- Bismarck Public Schools
- School Newsletter
Newsletter
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JANUARY 2019
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NEWS FROM POLICY COUNCIL
The next Parent Policy Council meeting will be held Monday, January 7 at 6pm. Any parent is welcome to attend the meetings. The agenda and minutes from each meeting are also posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway at BECEP and on the web site.
There is an open seat for a parent from Teacher Kerry Huravitch’s classroom and an open seat from Teacher Kelsey Kramers classroom to serve as a representative on the Parent Policy Council. If you have a child in either one of these Head Start classrooms and are interested in serving on the Council, please contact Mary MacArthur, Parent/Family Engagement Coordinator at 323-4435
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AVON FUNDRAISER
Thank you BECEP parents and staff who participated in the Avon Fundraiser! A total of $2554.06
was received in profit and donations and will be used to help support updates to the playground!
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PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME
There will be Open Gym (PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME) on the following Sundays in January- January 6 and 13, 20 and 27 from 2pm-5pm. All preschool families are welcome to attend! Please enter through the southwest gym door by the parking lot off 13th Street.
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FREE PARENTING SUPPORT CLASS
Parenting can be a hard job sometimes, yet it is your most important job! We are here to help support you! Take time to attend this one-hour class and be the best parent you can be!
Wednesday, January 23 at 8:30am-9:30am. Topic: “The Importance of Play”
Drop your child off at school and join us for a cup of coffee and this support class!
Class is held in the Parent Pad (Mary MacArthur’s office). Call 323-4435 or e-mail mary_macarthur@bismarckschools.org to reserve a spot!
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SUPPORT FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDKIDS
Are you a grandparent and the primary caregiver for your preschooler? If you are looking to meet other grandparents in the same boat, please join us on Monday, January 28 from 1:30pm-2:30pm in the Parent Pad. Come and exchange ideas, get support and resources!
Refreshments served. RSVP to Mary at 323-4435 or e-mail mary_macarthur@bismarckschools.org
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RAISING A READER KICK OFF NIGHT
Thursday, January 31 BECEP will be introducing a new reading program for all children in the preschool classrooms. Parents-do not miss this exciting event! You and your child will be invited to attend one of two sessions either 6pm-6:45pm or 6:45pm-7:30pm. The event will be held in your child’s classroom so bring them in their pajamas and learn more about this program. A snack will be served! If you come and sign up, your child will have new books coming home each week for you to cuddle up!
Raising a Reader program also kicks off in January for Early Intervention and Early Head Start!
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BOOK SHELF SPOTLIGHT
Parents are invited to check out any of the parenting books located on the Parent Book Shelf to the right off the main hallway at BECEP.
The book of the month is “Positive Discipline for Preschoolers” by Jane Nelson, Cheryl Irwin and Roslyn Duffy. This book addresses the early years and raising children who are responsible, respectful and resourceful.
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BOX TOPS, DANS GROCERY RECIEPTS
We also collect BOX TOPS for Education and grocery receipts from Dan’s Supermarket as part of the Direct Your Dollars Program all year. Send them to your child’s teacher or home visitor.
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COMMUNITY CORNER
PARENT CAFÉ STARTING IN BISMARCK!
What are Parent Cafés? Parent Cafés are for any parent from the community who wants to come together for support, with no judgement, to have open communication, share real experiences and build supportive relationships and leadership skills with other parents.
The Parent Café is held at Trinity Lutheran Church located at 502 N. 4th Street in Bismarck Thursday evenings once a month, 6:15pm-7:15pm. Dates are:
January 24 April 25
February 21 May 16
March 28
There is no cost for the Parent Cafes. Childcare is provided and you can join the Banquet for a free meal starting at 5:30pm!
PARENT RESOURCE CENTER OFFERS CLASSES
The NDSU Parent Resource Center continues to offer a variety of parenting classes in the Bismarck Mandan area. Contact them at 667-3342 or www.ag.ndsu.edu/pen/region-7 . Some of the classes coming up are:
Brown Bag Building Strong Families-Focuses on family strengths and dealing with stress and communication
Conscious Discipline-For all parents who want to learn how to have a better relationship with their child and turn power struggles into cooperation.
Basic Beginnings-For new parents of infants and toddlers
Parents Forever-For separated or divorced parents who share custody or caregiving of their child.
WITHIN MY REACH WORKSHOPS
Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) is offering a series of free workshops for adults who are single or in a relationship. The workshops focus on relationship skills and decision making for individuals who are seeking more enriching relationships with the people that matter in their lives. The workshops are held Thursdays from 5:30pm-8:30pm beginning January 3, 2019 through January 31, 2019 with different topics each session. Meals, transportation and childcare stipends available! Register at www.surveymonkey.com/r/JanWMR. For more information contact 530-4973 or vmzietz@primecare.org.
CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE SKILL #3-ASSERTIVENESS
Being assertive means setting limits respectfully and having expectations. It means saying “no” and being heard. Healthy boundaries are essential to healthy relationships. Being assertive does NOT mean being aggressive, abusing your power over your children or someone else or being a BULLY!
