Students Facing Trauma

Responding with Care to Students Facing Trauma, by Kristin Souers, published in Mental Health in Schools (January, 2018).

This week's staff meeting (Thursday's Late Start) will be a quick reminder on how to help support students that are experiencing ongoing life stresses.  Recognizing what our students are experiencing can help us respond effectively to their needs.  This can be difficult at this time of the year, so we're going to spend a little time talking about how we can do this during these last weeks of school.

Traci, Kim, Erika, Kristen, Lori and I were at a district meeting this week to talk about how to best support our students.  One of the topics was recognizing that trauma impacts students' brains and spirits as well as their bodies.  Most researchers view trauma as resulting not only from catastrophic events, but also from ongoing stressors like divorce or mental illness within the family.

Research in the late 1990s identified 10 "adverse childhood experiences" (ACEs) that affected people's health as children, and into adulthood.  Looking at this list of events, which includes experiences like parents going to jail, the death of a loved one, substance misuse in the home, we realize how prevalent traumatic experiences are among today's students.  As educators, we can't ignore this issue and its impact on student learning.

At this week's staff meeting, we will look at six ways to reach our students, to provide staff with tools to use these last stressful weeks of school - to best meet the needs of everyone!

Tributes this Week...

Special People, Special Days

We have a couple of special events this week...

April 25th - Administrative Assistant Day

Administrative Assistant: 

There probably isn’t anyone in school who has more daily interaction with the biggest cross-section of those that come into the school on a given day than the administrative assistant. On the phone, in the halls, in the staff lounge, and in the front office, she is literally everywhere.  From bandaids to the newsletter, copies to field trip money, end of day changes to Kindergarten sight words - Suzie does it all!

Thank you, Suzie, for everything you do -

we truly couldn't do it without you.  We celebrate you this week!

April 27th - Marcia's Last Concert

Music Teacher:
Music teachers are drawn to the profession due to their love of music. They play an important role in bringing the gift of music to their students. This may look many different ways, from teaching sign language and dance moves, moving music materials out of the way for the art teacher, making posters, transposing concert music to a different key, and finding something to make every student shine. They say music teachers don't really retire.  Their lifelong mission is to seek out as many opportunities to “make music” as possible, whether it be with kids or adults.  This means there are no limits to lifelong participation in the arts based on anything, most importantly, age!

Bittersweet for Maria, this Thursday will be a final tribute to the work she has done with the Houlton Elementary students!

Earth Week

Even though it does not look or feel like Earth Week, the calendar says it is!  The R3 committee will share information on Hawk Talk each morning, but here are some additional reminder and resources if you have the time/desire to do anything more with Earth Week.

Monday:  
Wear Green: Remember to Recycle
Daily Challenge: Recycle 3 things at home or at school
Additional information:  Recycle Facts for Kids, National Institute of Health: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Tuesday: 
Wear Yellow: Remember to turn off lights to save electricity
Daily Challenge: Turn off the lights every time the class leaves the classroom
Additional Information:  Alliant Energy Kids: Saving Energy, 

Wednesday:
Wear White: Remember to save paper
Daily Challenge:  Use both sides of 3 pieces of paper
Additional Information: 7 Ways Kids Can Save Trees

Thursday: 
Wear Blue: Remember to protect our water
Daily Challenge: Turn off the water when brushing teeth in the morning and night
Additional Information: 6 ways kids can help keep water clean, Kids Corner: Protect Our Water

Friday:
Wear A Rainbow of Colors:  Remember to protect nature
Daily Challenge: Pick up trash, one piece per your age (i.e. a 5-year-old picks up 5 pieces of trash)
Additional Information: PBS: Simple Ways to Protect Nature, Fun Ways to Encourage Kids to Protect Nature

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Severe Weather and Tornado Awareness Week

Even though it feels completely like winter, we have technically entered spring, which means it's time for Severe Weather and Tornado Awareness Week. This event is designed to help teach Wisconsin residents about weather hazards and provides resources to minimize the risks associated with severe weather.

In case you were looking for things to teach this week, here is some information about Severe Weather and Tornado Awareness Week: Wisconsin Tornado Awareness Week 2018 .   Please feel free to use what you'd like in class or to send home.

The statewide Tornado Drill will be on Thursday, April 12th at 1:45, but due to the Forward Exam schedule, we will complete our Tornado Drill on Friday afternoon.  In addition to the Tornado Drill, we will also practice the other Safety Drills, to include a Hold, Lock Down and Fire Drill (weather permitting).  We will quickly review these at our short staff meeting Thursday morning (Late Start).  A notice went home in last week's Family Newsletter regarding the upcoming Safety Drills. 

Link to 2017-18 HOULTON Tornado Drill Map

Please let Sue or Suzie know if you have any questions,
Sue

Additional Information:

Statewide Tornado Drills 

The most important events during Severe Weather Awareness Week are the two annual statewide tornado drills.  These drills are scheduled for Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. (Counties may choose to opt out of the drills if actual severe weather is possible in the area)
 

Outdoor warning sirens and NOAA Weather Radios will sound in a simulated tornado warning. The first drill is intended for institutions and businesses. The evening drill is intended for second shift workers and families.

Why Severe Weather Awareness Week?

Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes annually.  The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed 23 tornadoes in the state in 2017.  This included an EF3 tornado on May 16th that traveled 83 miles through four counties, killing one person and causing widespread damage. Understanding this threat and knowing what to do when a tornado is approaching can save lives.

 

Take advantage of Severe Weather Awareness Week to review your own and your family's emergency procedures and prepare for weather-related hazards.

 

Each day of the week focuses on a different weather safety topic (resources from Minnesota):

• Monday — Alerts and Warnings
• Tuesday — Severe Weather, Lightning and Hail
• Wednesday — Floods
• Thursday — Tornadoes (with statewide tornado drills)
• Friday — Extreme Heat

Check each page link above for specific information about these topics, including factsheets, checklists, data and other resources.

 

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Forward, here we come!

As we prepare for the next 2-3 weeks of 3rd-5th students taking the Forward Exam, 

here are some tips the WHOLE school can be a part of!

As a school, we can...

• Be respectful of noise and movement in the hallway.
• Minimize interruptions duing the day.
• Be supportive and encouraging of staff and students
• Continue to do our part, whatever part that might be, to support student learning across the school, and throughout the year

Grades 3-5 Teacher Tips: 
Tips for Taking Standardized Tests (some fun ideas before, during, and after the testing - let me know how I can support you!)
Low-stress, low prep things to do with kids when they are done testing