Message from the Guidance Counselor

Message from the Nurse

Music and Band News

Math Vocabulary

Supply Lists

MISSION STATEMENT

The staff at Mountain View School believes that all children can learn. We are committed to fostering a nurturing environment in which each child is respected as a unique individual. We will implement instruction that meets the specific needs of our children and offer ample opportunities for successful, interactive learning experiences.

Back to the top:

Message From Our Guidance Counselor:
REFLECTIONS FROM Norma McKenna
Learning to make friends is one of the most significant tasks in a child’s early social development.  Friendships provide the perfect setting for children to build self-confidence, develop social skills, and practice problem-solving skills.  What can you do to guide this process?   

1. Provide opportunities for your children to play.  While organized groups (sports, clubs, classes) are great for practicing socialization, children also need to have unstructured playtime to become confident in their ability to interact with others.  Monitor the interactions between children for play time, but as much as possible, allow them to manage the give and take of friendship on their own.  Host play dates at home or at a park!
2. Teach your child how to initiate interactions with other children.  Help them determine how best to approach a child or a group of children and how to ask about joining in.  Introducing oneself, listening and waiting to talk, taking turns in conversations, and inviting others to play are all critical skills which need repeated practice.  Role-play with your child!
3. Model good problem-solving skills.  To ensure that there is balance in friendship, children must know how to define a problem, brainstorm solutions to conflicts, and try out solutions.  Practice at home with hypothetical situations about teasing, being left out, feeling shy about joining a game, etc.  Two great resources for this activity are the  “Kid’s Book of Questions” or the “Scruples Game for Kids” (both reasonably priced on amazon.com).  We have used these resources at our home over the dinner hour to stimulate discussion about real-life situations.  Remember that children need multiple opportunities for practice to develop solid skills!
4. Help your child manage anger and control impulses.  We can all succumb to letting our frustrations overtake our good senses, but we should all learn the simple steps for how to stop, take a breath, calm down, get clear, and communicate our feelings.  The most effective method for regaining control of oneself in emotional situations is to use “I” statements.  After learning the calming technique, practice with saying “I feel….”, “I believe that…”, “I wish…”, “I can/can not…”, etc.  This simple tool helps children take responsibility for their role in healthy resolution to conflict.
5. Teach empathy building skills.  Children need to learn how to take another viewpoint (put themselves in another’s shoes) to be socially resilient.  Building awareness of another’s feelings and perspectives is a life-long task but should be practiced from very early on.  You can routinely ask such questions as, “How do you think that made him/her feel?” or “If you were in his/her shoes, how would you have reacted?” to build upon this skill.

Relax!!  Enjoy the warm weather and outdoor play!!  Most importantly, remember that “Childhood is a preparation and not a final performance” and that modeling and practicing pro-social skills with your children is the key to gaining confidence, being honest, and having valuable friendships.

Back to Top

Message From Our School Nurse:             

   The United States Department of Agriculture presented the new Food Guide Pyramid to the public.  It was received with mixed reviews but if you take a few minutes to figure out what it means, it really can help you and your family find the eating and exercising patterns that promote your health and well being.
   The biggest news is that there are actually 12 new pyramids.  They are customized according to your age, gender and activity level. Go to the “my Pyramid” website: www.mypyramid.gov and see what your personal pyramid looks like.
    No matter what each individual pyramid tells us, there are a few notable changes that are relevant for us all.  First, exercise has been included for the first time ever.  The USDA wants us to know that daily exercise is an important component of staying healthy.
    Second, every pyramid emphasizes eating whole grains, not just “breads and cereals.”   Whole grains are low calorie and nutrient rich foods.  Choose foods with a whole grain listed first as an ingredient: whole wheat, whole rye, whole oat, oatmeal, brown rice, wild rice, bulgur, whole grain corn.
   Finally, and my personal favorite, the new pyramids emphasize increasing the number of fruits and vegetables we eat daily.  Vegetables and fruits should take up most of our plate at any given meal.  The my pyramid web site offers ideas on how to get more fruits and vegetables into your life and how you might make them appeal to your children as well.  Have fruits and vegetables always available.  Send them in to school for our snack time 5 A Day.  Eat them with every meal.  Have your children pick some out and help to prepare them.  This spring and summer is a great time to start the habit of going to the weekly Farmers’ Market.  There you will find a variety of fresh, locally grown produce at reasonable prices and the outdoor market will be a new experience for your children. 

Back to the Top:    
Music and Band News        
 Mrs. Grossi and Mrs. Richter 

**Attention Band Parents:  If you have any questions about Band next year, please email me at AGrossi@eastlongmeadow.org.
 
Back to Top

Back to Home Page