Where children are known, loved, challenged and inspired for their future. Digital Citizenship Week: How Can You Help? Amy Beth Sherman, Director of Instructional Technology "Digital Natives: Our students today are all "native speakers" of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet." ~ Marc Prensky "They don't even view technology as technology — it's just how they communicate." ~ Tanya Avrith "We need to help students to be critical thinkers, with robust ethical frameworks, demonstrating excellent judgment — with resilience to endure and the capacity to reflect. We need to help them become concerned and active citizens." ~Mark Scott As Director of Instructional Technology, I find these quotes to be telling. We, as teachers, parents, and friends, each play a unique role in students' lives every day. There are no boundaries for how we help students to realize their potential for good as citizens of local and world communities. So, we must encourage sound decision making and good judgment in this digital world while fostering creative and independent use of instructional technology. How can you help your child? Become a member of Common Sense Education and support and promote Digital Citizenship Week which is October 14–18, 2019. This dedicated week gives us all an opportunity to address smart usage of technology allowing us to thrive in the digital age. What could this look like? What about a great family-dinner discussion, a device-free dinner, a mini-talk while driving your child, participation in a webinar on Digital Citizenship, or attending a parent/community talk? Here at SAES, we actively and routinely discuss positive online habits, discuss appropriate online behavior, discuss authentic websites, as well as determine and adhere to acceptable use of all technology. We are committed to helping our students thrive technologically. How can we help increase awareness with our students, faculty, and community? Take a look at the Digital Citizenship Week website, Common Sense Education #digcitweek. The website is dedicated to supporting educators, parents, and advocates in this venture. The materials provided on the website support how to help students K-12 think critically about what they see online, understand the benefits and risks of sharing information, and balance screen time with other activities. The website also breaks the activities into age groups providing support for all ages! Why not check out the Spotlight Page on our Technology Resources Website dedicated to Digital Citizenship Week where you will find great resources to help provide ideas and discussion starters? Maybe you would like to participate in the webinar just for Digital Citizenship Week titled Let's Celebrate Digital Citizenship Week: Something for Everyone? Whatever you choose, know Digital Citizenship Week's goal is to amplify student voices and to give them ownership of their digital lives. Won't you join me in this venture? Amy Beth Sherman Important Middle School Dates: No School/School Holiday - October 14 Grades 2-8 - Quaker Hymn Sing: Walk to Old St. Anne's - October 23 MS Student-Led Conferences/No Classes - October 24-25 Family Book Fair Night - October 29 Math League Meet #1 - November 5 Family Chapel: Holy Communion for All Saints - November 6 HS Admissions Event (for students) - November 7 SSAT Testing at SAES - November 16 Valerie White, Lower School Head What inspires you? Do you talk about it? Have you ever thought about sharing it with your child? Have you ever asked him/her what or who they are inspired by? I wonder what they would say? I know that I am inspired each and every day by the work of our children here at St. Anne's. I look at how they engage in their learning and connect with their peers and their teachers. I watch the way they approach tasks, some simple and some quite challenging. I observe their body language and their conversations about their work and their play. It's pretty amazing what you can learn from a simple conversation with a child. This week I saw kids solving problems, big and small, from challenging math problems to conflicts with their friends. I watched as they investigated circuits to begin programming for future robotics projects. I saw kids, inspired by master artists, create their own versions of Matisse's Les Betes de la Mer and others who were inspired by nature create a self portrait out of materials they collected while exploring the woods. I witnessed preschoolers pretending to be "first responders" as they developed their own stories while playing in the pretend fire house and third graders working together to craft stories on the Chromebooks. The break-neck speed of our daily lives often prevents us from taking time to slow down and