Winthrop Weekly

Dear Families and Caregivers,

Just a note to let your know next week we will allow students to participate in the optional dress-up days. This will be something fun for students to look forward to on the last week before vacation. If anyone needs assistance with outfits feel free to reach out to the office.

Here are the optional themed dress-up days:

Monday, 12/15

Tuesday, 12/16

Wednesday, 12/17

Thursday, 12/18

Friday, 12/19

Dear Winthrop Families,

Hope everyone is staying warm!

We are including some topics of interest in the weekly.

This week's topic is:

Creating Positive Discipline for Elementary Students

We are committed to creating a joyful, safe, and productive learning environment for every student.

A key philosophy guiding our approach to behavior and character development is Positive Discipline. This is not just about managing misbehavior; it's about teaching and nurturing life skills while fostering a sense of belonging and significance in our students.

Positive Discipline focuses on being both kind and firm at the same time. This means we respect the child's feelings while also respecting the needs of the situation and the school community.

What is Positive Discipline?

• Mutual Respect (Kind and Firm): We address behavior with kindness to show respect for the child and firmness to show respect for the process and community rules.

• Understanding the "Why": We believe misbehavior is often a child's misguided attempt to meet one of two basic needs: to belong and to feel significant (capable). Instead of asking "Why did you do that?", we often ask, "What happened?" and "How can we solve this?"

• Focus on Solutions: Instead of focusing primarily on punishment, we guide students to participate in finding respectful and effective solutions to their problems. This builds their problem-solving skills and accountability.

Key Strategies We Use at School

Here are some of the ways Positive Discipline is put into practice in our classrooms and hallways:

• Teaching Self-Regulation Skills: Especially in our younger grades (Pre-K and K), we use tools like calm-down corners or "Take a Break" strategies. This teaches students how to recognize big emotions and take a moment to regulate themselves before reacting.

• Class Meetings: We hold regular class meetings where students learn to give genuine compliments, listen respectfully to others, and participate in collaboratively solving problems that affect the class. This gives them a voice and fosters a sense of ownership.

• Encouragement over Praise: We focus on encouragement (e.g., "I see how hard you worked on that math problem!") rather than simple praise (e.g., "You're so smart!"). Encouragement focuses on effort and improvement, which builds resilience and a growth mindset.

• Redirection and Logical Consequences: When rules are broken, we use logical consequences instead of arbitrary punishment. A logical consequence is related to the misbehavior, respectful, and reasonable.

• Example: If a child spills paint because they were running, the consequence is helping to clean up the spill (related). This teaches responsibility and repairs the harm done.

• Meetings with the Administration: At times if necessary we will make use of a lunch session or a before or after school session. This is at the discretion of the Administrator.

Communication Regarding Behavior

We believe in positive and proactive communication. Minor behavioral challenges are typically handled effectively within the classroom setting by the teacher using the Positive Discipline strategies outlined above.

In instances where a student's behavior requires repeated intervention, impacts their learning, or significantly disrupts the learning of others, the administration will proactively reach out to you.

This collaborative communication ensures we are all aligned in supporting your child's success, growth, and commitment to responsible citizenship.

Ideas for Bringing Positive Discipline Home

You are our most valuable partner in this process! Here are a few ways you can reinforce Positive Discipline at home:

• Hold Family Meetings: Just like our class meetings, family meetings can be a great time for compliments, planning, and collaborative problem-solving.

• Ask Curiosity Questions: When your child struggles with a rule or makes a mistake, avoid lecturing. Instead, ask questions like:

• "What were you hoping to accomplish?"

• "What did you learn from this?"

• "What will you do differently next time?"

• Offer Limited Choices: Giving your child two acceptable options gives them a sense of control and significance, which often prevents power struggles.

• Example: "Do you want to wear the red shirt or the blue shirt today?" (Instead of, "Put your shirt on now!")

By working together—using kindness, firmness, and a focus on solutions—we can help our students become confident, capable, and responsible members of their school and community.

Thank You,

Winthrop Administration Team

Thank you to those who have made a donation to Ipswich Caring in honor of your child's teacher. We have collected over $600 so far. Your generosity to this worthy cause is greatly appreciated.

The Winthrop Staff

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Get ready for a day full of holiday magic and cheer! Join us at the Ipswich Town Wharf to welcome Santa as he makes his grand entrance. Sing along to festive carols with Buddy the Elf while we wait for the big moment! You can even buy your own jingle bells to ring as we follow Santa and Buddy on a merry “Jingle Bell Walk” to Ipswich Town Hall (45 Green Street). Keep your eyes peeled for a sneaky appearance from the Grinch!

At Town Hall, Santa will greet children aged 11 and under, all while a live string quartet sets the holiday mood. Parents, don’t forget to bring your cameras to capture those special moments! After their visit with Santa, kids can enjoy face painting, fun games, and holiday crafts. The Rotary Club will also be serving up pizza, hot cocoa, and more in the COA cafeteria.

Tickets will be available for purchase to access tasty treats, face painting, and crafts, but there will also be free games to enjoy! Plus, don’t miss the chance to win amazing prizes in our raffles, including Christmas trees, a brand-new iPad with an Apple Pencil, and gift baskets from local businesses.

We encourage everyone to bring an unwrapped toy or gift suitable for a child to support the Wellspring Cape Ann Kids Holiday Fund. Proceeds from this event will support local charities and Ipswich Interact Club projects.

Ipswich Interact club, a high school leadership group inspired by the Rotary, with the motto “Service Above Self,” organizes this event to bring the community together and connect high schoolers with younger kids. It’s a day of fun, giving back, and holiday spirit for the whole family!

Donation box can also be found in the Winthrop School Lobby.