Roller Skating Perseverance...

 

What does it mean to persevere?  The easy answer is to simply “not give up.”  As you know one of our pillars at Eagle Ridge Academy is perseverance.  On our website we define perseverance as: endure through hardships, focus, don’t give up, and accomplish goals.  We tell students perseverance in action is to: do your best, don’t get discouraged, get extra help if you need it, and ask questions. Many of the people we all admire are those who have stories of perseverance.  

Perseverance is something I don’t often see taught at other schools.  It is natural for all of us to want to rescue children when they are frustrated, but that does not help them learn perseverance or tenacity.  It is easier to start teaching perseverance at a younger age when there are appropriate safety nets in place if a child does fail.  The lesson learned from sticking something out no matter the end result is invaluable in the life of a child.  We try to instill this at Eagle Ridge Academy and truly appreciate all of the parental support in making this happen.  Some way we can work together in this are to:

1.       Praise effort when your child does not give up on something.

2.       In the lower school it is very helpful to emphasize effort. 

3.       Give examples of people who have persevered to make something happen to make connections for your child.

4.       Share or model your own examples or efforts in perseverance.

5.       Make sure you praise the effort rather than the end result and don’t give false praise to make students feel better.

On Thursday evening I saw perseverance in action at the Roller Garden Party.  Students who had never roller skated before were out on the floor figuring out how to make it happen.  They were up and down, but they certainly kept going.  The encouragement given by friends and adults was truly heartwarming.    Thanks to Merry Jo Orr and all of our wonderful PTO volunteers for making the event happen.  Here are some pictures from the party.

This week is Spirit Week at Eagle Ridge Academy.  Here is the list of special days for the week.

ERA Winter Spirit Week – January 22 – 25This week is K-12 Winter Spirit Week! Each day students may either wear their uniform to school OR they can wear what is assigned for the day of the week. *Jeans or uniform bottoms may be worn each day. No leggings, sweatpants or pajama pants. No Hats.

Monday – Jan. 21 – No School (MLK Day & The Presidential Inauguration & Parade)
Tuesday – Jan. 22 – Patriotic Day – Wear Red, White & Blue (in honor of the Presidential Inauguration on Monday -MLK day.)
Wednesday – Jan. 23 – Class Color Day
Teachers & Staff – Pink
Grade 12 – Black
Grade 11 – Red
Grade 10 – Yellow
Grade 9 – Brown
Grade 8 – Blue

Grade 7 – Green
Grade 6 – Orange

Grade 5 – Purple
Grade 4 – Blue
Grade 3 – Green
Grade 2 – Orange
Grade 1 – Red
K – All the crazy colors you can wear!
Thursday – Jan. 24 – College Wear Day
Friday – Jan. 25 – Spirit Wear Day    

The annual Gala for Our Pillars is scheduled for Saturday, February 23^rd at Olympic Hills in Eden Prairie.  Tickets for the Gala are on sale.  Please check out the PTO website for more information: www.EagleRidgeAcademyPTO.org.  The PTO is also currently looking for donations for the event auctions.  The ERA PTO is a 501(c)3 non-profit, which ensures your donation is tax deductible.  You may contact them by email: EagleRidgeAcademyGala@gmail.com.  You may also contact Ann Watanabe, Auction Chair, at 952-300-7482 or Erin Davies at 612-702-5410, should you have questions or to arrange a pick-up of a donation. 

The next Lower School Parent Coffee is on Thursday, January 31^st at 8:00 in the main conference room (space permitting).  Please join us for coffee and conversation.

Have a great week!

Mrs. Baier

Snowy Days

“Snow provokes responses that reach right back to childhood.”
Andy Goldsworthy

Snow is one of those childhood pleasures we often forget to enjoy as adults.  I challenge you to try to take some time to enjoy the snow with your children as opposed to seeing it as the nuisance it can become when we try to do the simple things in life (like commuting or getting the mail).  I did not grow up in an area with much snow in the winter and have enjoyed learning to appreciate it over the past ten years in Minnesota.  Here are a couple of websites with some fun winter activities you can enjoy with your children.

