Winter Break

Wishing all FGC families a warm, healthy, and safe winter break.  We look forward to seeing you back at school on January 6th, 2014! 

Ladue Community Chili Supper-January 17th, 2014

Please mark your calendar to attend the Ladue Community Chili Supper on January 17th, 2014 starting at 5:00 p.m. and running until 7:00 p.m. at Ladue Horton Watkins High School.  As you enjoy chili, plan on cheering on the girls basketball team.  FGC will have a banner hung in the cafeteria in order for you to find and sit with other FGC families.  We are excited to bring the entire Ladue community together.  Cost is $6 per person and includes chili, BBQ dinner, and entrance to girls JV and Varsity basketball games.  We hope to see you there.  Don't forget to wear your blue and white (Go Rams) or green and blue (Go Dragons)! 

School Wide Diversity Activity at FGC

On Friday December 13th, all staff and students took part in a diversity activity where students explored their own identity and culture as well as those of their classmates.  After a teaching and brainstorming session, each student identified five personal facets and displayed their finished project in the commons area alongside their homeroom class.  Students did a fantastic job of learning and working together as they explored cultural similarities and differences. 

Girls In the Know Mother/Daughter Speaker Series

A four week speaker series for mothers/daughters by Girls in the Know (girlsintheknow.org) will be hosted at FGC in January and February.  Presentations are designed for mothers and daughters (ages 9-13) and include topics such as safety, bullying, nutrition, self-esteem, puberty, and more.  The cost is $125 for each mother/daughter pair (space is limited).  Flyers were sent home in Friday Folders on the 13th of December.   For more information on this event or to register, please visit girlsintheknow.org. 

Career Cafe is Coming to FGC....We are Looking for Volunteer Speakers

We are really excited to kick off Career Café at the Fifth Grade Center during second semester.  Career Café will be an opportunity for our fifth graders to meet individuals from the community and learn about their careers.  Students are invited to Career Café based on the results of a career interest inventory administered earlier this fall.  Career Café will take place on select Thursdays during all lunch periods.

Career Café speakers will sign in at the front office and will be meeting with students in the corner of the commons during the first two periods of lunch 10:45-11:05 and 11:05-11:25 OR the second two periods of lunch 11:30-11:50 and 11:50-12:10.  Speakers will share their career journey with students, including how they became interested in their current field, what education/training they needed, what they do in a typical day at their job, and any advice to students considering a job in their field.  Speakers will present to students for approximately 18 minutes each session (which includes time for questions and answers). 

If applicable, speakers are encouraged to bring props and or actual items they use in their job. 

Please email abalsavias@ladueschools.net for more information.  

Conversation Starters for Families

The art of meaningful conversation within a family unit or among friends is an important element in the relationships that we have with others.  As this holiday season approaches, our FGC Staff Character Committee would like share the following article by Tim Lickona on how you can ask good questions at home, and hopefully learn more about each other in the process. 

Conversation Starters: Promoting Family Communication
by Tom Lickona

1.  What was the best part of your day?

2.  What was the hardest part of today?  How did you deal with it?

3.  What are you grateful for today?

4.  What happened today that you didn't expect?

5.  What's something new you learned today?

6.  What was an interesting conversation you had today?

7.  What's something you accomplished today?

8.  How did you help someone today, or how did someone help you?

9.  What is something someone in the family did recently that you appreciated?

10.  Who has a problem that the rest of the family might be able to help with?

11.  What's an interesting book you're reading or have read recently?

12.  What are two things that other people can do that make you feel happy?

13.  What's something you look forward to?

14.  What are some things you can do to help yourself get out of a bad mood?

15.  If you could be granted three wishes, what would they be?

16.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

17.  How do you know if someone is the right person for you to marry?

18.  What does "success" mean to you?

19.  Who is someone that you admire?  Why?

20.  If you had $100 to give to a charity, who would you give it to?

21.  If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be?  Why?

22.  What is one mistake you regret?  What do you wish you had done differently?

23.  Where would you most like to go on vacation?

24.  What is a way that you've changed in the past year (or two years)?

25.  Share a happy or funny childhood memory.

26.  New Year's: What are two goals you have for the year?

27.  Looking back: What were two highlights of the past year(this summer, this fall, this winter)?

28.  If your house was on fire, what is one thing you would try to pick up on the way out?

29.  Share a happy or funny childhood memory.

30.  Bouncing question: One person asks another a question (such as any of the ones on this list), then that person asks someone else a different question, and so on, until everybody has been asked one.

31.  One word topics: Choose any topic (school, sports, TV, movies, friends, heroes, religion, decisions, music, politics, etc.).  Anyone can say anything about the topic that comes to mind. 

Additional Conversation Resources Included in the Article:

Journal in a Jar: http://www.everydaycheapskate.com/marys-perspective/give-the-legacy-of-a life-history/

Family Dinner Project: http://thefamilydinnerproject.org/conversation/

Beauty and Bedlam: http://beautyandbedlam.com/conversation-starter-questions/

FGC Character Council

Character Council applications are now available.  FGC Character Council will be comprised of student representatives who apply for the position and are Fifth Grade Center role models endorsed by staff members and supported by their fellow students.  Selected student representatives will collaborate to create, plan, and implement character education activities through out the school.  Members will meet every other week during their lunch/recess exploration block and will be responsible for reporting information back to their homeroom class.  Our council this year will consist of 14 representatives, one from each homeroom class. 

Interested applicants should return their application to the counseling office no later than November 26th.  Please feel free to call or email me if you should have any questions. 

