Dear Parents,
Research shows that the single greatest predictor of success in school, in relationships, and on the job is one’s emotional intelligence.
A person with high emotional intelligence is able to feel the full range of human emotions: can truly feel sad, mad, disappointment, frustration, and grief, without hurting themselves or others.
It means maintaining the developmentally appropriate level of self control.
They can express their emotions with words and utilize healthy ways to release intense emotions.
They don’t mask their emotions by abusing drugs or alcohol.
On March 8th, Peggy Kubert, the Executive Director of Erika’s Lighthouse, presented a Parent Workshop Titled, ”Building Blocks for Raising an Emotionally Healthy Child.”
The following is a synopsis with reflections of that workshop.
Children learn at their own unique pace.
Some of our children are quick learners.
They can touch the stove one time and learn that it burns and will never touch it again.
Other children may touch the stove and get burned, either literally or figuratively, over and over again, until they learn the lesson.
All children come to us with an inherent temperament that impacts the way they learn.
Practically all children will test the limits... but some of them will test a lot more than others.
As parents and teachers, our job is to set clear limits and respond consistently each time that limit is tested.
And... it WILL be tested, because that is THEIR job.
They learn by doing.
So we can explain the limits many times, but most of our children will only internalize the limits by testing them and learning the consequence.
Discipline means teaching limits.
That is very different from punishment.
What do kids with high emotional intelligence look like?
Here are some key attributes of Emotional Intelligence and how to foster them:
- These children have strong connections with others.
- They have learned to trust others and they know how to ask for help.
- These are social skills we foster in the classroom.
- Teachers can easily solve all the problems that arise, but our goal is to teach the kids to speak up and advocate for themselves.
We do this in developmentally appropriate ways.
When they are very young we may need to give them the words; as they get older we wait before we intervene.
As long as it appears they are trying to resolve things fairly, let them learn to negotiate.
They have access to their emotions and are able to tolerate even strong emotions.
To help your child get to this point, start by naming the emotion you think they are feeling, and be as specific as you can.
Avoid words like “upset” and use words like “disappointed”, “frustrated”, or “angry” instead.
In this way you are helping your child develop a “feelings” vocabulary, so they may grow to express their feelings with words.
Validate their feelings, but do not condone unacceptable behavior.
They have learned how to calm themselves.
This is a crucial life skill that children need to practice.
Start by letting them feel their emotion, and don’t be so quick to rescue them.
Teach them how to wait.
The child that does not interrupt an adult conversation will do better in school than the child that is “rewarded” for interrupting.
Remember, each child has their own unique temperament, and some kids learn not to interrupt easily while some kids take a long time and have a much harder time waiting.
Remind yourself that kids that can delay gratification in general will have an easier time in life.
They are creative problem solvers.
Again, this is a skill that comes with practice, so avoid solving all their problems.
Right now, their problems are small, but this life lesson is huge.
What else can we do to foster emotional intelligence in our children?
Hug them!
Positive touch releases very powerful and soothing endorphins.
You can never give too many hugs!
These strong feelings of security will stay with them as they grow and maneuver more difficult social situations.
Communicate well.
LISTEN attentively!
Look them in the eye.
Listening and speaking with respect helps your child develop positive self esteem.
Be consistent in your limits and routines.
That will help establish trust and self discipline.
Model compassion and thoughtfulness.
Kids learn what they live.
Teach your child to pause and take 3 deep breaths when they are upset.
Try meditation with your child.
They can learn how to calm themselves and gain mastery over their thoughts and emotions.
In conclusion, give your child the opportunity to practice and learn these important life skills.
There will be bumps in the road.
This I know.....
Among the many notes I have hanging on my refrigerator is the following:
“Our job as parents is not to protect them from all bad things but rather to teach them to face whatever life presents with an air of hope and optimism.”
With Love - Sue
The CHAIR’s Corner
By Christine Quinn
From the Oscar Benefit to Shamrocks and Leprechauns
WOW!
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to the TCNS Fundraising Committee and all of you, who showed up, donated, helped out, and gave to the silent and live auction at this year’s Trinity Benefit: A Night at the Oscars!!!
The hard work and fun paid off as we raised much-needed funds to keep all the wonderful TCNS extra class offerings going!!
Way to go everyone!!!
February ends. March appears. Spring awaits us and St. Patrick’s Day celebrates all that is Irish!
Being very Irish, I decided to dedicate the majority of this month’s column to something, well, Irish.
I was told once that I have the “gift of the gab” (not sure that was a compliment!). I’ll try to be brief!
Growing up, my family spent our vacations in Ireland to visit our relatives (my mother was born and raised there).
My sisters and I would comb the beautiful green countryside or spend hours in our grandparents backyard looking for shamrocks.
