January Newsletter 2014 Principal Notes from Dr. Lewton I would like to wish a Happy New Year to you and your family from Hagen Junior High School. Winter Clothing Brrrrr! As winter settles in I would like to remind parents to make sure students are properly dressed for the weather. Students do go outside for 23 minutes at lunch every day to get fresh air and exercise. Students need to be appropriately dressed for the weather. Students will go outside if the temperature and/or wind chill is above -10 F. When the temperature drops below -10 F students will be in the gymnasium. North Dakota Common Core State Standards Like many Americans, many of our educators have had the chance to travel to some different places in our great country. We certainly expect things to be different around the country. From weather to clothing styles and customs, things are not the same from one state to the next. But one thing that must be the same regardless of which state we live in is a quality education for our children. As an educator and parent, the Common Core State Standards has provided us a clear understanding of what our children are expected to learn at each grade level, K-12, regardless of the state where the job takes our family (with the exception of a notable few). That the Standards are evidence-based and developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators and experts gives me confidence that our students will graduate fully prepared for college. Over 60 North Dakota educational leaders & teachers helped write the standards, so we’ve been a part of this since the beginning. We’ve been teaching by standards-based education for decades. In fact, the Common Core State Standards are VERY closely aligned to the standards we’ve been using for years. What this has done, however, is provided a venue to rejuvenate our efforts, increase our communication, and ensure the success of our students. Unfortunately, like so many other issues, the Common Core State Standards are surrounded by myths. When misrepresented the incredible value that the Standards provide to parents wanting to be fully engaged in their children's education makes the myths all the more dangerous and could represent a huge loss to our education system in America. We ask that you please look at the information below that outlines the true facts around the Common Core State Standards and please call us with your questions and/or concerns before making rash decisions, repeating things that may not be true, or spending any part of your day feeling unsure that the direction our schools are taking for the betterment of your son or daughter is off track on the basis of these college and career ready standards. Thank you for your concern in your student’s success. We encourage you to take a look at the information on DPI’s website that helps with understanding the standards. Other resources include the Department of Public Instruction’s Common Core webpage
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Transcript
January
Newsletter
2014
Principal Notes from Dr. Lewton
I would like to wish a Happy New Year to you and your family from Hagen Junior High School.
Winter Clothing
Brrrrr! As winter settles in I would like to remind parents to make sure students are properly dressed for the
weather. Students do go outside for 23 minutes at lunch every day to get fresh air and exercise. Students need to
be appropriately dressed for the weather. Students will go outside if the temperature and/or wind chill is above
-10 F. When the temperature drops below -10 F students will be in the gymnasium.
North Dakota Common Core State Standards
Like many Americans, many of our educators have had the chance to travel to some different places in our great country.
We certainly expect things to be different around the country. From weather to clothing styles and customs, things are not
the same from one state to the next. But one thing that must be the same regardless of which state we live in is a quality
education for our children.
As an educator and parent, the Common Core State Standards has provided us a clear understanding of what our children
are expected to learn at each grade level, K-12, regardless of the state where the job takes our family (with the exception
of a notable few). That the Standards are evidence-based and developed in collaboration with teachers, school
administrators and experts gives me confidence that our students will graduate fully prepared for college. Over 60 North
Dakota educational leaders & teachers helped write the standards, so we’ve been a part of this since the beginning.
We’ve been teaching by standards-based education for decades. In fact, the Common Core State Standards are VERY
closely aligned to the standards we’ve been using for years. What this has done, however, is provided a venue to
rejuvenate our efforts, increase our communication, and ensure the success of our students.
Unfortunately, like so many other issues, the Common Core State Standards are surrounded by myths. When
misrepresented the incredible value that the Standards provide to parents wanting to be fully engaged in their children's
education makes the myths all the more dangerous and could represent a huge loss to our education system in America.
We ask that you please look at the information below that outlines the true facts around the Common Core State Standards
and please call us with your questions and/or concerns before making rash decisions, repeating things that may not be
true, or spending any part of your day feeling unsure that the direction our schools are taking for the betterment of your
son or daughter is off track on the basis of these college and career ready standards. Thank you for your concern in your
student’s success.
