Hello Hardy families,
On Monday, teachers were engaged in professional development as part of our district wide Professional Day. As part of this we heard from keynote speaker Mike Mattos, who shared about multi-tiered systems of support to help all students to meet learning standards and achieve at high levels.
Literacy Coffee
On Thursday morning from 8:30-9:30 AM, we’ll be hosting a literacy coffee in the library. Jennifer Friedman, PreK-5 department head for literacy, and Nina Kahn, Hardy literacy specialist, will be sharing about literacy in the Wellesley Public Schools. Come ready to learn about literacy!
CASEL update
During the months of November and December, we are focused on the CASEL competency of Self-Management. We are defining self-management as the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations. This includes managing stress, controlling impulses, motivating oneself, and setting and working toward achieving personal and academic goals. At our all-school assembly this Friday, the third grade students will be sharing information about self-management. In classrooms teachers will be sharing books about self-management and leading students in discussion about this competency.
At home, parents are encouraged to reinforce this competency in the following ways:
*Games help cultivate executive functioning skills, as well as support the growth of the skills identified through CASEL such as self-management and social awareness.
Play games together as a family. Encourage your children to follow the rules of the game and practice managing feelings around disappointment in the outcome. Losing in a game is okay!
*Practice identifying feelings and discuss breathing strategies to use to help manage them. (Five finger breathing is a tool many students will recognize)
*Talk about individual or family goals for the week and the steps each family member will take to achieve them.
Food Drive
Wellesley High School student members of Project 351 are running a food drive at Hardy School in aid of the Wellesley Food Pantry, now until Dec. 9. They are doing this drive at all the schools across Wellesley. They are particularly in need of sardines in oil or water, canned chicken, Dinty Moore Beef Stew, canned salmon and canned tuna, but all food items are welcome. There is a donation box at the Hardy Road entrance as well as in the main office. Please consider supporting this worthy cause during the holiday season when food pantries are even more vital to the community.
Attention Third Grade Parents
Hardy and Hunnewell third grade parents are invited to our next All School Assembly this upcoming Friday, December 9th. This will begin at 8:45 AM in the gym.
Special Thanks
Thanks to the PTO for providing a delicious lunch for the staff as part of the Professional Development Day this past Monday. We are appreciative of your ongoing support!
Have a great week!
Respectfully yours,
Grant Smith
Principal