The start of a new school year can be exciting, stressful, or just exhausting. Often it’s all of these things at once. A new school year is a new start, a new opportunity, and a new chance for new experiences. Inherently, it’s also a time to be hopeful. Though the feeling of hope doesn’t always come automatically, it can be cultivated. Take time to cultivate hope with your student and help them to build a positive outlook for their school year. Here are a few questions to consider when talking with your student over this long weekend.
What are your goals for the year? (How do you want to improve?)
What are you excited about that is happening at school this week? (Think about the future in a positive way.)
What did you do well at school and what are you proud of? (Highlight success.)
Who are your friends at school who build you up and help you out? (Identify positive influences?)
(The Power of Hope, Psychology Today)
-Principal Hargraves
Get Involved
One great way to contribute to Peterson is through the PTA. Peterson has a very active and supportive PTA that conducts events for our students, supports teachers with funding and food, and makes a lasting impact through projects like the new Peterson school sign and playground equipment.
Bats and Puffins
On the first day of school we had a bat in the primary wing of the school. It was very exciting for all involved. No mammals were harmed during this event. Our GT teacher John Malloy is working with students to install a “bat house” (shouldn’t this be called a bat lair?) in the woods near our school.
Drills
Yesterday Peterson held its first evacuation drill of the year. This is commonly referred to as a fire drill and we will be doing these monthly. Additionally, there will be several different drills of different types held throughout the year, including lockdown, earthquake, and tsunami drills. Conducting drills is an important part of our preparation for emergency situations. Drills help staff, students and families understand what to expect during an emergency.
Some drills can elicit concern and stress because of the nature of the drill. To help lower the levels of stress around lockdown drills, we are communicating early to you and your students about the upcoming lockdown drill at Peterson, which will be held the week of 9/5 to 9/8. Lower stress equals better learning. Talk to your student about these drills ahead of time, and listen to your student after the fact if they want to talk about their experience.
Please see the attached flyer on the Standard Response Protocol for more information on Lockdowns.