We encourage you to take a look at the information on DPI’s website that helps with understanding the standards. Other
resources include the Department of Public Instruction’s Common Core webpage
(http://www.dpi.state.nd.us/standard/common_core.shtm), which includes a particularly helpful 3-minute video
(http://vimeo.com/51933492). Other helpful websites include the National PTA
(http://www.pta.org/advocacy/content2.cfm?ItemNumber=3008&navItemNumber=557) site and the Common Core State
Thanks again for your concern and advocacy for our students!
Absences
There have been an increasing number of absences and tardies. I understand we are into the flu season and we
don’t want sick kids at school. Learning is difficult to do, however, when students are not in school. Please
schedule appointments, vacation, and other items around the school day if possible. The more your children are
in school the more successful they will be in the future.
Please remember to call in any of your student’s absences. If we do not receive justification for the absence they
are marked as an unexcused absence.
Early out February 5th
This is just another reminder that on February 5th
we will have an early out. If your child has late and missing
assignments or is failing a class, professionals will be at school to assist your child in getting caught up, re-
teaching, or organizing their work. This will be mandatory and students will be informed two days before of
their required attendance. Please help us in teaching responsibility to our youth by reminding them of the
importance of homework.
Thank You,
Marcus Lewton
BackPack Program
The Dickinson BackPack Program is a food program which provides school age children with some extra food
on weekends and during school breaks. The food in the back pack is easy to prepare food, snacks and
beverages that will sustain one child over a weekend. Dickinson Public Schools has expressed that they would
like their schools to benefit from this program. If your child(ren) could benefit from the BackPack Program,
please come into your child’s school office, and complete the form giving your approval for your child to
participate in the program. At this time we are gathering numbers of students and will contact families when
the program officially starts.
Kindergarten Registration The dates of Kindergarten Registration for the SY14-15 will be Monday, February 3, 2014 through Friday, February 7, 2014 at the Central Administration Office from 7:30am-4:30pm. This will take place in the west side of the board room.
Counselor’s Corner
Internet Safety
Recently, Officer Travis Leintz was invited to be a guest speaker for one day in our Social Studies Classrooms
to discuss the topic of internet safety. We thought this was an important topic to cover with the upcoming
Winter Break meaning that students will have more time to be on the internet.
Officer Leintz talked to students about the dangers of talking with strangers online and various other items to
help students remain safe. Some helpful tips he offered were:
Do not go into “chat rooms” because you never know the intentions of strangers who are talking
with you.
Do not add facebook friends that you don’t know in real life.
SnapChat allows complete strangers to send anyone any photo, anytime, anywhere and is not
monitored and difficult to trace if something inappropriate is sent to you. It is best to avoid this
phone application from a safety/legal standpoint.
Do not send nude or inappropriate pictures (sexting) to ANYONE. After you send it to one
person you no longer control who it is distributed to from there.
If you receive an inappropriate text or picture, do not pass it on. Share it with an adult you trust.
We are very grateful that Officer Leintz carved out some time to talk with our students. If you are interested in
more facts or resources to keep your student safe online, please check out http://www.fbi.gov/stats-
services/publications/parent-guide/parent-guide.
Important Announcements:
! School Resumes, January 2
! Student Council Soup Kitchen, January 9
! Hagen Dance, January 10, 7:00 pm – 9:30 pm
! End of Quarter 2 – January 10
! Geography Bee – January 15 – 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
! MathCounts School Competition – January 17
! No School – January 20
! All-State Choir in Grand Forks – January 31 & February 1
How your child spends his time in class can make a big difference in how much he learns and what grades he gets. Share these practical ways for getting the most out of each class.
Be readyYour tween should
walk into class pre-pared. If his English class will be discussing a novel, he’ll be able to join in only if he has done the assigned reading. And if he has a rehearsal in band, he will need to practice the night before and bring his instrument to school.
Stay alertShare strategies your middle grader can
use to keep his mind from wandering. For instance, as the teacher talks, he could follow along in his book by putting his finger under each step of a math problem or each line of a poem. He can also use different techniques to stay focused as he takes notes. If his teacher says she will list
Get to know teachers For many middle schoolers, a new year means some dif-
ferent classes and new teachers. Stay in the loop from the beginning by asking your child about her classes, attending parent nights or a second-semester back-to-school night, and emailing teachers to introduce yourself.