Assertiveness is the Power of Attention. What you focus on you get more of. There is an abundance of research that supports developing our power of attention to focus on behaviors we want to see from our children instead of those we don’t. At any given time, in classrooms and homes all over the world, there are children being helpful and some being hurtful. Which ones will get our attention? What do we want to focus on? We need to retrain our eyes to see the love and positivity that surrounds us. We need to help our children grow up seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty. We also need to teach our children that when there is an “oops”, it is an opportunity to learn and focus on a solution and find the beauty in the situation. Here is a script and example of how to be an assertive parent with your child:
Name: Use your child’s name
Verb: Say the action to take
Paint: Paint a verbal picture of the desired behavior in detail
“Joey, sit in your chair and hold your spoon to eat your potatoes just like this” (imitate or role model the action for your child).
I LOVE YOU RITUAL – SNUGGLE TIME
Sometimes I yell.
Sometimes I hurry.
Sometimes I fuss.
And sometimes I worry.
All is not lost.
Everything is fine.
I love you so much.
Now it’s snuggle time!
Preparation and Instructions: Each day, designate a “snuggle time.” This is a five-minute time-out from the hustle of life.
The Game: To make a gentle transition from a busy time to a snuggle time, say the rhyme. This rhyme is the signal for both you and the child to locate each other and settle in together. Snuggle time is the time to hold each other, rock in a chair, or read a book.
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Any third party non-school district events in this newsletter are not sponsored/endorsed by Bismarck Public Schools.
District Newsletter
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DreamBox Learning Math!
BPS Staff Developers Mary McHugh & Nikki Szajkowski
Making math fun and engaging is what DreamBox is all about. This supplemental online math tool is being used by nearly every BPS elementary school and our three middle schools, and your child can access it at home, too! It’s available 24/7 from a desktop, laptop or iPad.
Teachers who use DreamBox receive ongoing training and support in effective use of the resource. In addition to the 60 minutes of required math instruction for all elementary students, teachers can use DreamBox as an intervention or to provide enhancement opportunities and overall math support for all kids.
This program is highly interactive and conceptual. For example, in grades K-2, students can play math games along a path guided by a red-headed Pixie. DreamBox engages them to think and to problem solve as they interact with the program. This program is different from a math video that shows the user how to solve an equation or drills a student on flash cards. For example, to learn 5 + 6 = 11, a student may use the mouse to move various math tools that show the concept of addition.
The program looks different for middle level students, but maintains the interactive and conceptual focus. At Horizon, Simle and Wachter, DreamBox is being used by math intervention teachers, English Learner (EL) staff, special education instructors, and classroom educators. DreamBox, which comes in both English and Spanish, is being tried out by some high school teachers for students who need math intervention strategies.
To access DreamBox, go to www.bismarckschools.org under the BPS Apps icon. For further instructions and user tips, click here. NOTE: since the program adapts to your child’s level as he/she learns, please resist the urge help your child so he/she doesn’t move ahead until he or she is truly ready. There are handy student “help” and “hint” buttons kids can use during the lessons.
If you have questions, ask your child’s classroom teacher(s), but realize that our staff is learning DreamBox along with our students so they may not be able to answer all of your questions!
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Kindergarten registration Jan. 15-Mar. 1
Children who are 5 years old on or before July 31 can register for fall kindergarten in Bismarck Public Schools starting January 15. Go to www.bismarckschools.org, click Registration. First, enter your address in the InfoFinder link to verify the school in your attendance area. Then create an account, fill out the online form, take a picture of or scan the required documents and upload them, and submit the application.
If you’re unable to complete the application online, make an appointment by calling 701-323-4110 or email registrar@bismarckschools.org. The deadline to register is March 1st, and kindergarten open houses are in April and May, so don’t delay! Parents who register any student grades K through 12 after August 1st may NOT be assured a spot in their neighborhood school.
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Change of address, phone #, email?
If you changed a phone number, email or address since fall, please inform the school office(s)!
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7 principles for raising boys
In a book by Dr. James Dobson called Bringing Up Boys, he explains his 7 principles for raising sons. They are as follows:
- Channel their energy. Understand that boys will have more aggressive and excitable behavior than girls. Instead of squelching their energy, channel it into something productive.
- Protect their spirit. There are many harmful things in the world that can wound a boy’s spirit. Dobson advises “deal decisively with bullies, reduce exposure to media violence, and watch for signs of depression, withdrawal or lethargy.”
- Keep them close. Maintain a close relationship with sons; keep communication open and provide guidance and always discipline out of love not anger.
- Provide them with role models. Boys need healthy male role models. If dad is not in the home, ask a trusted friend to spend time with them.
- Give them your time. Though boys may seem more independent, they need plenty of one-on-one time.
- Affirm their value. Dobson advises, “Counteract the effects of male-bashing in our culture by affirming a boy’s masculinity and his value as a person.”
- Nurture their spirituality. Whatever your beliefs, find time for spiritual development.
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The Bismarck Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age or disability in admission or access to or treatment or employment in its programs and activities. To obtain this material in an alternate format, or if you need access, or auxiliary services such as interpreters, large print, braille or recorded material, call (701) 323-4071, or a TTY Relay Service at 711 or 1-800-366-6888 two weeks prior to the event.
