Due to increased attention bullying receives in the news, October has been identified as Anti-Bullying Awareness nation-wide.  We will be taking some time out of our schedules here at Magdalen to focus on this as well.  Some of the activities started last week and will continue through the remainder of the month.  Last week, 7th and 8th graders listened to Tisha from Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center.  I unfortunately couldn't make it into her presentation, but I hear she did a fabulous job connecting with the kids.  The 6th graders did an activity last week where they identified the social boundaries that exist at recess and they were challenged to connect with students who identified they don't fit in with the social groupings that currently exist.  I will spend time this week going into each K-5 classroom.  K-2 students will hear a story on bullying and then will have a chance to win the Bully Beans prize for their class.  Ask your student about this contest and how they go about winning!!!  Students in grades 3-5 will learn about a bully ladder and identify how bullying starts as well as how it progresses.  In addition to my classroom visits, teachers will be incorporating lessons on empathy and kindness.

I am attaching some links on my page that are anti-bully websites.  Some of the resources are specific to teens and others are for parents. Some teens are not comfortable telling a teacher or an adult if they are being bullied and the website can be great resource for them.  I encourage you to look at the website with your child(ren) as it can be an avenue for discussion on a topic that can be difficult.

Dannon

I am excited to be back at Magdalen for a second year!!!!  I enjoyed having my summer off and I'm looking forward to a great start to the school year.  I will continue to cover 3 of the schools in the Diocese again this year.  I will be at Magdalen on Monday's and Wednesday's, St. Thomas Aquinas on Tuesday's and Friday's and at Resurrection on Thursday's. On Monday's my office hours will be 8:30-4:30 and on Wednesday's my office hours will be 7:30-3:30.  If you need anything, email may be the best way to reach me as I am able to check my email from the other schools.

I look forward to working with your children again this year....

Thanks....Dannon Jones

Last month, Magdalen had the privilege of hosting Mr. Jim Williams for a couple of days.  Some of you parents attended the session held on Thursday evening and were able to hear his words of wisdom first hand.  He did a wonderful job with the students during the day on Thursday.  He spent part of the morning with our 5th and 6th grade students and then spent the afternoon with our 7th and 8th grade students.  Feedback we received from the kids indicate Mr. Williams was motivating to them in examining how they treat each other and tools they can use in their relationships with one another.  Mr. Williams also spent an afternoon with the teachers and staff providing additional training.

One of the powerful things Mr. Williams talked with the teachers and staff about involved examining the quality and quantity of time you spend with your child.  He provided the numbers 15/3 and explained that in typical families, parents spend an average of 15 minutes a day talking with their child about their day, with only 3 of those minutes being positive in nature.  The remaining 12 minutes focus on criticizing, comparing, complaining and competition.  Those numbers are rather sobering if you ask me!  Mr. Williams also provided the following primary needs that all kids have:

1.  To fit in and to be loved and accepted by their peers

2.  To be understood

3.  To have their feelings validated

4.  To like the way they look

5.  To feel competent both academically and socially

6.  To be capable at learning and forming relationships

As you spend time interacting with your kids, be mindful of their primary needs and how you can help meet those needs.  Start by focusing those 15 minutes of quality time on those needs and chances are those 15 minutes will naturally increase as you enjoy spending time with one another!