Prevent shoplifting Unfortunately, some children start to shoplift in the tween years when they begin shopping with friends rather than their parents. Discuss this seri-ous issue with your middle grader. Make sure he understands that shop-lifting is a crime and that stores may call police and press charges—even for a youngster.
Great debate Does your child tend to argue with your opinions? Here’s the good news: You can use the opportunity to improve her critical thinking. Say she disagrees with you about whether a movie should be rated PG-13. Ask her to back up her opinion with three facts, and tell her you’ll do the same. Then, pick a time for your “debate.”
Worth quoting“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” Seneca
Just for fun
Q: Which weighs more — a pound of feathers or a pound of rocks?
A: Neither. Each weighs a pound!
Make the most of class time
On target in 2014
“three factors,” your middle grader could write “1, 2, 3” in a column and fill in the items as she talks. That way, it will be clear if he missed one.
Learn with classmatesStudents can serve as great teachers
for each other. Encourage your tween to listen carefully to peers’ questions during discussions — there may be some he hasn’t thought of. Or if his lab partner doesn’t understand a science experiment, your child could explain it. They’ll both learn more by discussing the experiment and dividing up the work.
Having goals can keep your middle schooler moti-vated. Encourage her to pick resolutions that she’ll keep with these suggestions.
■ Choose carefully. Your tween could set a goal for each area of her life, such as academic (start long-term projects early), social (avoid gossip), and personal (save allowance). Or she might name a reso-lution for each class, such as memorizing formulas in math or spending more time studying Spanish verbs.
■ Get advice. Encourage your middle grader to talk to people she respects about how they keep their resolutions. She might ask relatives, neighbors, teachers, or coaches about goals that they set now or when they were her age.
could offer a solu-tion by saying, “One idea might be…” or “Sometimes it works to…”
You say: “I can’t believe you did that.”
Your child may hear: “You’re so dumb.”
If your middle schooler makes a mistake or gets into
trouble, she is probably feeling bad about herself already. Try to hold back criticism, or she may shut down. Instead, you might start by asking, “Can you explain what happened?” Together, talk about ways she can learn from the mistake or make a better decision next time.
Building a vocabulary Hearing and using new words fre-
quently can make them a permanent part of your child’s vocabulary. Try these ideas for helping him learn new words.
Play. Use words from his text-books in fam-ily games. Have your tween write each word on a separate index card. For example, if he’s studying sound and light in science, you could play Pictionary with words like wavelength and prism or act out frequency and reflection in a game of charades. Or players could earn an extra point per let-ter for using one of the words in Scrabble.
Search. When your middle grader comes across a new word in a novel, suggest that he jot it down. Then, he can be on the lookout for the word in magazines and newspapers. He can also listen for it in conversations, on TV, and on the radio — he’ll learn to understand the word in a variety of contexts.
Better ways to talk to tweens
“You don’t understand me!” When you talk with your middle grader, do you ever feel like you say one thing and she hears another? Help prevent miscommunication with these tips.
You say: “Here’s what you should do.”Your child may hear: “You can’t handle this by yourself.”
Your tween may be more open to your advice if you present it as a suggestion. When she’s dealing with a problem (a dis-agreement with a friend, a grade she feels is unfair), start by listening and trying to understand her feelings. Then, you
For my dad’s 70th birthday last month, our
daughter Lisa had a great idea. She sug-gested making a video about the year he was born to surprise him with at the party.
She started by getting old almanacs from a used bookstore and searching websites for facts about that year. For instance, she found that in 1943, a postage stamp cost 3 cents, construction on the Pentagon was
Think for yourself My son wants to join the robotics club,
but his friends are telling him it’s not cool. How should he handle this?
Friends’ opinions matter a lot to middle grad-
ers. It’s not always easy to go against the crowd, but
this is a good opportunity for your child to practice thinking for himself.
Encourage him to keep an upbeat attitude, since his friends may tease him if he
gets upset. He could respond by smiling, shrugging, and changing the subject. Or
he might simply tell them, “Robotics is a lot of fun. You should try it.”
