Kindergarten Guidance Lesson: Learning to Listen
Monday, September 24, 2018
Kinder students participated in Guidance Lessons this week. We will be using the Second Step program throughout this first semester during our lessons every other week. I will be sharing information with you on what your student learned and how you can connect their learning at home.
So what is second Step? Straight from their website, Second Step is a program that is rooted in social-emotional learning that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to encourage children to thrive. Second Step's holistic approach helps create a more empathetic society by providing education professionals, families, and the larger community with tools to enable them to take an active role in the social emotional growth and safety of today's children.
We are in control of our brains.
Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I'Mpossible.
Mrs. Hagg
Cherry Elementary School Counselor
ahagg@baycityisd.org
So what is second Step? Straight from their website, Second Step is a program that is rooted in social-emotional learning that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to encourage children to thrive. Second Step's holistic approach helps create a more empathetic society by providing education professionals, families, and the larger community with tools to enable them to take an active role in the social emotional growth and safety of today's children.
Learning to Listen
Listening Rules
- Eyes Watching
- Ears Listening
- Voices quiet (or the students said "Voices off"
- Body Still
Lesson Concepts
Following listening rules helps everyone learn.We are in control of our brains.
Why This Lesson Matters
Being able to listen is a fundamental skill that helps children focus and pay attention. This lesson helps students understand how to be a good listener and how being a good listener affects their learning in the classroom. It can be very hard for a Kinder student to wait their turn or to control their bodies by waiting. By reinforcing their behavior with specific feedback or by practicing the skills, we allow them to learn more about how to control their bodies.Using the Skills
- Have students use the listening rules at home when you are talking and in turn, do the same for them.
- Play Simon Says or My Turn, Your Turn. This helps them control their bodies and listen to what you are saying
Home Connect
Follow the directions on this page to connect your student's learning from school to home.
Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I'Mpossible.
Mrs. Hagg
Cherry Elementary School Counselor
ahagg@baycityisd.org
Cherry Lunch Schedule
Thursday, September 20, 2018
It is always fun to see our parents and grandparents come visit our students for lunch. Please ensure that if you are coming to eat with your student, you bring your ID with you so that we are able to allow you access to our cafeteria. If someone other than the parent or guardian is coming to eat with the student, that person MUST be listed on the student's sign out/emergency card. This ensures the safety of that particular student and the other students in our cafeteria. Thank you for understanding!
Cherry Elementary Counseling Program
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Cherry Elementary Counseling Program Information
Hello Cherry parents. My name is Ashley Hagg and I am the School Counselor for Cherry Elementary. This is my fourth year as the Cherry Counselor and my ninth year of educating our future leaders in Bay City ISD. I am married to my husband and we have a daughter named Adilynn. I have a passion for education and am so excited that I get the opportunity to be your Cherry Counselor.
Guidance Lessons
Students will participate in Guidance Lessons every other week. The teachers and I have a schedule set up where I meet with the grade level on a specific day. This year at Cherry, we will be following the Second Step Curriculum. As we begin to dig into the curriculum, you will see "Home Link" papers begin to come home. Please spend some time with your student participating in these activities to help bridge gaps between school and home.During guidance lessons, we will focus on 4 main topics:
- Skills for learning
- Empathy
- Emotion Management
- Problem Solving.
Group Sessions
I will meet with particular groups of students based on needs that arise. We will meet during the student's lunch times in what I will call "Lunch Bunches". The teachers and I will work together to determine a need for these sessions and I will send home information with your student.Individual Counseling
As needs arise, I will meet with particular students individually. If you feel your student would benefit from this time with me, please contact me or fill our a referral form found on our Cherry webpage.Academic Counseling
The school counselor is available to talk with students about the importance of education. Topics could include motivation, study skills, testing taking tips, and anxiety about testing.Personal Counseling
The school counselor is available to assist students with a wide range or personal concerns, including such areas as social, family, emotional or mental health issues, or substance abuse. A student who wishes to meet with the school counselor should contact them.Student/Parent Advocate
I am here to advocate for you and your student. If there is something that you need help deciding how to handle, a frustration, concern, or something great that you want to share, please don't hesitate to contact me or stop in to visit. I happy to help in any way that you see fit.If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call me at (979)401-1300 or email me at ahagg@baycityisd.org. I am looking forward to spending more time with your students and helping you as needed.
Cherry Staff and Team Pictures
Wednesday, August 29, 2018
2018-2019 Cherry Elementary Staff
Pre-K Team:
PPCD Team- Ms. Stitts, Mrs. Stai, Mrs. McKissick, Mrs. Ramos, Ms. Vela
Kinder Team: Mrs. Lozano, Mrs. Eckhoff, Ms. Ryman, Mr. Raybun, Mrs. Estlinbaum, Ms. Jernigan
2nd Grade Team- Mrs. Finley, Mrs. Rice, Mrs. Hudson, Mrs. Sparks
3rd Grade Team- Mrs. Finley, Mrs. Becker, Ms. Kovar, Mrs. Ressman, Mrs. Schwirtlich
4th Grade Team: Mrs. Jefferson, Mrs. Webbon, Mrs. Perez, Ms. Treumer
5th Grade Team: Mrs. Jefferson, Mrs. Hurtado, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Hasty, Mrs. McDaniel
Specials: Mrs. Brinkley, Mrs. McNiel, Mrs. Fusilier, Coach Morris, Mrs. Brooks
(PE, Library, Art, PE, Music)
Specials: Mrs. Grice, Mrs. Garg, Mrs. Lewis, Mrs. Espinosa, Mrs. Haning
What is a Social Contract?
