Screen time study - information & resources for families

Earlier in the year I shared some resources regarding teen technology use and screen time.  I wanted to follow up and share the recently released Common Sense Media Census.  Here is a link to the overview and full report.

"This large-scale study explores how kids age 8 to 18 in the U.S. use media across an array of activities and devices—including short-form, mobile-friendly platforms like YouTube—to see where they spend their time and what they enjoy most. Combined with the data from the 2015 report, the 2019 census gives us a clearer view of how young people's media use has evolved over time. The results speak to the individualized uses of media and the increase in time spent with personalized content on social media and in online videos—and the way shared family viewing and other formative media experiences are changing as a result" (Common Sense Media, 2019).

"Kids' media preferences are changing as new apps and sleeker technology make it easier to stay connected (and be entertained) wherever they go. Just in the past four years, we've seen dramatic shifts in online video viewing, smartphone ownership, and more. As kids come into their own, the messages they see in digital media will play an even bigger role in their sense of self, their social awareness, their well-being, and their access to information on everything from politics to the latest viral meme" (Common Sense Media, 2019).

Supporting children (and adults) in the meaningful and appropriate use of technology is the work of our entire community, truly requiring the commitment and collaboration of home and school working together.

Vaping - information & resources for families

Supporting the academic, emotional, and physical wellbeing of each child is the responsibility of our entire East Prairie community, and requires authentic collaboration between the school, families, and community organizations.  As such our school is taking a leading role in responding to the increase in vaping amongst teens. On the evening of Tuesday, November 19th, East Prairie will be hosting Dr. Susan Sirota for a parent session focused on teen vaping and upcoming legislative changes regarding marijuana.  This opportunity is generously sponsored by our PTA and is open to all East Prairie and township families. 

The following articles - Teen Vaping: What you need to know & Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults - were shared with our middle school students as part of my regular communications with them.  My aim is to provide our children with information and supportive resources so that they are empowered to make responsible decisions.  Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss further.

Here is a link to information and resources for parents on "How to talk to your kid about vaping" courtesy of NPR's Life Kit.

Mindfulness

As we continue to support the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of each child, I am excited to share the all school mindfulness activity we did this morning - deep breathing techniques. Our primary kiddos were in the small gym, intermediate students in the large, and middle schoolers in their life skills classrooms.

Simply stated, the purpose of “mindfulness” is to acknowledge what is going on and be aware of it.  We teach, and seek to live these practices ourselves, to gain a greater sense of control over thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, as well as, teach our brains new and better ways of thinking and functioning (Silver & Stafford, 2017; Wolkin, 2015).

At East Prairie we are intentional in developing habits of mindfulness, moving the concept beyond an educational buzzword to an integrated part of our daily routines and practices.

Friday's Family Dance!

Thank you to the PTA for throwing a fabulous family bash this past Friday night!  The annual preschool through fifth grade Family Dance was well attended and just the right amount of spooky and scary!

The event was an upbeat and enjoyable way for our community to come together and just have some fun!  

We are looking forward to Middle School Rec Night this coming Friday.  There will be a DJ, dancing, sports, pizza, snacks, friends, and of course a costume contest!

Congratulations Panthers!!!

What a night!  What a season! Congratulations to the East Prairie boys soccer team on their championship!  With a final score of 4-3, the Panthers persevered over Fairview to take the title in penalty kicks.  A dramatic game from start to finish, you couldn’t write a better ending than the one that played out last night.  This team becomes the first in the storied history of East Prairie to capture both the regular season and playoff championships.  Their accomplishments the result hard work, teamwork, and collective commitment! 

Your 2019 soccer champions are: Wasif Atcha, Aleim Betyo, Ismet Bojku, Alston Cadient, Michael Cappola, Raul Farcas, Diego Garcia, Hunter Gawron, Ivan Hernandez, Bryan Ionesco, David Khoshaba, Romael Korkis, Arjun Krishna, Alex Mitura, Johnathon Montoya, Zane Santoro, Irfan Sarvan, Eric Saxe, Amr Shehata, Diego Zamudio, and Coach Nissan!   

A memorable season that all will remember and hold on to.  Truly a celebration for our entire East Prairie community!

Recess sting!

Just kidding!  Thank you to Officer Wilken for his constant and positive presence at our recess and lunch times to kick off the year!

These efforts are part of the ongoing collaboration between East Prairie and the Skokie Police Department.  In addition to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all of our children, our shared goal is to further develop mutually caring and trusting relationships.

Congratulations Panther soccer!

Congratulations to our varsity soccer team on finishing the regular season in first place!   This is a first in the history of East Prairie!

Their playoff run begins Tuesday afternoon (4:00PM) at Hamlin Park. Students and families are encouraged to “pack the pitch” and cheer on the Panthers as they look to extend their excellence throughout the postseason!

Flashback Friday

This past week a special delivery was made to our school of some class and school photographs from the early 1960s.

What a keepsake and snapshot in time of our East Prairie community!

Cooperation & collaboration

We recently took some of our teambuilding challenges and applied them to our very own Leadership Team.  The pictures speak for themselves.  Aside from having lots of fun and sharing some laughs, the activity brought our team together and allowed us to further explore the importance of communication and collaboration.

A big thank you to our teacher team for being open-minded and willing to run with just about anything!

Latino Literacy Night

La visión del programa:

- que sea un lugar donde las familias latinas se pueden reunir y leer cuentos en español

- sea un espacio y tiempo para y hablar de sus cuentos familiares

- promover la cultura latina y fomentar el orgullo de ser latino en sus hijos

- animar a los niños a leer literatura en español