Back to school tips

With the school year just around the corner, we will be posting some tips for students, parents, and teachers over the next few weeks.

Today's tip is from kidsource.com:

Back to school time often means changes for children and families: the first day of kindergarten or first grade; new preschools or child care settings; new classrooms and new teachers. Making smooth transitions between home, programs and schools can help children feel good about themselves and teach them to trust other adults and children. Helping children adapt to new situations can ease parents’ minds and give them a chance to become involved in their children's education. Transitions are exciting opportunities for children to learn and grow. Parents and early childhood professionals share a role in making chil-dren feel safe and secure as they move to new educational settings. Of course, such milestones in children's lives can cause anxiety, too. Strengthening the ties between programs and families will help create smooth transitions for adults and children both. How parents can help: Be enthusiastic about the upcoming change. If you are excited and confident, your child will be, too. Prepare yourself. Take note of how your child reacts to separation. If possible, visit the new setting with your child. Introduce your child to the new teacher or early childhood professional in advance. Arrange a playdate with another child from the program, preferably one-on-one, so that your child will see a familiar face when she walks in. Start daily routines that will add to continuity. Let your child become involved with packing lunch or laying out clothes. Also, begin an earlier bedtime several weeks before. Put aside extra time, particularly on the first day, for chatting and commuting together. But remember not to prolong the good-bye. If the child whines or clings, staying will only make it harder. Always say good-bye to your child. Be firm, but friendly about separating. Never ridicule a child for crying. Instead, make supportive statements like, "it's hard to say good-bye." At the end of the work day, put aside your concerns and focus on being a parent. How teachers or early childhood professionals can help: Make sure activities are developmentally appropriate for children. Interesting and challenging, but doable, activities will help children feel comfortable in their new setting. Make an effort to get to know each individual child as quickly as possible. Parents can provide information about children's likes, dislikes, and special interests. Welcome suggestions from families, particularly those of children with special needs. Parents can offer specific suggestions they have found useful for their own child, and advise on classroom set-up and modifications. Hold an orientation for children and parents. Small groups will make it easier for children to get to know each other. Show children around the new school or program, introducing them to other adults who are there to help them become acclimated. Create partnerships between pre-schools and elementary schools in the community. Meetings may focus on the sharing of ideas and concerns. Set up an area for photos of parents and family members that children may "visit" throughout the day. Also include items that reflect the cultural experience of all children to help promote a sense of mutual respect and understanding. Children, just like adults, need time to adjust to new people and situations. Experience can make transition a bit easier, but even with experience, change can still be stressful. Patience and understanding on the part of parents and teachers or caregivers will help children learn how to approach new situations with confidence -- a skill that will help them make successful transitions all through life. For a free copy of NAEYC'S brochure, So Many Good-Byes, send a SASE to NAEYC, 1509 16th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20036-1426. Specify box #573. Credits Copyright © 1996 by National Association for the Education of Young Children.

School Board minutes

Is there any explanation why the most updated minutes on the district website are from the 5/26 business meeting?

Potpourri for 8/8-8/14

Ponder this...

The actions and behavior of Marly Mihok. Below are some example of what she had done and or said over the past few years.

Oct 2008- Attended a PSBA conference with Dr. Yonson. Dr. Yonson's expenses were $199. Mihoks expenses were $315. She has never explained the $116 difference.

-June 2008- voted to cut Dr. Yonson's contract from 5 years to 3 years.

-July 2008-In an email to Board president Bill Hellmann, said she would "never never, ever be responsible for any child because she is a school board member.

December 2008- is quoted as saying “This problem goes back years and years,” said board member Marlys Mihok, blaming the previous board for not putting money into renovations.One must remember she was a member of a previous board.

March 2009-Voted in favor of putting grades 4-12 under one roof. If you remember she ran on a platform against this very thing.

June 2009- Marlys voted to hire a "communications director" for up to $25k per year, while someone volunterred to do the job for free.

August 2009- Marlys voted against hiring an additional teacher for Kindergarten when it was desperatly needed.

-June 2010 Spearheaded a vote to strip Color Guard coach Donna Wilson's stipend by 75%

2007-2010- Marlys has voted to reduce the number of para-professionals in the schools, which has had a negative effect on test scores.

Upon taking her seat on the board in 2007, Marlys knew that M.R. Reiter was unsafe, and did NOTHING about it.

Marlys has also served as judge of elections while serving on the school board, a big "no no"

Marlys is also wrapped up in the process to sell M.R. Reiter for open space money. Did we mention that she also serves on the board of Summerseat?In the words of the late Irv Homer: "It's a land grab!"

During the time Marlys has served on the board, student enrollment has gone down.

During the time Marlys has served on the board test scores have gone down.

During the time Marlys has served on the board, she has cast a vote to raid, notice we didn't say borrow, from the district savings account to balance the budget.

Since the M.R. Reiter explosion and public hearing, as a board member, Marlys has never answered the questions from the public that were submitted at the hearing. By law the board is requried to answer these questions.We are now at 553 days and counting.

In summary Marlys has used her position on the school board as a bully pulpit to pursue an agenda of all those who disagree with her and her cronies on the School board.

Share your re-registration experience here

Feel free to share your re-registration experience here, whether it's good, bad, or indifferent.

Potpourri for 8/1-8/7

Too much info requested....

Re-registration require for school

By: STAFF REPORTS
Bucks County Courier Times
All students enrolled in the Morrisville School District must re-register in August to verify residency. Exempted are students who registered after July 1 and kindergarten children.

Students enrolled in grades one through 12 can re-register at the following times: 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., from Aug. 3 through Aug. 5 and from Aug. 10 through 12, in the LGI Room, Morrisville High School, on West Palmer St.

Parents or guardians must bring proof of identity and residency. ID proof can include: a Pennsylvania-issued I.D. card, Pennsylvania driver's license, passport or military I.D. Proof of residency can include: a home agreement of sale, moving permit, current cable or other utility bill, property tax bill, paid tax receipt, W-2, IRS statement or tax return or auto or homeowner's/tenant insurance statement.

For information and registration forms , visit www.mv.org. For questions, contact the main office at 215-736-2681.