HWS Messenger 12.13.24
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Upcoming Dates: Monday, December 16– 8:00am Session 1: 3rd grade Art Club Monday, December 16 – 3:30pm Mentoring RM101 Monday, December 16 – 7:00pm Band and Orchestra concert @ BFAC Wednesday, December 18 – 8:00am Student Council – All LRC Thursday, December 19 – 3:30pm 2nd gr Brownies RM105 Friday, December 20 – 8:00am 4th & 5th gr Chorus Monday, December 23 – Monday, January 6 – Winter Break NO SCHOOL A note from the Principal: Dear HWS Families, We had some fun this week with a Staff Spirit week! The students would try to guess each day what the theme was and by the middle of the week, they were on to us. This upcoming week is another Spirit Week for everyone. It’s just a little something to add some fun to our last week of 2024. We do have holiday parties on the 20th from 2:30-3:15. Thank you to the PTO and room parents for all their work organizing these events. The students really look forward to them! As we gear up for the holidays, I thought I would include an excerpt from an article, “How to Prevent Holiday Stress and Anxiety in Children” by Katherine Lee. While this time of year can be exciting, it can also be overwhelming for children….and actually for adults too! The holidays are a fun and joyous time but also a very busy one, and holiday stress and anxiety in children can and does happen. During the holidays, there are lots of fun activities and events going on, both at home and at school. And while that can be a good thing, the reality is that all that hustle and bustle means schedules are often out of whack, bedtimes get pushed back, and routines are disrupted. As a result, it’s inevitable that kids may feel some degree of holiday stress. Tips for Reducing Holiday Anxiety in Kids Try these tips for lessening the stress of the holidays on the whole family. Set a Calm Example The most important way parents can help ease anxiety during the holidays is by trying to keep things relaxed as much as possible. As with so many situations, the way parents handle an issue can set the tone for how their kids will behave. If you let holiday stress get to you, your kids will definitely pick up on it, and child anxiety is more likely to be a problem in your house. Remember the Importance of Routines The holidays can throw a big wrench into household routines, and that can play a role in anxiety in children. To minimize holiday stress in your kids, try to get routines back on track once an event or party is over. For instance, if a school holiday concert or a church gathering goes past your child’s bedtime, try to stick to quiet, calm activities the next day and get your child to bed on time the next night. Get Your Child Moving Fresh air and exercise are essential for boosting mood and re-setting the spirit, which can alleviate holiday stress and anxiety in children. Make sure you schedule some time to get your child outside to run around and play. Avoid Over Scheduling As tempting as it may be to accept every invitation from friends and family, try to limit your holiday parties and activities so that you and your child are not overwhelmed. Schedule Some Quiet Time Having some peace and quiet with your child is more important than ever during the busy holiday season. Find a quiet corner and read a book with your child or create holiday pictures for grandma and grandpa. Take a walk outside in nature, away from noise and crowds and obligations. I hope these ideas help you head serenely into the holidays! We also review some of these tips during our weekly Wellness Wednesday activities as well. Warm Wishes, Gina Greenwald Principal A note from the Student Council: Winter Break Spirit Week 2024-Sponsored By Student Council Monday, Dec. 16: PJ Party – Wear your favorite cozy PJs! Tuesday, Dec. 17: Winter Wonderland – Dress in white! Wednesday, Dec. 18: Team Grinch or Team Santa – Wear Green or Red! Thursday, Dec. 19: Ring in the New Year – Wear bright colors or silver & gold to ring in 2025! Friday, Dec. 20: Deck the Halls – Wear your favorite holiday sweater, hat, headband, or festive accessories! A note from the LRC:
The HWS Celebration Books program provides students an opportunity to donate a book to the LRC for birthdays, special occasions and in honor or memory of a loved one. Thank you to the following students who donated a book to the LRC in celebration of their September birthdays! Your donation helps our LRC collection grow: Carson Y (4Z), Braxton D (2R), Noah N (K), Jack H (K), Violet C (1 S) and Alexandra H(4Z). Author Event
Giving Tree A note from the PTO: Holiday Teacher Appreciation Cookie Exchange Date: Thursday, December 19th Time: Drop off cookies by 10:00 am in the Hoover Wood teacher’s lounge Each year, the PTO hosts a Cookie Exchange to show our Hoover Wood staff some love and appreciation by baking a variety of cookies for them to enjoy with friends and family. We need A LOT of cookies to fill their tummies and cookie tins. We would appreciate your help by baking/buying one type of cookie so that teachers can have an assortment. Bakers should plan to make/buy 4-5 dozen of the same type of cookies. Please sign up using the link here. If you are not able to drop off your cookies on Thursday morning, Randi would be happy to bring them to school if you drop them off at her house beforehand. Email her at randi.kehm@gmail.com to make arrangements. Thanks in advance for helping us show the teachers how much we appreciate them! Additional information: Register Now for the Free Family Connections Program to Start 2025 Off with Family Fun! Join Family Connections for joyful laughter during weekly family nights that strengthen parent-child bonds, build a community with fellow parents/families, and provide a night off from meal preparation and screen time. Family Connections gathers your whole family for playful activities that spark conversations and connections among family members. Enjoy getting to know other parents during the Parent Discussion Group while children have fun playing under the supervision of the Family Connections Team. This evidence-informed program brought to you by TriCity Family Services is based on research about strengthening families and building communities. What is Family Connections? “A great way to unwind and enjoy quality time with your family.” – Comment from a Parent After Last School Year’s Family Connections Program Read more details in the flyer: https:// Register Here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/ BSPN is happy to host Catherine Murray presenting on “Cultivating Connection and Lifelong Learning: Unlocking the Power of Daily Attendance” on Wednesday January 22 at RJAC from 6-7:00 pm. This presentation is open to any family in the district since it is a topic that can be helpful to all families. BSPN Jan. 22, 2025 Catherine Murray Presentation.pdf BSPN is excited to host the 12th annual BSPN Resource Fair again this year. We will continue with weekly Messengers on Fridays throughout the school year. All school messengers can also be found on our News Wall. Please be sure to check out the Backpack Mail View the latest edition of Backpack Mail > link that is attached to The District Weekly BPS messengers. Good community events are listed! |
