Gratitude

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.” ~Epicurus

I tend to think we are in a contradictory time of year right now.  We often consider November a time of gratitude and demonstrate that during Thanksgiving, but we often move very quickly (in some cases on the same day) into a time of excess rather than carrying forth with our feelings of gratitude.  The holidays are wonderful times to introduce children to gratitude and to the feeling of being satisfied with what we already have.  The pattern of wanting more and better has become quite pervasive in American society.  I hope you are able to take some time to help your children value what gifts and opportunities they have been given.  

In the Lower School we are helping students reflect on what they have to be thankful for right now.  Below you will find pictures of the school-wide “Be Thankful” bulletin board.  I enjoy reading about the thankfulness of children.  They are honest and heartfelt admissions.  If you are in the building take a moment to read a few in the hallway outside the Lower School Office.

Mr. Anderson has decorated the Lower School office with new artwork from some of our third grade students.  Third graders have a science unit on animals and Mr. Anderson connected to that by reading Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.  Students were challenged to use their animal knowledge to create a hybrid animal.  The results are on display in the Lower School office and in the pictures below.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and we are grateful you entrust your child’s education to Eagle Ridge Academy!

Mrs. Baier

Enchanting Snowfall...

“The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.  You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?”

 ~J.B. Priestley

Last week we experienced the first snowfall of the season.  I always try to see the first snowfall through the eyes of the children.  Last week, I was not thinking about the travel delays, the shoveling, and the wet dog feet I have to clean each time he goes outside.  Instead I looked at the snowfall with wonderment.  Was there going to be enough to build a snowman, could I go sledding, was there enough cushion to fall and make a real snow angel?  It certainly brought out my inner child to think that way and made the adult practicalities that go along with snow much easier to bear.  I remembered doing all of those things as a child and the specific memories associated with them made me smile to myself well into the evening.  I hope you are able to associate some fond memories to snowfall as we start this winter a wee bit early.  If not, try looking at it through the eyes of your children and you’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.   

Now for the practical winter weather things we need to address…Please make sure your child is coming to school with the proper winter weather attire each day.  Students should have their coats, hats, gloves/mittens, snow pants, boots, etc.  each and every day until spring arrives.  Students at Eagle Ridge Academy go outside for recess until the temperature or wind chill hits zero.  At that point we will have indoor recess.  We do not make the call for indoor recess until just before our first recess each day.  If the temperature warms up as time goes on earlier recesses may stay inside, while later recesses go outside.  Please make sure your child is prepared for recess each and every day.  

In conjunction with our annual Veterans Day programs, we ran poster and essay contests in the Lower School.  Mia J. (3^rd Grade) and Shreya P. (4^th grade) were the essay contest winners.  Their winning essays are noted below.  Mia read her essay at the K-2 program and Shreya read her essay at the 3-5 program.  All poster contest entries were displayed throughout the programs via a slide show.  The winning posters were from Nethra S. (1^st grade) and James W. (2^nd grade).  Pictures of the winning posters are below, as well.  We appreciate all the effort the students put into honoring our veterans on this very special day.  

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Baier

History and Sacrifice

Listen my children, and you shall hear

Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,

On the eighteenth of April, in seventy-five;

Hardly a man is now alive

Who remembers that famous day and year.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I spent the week of October 27-30^th in Boston, Massachusetts.  I was fortunate to be able to attend the ERB (Educational Records Bureau) Conference there.  The conference was a wonderful learning opportunity for me, but visiting Boston really made it a special event.  I had never been to Boston before and am still in awe of the history I was able to experience.  Walking the cobblestone streets and visiting places like the Old North Church, Paul Revere’s House and the site of the Boston Tea Party (to name a few) was really inspiring.  

I have to admit, I often take for granted what it means to be an American.  I don’t think on a regular basis about the sacrifices that have occurred over time to allow me to live the life I do today.  Walking around Boston and soaking up the history really helped me remember the patriots who gave everything they had to create our country.  It is significant to talk about this topic in preparation for Veterans Day.  While not everyone can take a trip to soak up the historical significance of our country, we probably all know a veteran who sacrificed more than we will ever be able to understand to protect the achievements of those patriots from so long ago.  Take a moment to reflect and reach out to say thank you.

Eagle Ridge Academy will be hosting our annual Veterans Day programs.  If you have time on Tuesday, November 11^th please feel to come to school to see one of our programs.  They are divided by grade level and will last between 20-25 minutes.  The times are listed on the Eagle Ridge Academy website.  

The winners of last week's Pillar Ticket drawing are below.  The students were allowed to pick a staff member that they wanted to enjoy lunch with one day.  

Kensley Mc.- Mrs. Mills

Harshada J.- Mrs. Merritt

Greta L.- Mr. Schloesser

Matthew D.- Ms. Orr

Junior O.- Mrs. Trow

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Baier