VE District Newsletter

October gave our elementary students plenty to talk about! We had many learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. From exploring the moon to singing for local nursing home residents and participating in a fun afternoon of potato themed activities, students had opportunities to try new things, connect with our communities, and learn beyond their daily classroom lessons.

In October, our first graders began Spoons Across America, exploring food through hands-on learning all while preschool and kindergarten students visited the Cavalier Library, and our second graders enjoyed a trip to Full STEAM Ahead in Grand Forks! In Crystal, our students engaged in a presentation with Dan Bakke who shared a wealth of knowledge about the moon and we were even able to use his telescope to see the moon that day. The experience even landed our students on the local news that evening!

During the month, our Crystal Student Council has been busy taking on leadership responsibilities through a service project and dress-up days. Students also participated in the Building Tomorrow’s Leaders Jr. program, learning more about themselves as leaders and how they can contribute to their school. These experiences give students a chance to share ideas, work together, and put their leadership skills into practice.

Friendship and kindness were part of our learning this month, too. DVAC visited all classrooms to speak with students about healthy friendships. Our visits to local nursing homes gave students another opportunity to connect with others through singing and spending time with residents. It was wonderful to share a little of our school day with our community members!

We also welcomed families for parent-teacher conferences during the month of October, with a 95% family attendance rate! Thank you for making time to visit with your child’s teacher, celebrate progress, and discuss ways we can work together to support your child. We appreciate your involvement and the conversations that help us better understand each student.

Thank you to our staff, families, and community guests for making October such a full month of learning. Ask your child which experience stood out most—you may hear something new!

With quarter one finished, I want to remind our students that asking for help is a good thing. Whether it's not understanding something in class, falling behind on assignments, or struggling with a particular subject; it's important for students to communicate with their teachers. Sometimes students get frustrated or feel like they should be able to figure everything out on their own, but that isn't always the case. Asking questions and reaching out for help is part of learning, and it's a skill that will benefit students long after they leave school.

I encourage families to have conversations with their students about how things are going in school and remind them that it's okay to ask for help when they need it. If a student is struggling or has missing assignments, the best thing they can do is talk with their teacher sooner rather than later. The longer a student waits, the harder it can be to get back on track. We want to see our students take ownership of their learning, and that includes recognizing when they need help and taking the steps to get it. Our staff is here to support students, but communication is an important first step.

Learning to advocate for yourself is also an important life skill. As students get older, they will need to communicate with college instructors, employers, coaches, and others when they have questions or need support. Families can help build this skill by encouraging students to talk directly with their teachers about missing assignments, ask questions when they don't understand something, or reach out when they need clarification. It's okay for parents to offer advice and help students plan what to say, but whenever possible, let your student take the lead in those conversations. Learning to speak up for themselves now will help prepare them to handle challenges and responsibilities on their own in the future.

I’m looking forward to another great quarter as we finish up semester one! Thank you students for your commitment, hard work, and willingness to push yourself. Thank you parents for partnering with us in giving your child the best education possible! Go Titans!

In October, we focused on several important awareness observances. The first one is bullying prevention month which fits with Red Ribbon Week that pops up at the end of the month. Even though this is always discussed it’s a chance to emphasize kindness, acceptance and inclusion. It has been a time to acknowledge that bullying has a devastating effect on kids and families such as school avoidance, loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety and depression. Bullying can occur in multiple ways. It can be verbal, physical, through social exclusion or digital sources like email, texts, or social media. Unlike mutual teasing or fighting, bullying happens when one person or a group of people is perceived as being more powerful than another and takes advantage of that power through repeated physical contact, threats of harm, intimidation, or by purposefully excluding a person from a valued social group. It can often lead to health issues such as anxiety, depression and depending on age substance abuse. It can also cause suicidal thoughts and behaviors. As is age appropriate, we talk about how to handle bullies, how to stand up for themselves and others and what their choices are in dealing with their feelings when it happens. They learn when a bullying situation is something they can handle themselves and when they might need help. Learning and being able to actually use these strategies is a very helpful life skill.

Red Ribbon Week is held during the last week of October with the focus on drug and alcohol prevention depending on age level. For the younger kids, it's talking about how they should only be eating or drinking things that are safe for them. We discuss the importance of healthy habits such as eating fruits and vegetables and trying not to eat so much junk food. Getting plenty of sleep and exercise and especially playing outdoors. Developing interests in pastimes such as board games, puzzles, coloring and reading versus always being on tech or watching tv. We spend some time talking about bus safety because it’s a good review of rules and safety precautions that need to be followed.

For the older students it’s a good chance to have a discussion about how their goals, identity, peer pressure and decision making can be affected by their choices. Especially if they choose to try something they know they aren’t ready for but don’t want to be the odd one out. We look at future goals and personal identity by talking about who they want to be, how healthy habits can protect them and what it means to be a leader instead of following the crowd. What personal values or traits are most important to them and how they can develop them. Peer pressure is also a huge deal. Discussion involves what it looks like or feels like when someone pressures you into something you don’t want to do. What exit strategies might work or how to help a friend who’s having trouble saying no. What might happen if the choices made result in losing a friend or disappointing one. How we can make our home or classroom a safe place to talk when big emotions, or peer pressure make it hard to talk about and who are the trusted adults in our life who can help. What the difference is between a healthy coping mechanism (like sports, art, or talking to someone) and an unhealthy one.

Celebrating College Application Month

Our October College Application Month event was a success! All seniors participated by applying to one or more colleges or creating their FAFSA accounts. As individual senior meetings wrap up, it is clear that our seniors have a strong start on their college and career plans. I encourage seniors to keep that momentum going by applying for scholarship opportunities and paying close attention to deadlines.

What Students Will Be Working On in November…

November’s focus on National Career Development Month and National Scholarship Month gives students an opportunity to explore their options and take steps toward their futures.

Career lessons this month will focus on:

• Seniors: Finding and applying for scholarships and developing resumes for college, employment, and scholarship applications.

• Juniors: Preparing for the ACT and ASVAB tests and researching careers and education or training options.

• Freshmen and sophomores: Completing career and interest inventories to explore how their strengths and interests connect with future coursework.

• Seventh and eighth graders: Exploring career interests and strengthening study skills to support success in junior high and beyond.

Exploring Military and Career Opportunities

A representative from the North Dakota National Guard will meet with juniors and seniors this month to discuss military education benefits, part-time service pathways, and local career opportunities. This presentation will introduce students to another option they may consider as they plan for life after high school.

Keep the Conversation Going at Home

Ask your student what they have learned about their interests, strengths, or future goals. Sharing your own college and career experiences—including unexpected changes along the way—can help students see that planning for the future is an ongoing process.