Lower School Newsletter from Wade Putnal   

January 11, 2018

Spirit Week is next week – Jan 16-19th!!  Elementary has its own special dress-down days Tuesday-Friday to celebrate our school spirit! (This is different from middle and high school)

* ALL American USA- Tuesday (red, white, blue) Jeans ok.

* Wacky~Wild Patterns- Wednesday (tops and bottoms)

* Neat-o Neon- Thursday – Jeans ok.

* Super Spirit VIKING Day- Friday (FPD wear) Jeans ok.

Community Service Outreach NEXT WEEK – All of elementary is encouraged to send in school supplies (notebooks, glue sticks, crayons, markers, 3 ring binders, notebook paper, EXPO markers, pens etc.) for Campus Clubs, a local mentoring and tutoring program for at-risk children in our community. Supplies collected Tues., Jan. 16-Thurs. Jan 18.

PREVIEW DAY for Prospective Families: Please invite your friends and family to tour our school on Sunday, January 28th, 3-5 pm, beginning in the Clark Fine Arts lobby. Prospective students (Rising 3K to 12^th grade) and families are invited! If you know someone we should contact, email: admissions@fpdmacon.org

FPD Center for Discovery spring class registration is happening! Don’t miss out!

NEW CLASSES for elementary ages: Engineering Adventures K-5, The Carpenter Shop K-2, CHESS for 2-6, Elementary Cross Country 3-5, Garden to Table Cookies 2-5, Theater Workshop PK- 5^th, Music lessons for all ages, Princess Ballet 3K-K, Robotics 1-6, and Life Science Discovery K-5. Open to the community, lots of new classes are available for 3K to Adults. Bring a friend and join a class together! Program guide and registration is in office or online: www.fpdmacon.org/center-for-discovery

Yearbook Ordering: It’s time to purchase your 2017-2018 yearbook! Our FPD yearbook staff has worked diligently on this collection of events from the year. Orders due by January 15^th. Visit: www.yearbookordercenter.com

School order number is 1881.

PARENTS… If you have a topic or area related to parenting that you would like to learn more about, please email wade.putnal@fpdmacon.org

The Viking Store has everything a Viking needs for cold weather: headwear, scarves, long sleeve spirit shirts, sweatshirts and jackets (all uniform-approved). We carry Land’s End uniform shirts and girls’ sweaters also. Visit us during Varsity basketball games!  Open school days 7:45am - 3:30pm and located in the MAC building near the cafeteria.

LIBRARY NEWS:  It’s almost visiting author time!  Author Diane Z. Shore will visit us on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Did you see the orange flyer in signed papers telling you more about her visit and the opportunity to pre-order an autographed Diane Z. Shore book?  **Forms/money are due by THIS Friday, Jan 12 for pre-ordered books.**

BACKPACK MINISTRIES: As we restock in the new year, we are asking all grade levels to participate and bring items. Typically, we always need fruit cups, Vienna sausages, and juice pouches. Thanks for helping as we minister to needy children in our community.

*** COMING UP ***

** MLK Holiday – Monday, January 15^th – NO SCHOOL

** Lower School Chapel -Tuesday, Jan 30th, from 12:05-12:30pm. Parents are always welcome to join us in the Clark Fine Arts Center as we worship together.

Next Week is Spirit Week!

  SPIRIT WEEK Dress Up Days

Tuesday- USA All American Day ~ Red, White, Blue

Wed- Wacky Crazy Patterns Day (tops/ bottoms)

Thurs- Neat-O NEON Day

Fri- Super VIKING Spirit Day

Yearbook Deadline

Preschool: More Than Just ABCs

As a teacher and as a parent, I pray about how best I can serve and teach the children with whom I've been entrusted.  God's word spoke to me recently.  James 1:19 says, "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters, you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry." I want to listen better (to God and others), to think about my words and to show wisdom when speaking, and to be slow to become angry (and when I do, handle the emotion appropriately).  

Not only do these words provide practical guidance for us, but also for our children.  Preschool is not just about learning our ABCs and counting, but it is also an important time for children to develop and practice their social skills.  I came across the list below and thought that it provided a very concrete example of social skills our children need in order to be successful.

Skills for Preschool and Elementary School Kids

Vanderbilt University found the top 10 social skills kids need to succeed in school, based on surveys of 8,000 elementary teachers and two decades of classroom research, are:

• Listen to others
• Follow the steps
• Follow the rules
• Ignore distractions
• Ask for help
• Take turns when you talk
• Get along with others
• Stay calm with others
• Be responsible for your behavior
• Do nice things for others

These might seem like social skills promoted just to turn out "nice girls and boys" who earn the "gets along with others" check on their report cards, but they're fundamental behaviors that help kids succeed (not just survive) in a world that emphasizes social norms. The goal isn't just to make them cooperative, but to hone their social GPS so they can both advocate for themselves and care for others.