Author: yesenia.robles

As we get ready to resume our school year, I’d like to draw your attention to the thematic resources which we add regularly to our Building Atomic Habits site. I think you will find them to be practical tools to support your students academically and in their overall wellness, as you make Headway Every day in Relationships and Outcomes like a real HERO! Please view my most recent Kickin’ it with Kathleen/December Atomic Habits video, the theme of which is that when we make mistakes, it proves we’re trying! As I indicate, studies show that the more mistakes students make in their efforts to learn something, the more robust and long-lasting their learning will be: Take a risk, and if you make a mistake, try again!

Our current academic focus is on increasing reading volume and cultivating a love of reading from TK-12^th grade and beyond. We encourage you to focus on reading volume and discussions every day. Read for a variety of purposes and enjoy the wonderful world of reading from newspapers to poetry. You will find tips for increasing motivation and reading strategies to help you support your children with reading every day.

Please take a little time to explore these resources, try a breathing exercise or daily mindfulness technique, and do the same with your students. Don’t forget that this year we are #CallingAllSpringsHeroes and you are a HERO to us!

Thank you for making Springs your charter school of choice. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your school representative.

Dr. Kathleen Hermsmeyer
Superintendent

Additionally, I encourage you to view the videos in my Kickin’ It with Kathleen video series, in which I offer some suggestions to help you have a successful school year despite the pandemic, and the importance of praising children’s efforts as they learn and thinking about math differently. Among the thoughts I offered include the importance of praising effort in your child and yourself, as when we praise our children’s efforts, it will inspire them to try harder and harder. Also, as many of us may experience anxiety about learning and teaching math, we have some suggestions which may help you to think about math differently.

I encourage you to watch these videos if you have not already done so, and keep an eye out for new videos in the upcoming weeks. I hope you find them helpful.

And, as we approach the end of our calendar year and our winter break, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah, a happy New Year, and good wishes for any other holiday you will be celebrating.

Dr. Kathleen Hermsmeyer
Superintendent