Dear Middle School Families,
Welcome to the 2009-2010 school year!
This has been a very busy summer. Schedules are done, books ordered, and the teachers are preparing for their classes. I always find this time of the year very exciting as we make the final preparation for the new school year. It is a time of new beginnings and anything is possible. It is a time we can renew our hopes and dreams.
The summer is always a time spent preparing for the new school year and new students but this year we were also preparing for the move to the new building. It is exciting to have the permanent building, hallways and lockers again. But always remember Holy Cross is more than brick and mortar it is a family.
According to the National Middle School Association, family involvement is one key to student success.
Home and family are an important part of the learning environment.
The National Middle School Association recommends five actions that families can take to support students:
1. Establish a daily family routine. This includes providing time, space and materials needed for studying. Young adolescents should be assigned regular household tasks to help develop responsibility. Good health habits are also an important part of the home with the proper balance of rest and sleep, good nutrition, and a good breakfast before going to school. Hungry students aren't strong learners in the classroom.
2. Model the value of learning and hard work. Reading at home and engaging in other learning activities demonstrate to students that parents see education as an important part of everyone's life. Some families designate a specific time when everyone reads. Parents can also encourage open discussions with young adolescents on issues of the day or decisions regarding their lives. When parents encourage frank discussions, they demonstrate that they respect their youngster's opinions.
3. Monitor out-of-school activities. It's important for youngsters this age to have rules, but those rules should be discussed with the child so that he or she understands why they are in place. Parents should also guide the use of leisure time so that it is constructive. This includes time with friends, after school activities and television or relaxation time. There's room for all these items, but they should be balanced. It's also important for parents to reward success and apply sanctions in a consistent manner so that young adolescents will understand that hard work is appreciated and there are limits to what they may do.
4. Encourage your child's overall development and progress in school. When parents express an interest in their child's school work, it shows that parents value what students are achieving in their education. But this means more than simply asking "What did you do in school today?" Encourage your child to explain projects and other work. Attend appropriate school events, and stay in touch with your child's teachers.
5. Encourage reading, writing and discussing among all family members. Education should not be seen as an activity in which only the child is involved. Parents can relate everyday experiences to what is happening in the classroom. Families should discuss current events, evaluate television programming they watch together, and plan local family trips together that have educational value. Writing together, whether it's something as simple as grocery lists or more formal such as letters or diaries, demonstrates the value of writing.
I look forward to working with you and the faculty to ensure your son’s success both now and in the future. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns. Remember you are a member of the Holy Cross family and we work together for a common goal and mission.
Teresa Billings
Middle School Principal
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