Cherokee Trail

• Q1 SAC MEETING MINUTES
• EPIC'R INFORMATION
  
• FROM THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR
• UPCOMING CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
• FROM THE PRINCIPAL
• NEW FLYERS

This month's EPIC'R trait: PERSEVERANCE

* I use determination to try to finish a task

* I have a growth mindset

* I continue through tough times and problem solve

COUNSELOR'S CORNER - OCTOBER

In 6th grade, we began our unit on Grit. Students were introduced to the key characteristics of Grit and will be working on activities that help them reflect on their own level of “grittiness”.  Our unit also ties growth mindset concepts.

In 4th and 5th grade, our guidance lesson was about building relationships within the classroom community.  Students learned about the researched behaviors of geese and applied their migrating behaviors to building relationships within the classroom. 

In 3rd grade, I read “The Bad Seed” by Jory John.  Students then identified different thoughts and emotions in the story and were able to discuss whether the character demonstrated positive or negative thinking.

In 2nd grade, I read “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” by Judith Viorst.  Students shared their experiences and their favorite ways to help themselves feel better when managing a “bad day”. 

I look forward to continuing classroom lessons in 1st grade and Kindergarten classes in the next few weeks!  

As schools and parents remain flexible during uncertain times, your child may not be as agreeable to change.  News reports and changes in daily routines may be adding to your child’s anxiety.  Check out this article from Children’s Hospital Colorado for tips to help your family.  In addition, here is another article on how to create a routine/schedule to ease the impact from changes.

Have you noticed changes in your child’s behavior?  Do you find yourself correcting behaviors more than ever before?  Here are several articles with information on effective, positive parenting.

Positive Discipline Part 1: Types of Misbehaviors and Keys to Success

Positive Discipline Part 2: General Approaches to Managing Behavior

Positive Discipline Part 3: Behavioral Management Skills to Foster the Parent-Child Relationship

Positive Discipline for Youth

The Principal Chronicles continue ...

As I write this, it is Friday at 2:07 PM, way later than I typically write out my Chronicles for the week. It has been a very busy week getting into classrooms, attending numerous meetings, and of course, figuring out all of the logistics around returning to five days a week. We are all very excited about the students coming back, but holy cow has it been a lot of figuring out of logistics! After this year, I hope I never hear the word quarantine, asymptomatic, or COVID ever again. There are many days I feel like I am the principal of COVID elementary since over half of my work time is spent working through COVID logistics, scenarios, and planning for COVID. 

On the home front, in case no one else noticed, there is a new season of the British Baking Championship which means everyone in my house will break out their British accents and start craving baked goods. Already we have had a failed attempt at baking pumpkin bread. Well, I guess it wasn't a failed attempt because the bread was pretty good. The discovery here was the old chestnut about "bread rising" and when you add enough batter to fill the entire baking dish there is a 99% chance that a large portion of the bread will end up on the floor of your oven. This scenario came to life a few nights ago which then lead to the shocking discovery that our local grocery store is completely out of oven cleaner. I guess I missed the memo that oven cleaner was a hot item to be purchased (along with yeast and 409) during quarantine. So now we get the added bonus that every time we turn on our oven, the house is filled with a lovely fall scent of burnt pumpkin bread. It matches perfectly with the outside smell of campfire. First world problems, I know.

The only other thing I have on my plate is that tomorrow I am running my first virtual race. I told myself I wasn't going to race until things got back to normal because I thought virtual races were dumb. I did an in-person race a few weeks ago but there were so few people running in it, I basically ran by myself the whole time. I could do that at home. Anyway, I chose to compete in the Baltimore Half Marathon. Yes, you read that right, the BALTIMORE Half Marathon. I figured if I were to ever do a virtual race why not compete in one that I would typically never do. The sad part (which those of you who know me won't be surprised) is that truly the only reason I picked this race is because the finisher medal comes in the shape of a crab. How cool is that? Who wouldn't want a race medal shaped like a crab? Considering I haven't run 13 miles in about a month and have only really been trail running these last few weeks, I am pretty sure this run tomorrow won't be my finest hour but in the end, when I cross my virtual finish line, I'll be able to throw my hand in the air of victory and receive my crab (in the mail of course).

That's it for this week's edition, stay tuned for next weeks rambling words and sentences of lunacy. See you next time when the Principal Chronicles continue ...

NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE: The Douglas County School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, age, marital status, genetic information, or physical characteristics, disability or need for special education services in admissions, access to, treatment of, or employment in educational programs or activities. The School District’s Compliance Officer is Ted Knight, Assistant Superintendent, 620 Wilcox Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, [email protected], 303-387-0067. Complaint procedures have been established for students, parents, employees, and members of the public.