The Wheatland News

Self-Regulation
Wait Until 8th Pledge

Self-Regulation

A colleague of mine recently sent me this link: edweek.org. It takes you to an article about self-regulation and what some schools are experiencing with kindergarten children. While it is specifically talking about kindergarten, it seems clear to me that self-regulation is a problem throughout society. We see this struggle on the news and in social media posts when people have big reactions over small issues. Schools spend time teaching students how to self-regulate because it is a need. While the article points to some reasons that kindergarten children may be struggling, below are some strategies to use from greatschools.org. The article from Hank Pellissier is linked HERE.

Be a role model
Teach your children to distract themselves
Teach breathing
Read Books with examples of self-regulation
Play outdoor games, board games, and music

More than ever, children need role models who are self-regulated. They need adults spending time with them so they can learn vital skills for life. I value our parents who dedicate so much time to building up our students. Please know that your efforts are noticed. I hope something you read helps you in your parenting efforts, a job I believe to be the hardest, most rewarding, and most important on earth.

Wait Until 8th Pledge

Several years ago, I shared information that encouraged parents to wait until 8th grade to get their child a smartphone. A parent told me about it, and my children were about the age when I was feeling that pressure, and it helped me. I hope it helps you if you are deciding whether you need to get a smartphone for your child.

If you have not heard of waiting until 8th grade, you can go to www.waituntil8th.org to learn more. Here is a little information from the website:

“The Wait Until 8th pledge empowers parents to rally together to delay giving children a smartphone until at least 8th grade. By banding together, this will decrease the pressure felt by kids and parents alike over the kids having a smartphone.

Smartphones are distracting and potentially dangerous for children, yet are widespread in elementary and middle school because of unrealistic social pressure and expectations to have one.

These devices are quickly changing childhood for children. Playing outdoors, spending time with friends, reading books and hanging out with family is happening a lot less to make room for hours of snapchatting, instagramming, and catching up on YouTube.

Parents feel powerless in this uphill battle and need community support to help delay the ever-evolving presence of the smartphone in the classroom, social arena and family dinner table. Let’s band together to wait until at least eighth grade before children are allowed to have a smartphone. Every major carrier makes a basic phone that just calls and texts without a data plan if you believe your child will need to get in touch with you before 8th grade. The Wait Until 8th pledge is encouraging parents to delay the smartphone. If you would like your child to have a basic phone that just calls and texts or a two-way calling watch, you still can sign the pledge! The basic phone and two-way calling watch avoid many of the distractions and dangers of the smartphone. Childhood is too short to waste on a smartphone. Take the pledge today!”

Nov. 3 - No School (Professional Learning Day)

Nov. 4-7 - StuCo Treats for Troops

Nov. 5 - WES Chess, 3:45-4:30pm in the library

Nov. 5 - District Site Council, 5-6pm at District Office

Nov. 11 - Veterans Day Assembly, 2:00pm for veterans & active military members

Nov. 11 - PTO Meeting, 7-8pm in the library

Nov. 12 - 5th Gr. StuCo Meeting, 3:45-4:30pm in the library

Nov. 12 - PTO Giveback Night at Freddy's, 4-8pm

Nov. 13-Dec. 16 - StuCo Donation Drive for the Wichita Children's Home

Nov. 14 - 5th Gr. Thinking Cap Quiz Bowl, 9:45am

Nov. 17 - 5th Gr. PE Field Trip to The Sandbox, 9am-12:30pm

Nov. 19 - WES Chess, 3:45-4:30pm

Nov. 20 - 4th Gr. Music Concert, 6pm at AHS (call time - 5:45pm)

Nov. 20 - 5th Gr. Music Concert, 7pm at AHS (call time - 6:45pm)

Nov. 24-28 - No School (Thanksgiving Break)

November brings cooler weather (finally!) and the beginning of the holiday season for some. We will cover many concepts in counseling class including gratitude, manners, and teamwork. We will also begin Safer, Smarter Kids lessons. Kindergarten students will learn about keeping themselves safe. 1st grade will spend time discussing people in their “trusted triangle”. 2nd grade will review some safety tools and discuss awareness of their surroundings. 3rd grade will discuss and practice good citizenship, and identify their safety network. 4th grade will discuss and practice making safe choices. 5th grade will begin discussing peer pressure and finding courage within themselves.

Here’s a link to an article about teaching children about gratitude.

Another great article from PBSKids for parents.

Children’s books that help inspire gratitude.

Book recommendation for parents & guardians: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (audiobook available).

Andover Caring and Sharing is a nonprofit organization that started over twenty years ago. Volunteers from local organizations, churches, and businesses continue the tradition of helping to provide age-appropriate gifts, warm clothing items, books, gifts, and gift cards to children, teenagers, and seniors in our community. Families will receive food boxes containing ingredients for a holiday dinner, including a turkey.

If your family has a need for this service this holiday season, please reach out to our counselor, Heather Rainey at raineyh@usd385.org by November 10.

Andover Caring & Sharing will contact families in advance regarding their gift requests and shop for you. Families will then be invited to pick up their gift and food boxes on Wednesday, December 17 at the Andover Fire Department South Location (near Dillon's). The Andover Fire and Police Departments will deliver gifts and food baskets if transportation is unavailable.

Thank you to all of our volunteers that helped with the book fair! Our school library received over $2,800 to buy new books and students and families donated $190 to buy books for the Lord's Diner Book Nook!

Thank you to all the families that donated to our Birthday Book Club! The books are arriving and your child will be the first to check out their donated book! We added 102 new books to our library through your generous donations!

Red Ribbon week was a success and students had lots of fun with spirit days.

Student Council is collecting any excess Halloween candy you don’t want November 3rd-7th. This candy will be donated to deployed troops.

At our November meeting, we will be creating posters to advertise for the upcoming Wichita Children's Home Holiday Donation Drive. We will be collecting items to be delivered during our December Meeting.

Meeting Date: 5th Grade members only - November 12th

First Student, which provides the district’s transportation service, has rolled out a new, improved FirstView App. This new app will allow enhanced, real-time tracking capabilities for all transportation services. If you have the FirstView Classic app on your phone, please delete it and download the FirstView 1.0 app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You will need to use code D5F5F to access Andover’s information. If you have Transportation issues you can call First Student at (316) 247-1926.

Reporting Absences

If your student will be absent for any reason, you must notify the WES Office. Please email Claire at pruettc@usd385.org or call the office at (316) 218-4820 to report any absence. Simply notifying your student's teacher does not mean the message is received in the office and your student may be marked incorrectly. If your student will be absent for 4 or more days in a row, you must fill out a Pre-Planned Extended Absence Form and return it to your child's teacher.

Changes in Dismissal/Signing Out

If you need to make a change to your child's method of transportation after school, you must notify the office no later than 3:00PM. If possible, please try to keep changes to a minimum. Frequent changes cause confusion for students. If the office has not received notification of a change, your child will be sent home via the method they usually take. Additionally, if you are signing out your child at the end of the day, please do not pick up your student after 3:15PM if at all possible.