Welcome back to school for the 2020-2021 school year! We are so excited for all of our students and the wonderful things they will learn this school year. This year is looking very different than previous years, but it has still been a great start! We miss having our students in the building with us everyday. We are longing for the day when it is safe for us to return to in person learning together!

This school year has started a little differently than we all hoped with written packets for three weeks. We distributed chromebooks three weeks ago and hotspots as they have arrived. We know that learning at home is a challenge for students, parents, and teachers. During times like this, maintaining frequent, open communication is of the utmost importance. Read on below for some at home learning tips:

*Choose a designated place for schoolwork, whether it's at a desk or a seat at the kitchen table. Try to make it different from where your kids have personal time. For example, if your kids work at the kitchen table, have them choose one chair for school time and a different chair for meals.

*Keep materials (such as pencil sharpeners, pencils, paper, account log in and password information, headphones, computer and charger) nearby for easy access so your child doesn't have to repeatedly get up and get distracted.

*Have a basket to put all of these materials in so cleanup and set up is quick.

*Reduce distractions by keeping the television and music off. Limit conversations with others while your child is working.

*Set and follow a regular schedule for your child's school day at home. If at all possible, students should attend live classes online and complete assignments daily. Breaks are built in to the schedule. Use them to get your kids up and active so that they can focus more during lessons.

*Don't allow your child to stay in bed for lessons.

*Get your child up early enough to eat before live lessons. It is very distracting to see others eating while trying to focus. Eat at the scheduled break times so that students are ready to get back on schedule when we do return to at school learning.

*Keep a positive attitude. Your child can sense your feelings and you are their greatest influence. If you are positive about at home learning, they will be. If you are negative about at home learning, they will be, too. At home learning is not easy for most, but we are "all in the same boat" right now.

*Develop a reward system if needed.

*Find ways to connect with your child and their learning. Discuss it with them. Find videos on Youtube to add to their learning and watch them together. Find related books and read them to your child.

*Take a break from screen time by finding a good book to read together. This will also encourage your child's love of reading and stories.

*Have patience! (This is a huge shift for your child as well as for you. Remember to take time just for yourself so you can be the best you can be for your child!)

*Pay attention to what your child is doing, but don't hover or interfere with class. When your child is struggling, don't just jump in and give them the answer. Part of educational growth is allowing your child to struggle and work things out on their own. Giving a child the answer does not mean they are learning. Sometimes the best way to learn is to give them plenty of time to process the information.

*Don't skip out on specials. These are areas like music or guidance class that students look forward to and enjoy participating in. Please remember that specials' classes will also be graded on the report card and that students should be attending specials' classes and completing assignments for them as well.

*Encourage your child to ask questions! They learn by thinking. Also, for most teachers, we are learning as we go, too, so there may be something that we just don't realize is a problem.

Brain Breaks are short periods of time that will help students re-energize, refocus, and give their brains a much-needed boost. Get the kids up, moving and dancing. Dance with them and you'll both feel better! Here are some fun ones that kids love:

Clap It Out

Shake Break

Move and Freeze

Pizza Man

Tooty Ta

A, B, C, Cho Cho Soul

Banana, Banana, Meatball.

Pop See Ko

We recommend the whole site GoNoodle.com

Social-emotional skills are skills that young people and adults need to be successful in life. These critical skills are necessary for students to build strong relationships, understand their strengths and weakness, develop confidence, make good decisions and handle tricky social situations. With students being at home, it is difficult to build these essential skills. Some ways to build on these skills are listed below:

• Talk about Managing Emotions

Talk with your child about their emotions and help them learn positive self talk. For example, you can say, "If you are feeling nervous about your quiz today, remember to use positive self talk. Tell yourself, I've got this!"

• Give Responsibilities

Kids who have responsibilities and jobs have a higher sense of self-worth and importance. It also sends the message that it is not someone else's job to clean up after you and that we all have responsibilities in the greater world.

• Practice Mindfulness and Self-Calming

Teach your children self calming activities when they are angry. This will help them learn to regulate their own emotions and not be so reactive. Maybe it is to trace a figure eight on the table while taking deep breaths. Learning to slow down and take one thing at a time will help children remain calm in stressful situations. We can all use some practice with these techniques in these stressful times.

Our goal is for every child to reach their greatest potential. To do this it takes hard work and perseverance on every one's part. It is very important that parents and teachers work together as a team. This teamwork takes communication. If you ever have a question or concern, please contact your child's teacher to discuss your concerns. Many times communication heads off issues before they have a chance to become serious problems.

October 8-9, 2020. Early Dismissal at 12:30pm Due to Parent Conferences

October 13, 2020. Virtual Science Fair Parent Workshop - Online at 6 pm

October 19, 2020. School Improvement Team Meeting at 3 pm

October 22, 2020. Early Dismissal at 12:30 pm

• Mr. Garlock has had 6 consecutive days where 90% of his students have attended live class! Way to go students!
• Mrs. Rogers reports that she has almost 100% attendance every day.
• Mrs. Jones-Ramey says her kids are having fun learning Letterland Friends and actions.
• Mrs. Vincent says she is enjoying learning to use Bitmoji for positive behavior.
• Mrs. Paynter is quite impressed with the emails students have been sending her since they learned to use GMail in media class - especially from her 2nd grade students.
• Mr. Vega says he is glad to see more students joining in his live Spanish lessons!

Email: veswebmaster@warrenk12nc.org
Website: http://www.warrenk12nc.org/o/vaughan
Location: 2936 US Highway 158 East, Macon, NC, USA
Phone: 252-257-6802
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VaughanPTA/
Twitter: @vaughanesnc