2017 - schoolwires€¦ · loraine benitez | vic & presiden...
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Contact the PTA Board
Priscilla Adame | [email protected]
Eboni Bright | Volunteer [email protected]
Nicki Botello | [email protected]
Emily Baker | [email protected]
Loraine Benitez | Vice [email protected]
Rebecca Spring | Roar [email protected]
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DateSave theFRIDAY, DECEMBER 15
End of 1st SemesterEarly Dismissal 1 PM
TUESDAY, JANUARY 2Classes Resume
MONDAY, JANUARY 15No School | Dr. Martin Luther King Holiday
FIRST SEMESTER AWARDS ASSEMBLIESWednesday, January 24 - 8:00 | Grade 1; 9:00 Grade 3Thursday, January 25 - 8:00 | Grade 2; 9:00 Grade 4Friday, January 26 - 8:00 | Grade 5
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Coffee & Conversation
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 PTA Meeting and Sock Hop
December2017
SpringMARCH 23Carnival
The Mountain View Spring Carnival is coming up on March 23rd. We are still looking for a Carnival Chair to organize the event, as well as volunteers for the Games, Vendors and Sponsors committees. This is our largest event of the year and we need your help to make it happen!
Please email [email protected]
if you are interested in helping.
The 2017-18 Yearbooks are on sale! Flyers will be sent home soon. You can also pre-order your yearbook at www.balfour.com. Books will be delivered in May.
Volunteers Needed Please email Emily Baker [email protected]
if you are interested in helping.
Thank you to all who joined the MVES PTA this year. Our last contest winner for the year will be announced on December 13th, so submit your membership now!
Look for more fun membership events in 2018!
I feel so lucky to have had Mountain View for my children’s first school experience. The administration, teachers, students and families make up such a wonderful community. It has been my privilege to serve the school in the PTA the past 3 years, but sadly, it is time for my family to move. I know the PTA will continue it’s commitment to the school for years to come. If you are able, please volunteer your time to help the PTA and the school succeed.
Sincerely, Terri Lichlyter
Farewell to a greatPTA President
2017-18 Yearbooks
Membership Update
Facebook.com/mvesptatx Instagram.com/mountainviewespta Twitter.com/mvesptatx
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...............................................................................................................Take time to work, it is the price of success.Take time to think, it is the source of power.Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.Take time to dream, it is hitching a wagon to your star.Take time to love and be loved, it is the privilege of the gods.Take time to look around, it is too short a day to be selfish.Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.
Shorter days mean more darkness in the morning that creates safety hazards for our students as they come to school in the morning. Please be on guard for students around the school. Children are oblivious to cars and can be unpredictable. We also ask that you follow traffic laws (speed, cell phones) and are respectful and courteous to other parents on the streets and parking lots. The valet remains the best option for drop off and pick up. It looks daunting at first glance but really moves quickly. Students that ride bicycles to school should also have appropriate lights and reflectors and be reminded of safety procedures. Thanks for your cooperation and support in keeping our students safe.
Facebook.com/TheMtView
Have a Very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season
Conscious DisciplineLast year the MVES counselors went to a Conscious
Discipline workshop that featured its author and creator,
Dr. Becky Bailey. Conscious Discipline is a leader in
classroom management and provides a transformational,
whole-school solution for social-emotional learning,
discipline and self-regulation. With an approved grant
from the Educational Foundation, a Conscious Discipline
trainer spent two days in August teaching MVES
instructional staff on topics such as; the Conscious
Discipline Brain State Model, how to recognize and
respond to adults and children operating from a Survival
State by increasing a felt sense of safety, how to model
the skills of encouragement, choices and empathy to
create a connected, compassionate culture for learning,
and how to apply the skills of positive intent and
consequences in ways that encourage healthy
self-regulation.
Many of the classroom teachers have taken what was
learned to integrate social-emotional learning, discipline
and self-regulation in their classroom so they spend less
time policing behavior and more time teaching vital life
skills. In January, we will begin a book study of
Conscious Discipline; Building Resilient Classrooms by
Dr. Becky Bailey. There are 15 teachers and
administrators that will participate. We would like to
extend an invitation to any parent that might be
interested. For parents, Conscious Discipline is a proven,
comprehensive approach that empowers you with skills
that create a safe, connected, problem-solving
environment for families.
Anyone who is interested or has questions can contact Mrs. Beauchamp | 254-336-1915
or Mr. Mistic | 254-336-1906
For additional information and resources please go to:consciousdiscipline.com and
consciousdiscipline.com/videos/button-pushingBe sure to read the accompanied page for a special
article about ADHD and early intervention.
Special Article
News from Dr. Podhaski
from the Principal’s Desk
“While ADHD is believed to be hereditary, effectively managing your child’s symptoms can affect both the severity of the disorder and development of more serious problems over time. Early intervention holds the key to positive outcomes for your child. The earlier you address your child’s problems, the more likely you will be able to prevent school and social failure and associated problems such as underachievement and poor self-esteem that may lead to delinquency or drug and alcohol abuse. Although life with your child may at times seem challenging, as a parent you can help create home and school environments that improve your child’s chances for success.”
