Good Afternoon Blackhawks!
We are so excited for the week ahead. There are so many fun things planned as we head into break. I prepared the table below to help you keep track of it all. I am so sorry last week’s Cyber Safety Forum conflicted with so many other events. We will try to do a better job of managing that in the future. We are an active community for sure! The big take-aways were as follows:
- Ever evolving nature of digital world makes it nearly impossible to stay on top of
- So many helpful resources being developed every day
- So many opportunities for harm without the proper expectations and supervision
- The school has multiple avenues for decision making whereas parents can feel isolated. We must keep talking about it and sharing thoughts, questions and strategies.
- There are several resources out there to help navigate family decisions related to media
We will post the presentation via the website so you have access to some of the info and resources that were shared.
In addition to everything else we are doing this month, several classes continue to explore Black History Month through literature and special projects. I am proud that here at Plainfield, learning about black history, women’s history, indigenous people’s history, and so many other aspects of our history happens throughout the year - not just during the one special month. That said, we also appreciate the opportunities to reflect upon and celebrate our diversity; to think about who we have been, who we are, and who we want to be as citizens of PES, of Plainfield, of the United States, and of the world.
I am watching a documentary this month that has me thinking about the many times in history that people of diverse backgrounds, interests, and beliefs have overcome their differences on behalf of a greater purpose. I can think of no time in history that is more important to do so than right now. We cannot afford to spend precious time tearing each other down when we as humans face so many significant, shared challenges.
Our children’s ability to do this, to trust and work with one another, to become confident, courageous, and caring adults, to focus on what unites us instead of what divides us, begins now with the way they learn to see themselves and each other. Ironically, some of the most salient teaching and learning takes place when our students make mistakes, when a conflict arises. As you can imagine, this can get messy but these are such important opportunities for learning critical conflict resolution skills, for learning to overcome shame, fear and/or anger, and instead practice kindness, hope, forgiveness, and courage.
Thank you for all you do to reinforce and support these skills and mindsets from your end. Together we are helping PES students overcome differences, learn from their mistakes, and understand what it means to live in community.
“It is the responsibility of every adult... to make sure that children hear what we have learned from the lessons of life and to hear over and over that we love them and that they are not alone.”
― Marian Wright Edelman
Click Here for Special Calendar of Events
As we prepare for vacation, please remind your child(ren) to check Lost & Found and clean out their lockers and desks. Teachers will be helping with this throughout the week as well. Please don’t forget you can view our online Lost and Found closet.The lost and found website is updated weekly.
Thanks again for all you do! We hope to see you Thursday night at the Drumming performance and family game night!
Best, Audra
P.S. Don’t forget to check out the Community Events section of the website (bottom of the home page) for special vacation camps, rowing club opportunities, and much more!
FEBRUARY
13-17 Youth Beatz
13 Drama Rehearsal 3:00 pm
13 Drama Choreography During WIN
14 K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome
14 Drama Rehearsal 4:30 pm Music Focus
15 Meet & Greet with Superintendent Candidates
5:15 - Amy Allen
6:15 - Christine Bourne
15 Art Club & Set Design Grades 5-8 3:00 pm
16 Drama Club Meeting 11:25 am
16 Family Drumming & Game Night with Potluck - 5 to 7:30 pm
17 All School Assembly – Passport to Winter Fun Recognitions & Honoring Diversity (FAST make-up date)
17 FAST Make up Day
20-24 Winter Break
20-24 Choreography
27 Drama Rehearsal 3:00 pm
28 K to 4 School Sing – 8 am Lobby – Parents/Guardians Welcome
28 Drama Rehearsal 4:30 pm Music Focus
28 Drama Choreography during WIN