Gratitude and Kindness

Our Newly-Elected Student Council

The presidential elections deeply impacted citizens from across our country.  This monumental process had effects that rippled down from the adults to impact our young elementary-aged students.  Regardless of one's political affiliations, I am so grateful and proud of how our community at PHE has responded to these events.  I have received emails and questions from concerned parents about how we are supporting our kids during this potentially stressful time.  PHE has responded by focusing on gratitude and kindness last week.  Across our school students and staff participated in various activities that focused on kindness and culminated the week with our  Student Council Elections.  I was impressed by the respect and kindness shown throughout the election process.  From the positive posters to the respectful speeches, the character of our candidates was evident.  I wish we adults could treat each other with the kindness our students have shown.  Great job, Dinos!

Over the past two weeks our staff has been making some strides to deepen our learning surrounding technology.  Our teachers have now been trained to use the newly installed Epson Projectors that are in our classrooms.  These interactive whiteboards will provide access to technology in all of our classrooms.  Two of our teachers have received training in Project Lead the Way in order to get ready to begin a robotics module in 5th grade.  Three other teachers attended Art & Science training which had a focus on sharing free resources that can be used to infuse technology in instruction.  We also held our first Principal-Parent Coffee and enjoyed an impromptu visit from two of our Directors of Technology.  Many of the parents in attendance asked for technology resources that could be used to bolster our students' learning at home, which are included below.

1st Graders Learning to Code

We will be kicking off the month of December with more technology as we participate in the Hour of Code.  Children around the world will be exploring the world of coding during this event.  We encourage you to help reinforce the skills your child is learning at school by also participating at home.  There are lessons and activities available to support learners of ANY skill level.  Also upcoming during the month of December are parent teacher conferences.  I hope that all of you will be able to secure a conference time that will fit into your schedule.  This is an amazing opportunity to strengthen the home-to-school connection.  Remember, during conference weeks students will be dismissed at 1:35 each day!

Tech Resources:
Hour of Code:  https://code.org/learn (learn computer coding skills)
Glogster:  www.Glogster.com  (create interactive multi-media digital poster)
ToonDoo:  www.toondoo.com  (create cartoons/comic strips)
Mathtrain.TV:  http://mathtrain.tv/  (math instructional videos made by students)

Upcoming Events:

• Thanksgiving Break 11/21 - 11/25
• PTA Holiday Bazaar 12/2
• Parent-Teacher Conferences 12/5 - 12/16
• Hour of Code 12/5 - 12/11
• Awards Assemblies 12/7 & 12/9
• Principal-Parent Coffee 12/8 
• PHE Plus Musical 12/8
• PTA Movie Night 12/16
• Winter Break 12/19 - 1/2