Pick up and Drop off concerns

Over the last month, I have noticed and it has been brought to my attention, that drop-off in the morning in front of the school is becoming a bit challenging.  One of the things that I have noticed is that cars are stopping at the middle walkway leaving about 4-5 more car lengths in front of them.  We want to try and maintain a steady flow if at all possible.  If you happen to have room in front of you to drop, please move forward which will allow other cars behind you a bit more additional space to drop and still easily access our sidewalks.  Stopping the car to get out and then "let out" really slows things.  I would strongly encourage you to encourage your child to let themselves out of the car instead of having you let them out.  If there are times that you need to do this, please be aware of the car stream behind you or maybe select another dropping off point near the playground would better suit your needs.  Lastly, please do not come up the one way as we continue to have concerns about accidents.  The signs are clearly marked as to when the one way traffic begins and ends.  Thank you.

Third Time is the Charm?

Regarding Sibley's K-3 program, we sure hope so. Yes, we are going to look at trying yet again for our winter program.  The weather has caused us a lot of headache lately but safety is really our first priority.  At this time, we are looking to reschedule the program sometime during the week after our Winter Holiday break in January. Stay tuned for an InstantAlert message with the details.  With that, please enjoy your time with family and friends and I look forward to seeing everyone in 2011.

Empathy and Parent Persistence Solves Problems

Last week, I was interviewed about the topic of bullying.  Like all things in life, being acutely aware of any issue and educating yourself about them, can provide you with ways to deal positively with the topic.  Bullying and teasing is no different.  As a principal and a father of two, ages 11 and 7, I want children to have the ability to recognize the power of one's words and actions.  They can heal as much as hurt.  Kids need to be taught how to work with their peers when they have differences and empathy is something that we all need a hefty dose of at times.  I am reminded of the great lesson on empathy that Atticus Finch teaches his daughter Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird when he says, "First of all, if you can learn a simple trick Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." [34]. "One time he [Atticus] said you never really know a man until you stand in his shoes and walk around in them." [282]

Like Atticus did for Scout,  it is our direct, constant, and consistent modeling of "how to" resolve conflicts positively that will have the largest impact on them.  Getting them to "see" from different perspectives is a skill to be learned and quite effective for combating problems.  If we swear when we are angry, or yell at someone when things don't go as we would like . . . . . . children learn and will repeat these behaviors.  Children need to be taught to seek positive resolutions and to do so requires them to realize that at times it is just as OK to walk away and ignore, as it is to come to an agreed understanding.  Yes, walking away after you have been able to share your frustrations, is a skill.  Part of this whole process is building the self-confidence to communicate when you have been wronged, but also to move on from that without feeling badly about yourself.  Until that occurs, we continue to help children by mediating and teaching empathy; how to have it and why it reduces conflicts.

Technology also presents another layer for dealing with conflict.  As a parent, you better know the involvement your children are having online through social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, or self created blogs.  Cell phones and texting is another culprit for engaging in less that empathetic behavior.  It is a lot easier to say something badly about someone when you don't have to look them in the eye to do so.  We should encourage and allow the use of these tools.  However, as adults, we need to model for them appropriate use and teach them how to handle situations they encounter.  Know your children's friends and the technology used to communicate. Without knowing we can't help and technology requires us to be more available.