May: The "Blossoming" Month
This time of year is so full of "blossoming." We see it everywhere! The budding trees and birds zipping by. It's also the time when we see our kids blossoming, both academically and social-emotionally. We hear it everyday! From great conversations in a 5th grade math class about how to find the area of a large object, to a 1st grade discussion about the class read-aloud. It's so wonderful to see and hear how all our kids have grown over this past year. Thank you for your support, love, and guidance as they continue their journey here at WHES!
We have lots of wonderful activities and events as we move into Spring and don't forget to come join the PTO meeting tomorrow (Wednesday!) It's a Zoom meeting and we'll be sharing our Field Day plan!
Here's to warmer weather!
-Sue Carmona
Ms. Bombacci our School Nurse:
It’s that time of year-Happy Spring! Tick Bite prevention and information
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/tick-borne-disease-prevention
Our Math Coach! (Ms. Dennie)
Our Literacy Coach! (Ms. Davis)
The May events calendar at the Salem Public Library is full of fun activities including story-times, embroidery classes, a kid’s knitting circle, and more!
May is also AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month- check out this booklist from the Boston Public Library to celebrate and learn about our AAPI community!
Our Science Coach! (Ms. Panacopoulos)
Looking for more ways to engage with science this summer? Love watching Generation Genius with your classmates?
Check out Science with Sophie. She’s a scientist and a comedian who makes great short videos about all kinds of science topics.
There’s videos about Animal Adaptations, Food and even Zombie Pigs!!!
Our Multi-Lingual Learners Team (ML Team)
Our "INCREIBLE" Multi-Lingual Teacher of the Year, Ms. Marta Garcia was interviewed by Telemundo's "Hoy Dia" program last week! Check it out here:
AND...our Americorps Teacher, Ms. Elisabeth Sudbey was interviewed with her students for a special expose on Channel 5! Keep your eye out for this on May 19th on WCVB! (see photos below)
SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
This month we are focused on Mental Health Awareness Month. The stigma around mental health and treatment has long existed, even though this has started to change. Still, people hesitate to seek help or even talk about it with their loved ones for fear of being judged and facing unnecessary backlash. Simple logic dictates that if we are hurt anywhere, we must seek treatment to get better. This applies to both our mental- and physical well-being.
HOW TO OBSERVE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
Take care of yourself
Life has numerous ups and downs. Some are solvable but others not so much. When your mental health acts up, seek the right treatment and make yourself better because, after all, life has much more to offer than just pain and suffering.
Take care of your loved ones
Check up on your friends and family. Many times, all people need is a shoulder to cry on and/or an ear to listen. Support and encourage them if they are being treated for any mental problems.
Talk about mental health
One of the best ways to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month is by talking about it with your peers. The more you talk about it, the more normalized it will become. This is one of the aims of the month as the stigma attached to mental health has led to countless delays in treatment AND research on the matter.
5 FACTS ABOUT ANXIETY DISORDER THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
Anxiety most common
In the U.S., anxiety disorder is the most common form of mental illness.
Very few people seek treatment
Anxiety disorder is treatable in many cases but only about 36% of people opt to get help.
Multiple factors cause anxiety
From brain activities to genetics to life events, a host of factors can lead to a person developing an anxiety disorder.
Anxiety from a young age
The National Institute of Mental Health states that 8% of American teenagers already have an anxiety disorder.
Exercise to fight anxiety
Many studies have proven that a little boost of energy from exercise can help lessen the effects of anxiety disorder.
UPDATES
What's Happening for the rest of May!
MCAS!
Over the next couple of weeks, our AMAZING 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be taking the Math and Science (5th grade only) MCAS. We know that our students will shine!
Please see testing schedule below and a quick parent tip to help prepare your child for state testing. All students will get a hot, healthy breakfast here at school on each of the testing days!
May 10th-11th: Grade 4 Math MCAS
May 12th-13th: Grade 5 Math MCAS
May 17th-18th: Grade 5 Science MCAS
May 19th-20th: Grade 3 MCAS
WHES is helping to eliminate Child Hunger and Poverty!
On Wednesday, May 4th, donation jars and a supply of red noses were delivered to all classrooms in order celebrate “Red Nose Day” and show our support for our nation’s concerns with child hunger and poverty.
“Red Nose Day” is our way to launch “Jar Wars” which is a donation-based activity (thus the jars) where all proceeds will go directly to the “Salem Children’s Charity”. The jars will remain in the classrooms until Friday, May 27th. The homeroom that collects the most in donations will receive a catered lunch compliments of Mr. Collins. Other tasty treats will be awarded to classrooms that show perseverance in this process.
Other Calendar Events this month:
May 11th: School Nurse Day!
May 12th: Kindergarten Trip to Appleton Farm
May 24th: Grade 1 trip to the Stone Zoo
May 25th: Early Release Day
May 30th: No School: Memorial Day
