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| Fifth Grade Transition to Middle School Lessons |
From mid April to mid June we conduct a number of transition lessons that run the gammut of issues facing 5th grade students as they make their transition to middle school. Some of the topics covered include: "Conquering Locker Combination Locks", "Working with the Differing Styles of Teachers", "Making New Friends", "Managing Strong Emotions" "Keeping Organized and Managing Time When You are Busy" etc.. You can click the attachment here to view the lesson on "Getting Good Grades" given to the kids last week.
Please ask your child what they are learning and what other questions or concerns they might have - it's a big step for them! |
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| Important Parenting Classes offered to CVES Families by Friends of Youth |
Each year our own Snoqualmie Valley Friends of Youth organization (located in downtown Snoqualmie) offers the course, Guiding Good Choices. This is a great pro-active course for families that addresses risk prevention for your pre-teens. Parents of kids 9-14 will find this course very helpful for engaging your family is discussion and skill building for the challenges of this chapter of their lives. The course will be held over 5 consecutive Mondays starting February 28th from 6:30-8:30 PM in the music room at Opstad Elementary School in North Bend. Laura Baker and Sara Hildebrand will teach the classes, and both will serve students at the agency and in the schools at the Middle Level as kids move on with their school careers. The class is just for parents for the first four sessions, then students join the class to participate in some refusal skills in the last session which takes place March 28th. The class has been offered here in the Valley for at least 10 years, and I can highly recommend it as I am a past instructor as well. Families come away from the classes with increased positive bonding with each other and reduced risks associated with teenage drug use. Based on solid research that has identified protective facotors than can help tweens and teens develop into healthy adults, Guiding Good Choices teaches specific strategies to reduce risk factors and provide a safe, friendly environment to learn how to set healthy guidelines on drugs and practice skills that develop healthy behaviors. So as Spring approaches, take action now to save a spot for you and/or your spouse to take a class that can really make a huge difference in the welfare of your family. If you want to sign up or have questions about the class, call, email or drop by to talk to either Natalie Watters or me, Sandy Smelser, or contact Laura Baker at baker.@svsd410.org. You won't regret it! See flyer attached. |
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| Bullying Prevention |
Every year we do some specific lessons on bullying behavior. This year we are piloting a spiraling type curriculum looking at specific lessons designed to build upon each other in each grade level. The foundational pieces are being taught in Kindergarten by discussing respect, friendship, getting along with others, and problem solving. In 1st grade, we will not only cover self-esteem, but also fair play, sharing, and how to use a solution circle. By 2nd grade, they will learn about "friendship rules" and what a rumor is and why it is hurtful. Finally, grades 3-5 will receive lessons adopted from our district curriculum, Steps to Respect. You can link to the site from this page. The older grades focus more on specific behaviors like teasing, peer pressure, and how to ask for help. Hopefully, it is clear that we start at a young age with respectful behavior toward others, tolerance for differences and appropriate management of strong emotions that leads into a more direct look at bullying at the older grades. Our hope is that every year we will see greater growth in emotional regulation, problem solving, leadership, and bullying prevention. |
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| Lessons on Self-Esteem, Empathy, and "New" Kids in 1st Grade |
Every 1st grade classroom has had two important lessons this fall. First, we read the book The Brand New Kid and discussed how hard it can be to be a new student, and we listed ways that CVES students could be welcoming to all the new students joining our school this year. Next, we took a look at self-esteem and individuality with the book The Only One Club. Each student made a badge describing a unique quality about him/herself they could wear or take home. |
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| Social Studies Alive in Kindergarten |
The counselors are adapting the Kindergarten Social Studies curriculum to present lessons on family, respect, friendship, and problem solving. The children have also made butterfly puppets to practice their new skills! |
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| FREE Family Nights from Encompass |
Please connect to Encompass through our site's link to view their upcoming family night events. On January 15, they welcome an acrobatic circus act, and on February 5, they will present Tears of Joy Theatre. |
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| Puppeteers in Action |
Our "character lesson" puppet shows were such a hit last year they are returning in full force this month. We have a number of fourth and fifth grade students writing scripts and practicing their delivery for kindergarten and first grade classes. The puppet show topics will include: friendship, problem solving, school rules, and responsibility. |
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| Holiday Giving Campaign - A HUGE SUCCESS! |
Cascade View adopted a total of 34 families the holiday season of 2009! We worked closely with Encompass to match our school with a number of their families in need, and we included four of our own CVES families who needed some assistance this particular year. Congratulations to the hardworking students and thank you so very much to the supportive parents and school staff.
You can check out the Encompass website at www.encompassnw.org to see a photo of delivery day or to find information on their programs. |
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| Peer Mediation |
Our Peer Mediation program is in full swing again this year. Two weeks ago we trained 140 4th and 5th grade students to be active Peer Mediators here at CVES.
Your students must return their signed permission slip to be able to volunteer for duties such as playground mediator, bus line helper, Kindergarten area monitor, and recess equipment manager.
Mediators sign up for one or two jobs for a two week period of time. New sign ups are done on Fridays before the next two week period is to begin. |
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| Lessons on Bullying |
We will be meeting with every first grade class this week to discuss the problem of bullying. Every child needs to feel safe here at CVES and our hope is to impart skills that help identify potential bullying behaviors and help the kids use specific words and strategies to feel in control of the situation. We will also discuss how and when to get adult help. |
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| ASB Meeting |
We will be holding our first ASB officers meeting of the year today after school.
