Dear PCS Families,

The EC building is in full swing and we have a busy couple of weeks coming up! It is hard to believe that we are coming to the end of the first quarter of school! Our students have been working so hard and we are looking forward to sharing all of the progress during conferences in the coming weeks. If you have not scheduled your conference with your child’s teachers please reach out to them this week!

Below is a little information from one of our Kindergarten teachers, Sydney Valeriote, about internet safety. We know that children see and hear many things on the internet or television. Please see some helpful tips when monitoring or talking to your child about what they might be seeing.

Internet Safety

With Halloween around the corner, there tends to be more scary content out on the internet. Here are a few safety reminders to help your child stay safe on the internet!

Please be aware of what your child is looking at online, Youtube, or any social media platform. It is important to monitor what they are seeing and not just allow kids to use a device unattended.

There are some scary characters coming from “Poppy Playtime” ,a horror game that is for older children. These characters have cute names, such as Huggy Wuggy, but this content is not age appropriate for younger children. This content is scary and may be disturbing for young children. We encourage you to have conversations at home about internet safety. If children are viewing something that is scary or seems inappropriate they need to know to stop watching and talk with an adult.

Technology can be fun and a great learning experience for our kiddos when it is used in an appropriate and safe way! Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Counselor's Corner from Ms. Walsh:

Being able to effectively communicate our needs, wants, and feelings is one of the many important aspects of social emotional learning. From the moment we're born we spend our days communicating with others. Our words build connections and help us set safe boundaries. For some of us this comes quite naturally. You may know someone whose words seem to roll eloquently right off their tongue or maybe that’s even one of your own gifts. However, for most of us, communication is a skill that we began honing young, and will continue to do so throughout our lives. Having the language to express ourselves is imperative to effective communication, and I-statements are key. Teachers, principles, and support staff model and encourage the use of I-statements daily as we remain committed to doing our part in helping to grow effective communicators here at PCS. If you feel like your family could also benefit from having a blueprint on how to better express needs, wants, and feelings, just click the two article links below. And, as always, please feel free to reach out for any additional support.

I- Statements for Children

I- Statements for Children article with free printable image

Jennifer Walsh, M.Ed, LPC, RPT

Early Childhood Counselor

(314) 645-9600 ext. 250

jwalsh@premiercharterschool.org

School Garden Opportunity:

Join us for a garden clean up day on Saturday, October 29th from 9am-12pm as we prepare our garden beds for winter. Visit our garden link below for information on tasks needed completed, material donations needed, and the sign up form.

Garden Website

Hope to see you there! Don't forget, please sign up if you plan to attend so that we have your contact details in case weather requires any changes.

Sign up here

Thanks,

Jessica Smyth

News from the Library:

The Fall Book Fair is just around the corner! Our fair runs from Tuesday, 10/25 thru Thursday, 10/27 after school and during conferences. See the flyer attached for book fair hours.

Can't make it to the fair? Students may shop during the school day starting Thursday 10/20. Sign up for an e-wallet account (see flyer) or send money in an envelope marked with your child's name and the amount enclosed. Don't forget to include tax! You can also shop the online book fair at bit.ly/bookfairpcs.

We need volunteers! Sign up to help with set up, previews, book fair nights, or pack up here.