proverbially stop to smell the roses. See what happens when you take a moment to pause and just be present. Explore what and who inspires you and then ask your child the same. I think you will find it very intriguing, and I am willing to bet, quite uplifting and heartwarming! Here are just a few snippets from my conversations with kids this week: Me: What does it mean to be inspired? First Grade Student: "It means to be fascinated with something." Me: Is there someone or something that inspires you? First Grade Student: "I am inspired by the teachers at St. Anne's because this is such a great school." Me: Can you think of someone who inspires you? Pre-K Student: "Yes, my mommy" Me: What does she inspire you to do? Pre-K Student: "She inspires me to clean my room" Me: What inspires you? Fourth Grade Student: "Music inspires me. It makes me want to be a great dancer." Important Lower School Dates: No School/School Holiday - October 14 ERB (Standardized) Testing for Grades 3-4: October 15 - 22 Walk to Old St. Anne's for Hymn Sing (Grades 2-8) - October 23 No School for Students / Parent & Teacher Conferences - October 24 - 25 Deadline for Hot Lunch Online orders for November - October 25 Book Fair Family Night - October 29 Family Chapel/Holy Communion - November 6 Vision Screening for Students in Grades K, 2, 4 and 7 - November 14 SAPA fundraiser at Chipotle - November 19 Mrs. McKelvey's Pre-K Class enjoying playing in the leaves. Good Day St. Anne's Families, This week as I continue my "firsts" at St. Anne's Episcopal School, I had a fantastic experience that grounded me and filled me with hope and joy. Every day I enjoy spending time with our students, especially in the hallway whenever possible. Whether it's chatting with the middle school students or getting on the end of the line with our littlest Herons and following them to their next destination, this week, I followed them to chapel. While this alone would make my day, the process of getting these youngsters seated and prepared is an art form and truly something to behold. Chaplain Hanna is absolutely a master teacher as she keeps this room full of over 40 students engaged with songs and important stories. On this day, she spoke about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. I was curious about how this would be explained to our youngsters in a developmentally appropriate way. Chaplain Hanna began by speaking about our Jewish friends and the importance of this holiday. We were taught and sang songs which included Hebrew and English words, and listened to a story about forgiveness. The attentiveness of our young Herons took me as they hung on each word. Forgiveness, self-reflection, and the importance of saying I'm sorry: such an essential and impactful lesson, perhaps a great conversation to be continued at home. Thank you, Chaplain Hanna, and thank you, parents and guardians, for the privilege of working with such wonderful children each day. #heronproud Regards, Barry "The world is never saved in grand gestures, but in the simple accumulation of gentle, soft, almost invisible acts of compassion every day." -Chris Abani- Heron Wear - St. Anne's Sweatshirts are Here BOOK FAIR NEEDS YOUR HELP! MARK YOUR CALENDARS! - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 29th 5-7 pm: BOOK FAIR FAMILY NIGHT
- TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19th 4-8 pm: CHIPOTLE FAMILY NIGHT!!
Monday - October 14, 2019 All day Tuesday - October 15, 2019 All day Wednesday - October 16, 2019 All day Thursday - October 17, 2019 All day Friday - October 18, 2019 All day Monday - October 21, 2019 All day Thursday - October 24, 2019 All day Friday - October 25, 2019 All day Saturday - October 26, 2019 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Sunday - October 27, 2019 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Monday - October 28, 2019 All day Weekly Chapel is now on Wednesday Morning All parents and grandparents are welcome to attend. Wednesday - October 16, 2019 8:15 AM - 10:30 AM Wednesday - October 23, 2019 8:15 AM - 9:00 AM Wednesday - October 30, 2019 8:15 AM - 10:30 AM Wednesday - November 6, 2019 8:15 AM - 9:00 AM Week of 10/15 T, 10/15 Boys Soccer Game at Kent School 4pm ED 2:15pm Depart 2:30pm Est. Return to SAES 6pm Field Hockey Game at Kent School 4pm ED 2:15pm Depart 2:30pm Est. Return to SAES 6pm XC at Tome School 4pm ED 2:25pm Depart 2:40pm Est. Return to SAES 6pm R, 10/17 Boys Soccer Game at ASPIRA at Kirkwood Soccer 4pm ED 2:50pm Depart 3:05pm Est. Return to SAES 5:30pm Field Hockey Game at ASPIRA at Kirkwood Soccer 4pm ED 2:50pm Depart 3:05pm Est. Return to SAES 5:30pm XC Practice 3:20-5pm F, 10/18 Boys Soccer Practice 3:20-5pm Field Hockey Practice 3:20-5pm XC Practice 3:20-5pm |