Bauer Bits

Vignette: An easy way to become a good conversationalist

Isaac F. Marcosson, a journalist who interviewed hundreds of celebrities, declared that many people fail to make a favorable impression because they don't listen attentively. "They have been so much concerned with what they are going to say next that they do not keep their ears open... Very important people have told me that they prefer good listeners to good talkers, but the ability to listen seems rarer than almost any other good trait."

And not only important personages crave a good listener, but ordinary folk do too. As the Reader's Digest once said: "Many persons call a doctor when all they want is an audience,"

During the darkest hours of the Civil War, Lincoln wrote to an old friend in Springfield, Illinois, asking him to come to Washington. Lincoln said he had some problems he wanted to discuss with him. The old neighbor called at the White House, and Lincoln talked to him for hours about the advisability of issuing a proclamation freeing the slaves. Lincoln went over all the arguments for and against such a move, and then read letters and newspaper articles, some denouncing him for not freeing the slaves and others denouncing him for fear he was going to free them. After talking for hours, Lincoln shook hands with his old neighbor, said good night, and sent him back to Illinois without even asking for his opinion. Lincoln had done all the talking himself. That seemed to clarify his mind. "He seemed to feel easier after that talk," the old friend said. Lincoln hadn't wanted advice, He had wanted merely a friendly, sympathetic listener to whom he could unburden himself. That's what we all want when we are in trouble. That is frequently all the irritated customer wants, and the dissatisfied employee or the hurt friend.

So if you aspire to be a good conversationalist, be an attentive listener. To be interesting, be interested. Ask questions that other persons will enjoy answering. Encourage them to talk about themselves and their accomplishments.

Remember that the people you are talking to are a hundred times more interested in themselves and their wants and problems than they are in you and your problems. A person's toothache means more to that person than a famine in another country. A boil on one's neck interests one more than forty earthquakes in Africa. Think of that the next time you start a conversation.

PRINCIPLE:

Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.

• Friday, January 26th: Early Release - 12:15 - TODAY!!
• Tuesday, January 30th: 2024-25 PK/K Information Meeting - 6:30 pm (Details below)
  
• Wednesday, January 31st: Popcorn Day
• Friday, February 2nd: Report cards go home
• Monday, February 12th - Tuesday February 13th: No School - Winter Break
• Wednesday, February 14th: Valentine's Day Parties
• Thursday, February 15th: Bauer Skating Party - 6:15 -8:15pm
• Wednesday, February 21st: Sports Team/Jersey Day and Popcorn Day
• Friday, February 23rd: Early Release - 12:15pm
• Saturday, February 24th: Bauer Girls' Night - 6:00 - 8:00pm




Please check the HPS Student Calendar for early release dates and breaks for the 2023-24 school year! You can also check out the 2024-2025 student calendar here.

February starts our Kids Heart Challenge fundraiser. Starting at the end of next week, I will begin talking with Bauer students about our annual fundraiser for the Kids Heart Challenge (a flyer will be coming home with your student starting Jan. 31st on their PE day). This is an optional fundraiser that we participate in every year to help raise money for the American Heart Association, and to help purchase equipment or our Bauer PE program. This is an online only fundraiser and you can create an online donation page for your student at http://www2.heart.org/goto/BauerElementarySchool

This fundraiser will run for the full month of February, ending February 29th. Thank you for your support!

All preordered yearbooks have been distributed. We still have a few extra in the office if you would like to purchase one. The cost is $8.

If you have any questions about Girls on the Run, please see Miss Conely or email her at aconely@hpseagles.net.

2024-2025 school year PK/Kindergarten enrollment links are now open!

Informational meetings will be held for parents at all elementary buildings (except the Early Childhood Center location) on Tuesday, January 30th at 6:30 p.m. If you are unsure of your attendance area building please contact Robin at 616-669-1740 or rvandenb@hpseagles.net.

To be eligible for pre-kindergarten or kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year, children must be five years of age on or before December 1, 2024.

Open House/Registration Night for the 2024-2025 School Year and the 2024 Summer Program

Open House/Registration Night:

Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at the Early Childhood Center from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Early Childhood Center is located at 5535 School Ave. (main entrance off Madison Ave.)

Programs include 3-year-old & 4-year-old Preschool, Before/After School Care, and Summer Care.

*This is a chance to gather information about the programs, meet staff, and visit preschool classrooms. There will be NO registration this night. Registration will take place online only, with the link active on Wed. Feb 7, at noon.

The link to register for all programs can be found on the Hudsonville Public Schools website, under the Early Childhood Programs tab. Please note that enrollment fills quickly.

For more information, please call the Early Childhood office at 616-797-0842, ext. 1.

https://classroom.google.com/c/NjQ3MjIzNTkyNzE4?cjc=a4xl7zq

• If your student will not be attending school due to illness or other reasons, please call the office at 616--669-6824 or email ehuizen@hpseagles.net AND apalmbo@hpseagles.net BEFORE 9:00 am. Students who are not called in by a parent/guardian will be marked with an unexcused absence.

• If your student will be late, arriving after 8:45 am, please call the office at 616-669-6824 in the morning.

• If your student will be late and needs a hot lunch, please let us know when you call. Hot lunch needs to be ordered by 10 am.

Free at home COVID tests are available in the office.

If you are dropping your child off in the mornings we ask that you are mindful of a few details. When dropping students, please use the entire straightaway. We are having issues with folks stopping too soon and this creates a less efficient drop off. When you are allowed to pull forward, please pull all the way up to the grassy area at the end of the straightaway. The drop off area extends from this grassy area all the way back to the paper gator. Even our youngest students are capable of walking this short distance to the south building doors. Please have them exit your vehicle and head straight to the sidewalk to make their way into the building. Additionally, we close the doors at 8:45 sharp. If you arrive at 8:45 or later, please send your child in through the front/office doors by the flagpole.

Your attention to these details will make things more efficient so THANK YOU in advance!

The HPS criminal background check is required for all school volunteers. In order to complete this request, we ask that you fill out this volunteer form at least 48 hours prior to volunteering. Once your request is submitted, all Volunteer status updates (Approval, Denial or Limited Access Approval) will be sent directly to the building you have selected to volunteer in.

The Hudsonville Public School District has the right to approve or deny your request if your background check does not meet the standards of HPS Board Policy.

If you have any questions regarding the Volunteer Background Check process, please contact our Human Resources Department at 616-669-1740 or by emailing our office at eagles@hpseagles.net.