Greetings Families,
I wanted to inform you of a few adjustments that will be happening as we move into the second quarter. I informed the students of these changes on the last days of the first quarter. Both of these refer to removing things from the classroom because they have become major distractions. The first is mechanical pencils and the second are personal pencil sharpeners. Mechanical pencils are great tools, of which I use, but for some reason playing with the lead and taking them apart is a constant occurrence in the school day. It is not the case for all students, but enough that a general ban is necessary, but many students allow them to be distracted by them throughout the day. The second, pencil sharpeners, seemed like a great idea. Students would be able to have nice, sharpened pencils throughout the day. But like the first, they serve as a greater distraction than support. Students would share them, causing talking during lessons. Pencil shavings were all over the floor and inside students' desks. Another negative is it was leading students to not follow a classroom procedure, which is to have two sharpened pencils at the start of each day. If students are writing correctly, which includes not pushing down with great force while they write, two sharpened pencils should be good for the day. Students who need additional sharpening can do so at recess.
That being said, it is important that students have time to sharpen their pencils in the morning, along with the other aspects of the morning routine. My expectation is that all students are in their seats, with everything ready to go for the day, at 7:50am. For that to happen, they need to be dropped of at a n early enough time for that to be a possibility. I understand that the doors remain open until 7:50am, but students should be dropped off well in advance of the doors locking. Therefore, I ask that you plan the mornings of your child accordingly to ensure a timely arrival. Furthermore, the time from 7:20-7:50am is not a free time, but an additional academic time for students to improve their skills and study for upcoming assessments. Students who arrive at school early and are disciplined in how they use their time often preform better because they are better prepared for the day and are benefitted by the additional work and study. It is also an appropriate time for students to discuss challenges faced in homework, as lesson time doesn't always permit a focused look at one issue.
Thank you for your efforts to ensure your child is receiving the best possible education.
Best,
Michael Naaktgeboren
I wanted to inform you of a few adjustments that will be happening as we move into the second quarter. I informed the students of these changes on the last days of the first quarter. Both of these refer to removing things from the classroom because they have become major distractions. The first is mechanical pencils and the second are personal pencil sharpeners. Mechanical pencils are great tools, of which I use, but for some reason playing with the lead and taking them apart is a constant occurrence in the school day. It is not the case for all students, but enough that a general ban is necessary, but many students allow them to be distracted by them throughout the day. The second, pencil sharpeners, seemed like a great idea. Students would be able to have nice, sharpened pencils throughout the day. But like the first, they serve as a greater distraction than support. Students would share them, causing talking during lessons. Pencil shavings were all over the floor and inside students' desks. Another negative is it was leading students to not follow a classroom procedure, which is to have two sharpened pencils at the start of each day. If students are writing correctly, which includes not pushing down with great force while they write, two sharpened pencils should be good for the day. Students who need additional sharpening can do so at recess.
That being said, it is important that students have time to sharpen their pencils in the morning, along with the other aspects of the morning routine. My expectation is that all students are in their seats, with everything ready to go for the day, at 7:50am. For that to happen, they need to be dropped of at a n early enough time for that to be a possibility. I understand that the doors remain open until 7:50am, but students should be dropped off well in advance of the doors locking. Therefore, I ask that you plan the mornings of your child accordingly to ensure a timely arrival. Furthermore, the time from 7:20-7:50am is not a free time, but an additional academic time for students to improve their skills and study for upcoming assessments. Students who arrive at school early and are disciplined in how they use their time often preform better because they are better prepared for the day and are benefitted by the additional work and study. It is also an appropriate time for students to discuss challenges faced in homework, as lesson time doesn't always permit a focused look at one issue.
Thank you for your efforts to ensure your child is receiving the best possible education.
Best,
Michael Naaktgeboren