Noon Supervisor Substitutes Needed

Mathematics Pilot Textbook Hearing

Academic Talent Search

Friendship Coaching

Book of the Month Suggestion

Noon Supervisor Substitutes Needed
Maintaining a safe and positive playground environment plays a key role in helping students be successful in the classroom. This is particularly true for the extended lunch recess period. To assist us in providing effective supervision, we rely on parent volunteers and on paid substitutes when regularly scheduled supervisors are absent. It is extremely helpful to us to have a group of parents to call when we need substitutes. Since we sometimes have only hours to arrange for a substitute, the more parents we have who are willing to substitute, the more likely it is we can find one who is available at the time we need. If you

are interested in volunteering or in paid substitute positions in the lunch area and playground, please contact Lori at 757-5383 ext.150. Your help in this area goes a long way in promoting our school's success!

Mathematics Pilot Textbook Hearing
There will be a public meeting at Patwin Elementary School Multi-purpose Room on Thursday, Jan. 31, from 7-8:30 p.m., for the purpose of gaining public input on the mathematics textbooks that are under consideration for adoption by the Davis Joint Unified School District in May 2002.

The publishers whose texts are involved in the mathematics pilot will give brief presentations and respond to questions. All interested parents and community members are encouraged to attend. If you have questions, please contact Cynthia White at 757-5300 ext.150 in the Office of Curriculum and Instruction, Davis Joint Unified School District.

Academic Talent Search
The Academic Talent Search offers the opportunity for 6th - 9th grade students to take part in unique, challenging, and fast-paced summer classes at California State University, Sacramento. Approximately 100 classes are available as part of this program. Students wishing to attend Academic Talent Search must take the SCAT (School and Colleges Abilities Test) in the spring. Their scores will determine which classes they are qualified to take. Specific information about test dates, times, and locations will be included in the Patwin newsletter as the testing date approaches. To get more information about student qualifications, courses offered and fees, call (916) 278-7032 or e-mail ats@csus.edu.

Friendship Coaching
--Deborah Kimokeo, DJUSD Crisis Counselor
As a young child, I remember really being excited about Valentines Day. Before becoming a school psychologist, I was a teacher and, as such, I observed the heightened state of euphoria the day brought, also. Thinking about what to write this month, I was inclined toward speaking about student friendships and how we as caring adults can try to "coach" our children to be good friends and kind, not only on Valentines Day, but throughout the year as well.

Much of the research about bullying and anti-social behavior suggests that young people need coaching in social skills. We often take for granted that children automatically know how to respond, that they understand cause and effect, and that they pick up on non-verbal cues appropriately. This is not always the case.

How many times do you see children struggle with negotiating personal space? Do you wonder why a child persists in well-intentioned teasing when it is SO obvious to you that the time to stop it already is WAY over? Have you ever been embarrassed when your child was rude on the phone or simply "blew it" at a party with friends playing a simple game?

This month I urge you to look for "coaching opportunities" with your child as they interact with their friends. Perhaps debrief with them after a play session and point out some "cues" they did pick up on and praise them for that, (you stopped teasing when your friend began to frown). If there were some glaring cues they missed, gently point them out. Perhaps role-play a couple of scenarios that you can predict might come up for your child before he or she enters into them. Help them practice how to state how they feel or their preferences in polite ways. As Valentines Day approaches and many parties occur and cards are exchanged, remind your children how it might feel to be left out and encourage them to "handle" the holiday with sensitivity and kindness.

Book of the Month Suggestion
"Ordinary Resurrections: Children In the Years of Hope"
Author: Jonathan KozolCrown Publishers, 2000
Moving stories about the poor children of Mott Haven whom Jonathan Kozol helped triumph over some of life's daily oppressions with compassion and conviction

Deborah Kimokeo can be contacted at dkimokeo@djusd.k12.ca.us or at 757-5400x133 with any feedback or questions.