  Message from the Principal: Dear Parents, My message today is full of thanks! Thank you to the PTO for hosting a lovely get together on Saturday night. I enjoyed seeing so many of you outside of school. Hopefully this will be an annual event! Thank you to parents who attended our Back to School Night last week. It was a well received event by all (teachers too!) and sets our community off on the right note. Thank you to a parent who emailed me with an important question/clarification. (Excerpt reprinted here with permission, though names are removed.) Parent email: Jen, I feel naive and a little silly asking this, but is there really that big of a problem with bullying in our school? I always thought the students were fairly nice to each other, with an expected amount of peer-conflict stuff. I was curious after hearing the presentations last night about bullying and the energies to prevent it. When we visited the classroom, we saw bullying identification stuff on the whiteboard. I absolutely love the efforts and energies to build community, to build the warrior way, and that kids need to feel safe and happy to learn (I agree 100%). Do we have a lot of bullying at ASW? My response: What I've learned is the question isn't, do we have bullying? The question is what are our processes as an organization to deal with it when it happens? (Not if- when.) Bullying is a problem- everywhere. To help children, schools need processes to prevent, support and react to it - before anything occurs. Last year we had a couple- what I would call- severe issues of bullying. We also had 100s of small issues which created the sense that we were not a caring community. In many instances, the children were afraid to speak up, because they worried it would get worse and that the adults (parents too) wouldn't do anything. Added to the mix was the fact that we also did not have a statement or policy in our ES Handbook. So, when faced with a bullying situation (repeated name calling, teasing, taunting, exclusion, etc.)- there weren't guidelines for my work or for how teachers, parents, and kids needed to react. Our goal is not to prevent bullying- you can't prevent it. Our goal is to have a process for dealing with it when it happens. I hope this information helps to clarify why we are highlighting this. I have received tremendous parent and staff support for the initiation of a process and clarity in community-wide expectations. Last year I had the benefit of wise and patient council from many parents around this issue. They taught me so much. So, Thank you to all parents willing to partner with our community this year to keep our school safe, happy, and learning focused! Have a wonderful week. I’ll see you at the BBQ! Warmly, Jen Munnerlyn ES Principal Important Upcoming Dates to Note: September 6-
Information from the ES: REMINDER: Student Absences When your child is absent, please let the classroom teacher or/ and ES Office ([email protected]) know as soon as possible. If we do not hear from you by 9:30 and your child is not yet at school, we will call a parent to make sure he/ she is indeed absent. Please remember to call ahead so we don’t need to call you. Elementary Lost and Found Across the year, our Lost and Found grows. At the end of each semester we donate unclaimed items- just to make room for lost items in the next semester. Parent and students are encouraged to check the Lost and Found- located near the stairs and beside the tower- frequently this year. In addition, please be sure to put your child's name on all jackets, sweaters, shoes, water bottles, and hats. Parent Partnership News: After School Activities- Today we had an impromptu Parent Coffee (so impromptu in fact- there wasn’t coffee!) to discuss important aspects of our ASA program and to brainstorm possible improvements to the program. I am lucky to work with Neil Riley- ASA Coordinator and Stephen Sidaway- Activities Director on this project. Please note a handout regarding important procedures around ASAs will be sent home with students this week. Thank you for partnering with us on this! Community News: September 10: The PTO Fall BBQ- All families are welcome! Brian Mason, our PTO President will send out PTO ENotes with more details. Please contact him if you have any questions. [email protected] "Time to Get Baking for the Fall BBQ Cake Walk! The PTO is asking you to get baking for the Cake Walk at the upcoming BBQ on Sept 10. The Cake Walk is a popular activity at the ASW Fall BBQ, it is very much like musical chairs, except the prize is a delicious baked treat. We are looking for homemade or store bought wrapped baked goods. Please bring them to the PTO Store (or the Cake Walk table) on the day of the BBQ, Sept 10, between 10 and 12. If you need to make alternative arrangements to drop off your cake, please call +48 608 02 40 50." 
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