by Lisa Clark and Chrysanthius Lathan
One of the things that makes Sabin excellent is our diversity. We teach our children to welcome and celebrate differences, and that helps us build our students into more caring and inclusive humans.We want our students to value and respect people of all races, we want our students to appreciate and accept people with different orientations, we want our students to befriend and include people with different backgrounds and ethnicities, and we want out students to understand and hold grace for those who experience neurological differences.
Children with neurological differences do not always show up the same way that a neurotypical child might show up. Sometimes these children struggle with language and communication, they are rigid in their beliefs, sometimes they have a hard time managing their emotions, and sometimes their behaviors can be unexpected or inappropriate. All children want to behave, they want to be included, they want to do the right thing. This is just more difficult for some.
These challenges are sometimes called invisible disabilities. We never really know what another person is experiencing inside. A child might be processing trauma, or might have a developmental delay, or a communication disorder that makes it difficult for them to understand social cues. These factors might make the child come off as rude or having “behavior problems,” but in reality, these children are just working twice as hard as their peers to navigate a system that they have very little control over.
Behavior is communication. If you see a child struggling with behavior, it is because they are trying to communicate a need that isn’t being met. These children deserve our love, guidance and support, rather than scorn. Here are some guidelines to help students learn from these behaviors while also keeping safe:
Model positive social behavior by saying hello, and holding conversations with students when they are calm.
If a student is heightened, it is best to not engage.
Look for the adult with a school badge, that is within proximity of the student.
If you happen to be the adult that is around, say, before or after school on the playground, use as few words as possible, but don’t be afraid to establish norms. “You should use kind words,” or “That behavior is not safe” is plenty.
Talk to your children to help them understand that we all come with different learning needs that school can help with, both academically and socially, and that everyone has a place at Sabin. Help them understand how all of our lives are enriched by diversities of all kinds, including neurodiversity.
Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could teach every Sabin student to be compassionate when they see their peers struggle? To stop and ask themselves how they can be supportive in a difficult situation? It is important that all of our children grow up learning about these differences, because the real world will be full of people who may have difficulty communicating or regulating their emotions and behavior. We want Sabin students to grow up knowing how to treat people with love and respect despite their differences, as well as how to set healthy boundaries and protect themselves from unsafe situations. Ableism (discrimination against those with different physical or cognitive abilities) is a subtle yet harmful way of harming others who are already dealing with too much.
Never doubt that ALL students belong at Sabin! State law states that every child has the right to a free and appropriate education. Human decency states that every child deserves to make friends and be included. Sabin will continue to practice inclusion and welcome ALL of our students.
Sabin's Online Bid-off
Volunteers are starting to organize this year's online bid-off to raise critical dollars for fall staffing positions at our school. If you have ideas for bid-off items (such as gift cards, business donations, homemade items, gourmet baskets etc.) please fill out this bid-off form. To help with planning or help reach out to local businesses for donations, please email sabinptapresident@gmail.com.
Mt. Readmore update
Sabin readers earned a donut day (well, a 96.5% donut day) for reading 96,500 minutes during the Mt. Readmore Read-a-Thon! Thanks to you, we also raised $9,000+ to support our library, literacy, and academic interventions next year. Wow—great job readers!
Upload Yearbook photos
You can submit photos of students, staff and school activities at this google drive link.
It was great to see to everyone who attended the PTA meeting this week! Next one is March 15 at 7 pm in person.
Thanks for all you do,
Jenny D., Eliz R. and the PTA board
The Game of Nim
This ancient game is said to have originated in China from the game Jian Shi Zi, or “picking stones.” However evidence shows that similar games were played in Africa, the Middle East and South America.
Nim is a two player game of logic and strategy. Set 10 markers up in two rows of 5 (stones, coins, lego mini figs, anything will do). On a player's turn they must take one or two markers. The player who takes the last marker wins.
Questions to Ask...Things to Consider
Is this game fair regardless of who goes first?
How many markers do you need your opponent to leave you to ensure that you will win?
What is your strategy?
How would your strategy change if you could pick 1,2, OR 3 markers?
How would the game change if there were more or less markers to start?
Try it with 16 markers. How does it change?
Does it matter if there are an odd or even number of markers to start?
Welcome to the Wellness Wing! We are here to support you and your family with a variety of things including: mental health, parenting, in school support with academics, behavior, emotions, and community resources/supports etc.
You can contact us by calling the school or emailing us directly. We look forward to hearing your questions, thoughts, ideas, and feedback.
We are here for you :)
Erika Moller - School Counselor emoller1@pps.net
Janessa Willie - School Social Worker jwillie@pps.net
Wellness Tip:
Parent Tip of the Month:
Talk About Your Feelings. It’s normal to have a wide range of emotions. Try telling your kid/s how you’re feeling.
Take a Digital Break. This is a challenge for us all, as we are all so connected digitally. Try to take 1 hour, for 1 evening without being plugged in.
Value Your Rest. We all talk about how much rest our kids need. Make sure you are getting the rest you need for yourself.
Student Tip of the Month:
Establish a bedtime routine. Younger students may need help from their parents; however, every kid can think of one routine thing to do before bed. This helps with calming yourself. A routine could be brushing your teeth, washing your face, reading a short book.
Take a digital break. Try turning off your phone or any device for 1 hour for 1 evening and see how it feels.
Attendance:
Tips For Getting Out Of The Door
Supporting LGBTQ+ Students:
Gender Affirming Care Resources
Supporting LGBTQ2SIA+ Students in Oregon
Parenting Resources:
-provides parent-to-parent peer support and provides a community for listening, learning and supporting adults in caring for children and teens
Thanks to Dennis Dove, the Kids Junk Orchestra organization, Arts funding and PTA, our students got to experience a week long residency followed by an assembly featuring some of Portland's many talented musicians and dancers, including our own Sabin students past and present. We hope you will enjoy the video highlights below.
2/22/23 BBPAC meeting @ 6pm
2/23/23 IB Assembly
2/23/23 Grade 5 field trip to Black History Month Assembly
2/24/23 Grade 3 field trip to OMSI
2/28/23 Fire Drill
2/28/23 Black Excellence Symposium @ 5:30pm: dinner provided
3/1/23 Mrs. Simonsen's class trip to Benson lake to release trout
3/2/23 Kindergarten Connect #1 @5pm: Auditorium
3/3/23 Principal Coffee @ 8:45am: Family Resource Center
3/9/23 Class Picture Day
3/13/23 SES parent night @ 6pm