The meetings will last from 3 - 4 in the room of Ms. Heinz and be used to direct specific leadership activities involving the students here at CVES. For fall, we will be looking at a holiday giving campaign and plans for MLK day in January.
After today, the meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of each month. |
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| Peer Tutor and Peer Mediation Trainings |
We have scheduled a Peer Tutor training for this Tuesday, January 27 and a Peer Mediation training for this Thursday, January 29 (during the school day). If your student is interested in being trained and taking on a leadership role here at CVES, please have them stop by the counseling office to learn more! |
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| ASB 2nd Term |
Students are being chosen for the 2nd term of ASB. We will have our first meeting as a new group on Tuesday, February 3rd from 3-4:00. Please call the counseling office with any questions. |
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| ASB Students & Leadership |
Our current ASB students have been very busy with a variety of leadership activities in the last month. Several students participated in the Veteran's Day assembly with organization and speeches; all students voted on the theme for spirit day and the direction of our giving campaign; and currently they are hard at work talking with their classmates about the importance of charity and how our campaign will make a difference for local families. You can visit with an ASB representative at the Winter Family Fun Night where they will be in charge of a table set up to collect donations.
If you are curious about who our student leaders are in this first half of the school year, please see the attached list broken out by classroom teacher. |
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| CVES Giving Campaign 2008 |
Our charitable giving campaign for 2008 is well underway with boxes in each of the classrooms. You should have received home information explaining the campaign and which local groups would benefit this year. The flyer is attached to this message for your review if necessary. Please be aware that all donations need to be received by Friday, December 12.
We do realize that many CVES families have been impacted by the current economy and respect that giving may not be an option right now. Sending in a can or two of food can still make your student feel involved!
If your family is in need of holiday help, please call us in the counseling office so we may offer some local resources. |
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| Fall Counseling Groups |
We are hoping to start at least 3 counseling groups within the next week or so. Please have a look at their descriptions under Shared Documents and give us a call in the counseling center if your student would like to be involved. It is important to note that we also ask for teacher recommendations, so you may receive a call from one of us! |
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| First Grade Fun at Recess |
All you parents of first graders, and big brothers and sisters too--we want to teach fun recess games to our newest group of all day students. We are certain they will have more fun at recess if they know of some great things to do. You can help. Please teach games to our younger ones that they can play with 1-6 other kids on the playground. We are working at school on teaching hopscotch, 4-square, wall ball, cross country and jump rope. Any additional games that are fun would increase the ideas that kids will bring to recess for play and for making new friends. We would sure appreciate your help!! Call us if you are a parent volunteer who would be willing to teach some games out at recess. Here's to fun and safety on the playground for all the kids!!!! |
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| New Students to CVES |
Mrs. Watters and Ms Smelser want to know how all our new students are doing. We will be holding lunch sessions to check in with students new to each grade level in the next couple of weeks. Feel free to contact us with questions or concerns or feedback you are hearing from your child on what it's like to be new at CVES. We'd love to know what they are telling you!! |
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| ASB Gets Off the Ground in 2008 |
Our first ASB meeting of the year will take place on October 7th from 3:00 til 4:00 pm in Ms Heinz's classroom. (Room 4) We will jump right in to our new projects for the year. All newly elected representatives are invited. Come with your enthusiasm and good ideas. |
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| Pet Memorial Poster in Counseling Office |
We want all parents and students to know that one way we teach appropriate and helpful grief/loss activities to CVES kids is through our Pet Memorial. If your family loses a pet, we hope to add the name with a picture to our poster. We have such a large response each year to this that we have to start a new memorial poster each September. Feel free to contact us or have your child come to see us if a need arises. We also share memory activities when people in our lives die. The Pet Memorial is a vehicle that makes the conversations about death easier for many kids. Please contact us if we can help with any family loss. |
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| "Guiding Good Choices" Parenting Class |
Mount Si High School is hosting a FREE 5-week parenting series to address issues surrounding 9-14 year olds. The meetings will be on Mondays from 6-8 p.m., September 29-October 27. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of some wonderful valley resources. Free childcare will be provided. Please call the counseling office at CVES for more information. |
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| Peer Mediation and Peer Tutoring |
Fourth grade students have been asked to sign up as potential volunteers for Peer Mediation and Peer Tutoring programs here at CVES. During the weeks of the 8th and 15th these students will be trained for various leadership roles here at the school. If your student is interested, please send them by the counseling office! |
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| Dibels Testing |
During the weeks of September 22, 29, and October 6, all students K-5 will be assessed using the Dibels system (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills). Results will be compiled and given to teachers and the school district office. This is the first of three testing sessions this year. The other two testing sessions will likely be in January and May. |
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| Bathroom Lessons |
First and second grade students will receive a visit from the counselors to discuss appropriate bathroom etiquette. Topics include time spent, cleanliness, privacy, and quiet/respectful behavior in the hallways. |
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| K & 1 Friendship Lessons |
In March, three of the kindergarten classrooms were visited with puppet lessons on friendship. We are specifically focusing on "more friends = more fun" to help kids learn to include everyone. In May, we will be continuing this effort with the other kindergarten classes and we will be training a few third grade students to lead these lessons in the first grade classes. |
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