Since this is the last Weekly Update before Winter Break, I would like to extend to you my very best wishes for a joyous holiday season. Holidays are times to reflect on all the wonderful staff, families and students that make each day merry. I am so lucky to be working in such a wonderful community of learners. My "work family"-the Hoover staff and community are such positive spirits. Our lunchroom, hallways and classrooms have been filled with busy elves (volunteers), in the Holiday Shop, decorating the Lobby, running copies, making displays, baking sweet treats, counting hams, sorting Square One Art, shelving books and reading to our Hoover Rockets. We are so fortunate here at Hoover to have an amazing base of parent and grandparent support. Thank yo for giving your time and talent- we appreciate it very much!
Candy Cane Sale
Thank you for supporting our Candy Cane Sale. The Student Leaders raised $250 for our Helping Hearts Fund! Great things are happening at Hoover.
Sweet Treats for Staff
We are looking for kind, compassionate, reliable, and fun parents to work as a noon monitor. We have part time positions (2-3 days) available. Noon monitors spend 30 minutes outside with students supervising the playground and 20 minutes in the lunchroom. Please contact either Mrs. Gregg or Mrs. Linn for more information.
If you child received an IREADY license it is important for them to spend at least 45 minutes a week on IREADY. The research shows that students improve their IREADY diagnostic scores when they spend 45 minutes a week minimally on the IREADY instruction. Please encourage them to try their best and stay focused on the lessons. If you are having trouble getting your child logged on to IREADY try this:
2. Login with Google using their email address (student@student.livoniapublicschools.org) and email password
Encourage reading over the Winter Break! 15-20 minutes a day would be a great goal. Turn off the television, set down the phones and pick a book together. Make reading a daily habit in your house!
This month we have been focusing on Responsibility. Now its your turn to practice and teach at home.
Tips for teaching kids responsibility: by Alonna Friedman
1. Start Young- you can’t suddenly spring responsibility on a teenager and expect he will know how to follow through. Imagine your high school daughter calling you at work with the complaint: "Mom I'm hungry. When are you coming home?" You say: Make a sandwich! She replies: "I'll just wait for you." Handing out responsibility to kids needs to start early.
2. Let Them Help you- Don't grumble and mope when it's time to do housework. Smile and invite your son to help (even if he makes the job take longer). It's team work, precious time with your child and a lesson that will one day send him off into the world with the ability to sort lights and darks! "When your child is invited to participate, he feels valued," says Dr. Ruskin. "He will take these good feelings and learn to take ownership of his home and feel pride in maintaining it."
3. Show Kids the Way- Play to a child's skill level, suggest both experts. First, you can demonstrate how to complete small tasks. If your son wants a snack, show him where the apples are and how to wash one off. Does your daughter always throw her dirty clothes on the floor? Place a hamper in her room and show her where the day-old jeans belong. Make responsibilities age-appropriate and even use the word "responsibility," says Dr. Barzvi, when informing your son about the tasks you expect him to complete on his own. It sounds grown-up and important!
4. Model Responsibility- And talk about it. Banish a tableful of dirty breakfast dishes with the line: "Now we put our plate in the sink," as the meal ends. Use the same inclusive "we" phrases over and over to show how you can easily solve problems. Ask other family members to follow suit. You'll be surprised how quickly these actions become a habit for kids.
5. Praise Them- Kids love to help. They want to help. To them, chores don't feel like work. Keep up positive vibes by offering specific praises for actions. "You hung your coat on the hook and I'm proud of you!" Or, "Thank you for emptying the garbage in your room!" Children will develop a sense of ownership for any repeated action. And this constant communication helps them take initiative in other situations, says Dr. Barzvi, such as at school or on a play date.
6. Manage your Expectations- When you ask a five-year-old to make her bed, it may still be lopsided. Don't criticize. Recognize a job well done. The next time you make your own bed, show her how you do it.
7. Avoid Rewards- At least at first. There's a time and place for rewards and allowances, but both experts agree that being responsible isn't it. Don't assume a reward system has to be in place for your child to learn responsibility. While a reward chart can be effective for some kids, others respond just as well to praise, spending time with you and feeling the boost in their self-confidence. Save rewards for tasks that go above and beyond what you expect to be your child's normal household responsibilities.