If his friends see they can’t bother him, they’ll probably back off. You can also
point out that if he joins the club, he’ll meet new friends who enjoy robotics as
much as he does.
Year in reviewcompleted, the New York Yankees won the World Series, and the musical Okla-homa! opened. When she finished her research, we videotaped her pretending to be a newscaster from that year.
Her grandfather loved the video, and afterward, he talked to Lisa more about life in the 1940s and 1950s. Now she seems more inter-ested in studying his-tory since she knows someone who remem-bers the events she’s learning about!
™Healthy Ideas for Middle and High School Students January 2014
USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
The start of a new year is a great time to talk about healthy eating habits with your child. If you’re wondering how to begin the conversation, consider these common questions from tweens and teens.
“Will skipping meals help me eat less?”
Missing meals actually tends to make you eat more during the rest of the day. When you skip a meal, the next time you eat you’ll be hungrier, which can lead to overeating and choos-ing unhealthy foods. Even on the busiest days, carve out time for a healthy break-fast, lunch, and dinner, whether you eat at home or on the go.
“Should I eat fewer carbs?”It’s the type of carbohydrates (or
carbs) that you need to think about, not nixing them altogether. Processed carbs like white bread or white rice have the nutrients stripped out of them. But whole grains or carbs like fruits, vegeta-bles, and beans should be part of any healthy diet. Tip: When eating out, ask
Workout-ready Having all her workout
gear in one place can make it easier for your teen to exercise. Encourage her to pack a bag with everything she needs, such as sneakers, socks, a water bottle, a headband, and her community center ID. Then, she could keep the bag by the door so it’s ready when she is!
Blotting pizza Here’s a quick way to cut fat and calories from pizza. Just blot the top with a nap-kin or paper towel to soak up the grease.
With this simple trick, your child will skim 20–50 calories from each slice. Tip: Encourage him to cut even more calories by opting for thin crust rather than thick.
Sugar-free gum can help protect your children’s
teeth. As they chew, the extra saliva washes away bacteria that could lead to cavities. Bonus: Chewing gum is also a good way to avoid extra snack-ing. After a meal, suggest that they chew sugarless gum instead of reach-ing for cookies or chips.
Just for fun
Q: What did the egg say to the frying pan?
A: “You crack me up!”
Team sports: A win-win Team sports are not only a route to fitness, they’re
also a path to good character. Here are two reasons.
1. Practices and games teach patience. Your child will have to wait her turn during drills or to get into the game. Then, she’ll need to wait for team-mates to pass the ball or for the right opportunity to score.
2. Playing on a team can help your youngster focus on others beside herself. To succeed, she has to listen to her coach and cooperate with teammates. Plus, she’ll have to make decisions for the good of the team, such as skip-ping an outing with friends because her team is counting on her to be at practice.
Did You Know?
Nutrition Q&A FASTTAKES
for brown rice or whole-wheat bread or pasta — more and more restaurants are offering these options now.
“Should I take vitamins?”Teens may think taking vitamins
will ensure they get the nutrients they need. But really the best source is a well-balanced diet that includes whole grains, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. Idea: Eat fruits and vegetables in every color each week. The different colors signify different nutrients, so if you eat them all, you’ll be getting a good variety of vitamins and minerals.
O U R P U R P O S ETo provide busy parents with practical ways to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity for their children.
Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated
128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630540-636-4280 • [email protected]
www.rfeonline.comTeen Food & Fitness™ is reviewed by a registered dietitian. Consult a physician before beginning any major change in diet or exercise.
ISSN 1935-8865
January 2014 • Page 2Teen Food & Fitness™
Move salads from side dish to entree with these hearty rec-ipes that are perfect in the wintertime.
Buffalo chickenStir together 3 cups cooked, shred-
ded chicken with 1 cup fat-free blue cheese dressing and 1–2 tsp. hot sauce. Add 1 cup chopped celery and 1–2 cup crumbled reduced-fat blue cheese. Serve over lettuce.
Italian mixWhisk together 1–2 cup vinegar, 2 tsp.
lemon juice, 1 tsp. dried Italian herbs, and 1 tbsp. olive oil. Drizzle over romaine lettuce. Top with cannellini
Winter salads
Take control. If your teen is pre-diabetic (where blood sugar level is higher than normal) or has Type 2 diabetes, discuss ways to keep blood sugar within a normal range. A dieti-
tian can provide a nutri-tious eating plan, and
exercising regularly will help, too. Note: If pills or insulin shots are prescribed, work out the best ways to make sure she takes them as needed.
