Specials

Dear Aidan Families,

As your school counselor, my main role is to provide social and emotional support to both students and families. Please know that I am available to you via cell phone, email, and video chat through google hangouts. Let your (Elementary) child know that if they would like to talk to me, that I am here!

I will be available between 9 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Thursday. Send me an email to set up an appointment and I look forward to helping you and your families in any way that I can. 

Jessica Kwerel

School Counselor

Many of you are asking for guidance on how to talk to children this young about what's happening in their little worlds. Ms. Francine Ronis, LPC, has been working with some of our Aidan families who have children under the age of 6, and she is offering her services to our community.

For further information feel free to contact her at francine.ronis@gmail.com or at her Mindfulness website: https://francineronis.com/ (She has a biweekly gathering for parents.)

Hello everyone!

I know things can feel pretty tough right now. Maybe you’re feeling sad, scared, anxious, bored, lonely. These are all normal feelings! And know we’re all feeling these same, uncomfortable feelings. So I invite you to join me in an activity to help boost positive feelings.

This activity is called “3 Good Things". It’s an activity to help you think about the good things that are still happening all around you.

• Each day this week, write down 3 things that went well for you that day. It doesn’t matter how big or small they are. 
• Include how this good things made you feel.

Here’s my list for today. I wrote these right before I went to sleep, so I had a positive way to end my day.

1. While working from home, I sat on the couch, next to my dogs. I feel so happy and loved.
2. I tried out a new recipe and it actually tasted delicious! I feel proud and accomplished.
3. I read a bedtime story to my little niece. I feel connected and loved.

Now it’s your turn! At the end of the week, if you would like to share with me some of your entries, I would love to see them! And I encourage you to continue this exercise week, after week, after week, and see how you feel!

My email address is j.kwerel@aidanschool.org

Elementary students, all of you have email addresses now, so feel free to write me an email and say hello!

Dear Families, 

I hope you are all safe and healthy, and finding ways to experience daily calm and joy amidst the stressful circumstances. I’m here to help. If you would like to connect about or beyond these resources, please do not hesitate to get in touch. I am available for office hours each weekday from 10:00am to 12:00pm. Simply email me and we’ll go from there!

For writing inspiration you will find daily prompts, each paired with a simple tip, on my Writing tab. You might even enjoy working on these together as a family. (I plan to respond to them myself.) I am available for virtual conferences, so please share any writing samples with me via google document or photograph. Children who take a piece through the writing process will have the option to be featured on the website the following week. 

If you have the ability, I also suggest Authentic Interactive Writing (purposeful activities where you and your child “share the pencil”). My latest School Notes article has more information. 

To continue daily independent reading, you may have access to enough books at each child’s just-right level. If not, Epic--an online virtual library--is free for the next month. Sign up here. While too much screen time is not optimal, unprecedented times call for flexibility. 

Lastly, just for you: here is a lovely poem written this month by Lynn Ungar. It has given me some helpful perspective and it may offer you the same comfort: 

Pandemic

What if you thought of it

as the Jews consider the Sabbath —

the most sacred of times?

Cease from travel.

Cease from buying and selling.

Give up, just for now,

on trying to make the world

different than it is.

Sing. Pray. Touch only those

to whom you commit your life.

Center down.

And when your body has become still,

reach out with your heart.

Know that we are connected

in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.

(You could hardly deny it now.)

Know that our lives

are in one another’s hands.

(Surely, that has come clear.)

Do not reach out your hands.

Reach out your heart.

Reach out your words.

Reach out all the tendrils

of compassion that move, invisibly,

where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love —

for better or for worse,

in sickness and in health,

so long as we all shall live.

I very much look forward to hearing from you!

Reaching out, 

Ms. Navarro

As author Neil Gaiman says, “The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.” I would love to see what you make--even if it has nothing to do with these prompts! And, if you take a piece through the writing process, you will have the option to be featured the following week.

If you are looking for additional writing prompts, check out the Literacy archives from weeks 1-9.

In 1877, Lewis Carroll, who wrote Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, invented word ladders as a game for two bored children with “nothing to do.” While you don’t have that problem, try one if you find yourself wanting a quick brain challenge. Look for new ladders here each week (but if you can’t wait that long please email me for more options). You can also create your own and send them to me to publish.

In addition to the other word ladders posted, try this family variation of Telephone: 

1. Sit in a circle. 
2. Everyone writes down one word on a card. 
3. Pass the card to the left. 
4. Silently read the passed card. Everyone changes something to make a new word (or a new made-up word if you can't make a real one). 
5. Keep passing until you have your original card back. See how different the word became!

World Ladder Challenges:

• Level 1
• Level 2 
• Level 3

 

 

Children at Aidan have been working hard to develop written pieces across various genres. Here are some final drafts that have been through the steps of the writing process--from the collection of ideas to revision and editing. Help them celebrate by reading the work below, and check back here for updates. 

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Six Long Days

By Arden Lee

Once upon a time, there was a lovable dog named Jasper. One day he went out and saw a squirrel! Oh boy! He ran super fast after it.

But then he got lost, big time. The owner was crying so hard that she fell to the ground and almost passed out.

Six long days later, the owner finally found the puppy and was thrilled! But he was as wild as a wolf and tried to chase her. The owner ran and ran. 

When they got home, the owner's mom leapt out from the bushes and threw a ball. If there is one thing that all puppies love it's a ball. 

The puppy ran and fetched it and brought it back. And they lived happily ever after.

