Mendoza’s Weekly Message
Posted September 13, 2021
Dear Hamilton Parents, Guardians, and Community,
First of all, I would like to thank all of you for your support as we begin week four of our school year. Over the last few weeks, we have been observing, planning, and revising how we do things at Hamilton. I did a lot of reflecting this week and realized that most of our 6th graders attended half of their 4th grade and missed all of their 5th-grade year, our 7th graders attended half of their 5th-grade year and missed all of their 6th-grade year and our 8th graders attended half of their 6th grade and missed all of their 7th-grade year. When you look at it in these terms, it makes sense why our students were and some are still struggling to get into the routine of school. The struggles are different for all of our students. Some of our students may have adapted just fine and jumped right into in-person learning with no problem, while others may be struggling with the rigid schedule, school expectations, multiple classes/teachers, and a longer day, although we start later. Some may be having difficulty with the anxiety that is COVID, the Delta Variant, mask-wearing, and protocols still in place. Because of the large gap in traditional in-person learning that took place, a large percentage of our students are struggling with the realization that they have either forgotten or are missing a lot of information and learning. Overall these are trying times not only for a lot of our students but for our teachers and staff as we all adapt and deal with what I keep calling “the new normal”.
I believe that as always, we will come together as a community and rise above all the trauma this pandemic may have caused our society and community. Our students, parents, teachers, and staff are strong and resilient. I am confident we can work together to ensure our students heal and grow academically and socially this school year.
At Hamilton alongside our four strategic goals of RELATIONSHIPS, RIGOR/ RELEVANCE, AND STUDENT OWNERSHIP OF LEARNING, we will continue to: re-establish routines, promote appropriate socialization, acknowledge the trauma or changes that may have occurred, be positive role models and mentors, normalize mask-wearing and staying safe. We will encourage our students to talk about their concerns, help them to cope while staying adaptable and flexible.
I would like to offer the following 10 tips for you as parents as we work together to help our students with their transition to in-person learning.
Top 10 Tips for Returning to In-Person Learning for Parents:
- Re-establish routines. Many students have been doing classes from home for over a year. This means that student schedules have changed, and it will take time to re-establish routines.
- Check your student’s portal in their Chromebook and review their schedule with them
- Set a bedtime/wake-up time and move it progressively closer to what it should be for the entire school year.
- Set a screen curfew time after which point there are no screens.
- Ask what routines they’d like to keep from the past year – for example, regular family walks after dinner; game night, etc.
- Promote socializing. Due to the nature of remote schooling, some students have not had a regular face-to-face interaction with their peers. Many have been dependent on social media as their source for socializing. As you know many of these platforms can lead to bullying or poor socialization situations.
- Set up sports, clubs, friend time, or other group activities while maintaining COVID protocols.
- Supervise and minimize the use of social media interactions and platforms such as TicToc, Snapchat, Instagram FaceBook, etc., and encourage in-person activities such as sports, clubs, and other activities.
- Acknowledge changes that have happened. Talk with your students about what changes have occurred while learning from home. Celebrate positive changes and acknowledge their difficulties. Share those difficulties and concerns with their teachers.
- Be a positive role model and set the tone. Our kids take their cues from us. Make sure you set a positive tone and example for your students as we are encouraging the same with all of our school staff.
- Help them get excited about returning to school.
- Have honest and positive mindset conversations.
- You might say: “On one hand, this pandemic has not been easy. On the other hand, we’ve been able to have a lot more fun times together. I know you will have a new set of adventures returning to school.”
- Normalize mask-wearing. Some students will be able to transition back to wearing a mask regularly while others may struggle. Teachers report that in-person students did a wonderful job of wearing their masks in school last year, so focus on that success and make the transition fun and low-stress.
- Model and start wearing masks in public as a family to help the transition.
- Practice calming and distraction strategies they can use if they get overwhelmed in class.
- For the safety and health of your child, we encourage you to speak positively in front of them about the required use of masks in schools even if you may not agree.
- Encourage your child to talk about their concerns. Does your child seem to have fears and anxiety about COVID-19 or returning to school?
- Ask about their fears, and try to reassure them or problem solve.
- Validate and accept your child’s feelings about the situation.
- Help your child feel a sense of control.
- If necessary, work with your school’s administration, teachers, and counselors to set up supports for your child.
- Help your child continue to cope. Children are resilient; tap into best practices for emotional regulation.
- Talk about ways they have dealt with anxiety in the past so that they can use those techniques again.
- Practice deep breathing or mindfulness with them. There are free apps online.
- Kids thrive when they feel loved, supported, and connected. Make time for your kids individually to listen to and validate their concerns.
- Share those concerns with the school so we can work together.
- Review school safety procedures. If you are aware of your school’s safety precautions, review them together, answer any questions, and allow your child to vocalize their questions and concerns. This will help prevent surprises and ease any concerns your child might have.
- Stay flexible and adaptive. Re-entry into school is not a perfect science. Expect changes, challenges, and hiccups. Staying mentally flexible and adaptive will allow you and your child to handle challenges and changes as they occur.
- Expect the transition to take time. Like the transition to online learning, the transition back to in-person learning is going to be a big one.
- If your child’s grades or social life declined during online learning, they may not recover right away but together we can accomplish their goals
- Be patient with your child and with school officials and staff.
- Reinforce your child’s efforts with positive comments.
- Communicate with your child’s teachers, administrators, and counselors for whatever concerns you may have at any time.
In addition, as part of our return to normalcy, we have implemented an advisory at the end of the day. This time is being used for not only socialization and team-building time for our students but also we are excited to announce we have built-in teacher-led club time every other Friday during this time. Please click here to see our slideshow of club offerings and talk to your child about which exciting club they chose. If they haven’t signed up yet feel free to contact their advisory teacher so they can be ready to start clubs on Friday, September 24, 2021.
I am confident we will make this a positive and productive school year filled with wonderful memories for you and your child. As always I look forward to our continued partnership as we support our students through this school year. And as always, my door is always open for any concerns or questions you may have.
Respectfully
Ana M Mendoza, Interim Principal
Hamilton Middle School
720-423-9502
ana_mendoza@dpsk12.org.
