Sunday, December 9, 2018

December News

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to December! How quickly the school year is flying by. Before we know it, 2019 will be here! Thank you for attending your child’s conference last month. It was wonderful to see students sharing their work with families, and talking about their learning progress. Many parents told me how proud and impressed they are with all that their children have learned since September.  If you were not able to attend your child’s conference, it is not too late! Please call the office at 874-8210 and schedule a conference time with your child’s teacher.
You may have heard your student or teacher talking about a growth mindset at the conference. Did you know that our brain continues to change and grow each and every day the more we use it and challenge it? When you have a fixed mindset, you give up easily and avoid challenges.  However, when you have a growth mindset you don’t give up, you learn from feedback and go for the challenge! It’s not just about working hard and giving your best effort. It’s also about believing that your brain and intelligence changes the harder you work.

At Riverton, we are encouraging students to have a growth mindset. We are teaching students about how our brains work and how making mistakes makes the brain grow and become smarter. We praise students’ effort, persistence and creativity. In every subject we talk about how, through hard work and not giving up, we not only become better students, but, become better learners in all parts of our lives.  At home, you can remind your child that their brain is growing each and every time they try something new, and not to give up when it becomes difficult. Each time he/she learns something, his or her brain is making new connections. Instead of saying how smart they are, praise their effort and encourage your children to make mistakes. Mistakes grow the brain! If they say it’s too hard, say, “You can’t do it yet, but keep trying!"

Also at Riverton this year, we are working on improving our student attendance rates. Students fall behind when they miss school-whether the students are absent for excused or unexcused reasons. A few absences every month can add up to weeks of lost learning over the school year. Here are some quick attendance tips that may help improve your child’s attendance:
·       Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
·       Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
·       Only keep your child home when she/he is truly sick. Keep in mind complaints of a stomachache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
·       If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make him/her feel comfortable and excited about learning.
·       Develop back-up plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent!
·       Please avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
Thank you for supporting our attendance efforts. Please let us know if you need more help getting your child to school!

Finally, the cold weather arrived early this year, and we know there will be many more cold days ahead. We urge you to do your best to send your children appropriately dressed for school during the winter months. We have recess outside every day throughout the winter, unless the temperature drops below 13 degrees with wind chill. Students need jackets, hats, snow pants, boots and gloves/mittens in order to be safely protected from the cold when they are outside at recess. If you need help getting these items for your child, please contact the office at 874-8210.  We are also continuing to accept donations of new or slightly used winter clothing, especially socks, mittens, and gloves for students in need. Thank you for your generous support!
Special Reminder - December Break is coming. There is no school from Dec 22 - Jan 1st. Classes resume Tuesday, January 2nd. All the best over the holidays and Happy New Year! See you in 2019!

Upcoming Events
December 5: Photo Retake Day
December 5: Early Release, 1:50 Dismissal
December 12: Early Release,1:50 Dismissal
December 13: Math Team Meet, 9:00-12:15
December 14: Spirit Day
December 14: Movie Night- Smallfoot, 5:30 doors open, 6:00 movie
December 18: Restaurant Night- Elsmere, 4-9
December 19: Early Release, 1:50 Dismissal
December 20: PTO Meeting, Media Center, 5:30
December 24-Jan 1: Winter Break
Sincerely,
Ann C. Hanna

Mrs. Ann Hanna, Principal

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