As our grandfather – in his thick Irish accent - told and retold us, “luck would be had to those who found the 4-leaf clover.”
In my shamrock finding endeavors, “I still haven’t found what I am looking for, “ as Bono from U2 says. No worries, though, as the luck of the Irish continues to bless me!
Another Irish folk tale we loved to hear was about the leprechauns. When we drove in the breathtaking country or down the narrow streets in Dublin, we kept our “eyes and ears peeled” for them.
My mom told us these “little men” could be seen darting out from the trees making mischief for all to see if only we stayed in the present moment and kept our eyes searching for them. Good fortune to those who found the leprechaun with the pot of gold! Of course, my mom was the only one who ever spotted them!
Today, my son Joe tells me that this St. Patrick’s Day the “funny little men” are going to visit McKenzie and “mess up” the classroom SmartBoard. And at TCNS, Joe says they plan to turn all the chairs upside down!
Good to hear that the leprechauns’ route this year again includes Wilmette!
I say again, because twice in the last several years, the little men swooped into our house in the middle of the night and took Joe and Veronica’s “binkies!” (They left a nice shamrock shaped bowl full of treats!).
To give you more to ponder this St. Patrick’s Day – on magic, living in the present moment, and all that is good – I leave you with some of my favorite Irish poems (and at the end, I’ll share a recipe, as promised– not necessarily healthy – but yummy Irish Soda bread!).
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
“A Lovely Irish Prayer”
Author: Anonymous
Take time to Work,
It is the Price of Success
Take time to Think,
It is the Source of Power
Take time to Play,
It is the Secret of Youth
Take time to Read,
It is the Foundation of Wisdom
Take time to be Friendly,
It is the Road to Happiness
Take time to Love and be Loved,
It is the Privilege of Gods
Take time to Share,
Life is too Short to be Selfish
Take time to Laugh,
---LAUGHTER IS THE MUSIC OF THE SOUL.
On LIFE
"It is easy to be pleasant when life flows by like a song, but the man worth while is the one who will smile when everything goes dead wrong.
For the test of the heart is trouble, and it always comes with years, and the smile that is worth the praises of earth is the smile that shines through the tears.”
Now, for something yummy to eat with your green beer or cup of tea!
Irish Soda Bread:
(This is my mother’s recipe)
5 cups of flour – brown or white
3-tspn baking powder
1 tspn baking soda
½ cup sugar
1 tspn salt (or ½ tspn)
¼ pd of butter
2 cups of buttermilk
1 egg
½ to 1 cup or raisins
(or use 2 cups of whole-wheat flour and 3 cups of white and omit egg)
Preheat oven to 450 degrees with greased iron skillet
-sift dry ingredients (except resins)
-rub butter into flour mixture
-beat egg, buttermilk in separate bowl and stir into dry ingredients
-dip hands in flour & knead dough very lightly on floured board
-shape into round cake and make a cross over the top in skillet
-cook 15 minutes then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes or more until done
-cool on rack
-to reheat, wrap in foil and heat @ 250 degrees for 20 minutes
Enjoy with a cup of tea!
A very Happy St. Patrick’s to you all – because isn’t everybody Irish!
Christine Quinn
Take Another Bow!
A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped to make our benefit a HUGE success!!!
Special thanks to our very talented ensemble cast!
Co-Chairs Dina Levine and Laurie Morton; your energy, wisdom, organization and grace are deeply admired and greatly appreciated.
Committee members; Karen Fischer, Michelle Flood, Meghan Mackinnon, Leah Bostrom and Karen Ansary; thank you for sharing your skills, talents, creativity and time!
A HUGE thank you to everyone who helped with set up and check in!
Finally, thank you to the entire Trinity community for supporting the benefit.
We could not have been successful without YOU!!!
March 14 Board Meeting
March 15 & 16 No School Parent Teacher Conferences
March 18 St Patrick’s Day Pot Luck and Irish Dancers
March 23 Board Volunteer Form Due
March 26-30 No School Spring Break
April 2 School Resumes
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES March 15&16
Parent teacher conferences are Thursday, March 15 and Friday, March 16.
There is no school or Lunch Bunch on these days.
Conference signup sheets are located in each classroom.
If you cannot come into the classroom to sign up please contact your teacher to assist you.
On conference days please park in the parking lot and enter the building via Wilmette Ave. Please do not use the classroom doors. A sign will direct you to your conference room.
Conferences are for parents only.
For your convenience, Room A downstairs will be available for children to play in with parental supervision, allowing you to swap childcare with someone else if you schedule your conferences back to back.
The teachers are looking forward to sharing their observations with you!
(There are no conferences for Parent Tot and Kindergarten Enrichment.)
Calling All Parents!!!
