April 24, 2020
Today marks the end of our first week with Remote Learning and many students have been engaged in their online lessons, discussion boards, and class Zoom meetings! I was able to join almost all of the class Zooms on Tuesday and Thursday and it has been wonderful for me to see our kids becoming experts with this communication tool! Students participated in read-alouds, surveys, stuffed animal show-and-tells, and chatting in the Zoom chat box. I'm sure they loved seeing their classmates and teachers as much as we loved seeing them!
If you were not able to participate in the class Zooms this week (see schedule below), I do hope that you and your child were able to invest time connecting with their classroom teacher. Our teachers and staff members are working around the clock to make Remote Learning a truly engaging learning experience for your child. You can plan for your child's teacher to send an email every Monday with updated learning plans and activities. Within that email, you will find your child's teacher's Web page link, Zoom links and/or video recordings, and the Week at a Glance. Please maintain contact with your child's teacher as they are aware of who's participating in Remote Learning and who has yet to join.
We do understand the time commitment and demands that remote learning puts on families as many of us are juggling working and homeschooling ourselves. We are sensitive to every families' unique situation during this time and are here to help. We realize we are far from "normalcy" and our staff will continue to work with you as needed.
As always, I am also a resource to you and I am only an email/call/text away. Feel free to email me directly at sjackson@fwps.org or at (253) 329-7999.
In partnership,
Sarah Jackson
Message From the Counselor!
Hello Wildwood Wildcats!
How are you doing?! I am sending you my biggest happy face because I am excited for you and our country! Did you know this week, you are making American History?! Yes Wildwood, we are just one of many schools in our nation that is experiencing our education completely online. This has never happened in our nation’s history!
This week we began learning at school in a virtual online classroom setting. We know most of you feel very comfortable playing games and navigating online learning already like you do with i-Ready. Now you are going to challenge yourself and use your skills to grow and expand your learning completely online for the rest of this school year. It might be a little scary at first but we are all learning this with you, at the same time. I am learning new ways of learning and communicating with all of you as well. This is both an exciting and scary time for all of us. Wildwood Wildcats we believe in you! Tell teachers and parents what you need, and be patient with yourself.
What does PAWS look like at home this week? This is the launch of school-wide online learning platforms/programs. We are all at home, learning how to be in school, at home. I will give you some tips on how to make this transition successful. It will be essential that you continue to use PAWS.
Which brings me to PAWS
Our Second Letter in our PAWS is “A”
A is the letter of today which stands for.....
Always Make Good Decisions: That means to help you feel in control of the things around you. Use your imagination, be creative and get your family involved make a Kelso’s Choice to talk it out with them about what choices you can make for your own day. Plan your day, every day. Schedule a routine, when you will do different daily activities such as reading or free time and follow your schedule.
A Family Game to Play: What did I hide find the missing thing?– Each family member takes turns guessing what item is hidden and what you are searching for. You can only ask one question about the item you are searching for and you can only look at one place for the item in the room per turn. One person takes an object and hides it in a room. No talking, except the person’s turn it is and they can only ask one question, before they choose one place to look. Hopefully, you will have some idea of what you are searching for from the clues you get answered to each question. Whoever finds what you were looking for or what was hidden first, wins! Have fun as a family!
Ways to Calm Down: Go to a comfortable place. Close your eyes, take 3 or 4 deep breaths. Use your creativity mind, focus your thoughts on what brings you peace, joy, and happiness. Imagine experiencing your greatest dream! Or reliving the best thing that has ever happened to you. Replay the happy thoughts over and over in your mind as you match your breathing to your excitement or calm, peaceful, thoughts.
Daily Exercise: Stay active and healthy as we practice social distancing. Did you know your brain works best after you exercise? Exercise helps you pump more oxygen and nutrients to your brain. So continue to include exercise on your daily schedule.
Kelso's Choices: Remember when you are home with your family and conflict may arise. It is not only about how you feel. It is also about how they feel, you may need to see the conflict from some one else’s point of view. Use your Kelso Choices to talk it out with a family member or find a space to wait and cool off when small problems show up.
Toolbox: Your toolbox are the supports you have available to you to help you solve problems and work through conflicts.
Question: What is in your toolbox today?
Answer: Today we talked about Kelso Choices, For example talk it out and wait and cool off when small problems arise with others.
Positive Self-Talk: Online learning is a new adventure for me. "I can achieve my goals because I am capable."
Finally, my message to you is: Be yourself and find adventure in learning new things.
Parents, you can schedule an appointment with me online for you or your student (please be sure to be present with your students during the appointment). I have special office hours for these appointments that will appear when you click on the link below.
Link: https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/y7e0jgzk/
Stay Happy and Healthy,
Ms. Davis
Wildwood Counselor