Inclusion at SISD

Our students at SISD have accomplished so many great things this year! As we reflect on the year, we want to take a minute to appreciate some successes they have accomplished. In the PYP, several students received principal's awards and eco friendly stickers for reading and comprehension progress. Amazing work!  In grade 6, Emma wrote a fantastic essay on War Horse using the PEEL (point, evidence, explanation, link) format. We are so proud of your hard work, Emma! In Grade 8, some collaborated with Grade 4 students to assist with their reading and projects. Additionally, Amna wrote about this experience for the grade 8 newsletter. Fantastic work, Amna! In secondary, many of our students received awards from Ms. Furr for their accomplishments.  There are so many more amazing accomplishments - we could fill a book with them! We are so proud of everyone's accomplishments this year and can't wait for another fantastic year!

For many of us who grew up pre Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., staying safe was much simpler. Don't talk to strangers and stay with your group of friends. However, there are many other ways to protect children in our digital world.  For starters, have frequent and open conversations with your child about how they use the internet and with whom they interact. Ask your child about the different apps they use or websites they visit. Create an agreement with your family about what is and isn't appropriate online. Having these discussions early on will help create a sense of responsibility in your child. You should also be aware of parental controls on your child's devices. This website has many resources to protect your child online.  You can also teach your child to keep their location private (this can be helpful for adults as well). Just remember - if you can see your child's location, it's likely that someone else can as well.  For more information on online sa...

We all know summer is for pool days, playing outside, and a break from school. But, we also want to avoid the summer slump. Reading is to the brain as exercising is to muscles. If we don’t read, we lose literacy skills. Children who don't read or engage in any kind of mental activity can lose one third of what they learned during the year at school. Here are some ways to encourage reading and to make it fun! Are you going on a trip? Encourage your child to pick a book that takes place in your destination? Let them choose a special place as their "reading nook/corner" for the summer. Let your child read what interests them! Manga? Great! Diary of a Wimpy Kid? Fantastic! War and Peace? It's not my cup of tea, but go for it! Set goals with your child. Whether it's to read for five hours a week or just 15 minutes a day, giving your child a goal can help create a sense of achievement.  What will your family be reading this summer?

We all know that we should eat our veggies. But do we know why?  Eating a diet balanced with fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and healthy fats can help us live longer, healthier, happier lives.  Children who eat well-balanced meals are less likely to have chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes or heart conditions.  But eating healthily doesn't need to feel like a chore! Here are some suggestions to make healthy eating fun for the whole family: Make meal time family time. No screens allowed! You can use this time to let your children talk about their day or what they're looking forward to on the weekend. Cut foods into fun shapes.  Try making new recipes together. Keep a bowl of fruit handy for quick snacks. What healthy food will you try out with your family?

  Did you know that Paul McCartney and George Harrison had the same music teacher? The even crazier fact is that their music teacher didn't think either of them had any talent. Elvis Presley wasn't allowed to sing in his glee club because they thought he would ruin their sound.  In this TedTalk,  Sir Ken Robinson discusses the search for our hidden talents and the wisdom of going to look for it. 

   Ping. Ping. Ping. The notifications from phones, tablets, laptops, etc. can seem endless.  Spending time away from our devices can allow us more time to connect with friends and family, which can decrease feelings of anxiety and stress. Putting down our screens can help us better appreciate and enjoy the world around us.  How much time do you and your children spend on your phones? Try to decrease the time on your screen and increase time spent with each other!