January 17, 2008

Notes from Ms. Heffron January 17, 2008

We have been fortunate to have several lunch/lunch recess supervisors continue for several years. Chris Nye, Midge Chmiel, Katie Commer, Pat Corraro, Beth Matkom, Jamie Andriacchi, Beth Andino, Pam Bednardzcyk, and staff members Jeri Kohler, Kirk Morrill, Kevin Moore and Rose Palmer all supervise lunch or lunch recess from one to five times a week. This year, they have been joined by Patty Chevako, Tamara Miller and Kelly Peterson. Together, this great crew guides, reminds, comforts, redirects, and builds relationships with students that result in generally smooth times for our students during this mid day break. We are in need of at least two more people to join this great group. Pat (or Mrs. C, as the students call her) leaves for warmer weather from January through April. Tamara will be gone for some time starting next week. These absences are in addition to the occasional times when the others have to take time off because someone is sick in their family. If you can help out by working between 11:20 and 12:20 one or two days a week, we will greatly appreciate it. Being here gives you a window into the school life of your child as you see what they do during recess and who they do it with. It can make for interesting conversations around the dinner table! Call the office if you can help. Thanks.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Dr. Carol Dweck's research and writing about effective praise. While in San Francisco over the break, I read an article in the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine that again uses her work, this time by Kathy Seligman. Seligman is the "founder of a new project at the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley…called Half Full, aimed at teaching parents the social science of raising happy kids. 'The crazy idea is that these things are skills,' Seligman says. The article talks about helping children retain optimism and confidence when they face challenges or obstacles. This parallels some of what we have talked about as developing resiliency. If you are interested in the article, it can be found at www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/30/CM95TK0I2.DTL.

We are in the process of kindergarten registration for both K4 and K5. If you have a child who will be four on or before September 1, 2008 and you have not registered, please contact the office. The same for children who did not attend here for K4 but who will be five by September 1, 2008 and who will be attending Cumberland in the fall. It helps us to have as accurate numbers as possible, so if you are aware of anyone in our attendance area who may not know about registration, please encourage them to call or stop in. Thanks.

Monday, January 21^st is a Professional Development day for staff. Students do not attend school on that day. The topic of the day for staff is grading and reporting student progress. The staff will be working in mixed kindergarten through high school groups to examine their beliefs and practices. Whitefish Bay Schools do a terrific job of supporting staff in high level discourse about various practices, always with an eye towards how we can continue to develop deeper understandings that better support student learning.

Notes:

• If you are parked waiting to pick up your child from school, please turn the car off to save energy and to minimize pollution.
• The Whitefish Bay High School Orchestra will present "Superheroes of Whitefish Bay!" on Sunday, February 3, 2008 at its annual Music for Munchkins Children's Concert. The hero-themed event will feature a string instrument "petting zoo" from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. Craft-making will be available during the same period. The musical performance will begin at 1:30 p.m and conclude no later than 2:30 pm. Featured selections include the themes of Superman, Batman, Spiderman and the Incredibles. The event includes a special guest appearance by Whitefish Bay's favorite orchestral superhero, Stringman. Music for Munchkins will be held in the auditorium of Whitefish Bay High School, 1200 E. Fairmount Avenue, Whitefish Bay. Admission is $3 per person or $10 for a family of five. The general public is encouraged to attend.
• Help spread the word! Special ticket prices offered at the Sunset Playhouse! Tickets One for $18, two for one - $9 each or three for $24.Now playing "Arthur, The Boy Who Would Be King" January 11-27. Call 262-782-4430 or go to www.sunsetplayhouse.com for tickets.
• Mark your calendars: February 22-Cumberland/Richards School Family Night at the Milwaukee Admirals game and February 26-PTO Family Dinner (5:00-8:00) Cumberland Gym.