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/snow-activities.htm

http://www.parents.com/fun/activities/outdoor/snow-activities-kids/#page=1

Speaking of snow…many of our hallways are decorated with snowmen.  Please check out the pictures below of some snowmen created by various grade levels.

If you need to stay inside during this cold snap and are looking for something fun to do, please consider coming to the Lower School Roller Garden Party on Thursday, January 17^th.  The pertinent information is below.

Where: Roller Garden, 5622 West Lake Street, St. Louis Park (map)

When: January 17^th from 6-8pm

Who: ALL students K-5, their families, Teachers and their families.

Cost: $4 per student

A big Thank you to the PTO for sponsoring this fun event!

The following email was sent to all fourth grade families last week.

Dear Fourth Grade Families,

As you know Mr. Sacha Muller is leaving Eagle Ridge Academy at the end of the semester to spend more time with his family.  We are sad to have him leave, but have been working diligently to fill his position through the end of the school year.  At last night’s school board meeting the board approved the hiring of Kelsey Lindemeier as the long-term substitute teacher from January 22^nd-June 7^th.  Ms. Lindemeier has been the maternity leave sub for both Mrs. MacNevin and Mrs. Madigan this year in fourth grade.  She is well-versed in the fourth grade curriculum and procedures and knows the students very well.  We are happy to have her on board in fourth grade for the remainder of the school year.

Ms. Lindemeier was hired this year as a building substitute teacher at ERA.  Last year she was a special education paraprofessional at Eagle Ridge Academy.  She will finish the year in 4^th grade.

It is the last week of the first semester.  There is, of course, quite a bit of assessment going on this week for report cards.  Infinite Campus will be shut down at the end of the day on Monday (January 14^th), so teachers can begin entering grades and comments.  It will be reopened for parent access by the end of the day on Wednesday, January 23^rd.  

On January 20^th there is a benefit for the Norlander Family.  Please consider coming to support the family.  If you would like more information or are unable to attend and would like to donate, go to www.sharlafamily.org

Where: Biaggi’s Eden Prairie Mall

When: January 20, 2013 4:30-8:00

Cost: $12 for adults, $7 for children (10 and under)

Notes/Reminders

• Please make sure your students have warm winter clothes and boots for recess each day.
•  There is no school on Friday, January 18^th or Monday, January 21^st.  There is TEL available all day on both days.  Please go to the TEL website to register by Wednesday, January 16^th.  https://sites.google.com/site/theeagleslair/

Have a wonderful week!

Mrs. Baier

Welcome Back

One kind word can warm three winter months. ~Japanese Proverb

Welcome to 2013!  It is a new year and with each year comes hopes, promises, and aspirations for the future.  I hope everyone had a wonderful winter break and is ready to start anew!

Thank you to all of the parent volunteers for organizing and facilitating delightful winter parties on the last day of school before break.  I know they were appreciated by students and teachers alike.  I visited each party and was impressed by the activities the students were doing.  Students were having fun in a structured, well-mannered way and this is greatly appreciated! Below are a few pictures from some of the parties.

We also had multiple groups of Latin Carolers singing to us in the Lower School office.  They did each did a rousing rendition of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer in Latin, of course.  Here are a couple of group pictures.

As you know, we are at a time of year when weather may prevent us from partaking in outdoor recess each day.  The PTO recess committee has been kind enough to create indoor recess carts that can be used on those days when we must stay inside due to temperature or other weather events.  Thank you to Ann Watanabe, Caroline Nelson, and Krystel Barber for spearheading this effort.  I know each family received a flyer prior to break describing the project and asking for any donations you may have.  They do not need to necessarily be new games. If you have unused board games around the house taking up space you might consider doing a bit of winter purging and send them to the Lower School office.  We will make sure they are put to good use.

If anyone has any old picture dictionaries your student has outgrown, we would love to have it at school.  I am putting together a group of picture dictionaries to be used with students who are still English Language Learners.  Just drop them off in the Lower School Office.

Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. Baier