Thursday, March 3, 2016

RAPT March News

Hi parents, 

Hope many of you enjoyed our PRO-grant workshop with Beverly Cathcart-Ross. It was a very informative evening and she offered many useful tips to help us become “great parents”. Thank you to all parents who were able to join us.  For anyone interested in borrowing it, the school has a copy of her book, Raising Great Parents. You'll find some of her notes posted on this blog as well.

On Monday, March 7th RAPT has scheduled Cadence, an acapella group to come perform for the students. These arts performances are made possible with our donation funds. Thank you for helping to enrich student life at Rippleton.

We have a Pizza Lunch again this Friday and a Sub Lunch on March 11th. If you are able to volunteer your time please sign-up at   http://www.vols.pt/iuEdFr      

We still need help in the following classes.

Pizza Lunch–March 4th
Sub Lunch-March 11th
Williams
Williams
D’Angelo
D’Angelo
King (x 2)
Di Cesare
Lucas
Meijer
Buck
Fitzgibbons
Meijer
Wakabayashi
Ormos
Buck
Wilson
Ormos

RAPT is looking into having a different hot lunch program (to replace Lunch Lady) next year. If you know of a reputable service with good reviews please forward the information to raptrippleton@gmail.com or drop a pamphlet in our RAPT mailbox in the school office
Please Save-the-Date for our annual BBQ and Fun Fair – Saturday June 4th.

We hope you have a wonderful March Break.


Sincerely, RAPT 

Tips from Parenting Network: Long-range life skills for children

Hi parents, 

These great tips came from the PRO-grant workshop with Beverly Cathcart-Ross last month. It was a very informative evening and she offered many useful tips to help us become “great parents”. Thank you to all parents who were able to join us.  For anyone interested in borrowing it, the school has a copy of her book, Raising Great Parents. 

Long-range Life Skills for Our Children
The following outlines the life skills that parents consider most important. Please take a moment to reflect on these skills. At the end, you’ll find an activity for parents to add anything else that you’d like on your wish-list for your child(ren).

Life Skill - Independence
How parents can help…
 We want our children to have the inner confidence that they can handle whatever comes their way.
 You can help your child(ren) start building this skill immediately by inviting them to make decisions for themselves. Toddlers can decide what clothes to wear and what cereal to eat in the morning.
 Let a child experience struggle and they will learn that they can cope!

Life Skill - Dual respect (for self and others)
 Respect is vital to parenting in a democracy.
 Children are not born knowing how to be respectful. It’s something they learn and modeling is still our best tool.
 You can start off on the right foot by creating a family atmosphere of respect for the child and respect for yourself.

Life Skill - Capacity for close, caring relationships
 As parents, we want our children to have fulfilling lives.
 There is nothing more valuable than experiencing loving, caring relationships.
 Help build this skill by encouraging your child(ren) to love and believe in themselves.

Life Skill - Social interest
 All human beings have the inherent capacity for social interest.
 As parents, we can encourage our children to contribute, and to be cooperative and caring towards others in our families and communities.

Life Skill - Capacity for problem-solving, conflict resolution
 As we all discover, relationships have their moments of conflict. This is normal and natural.
 Whether it’s at home, in the classroom or on the playground, the ability to resolve conflict is a crucial skill for our children to learn.
 A lot of parents are uncomfortable with conflict and confrontation in their lives. It is a skill that is never too late to learn.

Life Skill - Internal motivation
 Most parents unknowingly use a lot of external motivation in influencing their child’s behaviour.
 Threats, bribes and fear of punishment are all external motivators.
 We’ll talk about different things that we can say to foster internal motivation in our children.

Life Skill - Strong self-esteem
 Everyone wants their child to have strong self-esteem.
 Self-esteem simply means how the child estimates himself.
 We’ll be reviewing three critical elements in our children’s self-esteem: Do they feel loved unconditionally, valued and capable “as is”? If they can say yes to all three, they are in great shape!

Life Skill - Happy, healthy disposition, sense of humour
 Parents often say that, above all, they want their children to be “happy and healthy”.
 It’s easier to achieve this lifestyle when one has a sense of humour to help keep mistakes in perspective.

Life Skill - Willingness to take risks, sense of curiosity and adventure
 Many parents see the value in a child who is curious, adventurous, willing to take a risk, and make mistakes.
 Children with these skills can learn to develop resourcefulness, be adaptable, and enjoy their innate creativity.

Life Skill - Responsibility
 It’s vital that our children be responsible for their choices in life.
 We can help our children with this skill by not protecting them from life or from the results of their own choices and decisions.
 We can also give them age-appropriate responsibility and ways to contribute to the family.

