic problems. During one week, they followed their normal sleep routine, with younger children getting about 10 hours each night and older children getting 8 to 9 hours. On another week, the children stayed up later than usual and got only 6.5 to 8 hours of sleep, depending on their age. On a third week, all of the children followed an “optimized” sleep schedule and got no fewer than 10 hours of sleep per night. (Source: SLEEP Dec. 2005)”
Please do not drop off your children prior to 7:30 as there is no supervision until then and this is a safety issue. If you arrive early please stay with your children in the car until the 7:30 arrival time. Your cooperation in this will help to keep children safe. We were very happy to see children arriving at schools on time for the 7:50 bell. This beginning of the day is a time that students are greeted by the teacher and their peers and it is a time to get organized for the day. Arriving on time and being able to participate in these social niceties helps set the tone for the
day.
Sincerely,
Adele Hutchison
Elementary Principal
Upcoming Events:
September 23 Normal hours for elementary
October 9 Curriculum Afternoon at 2:30
October 14-16 Eid Al Adha (tentative)
October 21-Nov.7 MAP Testing
