Hello PCS Families!

It is hard to believe that we are already in the month of September! We hope that everyone enjoyed the long weekend! We are moving right along in the Early Childhood building. At PCS, our initial focus at the beginning of each school year is relationship building. As you hopefully know, PCS is built on this strong foundation, and it all begins right here in the early years!

We know that strong relationships and connections come before anything else that we do! When we think of relationship building we focus on the teacher and student relationships as well as the student to student relationship. Some of the strategies that we use are:

Daily class meetings
Meeting a child ‘where they are’
Helping students understand their options for solving a problem
Helping students identify their feelings and emotions
Utilizing mindfulness techniques
Class puppets
Incorporating sensory supports
PBL units focused around building community

Over the next few weeks we will be taking a look at some of these strategies that we use to build relationships and community in our classrooms and school as a whole. We are hoping this can help spark some conversations in your home. Because we know all too well the answer to a simple “How was your day?”.... “Good” This week we are going to take a closer look at what class meetings are and why we focus on them daily.

Class meetings are a key component in building relationships and fostering a sense of community in the classroom. They offer students and teachers the opportunity to sit in a circle where everyone is on the same level and each person can be seen and heard. This is the first step to understanding that we are all an equal part of this community. During a class meeting we get opportunities to be an active listener to our peers and teachers as well as sharing our own thoughts and feelings. Each morning every classroom in the Early Childhood building begins the day with a class meeting. This helps each individual see their value in the classroom by having others look at them to say good morning, to check in and solve any problems that may have already come up, and to see how we each are feeling. This is a vital piece of setting the tone for the day.

There are a variety of class meetings that we use in a given day or week; getting to know you class meetings, problem solving meetings, academic focused class meetings, and ending the day class meetings. Be sure to ask your child about their class meetings!

Parking Lot Reminders:

We made it through the first full week of school! Our parking lot is starting to run a bit smoother, but here are a few reminders that will continue to help with the safety and efficiency of drop off and pick up.

Please use your turn signals when entering and leaving the parking lot.
When possible park on the street and use the appropriate crosswalks to enter the lot.
Please observe the directions of the staff in the lot for your safety and the safety of our students.
Last but not least, please be patient and kind!

Library News:

Did your child take the summer reading challenge? Remind them to turn in their form (with their name and teacher's name written on it!) to Mrs. Ramsey in the library by Friday September 9th!

Counselor's Corner from Ms. Walsh:

For many of us, the start of the new school year means more structure, more socializing, and countless first time experiences. Anxiety is never a welcome feeling, and seeing it rise in our children can often cause it to then rise in us as well. However, feeling anxious from time to time is most often an appropriate response for people of all ages. Whether you are currently in need of information regarding recognizing anxiety in children, suggestions for best supporting your child, or just reassurance that you are already doing all of the right things, please click the link to read more about this very human emotion.

Anxiety

22-23 Meal Application Video:

Please take a minute to watch this about meal applications. If you fill the form out by Friday, September 16th, you will be eligible for the gift card lottery!! Completing the form takes less than 7 minutes and we have made it super easy to complete the form through your Infinite Campus parent portal.

22-23 Meal Application Video

If you need help filling out the form, check out our YouTube tutorial and Step by Step guide that we’ve created for you all: How to complete FRAM Meal Application

STEM Opportunity:

Check out the attached fliers for an awesome opportunity for your child to attend STEM camp at St. Louis University through the iSCORE institute! Scholarship opportunities are available to help cover the cost. Simply click on the QR code on the flier for more information and registration.

These STEM learning experiences are developed and implemented by Dr. Christa Jackson and her iSCORE institute. Dr. Jackson, a professor at SLU, and PCS have developed a partnership over the past year, and we are excited to have our students included in this opportunity at SLU. Click here to learn more about iSCORE.