8. Provide Structure and Routine- Kids thrive on order. Instead of offering rewards to get them to meet responsibilities, set up a morning routine with a positive end result. Your son must brush his teeth, eat breakfast and get dressed before watching TV. (Notice TV is not being offered as a reward -- it's just the result of finishing the routine.) And he should be able to complete the routine in any order that works for him. A younger child may not fully realize these tasks are his responsibilities, but allowing him to create a healthy structure will give him the tools to one day develop strategies for getting homework done without you nagging (too much!), suggests Ruskin. School Night Checklist
9. Teach Consequences- Learning to take care of his things also helps a child develop a sense of responsibility for his actions. To get your son to clean up after an art project, inform him that he won't be able to play with his crayons and scissors until the next day if he leaves a messy table. Then you need to follow though and take away his supplies if he shirks his responsibility. The more you enforce the rules, the more likely he is to clean up without being asked -- or at least without whining about it too much. "It is ultimately your child's choice to not put a toy away," says Dr. Barzvi. "Parents are afraid to let kids suffer, be sad or angry, but if we always solve children's problems, they will not learn to be responsible as they grow up."
If your daughter has to pack her bag for school each day and forgets her basketball sneakers, then she won't get to practice that afternoon. As much as you want to bring her sneakers to her, don't! Hopefully she'll be more cognizant of remembering her responsibilities next time.
A big thank you goes out to the volunteers and students who participated in the Pajama-Rama last Friday night. The kids enjoyed dinner, bowling, bingo, Legos and even made a winter craft! They ended the night watching Americas Funniest Home Videos on their blankets while enjoying popcorn with friends. It was wonderful to hear their laughter.
Hoover’s Winter Blast is right around the corner on Friday, January 31st from 6-8:30pm. This is our biggest event of the year. We hope you will save the date for an evening of family fun. Activities will include carnival type games, food, and raffling off the themed baskets. Information about the baskets will be sent home very soon.
HOOVER SPIRIT WEAR
Our spirit wear is a fantastic New Year gift idea! Check out the link: www.hooverspiritwear.com
NEXT PTA MEETING – TUESDAY, JANUARY 14TH @ 6:30 PM
Save the date for our next PTA meeting. Participation has been down so come on out, share some ideas and mingle with other Hoover parents. Enjoy light snacks and fun conversation. There is always a drawing for a small gift for all who attend. Everyone is welcome…
Yearbook Cover Contest
12/23-1/3 Winter Break
1/14 PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
1/17 Spirit Day Inside Out
1/20 MLK NO School
1/30 Reflection Ceremony 6:30 Stevenson High School
1/31 Winter Blast 6-8:30 p.m.
2/3 KG Registration Begins
2/6 3rd Grade In School Field Trip
2/7 3rd Grade In School Field Trip
2/7 Spirit Day Unhealthy Snack Day
2/17-2/18 No School Mid-Winter Break
2/21 Skate Night
3/5 KG Parent Information Night
3/7 Pistons Game
3/10 PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
All Hoover 4th Grade Students are invited to enter our yearbook cover design contest. Hoover staff and PTA will vote on the winner. The winning design will appear on the cover of our 2019-2020 yearbook! Entries will be due Jan 9th, 2020.
Please email Nancy Gregg at nancyjgregg@gmail.com with any questions.
All entries must include:
1. Our theme for this year! What do you think of when you hear “Wild About Hoover”? Show us in a creative way how you would represent Hoover and this theme and what it means to you.
2. Our school name Hoover Elementary should be incorporated into your design as well as the year 2019-2020.
Tips for a good design: You can use crayons, colored pencil, markers or pens, but keep in mind the BRIGHTER the better!
How to submit your artwork:
1. Please submit your artwork on an 8 1/2 x 11 white sheet of paper or card stock.
2. Artwork should be done with a VERTICAL orientation - NOT horizontal.
3. Write students name on the BACK of the design in pencil along with grade and teacher name.
4. Do not fold your paper, it must be wrinkle free for submission as well as free from staples or tears.
5. Bring you design back with you when you return from break and give it to your teacher.
We are excited to see all of your creative ideas!
Hoover Elementary PTA
1/14 PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
1/17 Spirit Day Inside Out
1/20 MLK NO School
1/30 Reflection Ceremony 6:30 Stevenson High School
1/31 Winter Blast 6-8:30 p.m.
2/3 KG Registration Begins
2/6 3rd Grade In School Field Trip
2/7 3rd Grade In School Field Trip
2/7 Spirit Day Unhealthy Snack Day
2/17-2/18 No School Mid-Winter Break
2/21 Skate Night
3/5 KG Parent Information Night
3/7 Pistons Game
3/10 PTA Meeting 6:30 p.m.