November Bullying Lesson

During the month of November, students have been learning about bullying in schools, facts and figures surrounding bullying, and what to do if they are ever bullied and/or witness it occurring.  As part of our lesson, we read Say Something by Peggy Moss.  Students were able to discuss when it is easy to "say something" as well as instances that it becomes more difficult to "say something."  We also learned that in order to make a difference in our school, we need to stand together and to stop bullies from hurting others.

Students learned an African Proverb from the story "If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping in a room with a mosquito."  In other words, no one is too small or too insignificant to make a difference.  Each of us has the ability take a stand and "say something" to bullies and report inappropriate behaviors to adults.

Red Ribbon Week was a huge success.  We had a great student participation for our Spirit Days as well an outpouring of positive comments in support for our Red Ribbon "Healthy Choices" bags for Schnucks customers.  Mrs. Korn's class had the most spirit for our "Wear Red" Spirit Day and will be having a pizza party later this week.  Thank you to all FGC staff and students for supporting our school and community in an effort to make healthy decisions and be drug free.

Our Spirited FGC Staff!

Due Time for a Cure Day at FGC

Our first annual "Due Time for a Cure"/Wear Pink Day was a big hit (even with the Cardinals playing for a spot in the World Series), we had a great turn out of both staff and students that "wore pink" in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.  In addition to the sales of "Due Time for a Cure" T-shirt and button sales by the school, Team Air students made pink and white loom bracelets that they sold before school.  Proceeds from all three items are going to Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis. Thanks to everyone for supporting this cause and to Emily Taylor (Art Teacher) for designing/making t-shirts and getting us started on this worthwhile project.

Red Ribbon Week Schedule

  Fifth Grade Center Red Ribbon Week

 October 28th-November 1st, 2013

Red Ribbon Week is a week during October when schools, businesses, and communities come together to take a stand against harmful drugs and encourage healthy lifestyles and decision-making.

Our Schedule for Red Ribbon Week:

Monday October 28^th-Sock it to Drugs (Wear Crazy/Mis-Matched Socks)

Tuesday October 29^th-Be on a “Drug Free” Team (Wear Your Favorite Sports Team Shirt/Jersey)

Wednesday October 30^th-Dream of a Drug Free World (Pajama Day)

*School Appropriate Footwear Please

Thursday October 31^st-Say “Boo” to Drugs (Wear a School Appropriate Costume)

*School Appropriate Costumes Only (No weapons, masks, or fake bodily fluids/blood of any kind are permitted)

Friday November 1^st-Red Ribbon Spirit Day (Wear Red)

***A Class Prize (Food Item) will be awarded to the most spirited homeroom class!

This Year’s National Theme for Red Ribbon Week is “A Healthy Me is Drug Free.”

Red Ribbon Week Guidance:    

At FGC we are learning how to make healthy choices and “say no” to unhealthy drugs including cigarettes, alcohol, and other harmful substances. As part of our monthly guidance lesson, students participated in learning about the role of advertisements in making healthy decisions.  All students also had an opportunity to decorate a brown paper grocery bag with a healthy, drug free message. These grocery bags will be distributed to customers at Schnucks Grocery Store (located at the intersection of Spoede and Olive Road) during Red Ribbon Week (bags will be dropped off at Schnucks on October 24^th and distributed until they run out).

           

Did You Know?

Children of parents who talk to their kids regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those that don’t, yet only ¼ of kids report having these conversations. 

For More Information regarding National Red Ribbon Week or the National Family Partnership, please visit: www.redribbon.org

Marshall the Miracle Dog at FGC

We were so excited to welcome Marshall and his owner Ms. Cyndi to FGC today.   Marshall's anti-bullying message was a perfect way to kick-off Bullying Awareness Month.  Students were thrilled to meet Marshall and hear his story of hope.  Thank you Marshall and Ms. Cyndi for a great assembly.

Red Ribbon Week at FGC will take place during the week of October 28th.  This year's theme is "A Healthy Me is Drug Free".   A family oriented Red Ribbon Photo Contest is being hosted by the Red Ribbon Organization.  To find out details and enter to win an IPAD 2 for your child and $1,000 for the FGC, please check out http://redribbon.org/contest/.  More details about FGC Red Ribbon Week will be posted soon...

Marshall the Miracle Dog is coming soon.....we are so excited to have this assembly at FGC!

Guidance Lessons for the 2013-2014 School Year

September-Decision Making

October-Healthy Living/Red Ribbon Week Activities

November-Bullying

December-Kindness/Generosity

January-Diversity

February-Team Work/Synergy

March-Test Taking Strategies

April-MAP Testing

May-Gratitude

I am looking forward to this year's Ladue Homecoming Parade!  It is scheduled for Saturday October 5th at 11:00.  If you would like your Fifth Grader to walk in the parade this year, please sign the permission form and return to me (these will be coming home within the next few days). We are also looking for a few volunteer parents that would like to walk with us to represent FGC.  Go DRAGONS!!

Our first classroom guidance lesson series has begun.  Last Friday, Team Fire participated in learning about decision making (individual and group) and how decisions that we make every day can impact others.  I look forward to visiting with Team Water this week.

Today we welcomed "New to Ladue" students to the Fifth Grade Center.  We played an icebreaker game, talked about fun and upcoming events for the school year, answered questions, and had popsicles.  Welcome to all of our new Ladue 5th Graders.  We are so happy to have you at FGC.

We are off to a great start at the FGC!  We are building a community of learners and leaders.  If you should have any questions or concerns at any time, please feel free to contact me.  We are here to help.