We know there are a lot of talented parents out there!
If you have a talent or skill or hobby that you would like to share with your child’s class, now is the time to let your teachers know!
Do you play an instrument?
Do you know magic tricks? Do you have an interesting collection?
Or… would you like to just spend some time with us and read a book to the class?
Your child will be thrilled when you share your time with their class!
We hope to hear from YOU!
REGISTRATION UPDATE
Please help us spread the word that we have a limited number of openings in the 3 Year Old Afternoon class, the 4 Year Old Afternoon class,
and Parent Tot for the 2012 – 2013.
If you know someone interested in our school please have them contact Sue or our registrar, BetsyCrosswhite
KINDERGARTEN ENRICHMENT UPDATE
Applications for fall Kindergarten Enrichment will be distributed via the cubbie express after the school district completes the lottery for am / pm kindergarten.
If you have not already registered your child for fall kindergarten please contact your local elementary school.
Mom & Tots
Betsy Segal & Kathy Stein
February has been a red hot month for the Mom and Tot class.
We love seeing the children’s smiling faces as they enter the room!
The kids have quickly discovered all the activities in the room and have enjoyed trying new things.
They are talking to each other, working together in the kitchen and sharing ideas, suggestions and stories.
Talking on the phone is a popular activity and many times we will hear conversations with pretend names and activities!
In the bike room a favorite has been tossing the ball and kicking the soccer ball. Many are quite good!
Red was the color of the month which lends itself to lots of Valentine’s Day projects.
We did lacing with foam hearts, painted our Valentine’s Day kiss with q-tips, played in red water and painted on pink paper with red and white paint.
Circle time is always special with a surprise in the sparkle bag!
Miss Wendy has been entertaining the children with her guitar.
They are singing and playing musical instruments and marching around the room.
The children love singing and always ask to “do it again”.
Ms. Kathy, and myself feel very fortunate to be able to spend our Mondays with your sweet children!
Ready-TWO-Grow
Betsy Segal & Kathy Stein
February was all about love in the Ready Two Grow class!
We discussed Valentine’s Day and explained that it is the holiday where we tell everyone important to us how much we love him or her.
The “hug” holiday!
We learned two cute Valentine’s Day songs. The children took bubble wrap hearts and painted them with rollers then stamped it on paper for a cool heart which we hung in the room.
They made “kisses” for their sweeties.
We laced foam hearts.
We read some really sweet Valentine’s books, “Roses are Pink Your Feet Really Stink” was a huge hit along with “Lilly’s Chocolate Heart.”
We also continued dictation, asking the kids about our families who we all love!
The children told the entire class many great things about their families!
I love the one child who just flat out said,
“I am so precious!”
She is correct; all of your children are precious to us!
It is so much fun to watch the children become more confident in the room and move out of their comfort zone to explore and try new things.
They are really playing together in the house and calling each other by pretend names.
Taking baby to the store and going in the car!
They have wonderful imaginations.
The play dough table is always active as they are creating their own art work out of play dough.
The puppets are coming out more and more as the children love creating a world of make believe with them!
During rug time, the children are learning to recognize their name and the sounds the letters make.
We have added the line ender job and that is equally as impressive as the line leader!
We are really enjoying your children and look forward to March 15, when we can sit down with you and discuss your child in greater detail during parent-teacher conferences!
Looking forward to seeing you then.
Miss Betsy & Miss Kathy
News from the TERRIFIC THREE’s
Byrd Rhyne, Sue Gaertner, Luanne Hampton, & Laurie James
Our classes are immersed in one of our favorite units; Nutrition, or as we call it – Food That Makes Your Body Grow.
We started by learning about Always Foods and Sometimes Foods.
Then we explored each food group in detail.
On Dairy Day we milked a cow!!
(Vinyl gloves filled with water hanging from the drying rack with pin pricks in the fingertips. Squeeze and ail for the bucket below!)
On Vegetable Day we made a garden salad and on Fruit Day we made a fruit salad.
The kids LOVE all the slicing and dicing (and eating!) that accompanies this unit.
On Bread Day we’ll be sampling breads from around the world.
Our Nutrition unit will culminate with two FUN activities.
The first is Pizza Day, when each child get’s to wear their very own chef hat and make their own personal pizza!
We will follow Pizza Day with a whimsical trip to the Trinity Restaurant!
Each child will order from a menu, and the choice will be foods from all the food groups.
They will have money to pay their check and they must figure out how much to pay.
Learning never tasted so good!
We’ll all be a little bit Irish on Wednesday. March 14th as we solve the clues a leprechaun left for us and follow the shamrocks until we find the special prizes!
Wearing green is encouraged that day.
Your children are wonderfully attentive at circle time and soaking up our lessons.
They can recognize many letters from our work with the helper chart.
