It is so good to be back at school. Last Tuesday the first thing I did was go around to all the classrooms to say hello and check in to see who had lost teeth and/or grown inches over the summer! The kids were all happy and full of stories to share.
A big thanks also to so many of you parents (and grandparents) who stopped by to say hello and welcome back! It’s always nice to feel so appreciated. Vallecito is a wonderful place and I hated not being here for the start of school, but I am back now and ready to go!
September’s LifeSkill: Personal Best
In September each class will spend some time discussing “personal best,” which is our LifeSkill for the month. Many teachers will help the children design personal goals that the students reviewed throughout the year. In June the children will do an evaluation to find out how closely they came to realizing their individual goals. Hopefully it will become obvious to many of the students, especially the older ones, that in order to reach the goals they had set for themselves, each had to make a “best effort.” That was our LifeSkill in September of last year.
Recycling
Friday started off with the recycling team going full blast before school started. Below is Phil Slack’s report from the Recycling Depot.
“Today's haul netted $126! A few notes:
Plastic bottles that contain juice are not redeemable. They can be recycled, but not for cash. We prefer that you leave these at home and recycle them at the curbside. Thanks everyone who brought things in and keep them coming!"
Back to School Night
Back to School Night has once again been scheduled on two nights so teachers will have ample time to discuss the grade-level curriculum, their individual programs, philosophy and expectations (including homework), standards for behavior and academic performance, classroom procedures and special events and activities.
Kindergarten, First and Second grades will meet this Wednesday night starting at 6:30 in the gym with Third, Fourth and Fifth meeting Thursday night at the same time. This is a very important night to attend as the foundation for child's education for the year is thoroughly discussed at these meetings. If you need babysitting, see Trish in Childcare or call 485-3103. You must make a reservation to ensure a space for your child. This is an adults-only evening.
Sally Foster Gift Wrap
Friday morning we had a kick-off assembly for Sally Foster gift-wrap. Your child should have brought home an envelope with all the information inside ... you can also check our Sally Foster page by clicking here.
This is a fundraiser done by the PTA and chaired by Andrea Salvemini and Erica Barnes. If you have any questions please feel free to contact either of them. The gift-wrap is fantastic. The rolls are much longer than those one normally buys, and many of them are printed on both sides. The company has expanded their line this year so there are numerous other things to purchase for holiday gifts.
Family Film Night
"Horton Hears a Who" was a big success, with many families enjoying a picnic before the film. Thanks to all who made this evening a success.
Newsletter Change
This year the district administrative team is going to try a new format in sharing information with you. An email will go out to you each Monday morning sharing the upcoming event for week and any schoolwide or district announcements that need to be made. Flyers will also be posted in the email, which you can retrieve from the site. Both Mary E. Silveira and Dixe used this format successfully last spring so Vallecito and Miller Creek will be using it this fall.
I will continue to write a newsletter when I have something informative/ interesting to share. For example, I read The Narcissism Epidemic by Dr. Jean Twenge and Dr. Keith Campbell this summer. This is a fascinating research study on children today, their self-esteem, self-expression and the way they love themselves. The author’s research showed that by trying to build self-esteem in children, we have created a narcissistic society which breeds “aggression, materialism, lack of caring for others, and shallow values.” Interesting reading! This book would make for interesting discussion!
