4th Quarter Newsletter 2023-2024
End of another school year!
As we approach the end of the school year and plan for a well-deserved break, it is important to finish the year strong. The summer vacation is a perfect time to engage in fun and meaningful activities. For example, students could read books of their personal choice to help expand their vocabulary, volunteer for causes that seem important to them, find time for physical activities, and try a new exercise or sport, start new hobbies and/or spend time with positive friends. Additionally, family vacations are a great way to reconnect with all members of the family and find out more about your child’s interests.
Reflection of an end of a school year Here are some questions that might help you get started in talking to your child: What do you want to remember about this school year? Why? What surprised you? What challenged you? What successes are you most proud of? What did you learn, whether in or out of school?
Social Media We know that social media use is a big part of teenage life, and although it can be a connector and learning tool, it can also have negative effects when overused or misused. Parents need to talk to their children about expectations and limits when engaging in social media. Too many times, we have heard in the news how preteens and teens in particular may develop mental health issues (depression, anxiety, stress, etc.) due to inappropriate use of platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, etc. It is important to model behavior for our children, like having more face-to-face interactions, setting rules when it comes to not having devices during family meals, and having a curfew for being active on social media. Parents can help students make sure they understand privacy settings, understanding that they should only post things that are positive in nature. A plus for using social media, especially as a junior and senior is that students can start following post-secondary institutions that are of interest to them as part of their “fun” research. They can start finding out about programs, scholarships, school life, etc. Knowledge is power! Teens and social media use: What's the impact? (Mayo Clinic) Ms. Lindsay Irwin, M.Ed.
Testing Coordinator
lirwin@sja.us * ext. 318
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