No Name-Calling Week Underway at Canyon

Mrs. Gorman talked with her kindergarten students about signing the class star and what it will mean. Mrs. Davis’ students created posters reflecting their commitment to ending name-calling. And, Mrs. Morris led a lesson using a Thinking Map about how it might feel to be called a name. We have a lot more in store as Canyon Charter participates in No Name-Calling Week!

 

 

Thank you Mrs. Obama and Congrats Canyon!

Head Lice at Canyon? Sticks and Stones? Coffee on me :)

This week is No Name-Calling Week! We all know that words can hurt, and that is one reason why Canyon is participating in No Name-Calling Week. As mentioned a few weeks ago, there will be multiple opportunities available for students to engage in a variety of activities in various school contexts that will build dialogue and awareness and teach students ways to prevent and eradicate name-calling in our school community.

Please click the links below for parents/guardians resources:

http://www.nonamecallingweek.org/binary-data/NoNameCalling_ATTACHMENTS/file/14-1.pdf

And, check out this terrific site for children:

http://takeastand.stopbullying.gov/kids/

As you may have heard or directly experienced this year – Head Lice are a common problem in elementary schools and we’ve had our share of students identified. Please know the following things:

• We do our best to check students and we always notify parents/guardians if there is a case of lice in their child’s classroom.
• We do our best to keep identification confidential.
• Lice are very common.
• Lice are a nuisance – but they do not carry disease.
• LAUSD schools do require that a student is free of lice before we can allow him/her to return to the classroom.
• Your cooperation is essential in helping to control this problem. We strongly urge you to check your child’s hair, clothes and bedding daily for any signs of lice or nits. If you would like to consult the school nurse during school hours for screening or checking, please feel free to call. Nurse Schmitter is at Canyon on Wednesdays.

Please join me this Friday, January 27th at drop off in the STAR room for my first Coffee with the Principal. This time is designed to allow parents/guardians an opportunity to discuss issues/concerns/ideas with me that would not typically be brought up at Booster or Governing Board meetings. However, all topics and all are welcome!

Getting Ready for No Name-Calling Week and Educating our Aides!

Today our Student Council leaders helped Canyon Charter get ready to observe No Name-Calling Week by designing and creating the school banner that will hang in our quad area. All of our students will be participating! Please check it out next week – I’m so proud of our student body!

A big thank you to parent Beth Preminger who led a very informative and critical session for our instructional aides. Beth helped us to know how to spot and respond to a student having an allergy attack at school. Canyon will be establishing a “Nut-Free Zone” in our cafeteria area next week. This zone will be available to all children who are eating nut-free lunches but most importantly it will be a safe haven for those whose health is jeopardized by foods that contain nuts. We’ll talk more about this new zone at next week’s Governing Board meeting. Please join us on Thursday, January 26th in room 9 at 1:55pm

Thank you Canyon Charter – Today’s Attendance is Terrific!

Our attendance today is terrific!

Thank you Canyon Charter families!

 

Creativity and Meaningful Student Interaction!

Today, during my classroom visits, I observed some terrific student work, as well as some terrific students hard at work! In Mr. Stoll’s class, book reports along with dioramas were on display. This one caught my eye! “Kiki Strike, Inside the Shadow City” by Leila H. I thought the handmade display was very creative and original!

Meanwhile, just down the corridor, Mrs. Davis’ students were creating public service announcements with their Ipads. The students, working in groups of twos and threes, cleverly hung their scripts from the front of their Ipads as they recorded each other and then edited their work!

Bravo to all our Canyon teachers who are encouraging creativity and meaningful interactions, daily!

 

New School-Year Ending Date, Revenue, Rainy Days and After-School Play!

Our school year calendar will most likely be affected in order for LAUSD to address the budget shortfall for this 2011-2012 school-year. I will keep families up-to-date as I receive definitive information regarding the adjustment to our current school-year calendar and the strong chance of a new and earlier final day of the school-year date.

At present, our projected final day of school is Tuesday, June 19, 2012 and the first day of school for the 2012/2013 school year is scheduled for August 14, 2012.

As you may have heard, the LAUSD is facing a 543 million dollar deficit. Our superintendent is paying close attention to attendance as most of our revenue comes from in-seat attendance. Please DO keep your child home if he/she is sick but please try NOT to schedule appointments and/or out-of-town trips/vacations during instructional time. Attendance = Revenue! I appreciate your doing your part to help! We’re doing a great job so far for January

Although not a requirement, I ask that on rainy days parents/guardians be mindful when packing snacks and lunches as there are many students with severe nut allergies at our school and nut-free classrooms to ensure that no student’s health is jeopardized.

Please welcome our new after-school playground supervisor Johneisha White. Johneisha is very excited about being at Canyon and looks forward to getting to know the children and Canyon families.

Please Join us Wednesday, January 18th at 8:20am in the Library!

You are invited to share your ideas and experiences on Dealing with Academic Pressures and Stress.  Listen to others and gain support on this topic that parents have rated as their top concern!

Wednesday, January 18th from 8:20am – 9:00am, Canyon Library

Geometry On Our School Yard and Canyon Gear Spirit Day Returns This Friday!

Today, Mrs. Riddle’s class had a real-world math exploration right on our school yard. Room 2 first grade students were searching through out the yard for real-world examples of the geometric shapes they have been studying. The joy and excitement of the children was thrilling.

This Friday, January 13th our Canyon Gear Spirit day returns. Please have your child wear his/her Canyon Gear each Friday. The class with the highest percentage of students wearing Canyon Gear gets the coveted Cricket Mascot for the week. If you need Canyon Gear please contact Ellyn Singer at 310-998-3300. There is vintage Canyon gear available in the main office, as well.  

Happy New Year! No Name-Calling Week Coming Soon!

Happy New Year Canyon families and welcome back to school!

If you haven’t already done so, please fill out the poll below regarding our Parent/Guardian Council topics. I want to ensure that our time together reflects the issues that are important to our Canyon families.

The apparatus will now be available immediately after school. Please remember that the apparatus may only be used after school with direct parent/guardian supervision.

I am pleased to announce that this year, during the week of January 23rd, Canyon Charter Elementary School will participate in National No Name-Calling Week!

Students will have the opportunity to engage in educational and awareness building activities aimed at both educating students and ending name-calling and verbal bullying.

There will be multiple opportunities available for students to engage in a variety of activities in various school contexts (i.e. Classrooms, Library, P.E., Recess, and Art) that will build dialogue and awareness and teach students ways to prevent and eradicate name-calling in our school community.

Research says that families play an integral role in shaping children’s attitudes toward name-calling and so I am asking all parents/guardians to take the time to talk with your child and ask him/her about the No Name-Calling Week activities.

I will provide resources for families regarding this event in the coming weeks, as well.