For students: Our first trimester comes to an end in the midst of holidays and busy fall celebrations. Good organization and time management play key roles in keeping up with in and out of school demands. You can get creative with the type of calendar and reminders that you use; whether they are electronic or hang on the wall! Sticky notes are useful and come in all kinds of colors; folders and file systems are important for us all.
Please make sure to eat well balanced meals, sleep at least 8 hours a night, and get some daily exercise. Staying healthy and dealing proactively with stress will help you do your best at school and enjoy your holidays to their fullest! Remember that you can check in with Mrs. Girsch or Mrs. Wright for more tips on organization or dealing with school. Report cards are coming out soon!
For parents: both counselors have been busy with classroom activities in each grade level aimed at meeting the mandate from the Maine Department of Education that we educate our students about the issues of alcohol use. The following is taken directly from this directive.
“Alcohol Awareness Day, the first Monday in December, shall be observed
by studying, for at least 45 minutes, a constructive approach toward the use of alcohol and the problems and dangers of alcohol abuse upon the individual, the family, and society. Alcohol Awareness Day will be December 6, 2010 as part of Maine’s Alcohol Awareness Week, December 6-10, 2010. Many civic groups and alcohol service agencies, along with schools, will be sponsoring Alcohol Awareness Week activities. Through this law, the State of Maine
recognizes the need for schools and community organizations to address
alcohol issues.”
We hope that our efforts have lead to increased dialogue at home around the entire issue of drug use. Students have been very engaged and insightful, leading to some wonderful class discussions. We have added links to the right that lead to some good resources for students and parents around this important issue. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Girsch ( grades 7 & eight) or Mrs. Wright ( grades 5 & 6).