PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
(Feb. 06, 2012)
Dear Parents,
In our commitment to continuously improve, the staff has begun a program called CHAMPS: a proactive and positive approach to classroom management. An effective classroom management plan prevents misbehavior and is continually refined to help students become increasingly respectful, responsible, motivated and highly engaged in instructional activities. The CHAMPS model is a guide to the decisions teachers can make to build and implement a proactive and positive approach to classroom management. It creates a common language among staff and provides a process for us to work together to create a compassionate, safe and productive learning environment.
If you believe you CAN or believe you CAN’T...You’re RIGHT!
I’m held back because of what I can’t do. I’m held back because of what I’m afraid I can’t do. More often, I’m held back because of fear that I might fail, and consequently, I might not like myself. That is often termed lack of self-esteem or self-worth.
Our self-concept rules our lives. It sometimes works in wonderful and encouraging ways and sometimes as a tyrannical dictator, controlling almost every move we make. It talks to you constantly, “You can do it. Go for it!” or, “Not me. I could never do that.”
A child’s mind is especially receptive to what is going on in his or her world. The self-concept is not yet firmly set. Therefore, children are easily influenced by the messages they think they hear from their parents and teachers. We can help children store positive or negative messages. We do the best job of this not in our words but in our actions.
A child’s self-esteem is made up of all the attitudes and beliefs about oneself. They will determine who he/she is, what he/she will do and what he/she can become. A child’s self-concept is the sum total of all the “you are capable messages” minus the “you aren’t capable” messages.
“I Can Do It”
Building Self-Confidence
Billy makes friends easily. Sharon loves to learn new things. Jason eagerly raises his hand in class. What’s one thing these kids have in common? They believe in themselves and their abilities. Here are several ways to increase a child’s self-confidence - a key ingredient in school success.
Chances to Shine
Kids feel capable whenever they do a good job. Give your child plenty of opportunities. How? Assign chores he/she can handle on her own, such as drying dishes. Also, look for ways to build on his/her strengths. If she sings well, you might suggest joining the chorus.
Try, Try Again
Explain to your youngster that mistakes are a natural part of life. Instead of making a big deal out of them, use them as learning experiences. Example: Rather than “I can’t believe you left your jeans on the floor again,” try “your jeans were not in the hamper, so I didn’t wash them. You’ll have to wear something else.”
Rules to Live By
When children know what’s expected of them, they feel more confident and secure. Set and stick to a few simple rules. Example: “in our house, no one is allowed to call another person a mean name.”
Take a Note
Here’s an easy way to reinforce a can -do attitude. Have your child decorate an empty shoebox. Whenever he learns a new skill or does well in school, have him drop a note in the box. Example: “I know fractions.”
Together we can model through our actions the positive messages that will help Ladera Dragons develop positive self-worth and a CAN-DO attitude!
Sincerely,
Dr. Pam Chasse______________________________________________________________________________
(Jan. 23, 2012)
Dear Parents,
At Ladera we are committed to providing your child with a safe and compassionate Learning Environment that provides the setting for all kids to achieve to their maximum. Along with teaching positive character and bucket-filling attitudes we provide students with the tools needed to be successful “social engineers”. One way we do that is by providing them “tools for their “tool-bag”. Therefore our Counselor has been teaching and reviewing with the students at each grade level the strategies used at Ladera to deal with conflicts. As you are aware, conflict is a part of everyday life. How we deal with conflict is what makes the difference on how that conflict ultimately impacts our overall well-being. By using the Kelso’s Choices in K-3 and K.C.’s Wheel in 4-5th grades the students learn how to solve their own problems which builds their self-worth and self-pride. The counselor has sent home the information via the classroom teacher after teaching the lesson on the Kelso’s choices or K.C.’s Wheel. You can also access the information online to follow-up further at home.
The character key for January is responsibility. Responsibility means being dependable and reliable. It also means making smart choices. Part of solving conflicts is about making choices and accepting consequences that go with making those choices. During the month of January please join with us as we focus on Responsibility and making smart choices.
RESPONSIBILITY
Responsibility is a character trait that develops over time. At first, children “do what they are supposed to do,” usually to please another person or to avoid punishment. As they mature, we want our children to learn that true responsibility is choosing to act with self-control and consideration for others because it is the right thing to do, regardless of whether someone is watching.
Adults sometimes feel overwhelmed by life’s many pressures and responsibilities. A young child does not carry such burdens. A child’s concerns are for himself and are generally limited to the here and now. However, that is where the seeds of responsibility are planted. The first steps towards growth occur when a child begins to take responsibility for himself.
Responsibility is both a very personal character trait and a key social trait. Students must learn to be responsible for their own actions and realize that their actions are critical for maintaining and improving their community – friendships, family, school, and beyond. How can you help? Be a strong role model for your children. If your children see you take responsibility for your actions, they will be better equipped to do the same. Help your children take a share of responsibility for their own personal care and safety, and teach them that they have responsibilities as members of their school, their family, and their community. Together We Can!
Dream…Believe…Succeed!
Dr. Pam Chasse, Principal
______________________________________________________________________________
(Oct. 31, 2011)
Dream...Believe...Succeed!
Your BELIEFS drive your EXPECTATIONS...your expectations drive your CHOICES...your choices drive your PERFORMANCE.
It’s your performance that ultimately delivers the RESULTS you
expect...which leads directly to the SUCCESS you desire.
The long and short of it is this: Success STARTS with a strong BELIEF in your ability to meet or exceed Expectations.
Believe you can and you will.
Believe you can’t and you won’t.
If you believe you CAN…
Or believe you CAN’T
You’re RIGHT!
The messages we want to give to our students begin here...with CAN...that gives us the power to dream to reach as high as possible. Next a person must believe it is important that each person respect themself first which means that one must have faith in his/her own ability to “be the best that he/she can be.” With belief comes the ability to achieve those high expectations because the determination and perseverance comes out in full force. It is also about taking personal responsibility to make smart choices, be cooperative, collaborative and a team player.
Finally the end result is success. Hopefully gratitude for those achievements and all who helped to make it possible also becomes a result that in turn makes us better people and pro-vides the desire to be a good citizen and give back to our community.
Here at Ladera these attitudes are achieved by the home and school working together in partnership, creating a learning environment that sets the tone, a culture and core values that provide the models and an atmosphere of “bucket filling” to create the common language that brings us full-circle.
Dr. Pam Chasse
