Middle School Newsletter - November 8th, 2021

As a mother of two daughters, Taylor (24) and Finnley (16), I can certainly relate to what it was like living with a middle schooler and now a high schooler. I have often thought to myself, “Where did my sweet little girl go and who is this imposter living in her body!” I frequently remind myself that the one-word responses, the disrespectful tone, or just that “look” I get is actually developmentally appropriate.

These middle-age years are when our children are trying to “find themselves.”  They are faced with these questions...What am I really interested in? Where do I fit in socially? How do I balance my ever-expanding social life and school work? Why don’t my parents get “it” (whatever it is)?  Essentially they are in this middle ground...no longer a little kid but certainly not a young adult. They're testing their limits, they're doing things for the first time. That's hard work, and they need a safe space to try new things.

Research has shown that middle school students need our love, understanding, and boundaries as they navigate through these middle years. The real question is, “How do we do this while balancing their need for autonomy and independence?” I have found it all starts with really listening to your child. Listen to what they are saying but also to what they aren’t telling you. Often they are trying so desperately to communicate with us but it comes out all wrong (and potentially with some attitude).  I often find myself lecturing my own daughter versus having a true conversation with her. We need to make sure we are asking open-ended questions that have the potential to lead to deeper conversations. When they do talk with us we need to validate their worries and frustrations, even when they don’t make sense to us.

Even though they are no longer young children, they still love when you make a big deal about their successes. No one is ever too old to hear the words, “ I am so proud of you” or “You should be so proud of your hard work.” We need to be their biggest fans even when they say we are embarrassing because in reality, this is just another confirmation that we care so deeply for them.

All kids are passionate about something. It could be soccer, running, math, writing poetry, playing guitar, or even playing video games! As parents, we need to embrace our child’s passion as well. This will provide us with opportunities to connect authentically and ultimately send them the message, “I care about you so much I want to learn about what matters most to you.”

One middle school student summed it up perfectly by saying, “When my mom asks me if I am getting all of my school work finished all the time it drives me crazy. But if she didn’t ask me then I would think she didn’t care.” I think we all can agree that we would much rather drive our kids a little “crazy” rather than send the message that we don’t care. They still need us even when they are sending us the message that they don’t. These middle years may be a bit challenging but at the same time they are so special. Let’s embrace them together as we watch our children blossom into the incredible young adults we know they have the potential to be. 

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns. 

Kindly,

Kim

314.645.9600 (607)~kwright@premiercharterschool.org  

EXTENDED THANKSGIVING BREAK

We are so thankful to be back in-person connecting and learning this school year, but know there have been real challenges that we are still facing as a school community. The transition back to an in-person school year we are more accustomed to has required even more stamina than usual from our PCS students, staff, and families. From quarantines to heightened levels of stress and anxiety alongside targeting individualized academic supports for our students, the teachers and staff have been carrying a lot. 

As a school that focuses on whole-child development, we know the importance of prioritizing our team’s health and well-being as well. We know helping our adults practice balance and self-care is critical in order to create an environment where our students engage in experiences that impact their development, character, and overall health and well-being. With that being said we are proposing to our Board an addendum to our calendar for Thanksgiving week. We are hoping to extend the week off by making Monday the 22nd and Tuesday the 23rd no school days. Our hope is to give a couple of extra days to spend with family and friends so the team can recharge and be ready to continue to give their best to our kids and families moving forward. Although this will not be made official until the board approves, we realize this will require some time to put plans in place for your family so we wanted to give a heads up that this is in the works. 

As always we appreciate your partnership and understanding during these unprecedented times.