Week Seven
October 4, 2026
Village Voices: A Note From Mrs. Randolph
Hello, October! 🍂
It is hard to believe we have already turned the calendar to a new month. September was filled with learning names, establishing routines, figuring out arrival and dismissal, welcoming our youngest Vikings, celebrating together, and simply getting comfortable with one another.
Now we get to build on that foundation.
One word that has been on my mind a lot lately is belonging.
I want John Muir to be a place where every child walks through our doors knowing, “There is a place for me here.” I want our students to know that someone notices when they arrive, someone misses them when they are gone, and there are people in this building who believe in them—even on the days when they may not quite believe in themselves.
October gives us a wonderful opportunity to really focus on that message. Throughout the month, we'll be talking about kindness, inclusion, school safety, and what it means to make sure everyone has a place in our Village. You may even begin to see a special project taking shape in our hallways very soon. 💙
But belonging isn't something we can create with a poster, an activity, or one special month.
It's created in the little moments.
It's inviting someone to sit with you. Saying hello to someone you don't usually talk to. Helping a friend who is struggling. Choosing kind words when you're frustrated. Celebrating someone else's success. And sometimes, it's simply noticing when someone might need a friend.
Those are things our Vikings can practice at school, at home, on the playground, and everywhere they go.
As we head into October, I hope you'll talk with your child about what belonging means to them. Ask them: When do you feel like you belong? What can you do to help someone else feel like they belong too?
Those could lead to some pretty wonderful conversations.
I'm excited about what we have planned for October, and even more excited to watch our Vikings continue to make this Village their own.
Because there should always be room for one more in our Village. 💙
One Village. Every Viking. Every Day.
Mrs. Randolph
Principal, John Muir Elementary
⏰ Strong Habits Make Strong Vikings!
We spent September talking a lot about attendance—but here's the secret: good attendance isn't just a September thing!
Now it's time to turn it into a habit.
Vikings, you can help get yourself ready for a great school day too! Try getting your backpack ready the night before, laying out your clothes, getting to bed on time, and being ready to go in the morning.
Every school day is a fresh start. Some mornings might be harder than others, but building good routines now makes getting out the door a whole lot easier!
🎒 Tonight's Viking Challenge: Before you go to bed, make sure YOU know where your backpack and shoes are. Your grown-ups will thank you!
🧡 October = KINDNESS + UNITY + BELONGING
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and throughout the month we're going to talk about how each of us can help make John Muir a place where everyone feels safe, included, and like they belong.
And here's something important:
Kindness doesn't have to be a BIG thing.
👋 Say hello.
🪑 Make room.
🎮 Invite someone to play.
💬 Give a compliment.
🤝 Help someone who needs it.
👀 Notice when someone is being left out.
And if something doesn't feel right or someone is making you feel unsafe, tell an adult you trust. Asking for help is a strong choice.
💙 This Week's Viking Challenge
Look around your classroom, lunch table, playground, or bus and ask yourself:
“What can I do today to make our Village a little kinder?”
Then do it. 💙
💙 One Village. Every Viking. Every Day.
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