Bulldog Barker

The other day I came home from work wiped out and stared at my news feed on my phone. After a while of scrolling through the articles that some algorithm thought I'd be interested in I came to the conclusion that the internet was empty for me today. I had read everything there was to read. A similar feeling comes over me when I open up my pantry cupboard that's full of food and there's nothing for me to eat. Additionally I'll look through my numerous streaming subscriptions and there's nothing good to watch on tv. Yes... I'm pathetic, but not alone.

It's not unusual for people to have "consumption overload". We live in a world where things are at our fingertips and we convince ourselves that consuming is the answer to the urge that we're feeling. Perhaps part of the solution is to "produce" more. For thousands of years we've needed to produce in order to consume. Over the last 100 years that has not been as true. Here are some examples. Before, if you wanted to eat food you had to grow it. If you wanted to hear music you had to make it. If you wanted to hear a story you had to tell it. If you wanted to feel heat you had to make it. Our brains are constructed to produce and consume in some sort of balance. That balance is no longer there. In the school setting we are concerned about our students' minds. We want their brains to be in tip top shape to be thinkers, to come up with solutions, to be creative about how we approach our world and its many challenges. Here at Yale Elementary School we are investigating how to be more intentional about our building, our making, our creating, our doing. There's no doubt that consuming is a part of our life. Reading others thoughts and ideas are important, but so is writing our own thoughts and ideas. Listening to beautiful music is inspirational, but singing our own songs is necessary to be in tune with ourselves. It can be messy and hectic, but allowing space for kids to become makers, doers, and builders is vital to developing balance in our unbalanced world.

River Kleitch, from Mrs. Hossack's 4th grade class, is starting the school year strong, already earning her AR shirt with over 100 Accelerated Reader points! Great job, River!

Sarah Rutkofske, from Mrs. Tuckey's class has already earned over 150 AR points! Great job, Sarah!

We want to congratulate our September Students of the Month! The following students best displayed our Yale Elementary Motto of Work Hard and Be Nice.

Back Row: Paris Murray, Jeridan Foran, Cullen Shutko, Macie Friedli, Griffin Kersten, Charlie Allen, Elijah Hawks

Middle Row: Nathan Roberts, Charlotte Veo, Allison Radatz, Brantley Carter, Fred Kloss

Bottom Row: Reighlynn Atkins, Liam Cousino, Greyson Sample

Yale Elementary School will be hosting a book fair from October 24 - October 31 in the Media Center.

The book fair will also be open after school on October 24, 29, and 31 during all conferences. We accept cash, cards, checks made out to Yale Elementary School, and ewallet, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash.

This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. And fostering a love of independent reading leads to a wide variety of benefits—including academic success and improved mental health.

Visit our homepage to learn more, sign up for an ewallet, or take a sneak peek at the interactive Scholastic Book Fair flyer. https://www.scholastic.com/bf/yaleelementaryschool

Hope to see you there!