message tuesday

Just one more week to go! 

Please be on the look-out for a packet we will be sending home this week for containing some helpful items important items pertaining to next year.  

Below are a couple of newly scheduled upcoming events to which you are invited!

Parent Organization interest meeting:  Tuesday, June 12 at 8:45 am - 3:30  Cost: $150
   ICA mom, Jenna Criswell,  has agreed to help form an all-new parent organization.  The purpose and goals of this group will be somewhat different from our PTO of the past.  Jenna and I are looking forward to meeting with any parents who are interested in joining a team to build community among ICA families next year.  Please join us for coffee next Tuesday in the lunchroom!

Summer Camp!  July 11-15 8:30-
Mrs. Phillips, our kindergarten teacher, will be hosting a week of Summer Camp in July for students going into grades 1-3!  The Hawaiian Hullabaloo will include activities, books, picnics, even a trip to Double Bluff.  

Yearbooks, Outdoor Movies, Graduations, Summer Camps, end of year field trips...sounds to me like summer is on the way!  Check out all the details in the informational bulletin below.  

Hot off the press:  Summer Camp with Mrs. Phillips July 9-13 - More info to come!

Two things I would like to bring your way today. 

1.  Preschool Enrollment - need your help! We are working to fill up our three year old class for next school year.  This year was very successful, and we would like to continue the program into next year.  We have scheduled an open house for that class June 5th, so would like your help spreading the word.  If you refer someone and they sign up for school this fall, you earn $100 off your September tuition!

2.  End of year schedule:  The last few weeks of school seem to approach light speed, so I would like to just give you an overview of the year-end events, some of which you are invited to attend:

June 4th:  House of Distinction field trip.  Parents of house members are welcome to join us for this fun day at the Family Fun Center in Edmonds.  I'll not yet divulge the winning house since we haven't announced the winning house to the students yet,  
June 5th: Preschool (3s) Open House 10:00 - 11:00 am.  Please reserve a spot in advance.
June 6th: half day with buses
June 11-13: JH/HS Year-End Field Trip to Portland led my Mrs. Wilmoth and Mrs. Bartel.  Some of the places they will visit include the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Powell Books, and even a submarine tour!
June 12th:  Kindergarten Graduation 6:30 pm
June 13th: Field Day Elementary students will enjoy competing in group games including kickball against the staff!  Please send an outside sack lunch this day.
June 14th Last Day of School regular start time.  Parents are welcome to join us for graduation, band presentation and Fourth Quarter Awards at 10:00 AM in the gym.  Student may be released to go home with parents immediately following.

Whew!  One more slam-bang finish!

​Brenda

**Check out our ICA Group page on Facebook for lots of class field trip pictures!  

Thank you for showing your appreciation to the teachers and staff at ICA last week!    We have an outstanding  team, and you did a wonderful job making them feel loved and appreciated!  

The next two weeks (May 21nd - June 1) we will be conducting standardized testing.  Each grade level (2nd  - 10th) takes computerized tests for two school days during that two -week period.

Below is a list of days  each grade will be testing:

Grade 2:  Monday, May 21 and one test the 23rd 
Grades 3-4:  Tuesday and Wednesday, May 22-23
Grades 5-6: Thursday and Friday, May 24-25
Grades 7-8: Tuesday and Wednesday, May 29-30
Grades 9-10: Thursday and Friday, May 31 and June 1

Students may express some anxiety about these tests at home, so I would like to give you some thoughts to share with your students in regard to the tests that may help them feel more at ease:

1.  They aren't part of the grades that go on your report card.  These tests are to show us what you have learned and how much your academic skills have improved between last year and this year.  
While it is important for students to give their very best effort, we want them to be able to relax in the understanding that we are trying to get a clear picture of how well we are helping them learn.  Our goal is to strike the balance between being overly concerned about their performance on one hand and clicking bubbles at random (which some have been known to do) on the other.2.  There may be some questions to which you do not know the answer.  If after reading the question two or three times you still don't know the correct answer, make the most logical guess with what you do know.
3.  Bring plenty of water and a book to read silently when you are done with your test.
4.  Bring non-sugary snacks, a water bottle and a healthy lumch as we will have 30 minute breaks between all tests and you will want to feed your brain with both food and oxygen (by exercising).
5.  Please, please, please be sure to get adequate sleep during your testing days as it will give you the best chance of showing what you have learned over the last year.

Thank you for helping provide optimal conditions for your student to do well on their assessments!

Sincerely,

Brenda 

Several years ago I read a book called Emotional Intelligence by Dr. Travis Bradberry.  The author makes the claim that emotional intelligence (EQ) is often more of an indicator of success in business and relationships that a person's IQ.  He defines emotional intelligence this way:"Emotional intelligence is that 'something' in each of us that is a bit intangible; it affects how we manage behavior, navigate social complexities, and make personal decisions that achieve positive results.
In a recent article also written by this author, he states, "Children learn emotional intelligence from their parents, plain and simple. As your children watch you every day, they absorb your behavior like a sponge."

At ICA we understand well that how a student learns to interact with other students on the playground is just as important as how they perform on the math test in the classroom.   This is one of the reasons I fondly refer to the recess monitors as the "character class" teachers.  The skills students learn in the lunchroom and the playground will serve them well throughout their lives if the right lesson is learned.  I'm grateful for student monitoring staff who understand these concepts and can help students navigate l their own emotions as well as those of others and respond in a way that is beneficial for all involved.

Mr. Bradberry has written an excellent short article specifically directed to parents and caregivers entitled, "Eight Powerful Ways to Mold Children into Leaders"  I hope you'll have a chance to read it in the next week or so as it will give you some potent thoughts on how to help your children develop their own EQ.

Brenda