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Week 7


Good Afternoon JMS families,
 
I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the recent beautiful fall weather!  There is much to share with you this week and once again I appreciate your time to read this week’s update. 
    
P.A.W.S.: At JMS we utilize a program called the Zones of Regulation.  This program is designed to foster self-awareness and emotional control. It helps students better understand their emotions, sensory needs and thinking patterns.  Students are explicitly taught  several skills and concepts including:
 
  • Identifying your emotions by categorizing feelings into four zones (more on this below).
    
  • Self-Regulation: Achieving the preferred state of alertness (zone) for a situation.  This is all about regulating your body and emotional regulation. 
    
  • Identifying triggers:  Learning what makes you “tick” and why.
    
  • Coping Strategies: Various techniques and strategies that help achieve emotional regulation and manage strong emotions. 
 
  • Size of the Problem:  Introduces the idea that the size of your reaction should match the size of your problem.
 
  • Expected Behaviors vs. unexpected behaviors:  This also covers perspective taking and how your behavior affects the thoughts and feelings of those around you.

The Zones of Regulation program uses four colors to help children self-identify how they’re feeling and categorize it based on color.  Students then learn different strategies to help them cope and manage their emotions based on which color zone they are in. 
 
  • The GREEN zone:  you are feeling calm and alert or “just right”.  This is the best zone for learning
 
  • The YELLOW zone:  you are heightened and may be described as  feeling  frustrated, excited, nervous, or silly.  A person still has some control over their actions.
 
  • The RED zone: You are in an extremely heightened state and are no longer able to control emotions or their reactions.
 
  • The BLUE zone: you are in a low state of alertness or arousal. A person is feeling down, sad, sick, tired or bored.
    
This program has been introduced to students during the first semester as part of our Building Blocks Social Emotional curriculum with our school counselor Mrs. Brown. These concepts and skills are reviewed and reinforced daily by all staff at JMS.   The next few weeks students will be recognized for utilizing the concepts and skills taught in our Zones of Regulation Program and receive a PAWS.  
 
Title One Program Update:  Title 1 permission letters will be sent home tomorrow, Thursday, October 20th.  Some students are eligible this year (based on data) to receive supplemental academic services through the Jacques Memorial Elementary School Title I Program. The Title I Program supplements and supports the instruction that your child is receiving in his or her classroom or using the walk to read model. This means that, in addition to the whole-class and small-group instruction that your child receives from his/her classroom teacher, your child will receive appropriate, targeted, and research-based small-group instruction from his/her Title I interventionist.  If you have any questions, please connect with your child's teacher. 
 
Halloween Celebration:  Jacques Memorial School will be celebrating Halloween later this month.  Each classroom will be hosting a celebration, which may include games, special read-alouds, and crafts.  
 
Our Halloween parade is scheduled for Friday, October 28th at 1:30 PM.  Students  are encouraged to wear a costume during this event. Please have your child bring their costume to school bagged and labeled with their name.  Please note that children are not permitted to bring sharp edged props such as sticks, swords, knives, weapons, or wear costumes that feature blood and gore, etc. Families are welcome to attend and watch as our students and staff march down Elm St. and around Union Square. 
 
School Pictures:  Families will receive their child's school picture package  today.   If you would like to have your child’s picture re-taken, please return your child’s photos on Picture Retake Day which is scheduled for Thursday, November 3rd.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact Lifetouch at Lifetouch.com/support-us.
 
Transportation Survey:  Jacques Memorial School and Heron Pond Elementary School are exploring ways to make our daily bus transportation more efficient and effective.  JMS Bus Survey
Please find attached to this e-mail a district approved flyers from our community partners at  CAST. 
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation!  I love greeting your children as they arrive, and wishing them a great afternoon at the end of each day.  As always, feel free to contact me with questions, concerns or feedback. 
 
Sincerely,
Tim O’Connell
Principal