Get support. Talking with other teens who have Type 2 diabe-tes can provide important support. To find a support group, your teen might ask her school nurse, check with a local hos-pital or clinic, or search diabetes.org.
Handling diabetes Skyrocketing obesity rates have brought a
rise in young people at risk for — or already diagnosed with — Type 2 diabetes. The good news, though, is that there are ways to lower your child’s chances of developing this dis-ease or to control it if she has it. This guidance can help.
Cut the risk. Staying at a healthy body weight and exercising regularly are the best protections against Type 2 diabetes. Check with your youngster’s doctor about her weight, and get advice for a safe weight-loss plan if needed. Also, try to make sure your teen is physically active at least an hour a day.
Post-exercise stretches
Suggest that your teen stretch after exercise to keep his muscles from getting sore. Here are two stretches to try.
1. Wall stretch. Stand facing a wall. Raise your right arm out to your side, and place it on the wall, fingers pointed away from you. Turn your body to the opposite direction of your outstretched arm until you feel a gentle pull. Hold 30 seconds. Repeat with the other arm.
2. Butterfl y stretch. Start in a seated position and bring your feet together, soles touching, while your knees are bent to the sides. Place your hands on your feet and gently try to bring your chest toward your feet (be careful to bend at your waist, not your back). Hold for 15–30 seconds.
Using “new” foods My daughter Mollie men-
tioned she wanted to try some healthy foods that she had been hearing about from friends and on food blogs. I’m all for eating new foods, but I wasn’t sure where to start with chia seeds, farro, quinoa, kale, and other ones she listed.
I suggested we pick one to sample each month. That way, we would have time to look up recipes and try the food in different ways. Plus, I didn’t want to buy a whole cart full of food we might not eat! First, we tried chia seeds, mixing them into yogurt and oatmeal. Next, we experimented with kale, putting it in smoothies, roasting it, and using it in salads in place of lettuce.
Mollie really liked the foods we made with chia seeds, and though she wasn’t a big fan of raw kale, she loved kale chips. We’re both excited to try other new-to-us foods. Next up is almond milk!
In theK tchen
ACTIVITYCORNER
beans (drained from 16-oz. can), shred-ded low-fat mozzarella cheese, bell pep-per strips, and turkey pepperoni slices.
Asian beefCombine 1–4 cup low-sodium teriyaki
with 11–2 pounds lean beef (cut into strips). Marinate 15 minutes. Heat 1 tbsp. oil in a skillet, and saute beef until cooked through. Toss beef with a 6-oz. bag spinach and 1–2 cup grated carrots.
Meatballs and Gravy Tacos in a Bag Cavatini Corndog ChickenNO SCHOOL Mashed Potatoes Cheese Romaine Lettuce Salad Baked Beans
Glazed Carrots Fresh Fruit Choice Garlic Toast Mac and CheeseFresh Fruit Choice Romaine Lettuce Fresh Fruit Choice Fresh Fruit ChoiceMilk Tomatoes Cold Peas Baby Carrots
Black Beans, Salsa Milk YogurtMilk Sherbet Milk
27 28 29 30 31BKFST: Cereal, Toast BKFST: Ham Egg Cheese Biscuit BKFST: Cereal, Toast BKFST: Yogurt BKFST: Cereal, ToastCheese Pizza Smoked Turkey Sandwich Bean and Cheese Burritos Hot Hamburger with Gravy Spaghetti with Meatballs
Breadsticks Romaine Lettuce Fresh Fruit Choice Mashed Potatoes Garlic Toast
Marinara Sauce Baby Carrots Romaine Lettuce Dinner Roll CornFresh Fruit Choice Fresh Fruit Choice Tomatoes, Salsa Broccoli Fresh Fruit ChoiceCauliflower Baked Beans Rice Grape Tomatoes Romaine Lettuce Salad
Milk Milk Peas Fresh Fruit Choice MilkOatmeal Cookie Milk Milk