Winter News Update

January 25, 2024

Dear Members of the J. Turner Hood School Community,

I hope this update finds you well and energized from our recent school break. Last week made it official. It is cold outside. The coldest part of the winter season is upon us. I would like to remind you to send your children to school dressed appropriately for outside recess. Coats, hats, and gloves are very important. We will always go outside for recess unless it is dangerously cold (like last week). At the J. Turner Hood School, we encourage outside play as often as it is allowed. At the school, we follow the national guidelines in terms of weather in determining indoor/ outdoor recess.

Winter Weather- A few friendly reminders:

Please have your child wear an appropriate jacket/coat to school

Hats and gloves on really cold days

If you label your child’s apparel it is easier to find in the lost and found

Maker Days-  We have successfully completed two maker days. For those “newer” to our school community, please feel free to click the link below to learn more about this school-wide activity. This is  a previously written summary of this event for contextual purposes:

https://www.north-reading.k12.ma.us/hood-elementary/news/another-maker-d...

As we continue to receive amazing student and staff feedback, I wanted to share a recent school wide activity, our upcoming activity, as well as a special thank you to our “Maker Study Group” which is responsible for the organization and the implementation of the aforementioned activity.

Thus far this year, we have completed one day focusing on “community kindness.”  

Our next maker day will focus on growth mindset, and we will conclude with empathy as a focus.

I would like to add  an additional thank you to Mrs. Cleary, Grade 5 teacher, and her group for designing these amazing lessons that benefit our students.

Late arrivals- Please know that we understand the challenges that are presented to families each morning prior to school. With that being noted, we are also responsible to ensure the timely arrival of all students. Since the return for the winter break, we have noted a marked increase in the number of “late arrivals.” This number has surpassed 10% of the student population on three occasions. Ten percent represents 41 students!

It is important to note that school starts promptly at 8:00 am. Students are expected to be in their seats and ready to learn at that time.  The following advice is adapted from an article that I came across in my professional reading. It explains how frequent lateness to school impacts on our children’s well-being and their learning.

We all run late sometimes. For your child, arriving late to school occasionally won't cause major disruption. Inevitably, children will feel sick or tired some mornings, or other situations will prevent them from being on time. But chronic lateness eventually takes its toll on a child's overall educational experience. According to the national initiative “Attendance Works,” missing just 10 percent of the school year in the early grades causes many students to struggle in primary school. Frequent tardiness can have negative effects on the following:

Routines- One of the most important aspects of school is that it is organized, scheduled and predictable. Students depend on the structure of the day. They know where they have to be and when. They know the main purpose for being in school is to learn and that routines are in place precisely to help them focus on that learning. When students are repeatedly tardy, these routines are disrupted. Children who are often late have trouble settling in and mastering routines. Tardiness can throw off their whole morning or even their day, especially if the late commute to school was stressful.

Social Experience- The social experience has a powerful impact on a child's feelings about school and his or her ability to be academically successful. When a child continuously shows up late to class, other students are distracted. Attention is drawn away from the teacher or assignment and toward the child who has just arrived.

Achievement- “Perform Well,” a nonprofit policy research and educational organization, reports that frequent tardiness is associated with lower grades and lower scores on standardized tests. It is also linked to low graduation rates. In many classrooms, particularly at the primary level, morning routines are critical to daily lessons. Warm-up activities may introduce topics that will be learned later in the day, or review work offers students an opportunity to review previously learned skills.

Responsibility- Part of your child's education is learning to be responsible. The school experience teaches children how to meet expectations. They learn to follow schedules, obey rules, complete assignments and keep track of their materials. Learning responsibility in school is a precursor to functioning in the working world, as noted by William Kirby in his 2010 article "School Attendance Tied to Academic Success”.

 ("Effects Of Tardiness On Your Child's Education" 2016)  

Phones- Communication Devices in School- It has come to our attention that a number of students have been utilizing the communication capacity of received Apple watches (or something similar) and/or cell phones recently.

Please refer to the Student-Parent Handbook for our school policy, page 15 (shown below):

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES

Personal wireless communication devices (cell phones, watches, hand-held gaming devices,etc.) must be turned off and kept out of sight during school hours. Students and parents/guardians should not utilize electronic communication devices to communicate during school hours. Personal devices with video or other imaging capabilities are prohibited. This includes while riding the bus (please refer to the Bus Safety section).  

First Offense: Parent/Guardian will be notified, item is confiscated and returned to the parent/guardian of the student at the end of the day.

Repeated Offense(s): Parent/Guardian will be notified. Item is confiscated and returned to parent/guardian. Consequences may include detention or suspension. The severity of the infraction will be considered when determining the consequences.

Please note: Devices (cell phones, watches, etc.) stored in backpacks are the responsibility of the student and/or parent and not the responsibility of the school.  

Playground- I'm delighted to share the exciting news about the new play area at our school. The addition of this vibrant and well-equipped play space has brought a wave of enthusiasm and joy among the students. Our students continue to explore this safe environment for playful activities, allowing them to run, jump, and explore with confidence. The new play area is not just a recreational space; it serves as a hub for social interaction, fostering friendships and teamwork. As laughter echoes through the air and children engage in imaginative play, the new play area has become a cherished addition to our school community, enhancing the overall learning and development experience for our students. Please be on the lookout for information on our official opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony inclusive of acknowledgements of thanks to everyone involved in the process of procuring and installing this space. 

Regards,

Dr. Glen McKay