Supporting our Students to be Good People and Friends
As many of you know, we have monthly assemblies focusing on building community. At our past two assemblies, we have been very straight forward about how to be a good friend and person. We are encouraging all students to be respectful, help each other, and use kind words. It is so easy to say, and yet so hard to do! But I do believe it is teachable, it just takes constant practice, reinforcement and repetition.
The most common example I like to use for kids to be respectful and positive is on the playground. If we think about the two-square game, how hard is it for a child to say, “Nice Game” or “Good Shot” or “My ball went out”? Well the answer is, “It is SOOO Hard!” We are really encouraging students to say these types of phrases instead of, “You’re out!” or “Do Over” or “He cheated!” As an adult, it comes much easier to appreciate a competitive game or experience and focus less on the outcome. But learning that it is about trying hard, doing your best and then saying, “Thanks for competing” is not where kids are at developmentally. So I encourage you to keep on emphasizing with your children simple phrases, like “great shot, nice try, you can do it, thanks for playing, that was fun, etc.”
It will take a lot of work and constant reminders, but we at Chabot are committed to supporting kids to become good competitors, good friends and good allies. We all are constantly learning, and losing games on the playground is one of the fastest ways to learn how to improve, and to appreciate the ability of others. We like to say that mistakes = information. I am already starting to hear kids say things like, “Nice shot” and “good game” and they are starting to really mean it.
Leadership Opportunities
I would like to once again celebrate all the kids who are active leaders at our school. We have Junior Coaches, who help to set up game areas, distribute equipment and teach games, such as four-square and two-square. These coaches are third, fourth and fifth graders who have indicated their desire and have taken the training to step up and help out other classes during recess. Our goal is that Chabot students can lead and train other students in recess and lunch-time activities ensuring as much positive structures. We want all students to have the opportunity to play and to get involved at recess. Our Junior Coaches are a big part of making this goal a reality.
We also have our Chabot Safety Patrol. This stellar group of young leaders works hard to keep pedestrian and automobile traffic running smoothly and safely every day. We owe special thanks to Karen Sternstein, Sara Jewell for keeping this program going and to Kelly Weigel for helping organize the Drop-Off Zone.
Additionally, we have our Student Council: Elections took place this week. Winners are: Nicola Schulte, President; Nathan Baker, Vice President; Lilly Baker, Secretary; Jonah Ifcher, Treasurer; Sara Silverstein, Historian.
While we encourage all students to participate in elections, our overriding goal is that all students are actively involved in the community. We have a limited number of elected spots on the student council, but we have unlimited opportunities for all students to continue participating in making our school a great place. If your child has the energy to run for office, regardless of the outcome of the election we would love to harness that energy on the student council to make a difference. Ideas for this year include: improving the school lunch and holding book drives, clothing drives and food drives to help Oakland families.
Finally, kids can show leadership every day by being an excellent student and tablemate. Every day in every class we have multiple opportunities for early finishers to teach or work with their neighbor on a concept they just learned, or to share something with a whole table group. We do learn best that which we teach, so while students are being good citizens by helping their table mates, they are actually “Locking in” the key learning concept that they just used by teaching their peer.
A Quick Perspective on the Bobcat Mural
Overall, an overwhelming majority of people I have spoken to, both children and parents, are really enjoying the mural. For me, it has been wonderful to watch the students come to learn how something of this magnitude is made – through hard work, planning and modifications. It has been one of the better teaching tools for students this year. Even this week, watching the final touches and the sky and clouds go up, I know that I have a totally new and better informed understanding of murals.
At Chabot we are incredibly lucky to have such a thriving art program. In the past couple of years, in response to parent, student and teacher feedback to make the Chabot campus “feel more like ours”, we have seen so much vibrant art come to life; the chalk boards on the side of our upper yard portables for collaborative drawings; the banners for each class designating seating in the multipurpose building; the inspiring words/phrases on the hallway walls, and the sculpted ceramic classroom names and numbers. There were several families who were still very surprised by the mural and felt that we did not do enough outreach in terms of overall communication for such a large and significant piece of art work. To that end, we will make sure we provide clear and concise communication about upcoming art works, I want to let everyone know that Spring will bring the next major art project, a wonderful Mosaic that the kids will work on and will go at the southwest corner of the multi-purpose building. The theme will be the garden, with an oak tree at the corner and every student will create at least two uniquely shaped textured tiles.
For now, I hope everyone will take a few moments with your children to appreciate the beautiful mural. Thanks again to Pancho, Ms. Hall and the amazing art committee for bringing the mural to our site!
Remember to tell your kids: learn a lot and have fun!
Jonathan Mayer, Principal
Anthony Chabot Elementary School
