Challenger Families-
Can you believe that just a few weeks ago was 100's day which means we are well over the 1/2 way point of the school year. The remainder of the year will go fast, so hold onto your hats. Our lives at school and home are always busy, but as we creep closer to spring and end of year activities it seems to speed up a little bit more. We will do our best to keep you updated on all the fun events we have planned at Challenger.
One event that I want to make sure you are aware of is our family reading event. Very soon we will be kicking off "One Book, One School." This fun event is when the whole school, every student, family, and staff member is encouraged to read the same book. While reading this book, we will have activities at school that encourage participation. This is a great time for each family to come together and slow down the busyness of life to spend some time in a book.
When selecting a title, we look for books that can be read (or read to) by students in BK-5th. We usually look for a book that has a theme that can be discussed by the family and has importance no matter how old you are. We hope that you will take some time this February and March to join us for "One Book One School" at Challenger. The book will be coming home with a more detailed explanation of the activities and reading schedule.
Have a great weekend
David Cherry, Principal
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Begindergarten and Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year
Begindergarten and Kindergarten registration for the 2024-2025 school is now open at
HowellSchools.com/KDG . Join us on March 7, 6-7 p.m., for an informative night at your child's elementary school to meet educators and explore the school. Additionally, we're accepting applications for Academia Bilingüe's Spanish immersion kindergarten class until March 22. Discover the bilingual journey at HowellSchools.com/DualLanguage and attend the parent night on February 21 at Three Fires Elementary to learn more.
New Offering from ParentGuidance.org
Thanks to our partnership with ParentGuidance.org, we are pleased to offer families in Livingston County a new initiative called "Ask a Therapist Live." This is a no-cost event designed specifically for families in our community. "Ask a Therapist Live" provides an opportunity to receive expert answers to any questions you might have about your child's mental health or your parenting journey. You can submit your questions anonymously via the webinar chat or through their interactive tools. Alternatively, you may choose to listen to questions from other parents and the responses provided by our live therapist. The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21, at 8 p.m. Please register at https://bit.ly/49bJ9la. To learn more about "Ask a Therapist Live,” please visit https://bit.ly/48iX9bu.
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COUNSELOR CONNECT: HELPING KIDS WITH FRIENDSHIP
Research shows that friendships are critical for social and emotional health: they can decrease stress and tension, help us develop empathy, and strengthen our defenses. To kids, though, choosing friends is a little simpler - they likely connect with people they have the most fun with. For a child, having even one good, dependable friend can make a huge difference! Similarly, when those friendships change, children can really feel a sense of loss.
There are three basic, social skills that are critical for making and keeping friends, whether you are 5 or 55:
- Breaking the ice with kids/people you have not met before
- Acting positively and appropriately with others
- Managing conflicts/problems constructively
We are often very vigilant in helping our kids master concepts in math or reading, but we often forget to teach behaviors. Here are some strategies for teaching these important friendship skills to our children:
- First and foremost, do a self-assessment and make sure you are modeling and showing the behaviors we are hoping to see in our children! Do you make friendships a priority? Are you friendly to new people? Are you open-minded and respectful when problems arise with others?
- Pay close attention to how your child behaves with same-age peers. Point out his/her strengths (“I noticed you let Lilly go first - that was very thoughtful!” or “When Stuart tried to argue with you, you calmly walked away - that was a good choice.”).
- Similarly, take note of what skills s/he needs to practice. For instance, does your child often interrupt others or boss them around? Is your child shy and afraid to try new activities, or hesitant to join a group?
- Once you identify what your child needs to work on, come up with creative ways to practice the skill. When it’s not the heat of the moment, talk about what that skill looks like. Go to the park and role play different scenarios. Check out books from the library that illustrate children using these skills. At the least, talk with your child about your strengths and weaknesses, and work together to form and strengthen your personal relationships together.
- Lastly, be patient. Teaching social skills takes time and lots of practice.
For more support, or a more personalized plan for your family, please reach out: [email protected].
Aubrey Wilson
School Counselor