SHES Weekly Update

Dear Shadow Hills Families,

Thank you all for an amazing Fall Festival! PTA and staff put on a fantastic event for our community. I could not be more thankful for the dedication and perseverance of all involved. Thank you, thank you, thank you! All of the proceeds from this event go right back to the students. If you are contacted for winning a silent auction basket, congratulations. Please pick up your basket outside the PTA room, room 3, before or after school.

This coming week is Red Ribbon Week. From October 24 to 28, schools around the nation will observe Red Ribbon Week, the largest and longest-running annual campaign dedicated to drug prevention. Beyond spreading awareness on the dangers of drug and alcohol use, Red Ribbon Week also presents an excellent opportunity to teach students about the benefits of building lifelong healthy habits, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

1. Talk About Habits - Kick off your Red Ribbon Week wellness discussions by talking to your children about what habits actually are. Many will already have an understanding of the concept, but it's good to take time to bring awareness to everyday positive habits we don't always think about, like brushing our teeth after meals, washing our hands after using the bathroom, or recycling. You can also talk about moral habits that help us be better people, like telling the truth and treating others with respect.
2. Model A Healthy Diet - Teaching children to look at food as fuel can have a huge impact on their eating habits. It's important for children to develop a healthy relationship with food early on so that they can recognize when they are hungry or full, snack responsibly, and maintain a balanced diet.
3. Focus On Staying Active - When most of us think of staying active, we usually think of going for run, hitting the gym, or getting in a daily workout. Young children don't need to work out in the same way that adults do, but it's still important for them to get plenty of exercise and activity. Children and adolescents should do one hour or more of a combination of aerobic, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening physical activity each day.
4. Teach Strategies for Self-Management - Stress comes in many forms—it can be good or bad, internal or external, sudden or gradual, or temporary or chronic. While none of your children may appear to be experiencing any kind of long-term negative stress, it's crucial to educate children on ways to identify stressors and practice stress-management skills so that they can learn how to cope with their stress in healthy, constructive ways.
5. Unplug - In a world where a computer can fit into your back pocket, is it any surprise how much time we all spend plugged in on social media, playing video games, watching videos, and listening to music? Technology is a wonderful thing, and when used appropriately, it can certainly improve children learning.

I'm looking forward to another fantastic week at Shadow. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Meris

Here at school, we have been very busy learning about courage - what it means, and why it's important! Learning happens best when it is done both at school and at home. Below are many ways that you can help you child continue to learn about the theme courage through reading about it, talking about it, and practicing it! We have really enjoyed exploring this topic at school, and I hope your family will enjoy it just as much!

Reading About It

Here are some books to help you learn more respect:

Practice It!

Together with your child, create a list of things you are afraid to try. Hang this list in a visible place, and cross the, off when you have accomplished them. Everyone in the family can have things on this list. A great way to teach children that courage knows no age!

Talk About It!

Here are some discussion points to help you talk about courage with your child:

• What do you think courage means and why is it important?
• Tell me about a time that you did something you were afraid to do. How did you feel after?
• What keeps you from being courageous sometimes?
• Is there anyway that I can help you be more courageous?
• What would you do if you knew you wouldn't fail?
• Who is the most courageous person you know?

This year, our Fall Festival and Halloween fall on different weeks. Students are asked to only dress up at school on Monday, October 31st. We wanted to give you plenty of time to ready those costumes with these guidelines in mind:

• No weapons of any kind

• No blood/gore

• Costume must be school appropriate

• No mask

• No costumes that promote the use of illegal substances or activities, or are derogatory, violent or disrespectful

On Monday, October 31st, we will be having our Halloween Costume Parade around campus. Parents that are wanting to watch, are asked to stand on the grass or dirt outside their child's classroom. Classes will be walking up and down each hallway. Parents staying in one spot will be able to see all classes come by. Once the parade is over, there will be an announcement asking all parents to please say their goodbyes and leave campus so instruction can begin. If you are taking photos, please respect others privacy and only post photos of your own child to social media.

“Día de los muertos—the Day of the Dead—is a holiday celebrated November 1 - November 2. Although marked throughout Latin America, Dia de los muertos is most strongly associated with Mexico, where the tradition originated.

Día de los muertos honors the deceased with festivals and lively celebrations. It’s a typically Latin American custom brought to the region by Spanish conquistadores.

Assured that the deceased would be insulted by mourning or sadness, Día de los muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the deceased enjoyed in life. Dia de los muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community.

The most familiar symbol of Día de los muertos may be the calacas and calaveras (skeletons and skulls), which appear everywhere during the holiday: in candied sweets, as parade masks, as dolls. Calacas and calaveras are almost always portrayed as enjoying life, often in fancy clothes and entertaining situations.

If your family would like to learn more, Old Town San Diego usually hosts an event each year at the end of October. Also- “Coco” & “The Book of Life” are both great movies for kids that pertain to this theme.

Taste of Alpine will take place on Saturday, November 5th from 9am to 3pm. Alpine's 1st Annual Taste of Alpine is a self-guided restaurant and business tour. Ticket holders will receive a 'Passport Book' the day of the event that will have a map of all the participating restaurants and businesses. You will get to pick and choose which restaurants and/or businesses you would like to visit. There is no requirement on which one to visit first, second, third etc. Participating restaurants will choose what samples of food to have that best highlights their restaurant. Ticket holders are responsible for their own transportation to and from each restaurant or business. This is a Rain or Shine event so please plan accordingly. Shadow Hills PTA is the major beneficiary of the event.

Please review and save this handbook for reference throughout the year.

• Water bottles - It is extremely important that your child brings a water bottle to school DAILY. We do have multiple water bottling filling stations on-site to refill their bottles.

If you are planning on volunteering this school year, please fill out our Volunteer Packet and return it to the Shadow Hills office.

• PTA Red Ribbon Week
• Wear your college gear

• PTA Red Ribbon Week
• Wear a red outfit
• BMX Assembly
• 1st Grade Field Trip - Sherman Heights Community Center

• PTA Red Ribbon Week
• 5th Grade Field Trip - Viejas Fire Tour

• PTA Red Ribbon Week
• 1st Grade Field Trip - Sherman Heights Community Center

11/1 - PTA Meeting

11/2 - Early Dismissal

11/9 - Hats Off To Kind People - Wear Your Favorite Hat

11/9 - AUSD Board of Trustees Meeting

11/10 - PTA Veteran's Breakfast

11/10 - Spirit Assemblies

11/11 - Veterans Day - No School

11/14 - 18 - Parent Teacher Conferences

11/21 - 25 - Fall Break

12/1 - 4th Grade Punkin' Chunkin'