Middle School Newsletter 4.1.2024
We are always talking with our students about the importance of being kind to one another. The definition of kindness is “the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate”.
When we deprive humans, especially children, the opportunity to interact with one another we will inevitably have negative outcomes. When you spend an exuberant amount of time behind a screen you lose the ability to truly connect with one another. You forget that your words are incredibly powerful and that you can cause harm and/or good to others with them.
I have had the opportunity to talk with many parents this year about how their child is treating others and/or is being treated by others and the common theme is one of unkindness. We are not seeing an increase in bullying this year, but rather an increase in behavior that is inconsiderate and quite simply unfriendly.
In every effort to address this behavior we had to continue to explicitly teach our children what kindness truly means. We have done this and continue to do this by explicitly teaching them what kindness looks and sounds like, by making sure that we take advantage of each teachable moment and by modeling kindness.
We have 300 students who are incredibly special and deserve nothing but the best education, which includes feeling safe when coming to school. This work isn’t always easy, but there is nothing more important to me than having a safe school environment. We will continue to reinforce the importance of being kind to one another.
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns.
Kindly,
Kim
314.645.9600 (607)~kwright@premiercharterschool.org
Upcoming Events
April 2-5- 8th Grade MAP Testing
April 4-Board Meeting
April 4-Cardinals Home Opener Dress Down Day
April 8-11- 7th Grade MAP Testing
April 12- MS Dance
April 16-18- 6th Grade MAP Testing
April 25- Multicultural Fair
April 26- No School
April 30-May 2-8th Grade Camp
May 3- No School
May 16- Board Meeting
May 17- Field Day
May 23-8th Grade Graduation
From Our Counselors:
Dear PCS Middle School Families,
April is Child Abuse & Neglect Prevention Month. In an effort to educate students on warning signs and identify preventative steps for students to take, middle school counselors are speaking in homebase classrooms during the month of April. Students are discussing 5 steps to keep themselves and others safe.
Safety Rule #1 is Know What’s Up. Knowing What’s Up means you are aware of what abuse is. It also means knowing important safety procedures when you are at school, out in public, and at home.
Safety Rule #2 is Spot Red Flags. Spotting Red Flags means knowing if someone’s behavior or a situation is unsafe or inappropriate. For example, is someone asking you to do something that may put you or others in danger? Or is someone asking you to do something that breaks rules or laws and is bad or unsafe?
Safety Rule #3 is Make a Move. Making a Move means getting away or staying away from unsafe situations or people.
Safety Rule #4 is Talk It Up. Talking It Up means using an assertive voice if you or others are in an unsafe situation. It can also mean talking to a Safe Adult about unsafe situations or people, and talking to your peers to be a role model for creating a culture of kindness and safety.
For information on how you can talk with your child, please see: Tips for Talking to Children about Child Abuse or visit stopitnow.org for more information.
MAP TESTING:
Why are MAP scores important for high school?
Many high schools have requirements for enrollment. MAP scores are a common benchmark that determines student eligibility. Typically, schools are looking for scores in the proficient or advanced categories in Math, English, and Science. High schools will look at MAP scores from 6th-8th grade.
MAP Test Tips
1. Regular school attendance is key to student success.
Being present in the classroom means daily, direct instruction from teachers that will support student mastery of grade level expectations before it’s time for the test.
2. Get a good night’s sleep to perform well on testing days.
Research shows that getting a good night’s sleep promotes memory, reasoning, creativity, and emotional regulation. Missing out of sleep impacts a student’s ability to focus, which is crucial to exam success. Students should aim for 8-10 hours of sleep each night.
3. Eat a balanced breakfast to fuel brain power.
It is true that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as it has the power to balance blood sugars and kickstart metabolism. Because the brain controls important test-taking skills such as sustained attention, try pairing a carb (like oatmeal, fruit, or cereal) with a protein (like eggs, yogurt, or milk) for optimal brain power!
4. Have a positive attitude.
Placing too much pressure on the test results can have a negative impact on your student’s ability to perform at their true potential. Set the tone at home by modeling an optimistic and calm outlook and assure them that, while the MAP test is important, they are more than a single test score.
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Kim Wright M.Ed. LPC, RPT
Middle School Principal
Supporting the curious and empowered learner since 2000