SOUPER BOWL of CARING

Dear JES family and friends,

February is a month dedicated to some pretty incredible people who were brave enough to make a difference in a peaceful way - Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Presidents both past and present. So it’s the perfect time to introduce the value of Peace—proving you care more about each other than winning an argument. Promoting peace through kindness is the basis of what we have implemented over the last few years with our Rachel’s Challenge initiative. Our students continue to promote peace by the practice of school wide acts of kindness. Those little acts of kindness – a smile, a thank you, a helping hand, an invitation to sit by me or come play with us – make a big difference.

What is the challenge? Rachel Scott was a student who showed compassion to everyone especially new students, students with differences, and alienated students. She once wrote that she believed that one’s kindness could start a chain reaction that would lead to more of the same and that it would have no end. Rachel’s challenge is to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion. Students have the power to make permanent, positive, cultural change in their schools and communities by accepting this simple challenge. For more information for new parents or a refresher for all, you can visit the Rachel’s Challenge website http://www.rachelschallenge.org/.

Thank you to all who sent in snowflakes for the children at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Snowflakes from JES were sent to help decorate their new school building in a beautiful, peaceful blanket of kind wishes.

This week at JES, Tuesday, January 29^th – Friday, February 1^st, we will be participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring by collecting currently needed items for the food pantry at GRACE (Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange). They have requested sugar and flour in #4 bags, salt and pepper, oatmeal, cooking oil, mayonnaise and ketchup, Ramen noodles, kids cereal, canned meat, tomato sauce and paste, shampoo and conditioner and toothpaste. No glass containers, please. Send the donated item to school with your child. There will be collection boxes at front entrances. For the complete wish list visit their website at: http://www.gracegrapevine.org/documents/PantryNeedsList-1-13.pdf 

As always, if I can assist you in any way, please email or call.

Kindest  regards,

Ziba Johnston

Counselor
817 949 4500

Elizabeth.Johnston@southlakecarroll.edu

SNOWFLAKE PROJECT for Sandy Hook Elementary

Snowflake Project

 Many parents and a few students have asked about some way of expressing encouragement, kindness and compassion to the Sandy Hook Elementary School students and staff who are returning to classes following the tragedy at their Newtown, CT school. Since we are not addressing the incident at our school due to sensitivity of our young students, we will not be participating in any group project during the school hours. However, the faculty and staff at JES will have an opportunity to make snowflakes to send. If you would like to make a snowflake at home with your child and send it to school to be mailed, please send it with you child or drop it off at the school office by 3PM on Wednesday, January 9^th. If you prefer, you can mail it directly to the address below:

This month our character value is
DETERMINATION: Deciding it's worth it to finish what you've started. Also you can remind your children of the values we've talked about this school year – RESPECT, INDIVIDUALITY, COOPERATION, and COMPASSION.

Here's a great way to reference the values  and help the children of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown.

When school resumes for Sandy Hook, it will be in a new building. Parent-volunteers are working to ensure that the students are welcomed back by a winter wonderland with the entire school decorated with as
many unique snowflakes as possible.

Snowflakes to arrive in CT by January 15th can be sent to:
Bonny Marsicano
22 Pine Tree Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470

Kindest regards for a Happy 2013!

Ziba Johnston
Elizabeth.Johnston@southlakecarroll.edu