Monday, August 27, 2018
Capturing Kids' Hearts is a program used throughout Bay City ISD. Every campus and employee on the campus has been trained to use this program. There are so many great things about CKH's but one of the most prevalent throughout Cherry Elementary is the Social Contract.
Your students may have came home and told you that they signed a social contract in their classroom. Within each of their classrooms, students work together to build a social contract. They begin by asking the following questions within their group:
- How do you want to be treated by me (leader)?
- How do you want to be treated by each other?
- How do you think I (leader) want to be treated by you?
- How do you want to treat each other when there is a conflict?
As a whole group, the students go through adding words to their social contract and agreeing upon those words. Words might include respectful, honest, trustworthy, helpful. When adding the word to the contract, the teacher might ask "what does that look like", "how could we show that in the classroom". If a word is said more than once, the students will put a checkmark next to that word to show that the class thinks that it is important. When the students are satisfied with the words on the contract, the class agrees to the social contract by signing it.
Below are a few examples of contracts from the Cherry Elementary classrooms. In grades 2nd through 5th grade, the teachers guide the students through these steps to help them create a contract for each of their classes. This ensures that the students have specific words and actions that their class has agreed upon.
Each week we will be sharing a word from the Cherry Elementary Social contract with you. Take time to talk with your students about the word that we share. What does it look like? What do you expect from them in regard to that word? How can they show that they understand what that word means?
We look forward to sharing more with you,
Mrs. Hagg
Cherry School Counselor
Below are a few examples of contracts from the Cherry Elementary classrooms. In grades 2nd through 5th grade, the teachers guide the students through these steps to help them create a contract for each of their classes. This ensures that the students have specific words and actions that their class has agreed upon.
Mrs. Frankson's 1st Grade Classroom
Ms. Jernigan's Kinder Classroom
Mrs. Becker's 3rd Grade Classroom
Mrs. Ressman's 3rd Grade Classroom
Mrs. Johnson's 5th Grade Classroom
The great thing about social contracts are that they can be used universally. The staff at Cherry has a social contract that we refer to in our meetings or if a conflict arises on campus. Some teachers have even decided to use them at home with their own families. Each week we will be sharing a word from the Cherry Elementary Social contract with you. Take time to talk with your students about the word that we share. What does it look like? What do you expect from them in regard to that word? How can they show that they understand what that word means?
We look forward to sharing more with you,
Mrs. Hagg
Cherry School Counselor
John H. Cherry Elementary Named Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase School
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
John H. Cherry Elementary has received a Capturing
Kids’ Hearts National Showcase SchoolsTM
award for the 2017-2018 school year from the Flippen Group.
Two years ago, Cherry Elementary began an
initiative to transform the campus into an emotionally safe and relationally
connected place for students, staff, and parents to come alive with a love for
learning.
After researching programs used by some of the
nation’s most successful schools, Bay City ISD leaders chose to join
hands with the Flippen Group to bring Capturing Kids’ HeartsⓇ to its campuses. Teachers and staff learned processes to increase
students’ connectedness with both peers and adults on campus. They learned how
to create a classroom environment where students are excited to enter and learn
every day. As a result of implementing Capturing Kids’ Hearts, Cherry Elementary has enjoyed a decrease in disciplinary incidents and bullying, and an improvement in campus climate.
Since 1990, campuses across the country have
experienced amazing outcomes with Capturing Kids’ Hearts tools and
processes by creating socio-emotional safety conducive to learning. The Flippen
Group provides educators the skills they need to change the trajectory of
students’ lives. Openness replaces defensiveness. Judging and feelings
of being judged are replaced with acceptance and real connectedness to
the school. “Discipline problems nearly non-existent,” and “Academic
achievement constantly improving,” are common feedback following Capturing
Kids’ Hearts implementation.
Through the Capturing Kids’ Hearts National
Showcase Schools awards, the Flippen Group recognizes and celebrates
campuses that go the extra mile each day, building an environment where
students and staff feel safe and connected. The Flippen Group believes unsung
heroes who produce exemplary outcomes in schools and pave the way for other
schools to follow, need and deserve recognition for a job well done.
Capturing Kids’ Hearts campuses across the country were considered for these awards
based on the following criteria: 1) nomination based on observation, 2) level of
implementation of Capturing Kids’ Hearts processes by all staff as
measured by online surveys, and 3) data demonstrating that Capturing Kids’
Hearts has made a significant improvement in attendance, discipline,
climate/culture, or academics.
A Flippen Group team visited each nominated
campus to gather additional quantitative and qualitative data, and to interview
students, teachers, administrators, and parents. They used a matrix of key
measurements to gather information during the campus walk-through. Finally, an
additional survey was conducted to collect feedback regarding the perceived
climate and culture of the campus and its conduciveness to learning. Following
this visit, the selection team reviewed all accumulated data and selected the
campuses to receive the Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase
Schools awards.
The Flippen Group is proud to recognize these
outstanding individuals who have dedicated themselves to making a difference in
the lives of our children. As we identify these remarkable schools, campus
leaders, and teachers each year, please join us in celebrating them as some of
the most skilled and effective educators in the country!
For more information about the Capturing
Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools awards, contact:
Tanya Peterson
Flippen Group
Office Phone: 1-800-316-4311
Office Fax: 1-877-941-4700
info@flippengroup.com
Mrs. Dodd's Newsletter: April 13, 2018
Please read Mrs. Dodd's latest Newsletter, scheduled to go home this Friday, April 13, 2018.
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