They are unlocking the secret that letters make sounds...
(EX: Let’s all make the N sound that you her in Nora.... Nnnnnn..... Nnnnnn... Nora.)
They are really getting it!
Miss Wendy and Mrs. Dashiell days are extra special!
It’s so wonderful to see them dancing and twirling their partners, or watch them do-si-do when they square dance.
However, the best part is watching them LAUGH as they get movin’ and shakin’!
We look forward to sharing our observations with you at conference time!
Byrd, Luanne, Laurie & Sue
News from the FABULOUS FOUR’s
Happy Baird, Ginny Lezama & Luanne Hampton
We felt the “centers” we do every Thursday were a success, but didn’t realize how much of one until the other day during free play.
I overheard Keenan say to Neil,
“Let’s set up centers. One will be checkers”.
Then they invited Connor and Ben to join them.
Of course Neil’s thoughtful nature came through and he added,
“We’ll go easy on you!”
Yes, the centers have been a huge success – learning through play with number, letter games, and sequencing cards for telling stories with a beginning, middle and an end.
The children love wearing letter vests and learning beginning and ending sounds.
Let’s not forget the block and Lego area and the house center and how they contribute greatly to math, imagination and cooperation skills.
The interest in math and letters varies with each child.
Math and reading skills are necessary, but first and foremost are the social skills which are essential for Kindergarten and the rest of life.
Before Spring break we will explore outer space as we learn about the planets and how they orbit the sun.
After the break, Trinity will be transformed into Trinity Art Institute.
We discuss the lives and styles of van Gogh, Monet, Picasso and Matisse, and attempt to paint still life, impressionist, and abstract paintings.
We’ll use color cut outs as Matisse did when he was older and became too ill to stand at an easel and paint.
In late April, you will be invited to tour the Trinity Art Institute and the children act as docents and discuss their masterpieces with you.
Thank you to Addie’s mom, Jake’s dad, and Kate’s mom for reading for their child’s birthday.
Also, it was fun to meet Ethan’s dog, Lucy, on his special day.
Ben had a play date with Iris (his crush) one day.
After the play date, while walking to the car, Mom overheard Ben say
“Wow that was some shirt Iris was wearing!”
Thanks, Felicity, for sharing.
I love this job! One more reason for not having car drop off!
Happy Baird, Ginny Lezama and Luanne Hampton
KINDERGARTEN Enrichment
Valerie Dashiell, Joyce Ladin, & Byrd Rhyne
From the Desk of Miss Byrd
Hello KE Families!!
We have been having a blast in our KE class!
I love the curiosity and imagination this group has!
They play so nicely and flexibly together!
I really enjoy our conversations over lunch as well.
They make me laugh!
“Q” Week!
What do you do with “Q”??
Well we wrote questions that had to be answered by all of their classmates!
We made copies for all and bound them into books!
Hopefully they shared them after bringing them home!
There are some great questions!
“R” week brought Reading, Rocks, Rats and Rock n Roll!!
We spent some extra time talking about reading and how it makes us feel and we did some extra reading time!
We talked about rocks and how they’re formed.
Each child broke open their own geode!! They were each a bit different!
On Friday I brought my daughter’s pet rat, Crumbs, to school.
Now before you say – Yuck! Rats are clean and smart!
He is a great pet!
The kids loved watching him run around eat crackers!
We also talked about rock and roll and I brought my Ipod in to listen to some samples!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful kiddos!
Byrd
From the Desk of Mrs. Dashiell
In March, our KE class blasted through “O,” “P,” “Q” and “R,” and traveled through time and space, peering into the universe through the Hubble telescope. It is a truly magical universe. Hydrogen gas and dust create gorgeous, colorful nebulae that create stars.
Speaking of stars, did you know that you and your children are made of the same essential elements?
We observed constellations and determined if the stars were blue or red.
Ask your star-gazers which stars are hotter or cooler.
The children drew and sparkled with red, blue and silver glitter, many constellations including Andromeda, Perseus, Casseopia, Canus Major, Canus Minor, and Southern Cross among many others.
We ended our unit with story dictation about an imaginative constellation that each child would like to be.
In science, we learned about polymers, which are a bunch of molecules that stretch and did an experiment to make balloon kabobs.
We are excited about our travels around the globe at the end of March and in April.
We first went to the Galapagos Islands with Jamie and his mom, Amy. Their presentation with pictures (some drawn by Jamie in his journal) and video of sea lions and boobies was fascinating!
Thank you very much, Amy and Jamie.
Our class will travel to France, Germany, Israel, Scotland and Russia in April.
Bon voyage to all our families on their trips – real or imaginative.
Mrs. Ladin and I continue to soar beyond the sky and universe with your stars.
