Summer Newsletter 2019From the Desk of Mr. Kenney……Once again, the year has flown by. We say farewell to our 5th grade students who are moving on to Clinton Middle School, and we prepare for our incoming kindergarten class. My how time moves quickly!Please support your student’s growth by expecting her/him to read daily. We introduced a summer reading program through the Lumberkings and Clinton Rotary that is fun, easy, and provides incentives! The Clinton Public Library has done a phenomenal job of repurposing their kid-friendly activities. While they continue to promote reading, it is done so with a heavy technology influence. Let’s face it-that’s what kids love!I also hope you will get our kids outside to play and away from the TV and video gaming as much as possible. “Free play” is critical to a child’s brain development. Playing outside is good for the brain and body! This is perhaps one of the biggest concerns we have for our kids. I love that kids are involved in so much-sports, fine arts, scouts, etc. They are all great and I say KEEP GOING! However, the simple act of playing outside or even inside on bad weather days is good for the body and good for the brain!We also say goodbye to Cindy Cramer, a phenomenal 3rd grade teacher who is going to be dearly missed by our students and staff. Cindy, who is a Clinton resident, plans to enjoy her grandkids, family, various hobbies, and we hope one day she may return to our school by being a guest teacher!Whittier will have new faces next year. Hannah Hansen will join us as a third grade teacher. Hannah currently teaches at Bluff Elementary. We will also have a mental health therapist Monday through Thursday next year. We have not yet hired that person, but we are excited about providing supports to any child who is in need!I’m sure I will see many of you around Clinton this summer-make it a great one!!

Mr. Kenney

C O U N S E L O R ’S

O

RKarla Unke, School Counselor

Tips for Summer Socializing

(Adapted from Great Schools, May 2019 – greatschools.org)

kunke@clintonia.org 563.243.0474 ext. 1002

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Whatever summer break looks like for your child, the time away from regular routine offers a chance for your child to boost a vital set of skills – making and keeping strong friendships.

Kids don’t just come “pre-wired” knowing how to make friends. Making and keeping good friends is a skill that can and needs to be taught. Strong social skills include having empathy, showing an interest in others, initiating play or a conversation, giving and receiving compliments, and taking turns. While these skills are taught specifically in my Guidance classes, as well as in the classroom and on the playground, Summer is the perfect time to practice skills and build confidence in the process — all of which will help when they return to school in the Fall.

Here are some simple steps to build on your kids’ friendship skills:

1. Define a Good Friend: Don’t assume your children know what being a good friend entails. Talk about sharing, trading, taking turns, including others, and showing an interest in others. Then link these actions to helping others feel good, which in turn makes others want to spend time with your child. Ask your kids how they feel when someone doesn’t share with them or leaves them out. By explaining how other children feel the same way, this will help them also develop empathy.

2. Mingle with Others: The more your children interact with others, the better they’ll get at it. Even if your family is planning to stay home this summer, make sure your kids get out to places where they’ll meet other kids — the playground, the public pool, and children’s hour at the library. If they’re going to camp or taking classes, encourage them to talk to new kids and try to make friends.

3. Start Small: If your kids are especially shy, make a plan to help them get comfortable making new friends. Set small, daily goals — the first step might be to encourage them to smile and greet one or two new people. Once they’ve mastered this, have them add a conversation starter (such as a question about the other person’s day or a compliment).

4. Role Play: Since most social skills are learned by watching and imitating others, parents can role-play the kinds of social situations that make your children uncomfortable or nervous. You both might feel silly acting it out, but it gives your children a safe place to practice. Try several possible responses so that they understand there can be many outcomes to any interaction. If your children want to confront a friend who hurt their feelings, for instance, role-play an encounter where the other child apologizes, and another where the child becomes defensive and angry. Talk about what the next step should be in each situation.

5. Focus on the positive: When you see your children making a kind gesture, be sure to praise them for it. “That was nice of you to give Joe another turn after he dropped the ball. That’s being a good friend.

Along with telling your children what makes a good friend — it’s also important to talk about what will stop a friendship in its tracks. Teach them not to brag, put others down, be a sore loser, or dominate conversations. If you hear them doing any of these things, gently remind them that a good friend doesn’t do that. Also ask your children how they think their friend responded: “How do you think they felt about that? Does

she/he look happy?” It’s important for kids to understand the role they play in their interactions with others.

In preparation for the 2019-2020 school year, we are asking parents to log in to your parent portal account to review and update your student and family information. Once you are logged in to the portal, the instructions will be listed under District Announcements on the main page.

Summer Hours: As of right now, regular summer office hours are 6:45 am – 3:15 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 – 12:00 on Friday, but we are also involved in training and meetings and we do get some vacation time. If you need to come in, please call ahead (243-3230) to be sure someone will be in the building when you get here. If you get our voicemail please leave a message and we will return your call as soon as possible when we return. School starts again on Friday, Aug. 23.

School Hours for 2019-2020 – Next year school hours will be: 7:45-2:45 with dismissal on Wednesday at 12:45.

**Please notify the office if you are moving over the summer.**

It is the policy of the Clinton Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact the district’s Equity Coordinators:

Wes Golden Dave BloomEquity Co-Chair Equity Co-Chair

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The end of the school year is fast approaching!  If your child has medication at school (prescription or over the counter), it needs to be picked up no later than Friday June 7 at 3 pm.  After this date, all medications will be discarded!  It is the district’s policy not to leave medication in the building when school is not in session. 

Thank you for your understanding.  If you have any questions, please feel free to give me a call at 243-3230 or email mherrig@clintonia.org.

Sincerely,

Nurse Megan

Summer Reading Program at

Clinton Public Library…..https://youtu.be/VkA_V79Msl0

563 243-9600 x50 563 243-9600 x26wgolden@clintonia.org dboom@clintonia.org

FYI: Last week of school schedule June 4th make up day for January 23rd B Day, Even week for

Art-Wednesday

June 5th makeup day for January 25th B day, Even week for Art-Friday

June 6th makeup day for January 29th B day, Odd week for Art-Tuesday

June 7th makeup day for January 30th A day, Odd Week for Art-Wednesday **Last day will be early out at 12:45 p.m.**

SUMMER PROGRAM Join us for lunch this summer! We will be serving lunch at Bluff and Jefferson, starting June 10, 2019.

Federal funds allow us to provide these lunches at qualifying locations for children ages 2 – 18 at no charge Monday through Friday. Adults