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My Pet Lizard 

By Arden Lee

On a hot day after lunch, I saw a baby lizard on the steps. I caught the lizard with my hands. It tried to run away, but it was too slow. 

I put it in a cup with a top on it, but I left a space so it could breathe. I loved him for five minutes and then I let him go.... 

BUT!!!! he did not want to leave. He stayed on my finger and he smiled at me. He loved me. But he had to go back to his mom.

He was a wild animal, but he was also my pet for a teeny bit. I loved him.

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What is Gold? 

By Estelle Belfiore 

Gold is sometimes in metal. 

Gold is prettier than a flower petal. 

Gold is a color similar to sand. 

It is the color in my hand. 

Gold is so shiny and bright. 

It is the color of the stars at night. 

It is sometimes on necklaces, bracelets, and rings. 

Gold can be many beautiful things.

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Jackie Robinson

By McKenna Purse 

I was the first African American major league baseball player in history. Breaking this color barrier led to big changes throughout the whole world and not even just sports. I am Jackie Robinson. 

Growing up I was one of five children. I had three older brothers and one older sister. Being the youngest wasn't always easy and that's what really gave me a push to work hard for what I wanted.

I went to UCLA for college. I was one of the best all-around athletes in the world. I played baseball, basketball, football, golf and tennis, receiving varsity letters in all five sports. During my second year at UCLA, I met the girl of my dreams, Rachel Isum. Of course, she knew all about me (everybody on the campus did). 

After meeting Rachel I knew that I needed to get a job to support my family. As for sports, no people of color were in the professional leagues in football, baseball, or basketball. I was eager to earn some money so I began coaching at a job training center but the program ended. After that, I went and played semi-pro football in Honolulu, Hawaii. But when the season ended, I was out of work again! 

A week later, I was on a ship back to California on December 7th, 1941. While some other people on the boat and I were playing cards, we noticed someone from the crew was painting the windows black. The captain called everyone on deck, and explained that Japanese planes had just bombed a naval base near where I played football! It was a surprise strike and it was dangerous to travel. (We later learned the reason why they had to paint the portholes was so the Japanese would not see our ship.) At Pearl Harbor that day, 21 ships in the U.S. fleet were already sunk or damaged. The total death toll was 2,403. This event shocked me. Luckily all the people on the ship made it safely back home. Soon after, I was drafted in the U.S. Army. In April 1942, I was sent to Fort Riley, Kansas, far from Rachel and my family.

After I completed my work in the army, I decided to go back into baseball! The only league I could join was called the “Negro League” which was only for African American players. I joined the Kansas City Monarchs as a shortstop. Without even a day of practice I was thrown into the game. The Negro League games were popular and the tickets were cheap, and the players were unstoppable. The games were full of excitement. But the league didn't have much money. The Negro League couldn’t even pay for spring training that would help improve our skills and would keep us active. We had to improve our skills during the games. Often we could only play in the evening with no lights.

The league's teams didn't stay in the same city for more than a day. I wanted to see my family and Rachel more than ever, but this was important for me to succeed.

One day on a road trip when we (the Monarchs) were driving through Mississippi, we stopped at a small gas station where there was a white man standing outside our bus. We all stepped out for some fresh air and to go to the restroom. As our Monarchs driver was filling the bus with gas, I went over to the restroom. As I took one step closer the white man stopped me right there and said that that restroom was only for whites. I stepped away from the bathroom and told our driver to stop filling the bus with gas and that we could get some somewhere else. The man backed down and opened the restroom. Then after our pit stop we were off.     

While I was wrapping up the season with the Monarchs, I got a call from the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was hoping to expand his team to new players and new audiences. That opened the door for me to break the color barrier in professional baseball in 1946. I was now on the Montreal Royals, the minor league farm team for the Brooklyn Dodgers. During that first year while I tried to focus on playing the game, I faced a number of challenges, such as racist taunts and threats from players, coaches, and fans. This chapter in my life was hard but I got through it with the support of my family, wife, son, and eventually the acceptance of many of my teammates.

When I was given a fair shot on the team, I showed Americans that I could be one of the best players in the world. After my retirement I made sure to help the causes I believed in, including helping poor families get housing and access to banks. I inspired my family, as well as many future generations of Americans.

“There's not an American in this country free until every one of us is free.”

--Jackie Robinson, number 42 on the Brooklyn Dodgers

Bibliography 

Book: Herman, Gail. Who Was Jackie Robinson. New York, Penguin Worksop, December 23 2010.

Movie: 42. Directed by Brian Helgeland, performances by Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, Nicole Beharie. Warner Brothers, 2013.

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Woodpecker Party

By Nico Belfiore 

Dear Woody,

Please come to my party tomorrow. There will be lots of trees so you can peck as loud as you like. Also there will be hot cockroach stew. See you in the forest.

Love,

Nico

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A Book of Poems 

by Maria Ridge 

This book of poems was written to express my feelings about current world events. I chose to write it in a haiku style because I wanted my feelings to be boiled down to the essence, and haikus are the perfect style to use. They are written with three lines that go: five syllables, seven syllables, five syllables and they are normally written to capture a moment.

A Book of Poems

A book of poems

Is sometimes extremely long

But is sometimes short

 

Quarantine

I am stuck at home

No other people in sight

And I miss my friends

 

Survival

It is terrible

This thing we are fighting

But we must have hope

 

Gone

I say a goodbye

To my good friends and classmates

As we leave the chat

 

Window Seat

I am in a fort

Sheltered from the cunning world

I feel protected

 

Books

They help me calm down

An ever-present comfort

Books are always there