Over the years I have encountered many parents and students who have struggled with attending to tasks, focusing in the classroom, and impulsive behavior. Students who deal with symptoms often lose sight of their strengths and capabilities and begin to focus on what they can’t do rather on what they can. They may disengage from school and lose interest in learning. There are many supports and strategies that parents and children can access to support and accommodate learning and success. One resource may be found at the website of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (cited above). It is often helpful to realize you are not alone and may be able to connect with and learn from others. I want to share a success story with you of a real Mountain View student. Her father has written a brief story that summarized and described how her life and learning has changed over that past several years. I appreciate his willingness to tell this story and willingness to be a resource to other parents.
“The princess blanket Payton uses every night is quickly pulled over her sleepy eyes as I turn on the lights and tell her it's time to get up. "I don't want to get up" she says, and then mumbles something else incoherently. It's 6:15 a.m., and like many 8 year olds, she has to get up and go to school.
It's now 6:45 a.m. and she comes into the kitchen for the third time, still not wearing any shoes, her hair and teeth haven't been brushed, and she's a bit agitated.
"Hi Nate" I said. And quickly follow it up with "please go get your shoes on, brush your teeth and hair, and come back so we can eat breakfast. This is the third time I've told you and we have to leave soon."
Payton is one of the many children living in America that has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) 5 percent of American Children have ADHD. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) puts the number at more than double the APA’s number. The CDC says that 11 percent of American children, ages 4 to 17, have the attention disorder.
She comes into the kitchen at 6:55 a.m., fully dressed, her hair and teeth brushed, and ready for school. "Dad, can you get me my pill please? It helps me focus" she says, as she dances around in the kitchen while eating her breakfast and asking a lot of questions. "Did the Dodgers win last night? Do I have tennis today? Hey dad, some of the kids in my class were amazed that I knew this week's spelling words already" she says.
"No, they lost," I said, "and please finish your breakfast so we can go."
According to an article on WebMD, children such as Payton who do not seem to listen, often talk excessively, are easily distracted, do not finish tasks, and are in constant motion, often fit the description of a child with ADHD.
"I don't mind taking a pill" she says, when asked about how it makes her feel. "Only a couple of my friends know about it. I don't want other kids to know because I don't want them to make fun of me because I'm different. And I wear glasses, and they might laugh at me. Her counselor says that “I might not have to take it forever" she adds.
To most she might seem like an ordinary kid with a lot of energy. For me, it is a constant struggle of knowing when I'm pushing her too hard and when to just let her be a kid. She has come a long way in this constant process. It's hard because I don't think people understand what it's like. She's pretty amazing! She just needs a little help focusing sometimes. Especially when there's a lot going on around her, it makes it really hard for her to not get too excited.
Her primary care manager once put it in perspective for me. He said, "ADD/ADHD brains work a little different. I bet she hates going to the store?"Yeah, she does. I have to make a list, and she'll even ask how many items are on the list so she can keep track. Oh, and she lets me know when we've gone over."When she walks down the cereal aisle her brain starts asking a lot of questions like, why are there so many boxes of cereal? And why do they have so many different colors? And above all, who arranged them like this? Because whoever did, has no idea what they're doing," he added.
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The big moment for me was when she used to come home from school every day, and I mean every day, when she was in Kindergarten and First grade with orange and red days, because it was just impossible for her to have a good day, or a day where she could keep things under control and not lash out. I felt so helpless. So, I went to get her some help because I felt I owed her the opportunity to enjoy her childhood and be successful. Plus, there's the fact that teachers deal with so much already. I didn't want my kid to be the disruptor every day. Her teachers were awesome through the whole thing.
It was recommended that she see a behavioral health counselor, and after a few months, she was given a trial medication. Things got so much better for her after that. She went from having B's and C's on her report card to making the AB honor roll and she was no longer a disruption in class. But more importantly, she was redirectable.
I remember her behavior getting so much better and the first time she had a purple day (the best day a kid could have). I had a feeling it was coming, and when I picked her up at school she told me that she had a green day (a good day). But when I opened her daily folder I saw that it was purple. I looked over at her and she had a huge smile on her face."
"I fooled you huh?" she said.I think I hugged her for at least 10 minutes.
"Did you pack your lunch?" I ask."I got it!" she says."Watch your attitude" I said as we head into the garage and get in the car. "Are you ready for spelling words?""NO! I don't want to do spelling words" she says."This is so you can do well, not me. And I don't want any more of your attitude" I said angrily.
As I drop her off at school she looks back and blows me a kiss and says, "I love you dad." "I love you too, and I hope you have a great day" I said.
The pill she takes isn't a cure all, and it's not magic. She is still a kid and I still have to parent. We both work at it every day. But I will tell you that it's night and day from two years ago...even one year ago. We still go through the same things that any parent goes through and she still sees a counselor every couple weeks. It's just a little easier now. She told me she wants to make all A honor roll. The goals are just a little higher now.”
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