This week, we experienced not one, but TWO snow days! I am happy that our School Board took precautions to ensure the safety of our students who take a bus to school. As many of you are aware, there were numerous winter storm watches in effect and it is better to be safe than sorry. I hope that your journeys on the road were a safe one and you're ready for a bright, beautiful weekend! Look at this sunshine we're experiencing already - revel and rejoice in it!!
Pink Shirt Day for Anti-Bullying:
Wednesday Feb. 24th was dedicated to promoting and acknowledging Bullying Prevention! This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart and as your child's teacher, I am reinforcing the importance of creating, building upon, and maintaining happy hearts in and out of our classroom. Our Community of Learners Agreements help guide us every day - Attentive Listening, Mutual Respect, NO PUT DOWNS, Right to Participate, Right to Pass. We regularly refer to this agreements as a reminder for us all to treat our peers, friends, and family with kindness, dignity, and respect. I feel this will help in creating a happy, safe, and caring world. I believe in all my students and their abilities to reach out to do their part in making a positive difference for our today and tomorrows ... together we can help put an END TO BULLYING!!!
A few of my students have noticed that I wear this t-shirt shown above every Wednesday and have been since the beginning of school. My reason in doing so is to promote Anti-Bullying not just once a year, but everyday. I encourage your child to join me in this endeavour and to wear PINK WEDNESDAYS! We can spread a powerful message together :-)
Activity: Happy to Scarred Hearts:
Two weeks ago in class, we did an activity to create an Awareness to how deeply affected one can be when they are put down and bullied. I wanted to save the meaning behind this activity for this week's post.
First, I drew a large heart on a piece of paper. Then, I had them observe the 'Heart.' Next, I crumpled the paper and threw it across the room. Finally, a student opened up the heart to see what it looked like. Following this observation, we had a powerful discussion of how once you hurt someone's heart (feelings) you create "crumples or scars that remain with that person that are difficult to heal and bring back to its original happy state." We also discussed the term "Bystander" and what it means. A bystander(s) is a person or group of people who see bullying happening yet don't do anything to help. In other words, they witness the bullying and walk away which ultimately continues and promotes this unkind cycle of hatred. Let us remember, bullying prevention needs to be acknowledged and worked towards every day, and in doing so, we can end this vicious cycle.
Quote:
First, I drew a large heart on a piece of paper. Then, I had them observe the 'Heart.' Next, I crumpled the paper and threw it across the room. Finally, a student opened up the heart to see what it looked like. Following this observation, we had a powerful discussion of how once you hurt someone's heart (feelings) you create "crumples or scars that remain with that person that are difficult to heal and bring back to its original happy state." We also discussed the term "Bystander" and what it means. A bystander(s) is a person or group of people who see bullying happening yet don't do anything to help. In other words, they witness the bullying and walk away which ultimately continues and promotes this unkind cycle of hatred. Let us remember, bullying prevention needs to be acknowledged and worked towards every day, and in doing so, we can end this vicious cycle.
Quote:
"Your thoughts become your words. Your words become your actions. Your actions become your destiny."
With All My Heart & Namaste,
Miss Gill
Miss Gill
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