A Skills Wish-list for My Child(ren)
You may wish to collaborate on a skills list with your partner, or complete this activity individually and then compare notes afterwards! Specifically, list the skill and then things I can do to help my child develop this skill. 

Tips from Parenting Network: Parenting Styles role play, tools + statements

Hi parents, 

These great tips came from the PRO-grant workshop with Beverly Cathcart-Ross last month. It was a very informative evening and she offered many useful tips to help us become “great parents”. Thank you to all parents who were able to join us.  For anyone interested in borrowing it, the school has a copy of her book, Raising Great Parents. 

How to Talk so Your Kids Will Listen… or NOT

Controlling Parent:
Statements that invite submission or defiance…

Manage:
“I need you to go up stairs, brush your teeth, wash your face and get into your pjs. Then it’s story time.”

Warnings:
“If you jump on that couch one more time young lady…”

Demands:
“I don’t care if you are watching TV, turn it off now!”

Threats:
“If you don’t come down right now, there will be no dinner for you.”

Control:
“No, you can’t have any dessert; you didn’t finish your dinner.”

Criticize:
“What is the matter with you? Your brother is 2 years younger and he’s ready on time.”

Direct:
“Hurry up will you. We are going to be late for school again.”

Punish:
“You stay in your room until I tell you to come out.”

Pushover Parent:
Statements that invite manipulation or dependency…

Giving up:
“Do what you want; I’m tired of fighting with you.”

Giving in:
“Ok stop your whining. You can watch some TV. But that doesn’t mean you can watch every morning!”

Over-serve:
“No, let me pour the juice. We wouldn’t want a spill.”

Pamper:
“You don’t like the eggs I made? How about cocoa puffs? Baked Alaska?”

Over-protect:
“Don’t swing so high, you’re making me nervous. You might fall off.”

Guiding Parent:
Statements that invite cooperation and responsibility…

Let the Routine be the Boss:
“It is 5 minutes to story time. What do you need to do to be ready?”

Be Flexible:
“Looks like you want to do some jumping. How about we put some cushions on the playroom floor and you can jump there.”

Let the Routine be the Boss:
“When do we watch TV in our house?”

Show you care:
“I don’t want to eat dinner without you. Why aren’t you joining us?”

Ask the Child:
“So you’d like to go for a sleepover tomorrow. Well, what can you do to make sure you get a good sleep tonight?”

Offer Help:
“Everyone is ready to go. Is there anything you need help with?”

Problem-solving:
“We’ve been late twice this week. Tonight let’s put our heads together and figure out a better way to get out the door in the morning.”

Say what you’ll be doing, not what they should do:
“I’m getting my coat and heading to the car.”

Disengage:
“I love you too much to fight. I think we both need a break to calm down.”

Alternatives to No:
“How about we get a jug that’s just the right size for you to pour your own juice?”

Give a Choice:”
Can I make you a bagel or do you want to help yourself to some cereal this morning?”

Tips from Parenting Network: Self-reliance, Autonomy and Independence

Hi parents, 

These great tips came from the PRO-grant workshop with Beverly Cathcart-Ross last month. It was a very informative evening and she offered many useful tips to help us become “great parents”. Thank you to all parents who were able to join us.  For anyone interested in borrowing it, the school has a copy of her book, Raising Great Parents

Practical tools that will help you raise a child that says “I am able and I can handle it myself!”

1. Change the way you relate to your family:
We’re a team and I’m its coach.

2. Don’t do for a child what they can do for themselves.
See them as able, and see it as your responsibility to let them become
even more able. Keep letting go by moving responsibility for their lives
over to them.
Commitment: One thing you’ll stop doing for your child this week.

3. Be ok with mistakes.
Children have a learning curve, and will not do things as well as you can.
So be ok with that. They need to feel safe to explore, and to take some risks. (Celebrate mistakes!)

4. Give your child ways to contribute around the home.
Let them experience the good feeling of doing for others, while getting competent!
ACTIVITY: Make a list of ways your children can contribute together.

5. Invest the time necessary to teach them skills.
For a child to rely on themselves they need to go through a learning process.
Four steps of Training:
 Show them
 Do it together
 They show you
 You are now a consultation, should they need you

6. Show respect for a child’s struggle. Let them experience the results of their choices. Best way to learn is through trial and error.
“You’re not feeling good about going to school without your project finished, are you? Well, I’m not willing to write a note and be dishonest with your teacher. It may feel uncomfortable to face your teacher but you’ll handle it.”
Commitment: One natural consequence you’ll let your child experience this week.

7. Ask ‘what’ and ‘how’ questions, instead of solving and managing. 
When they aren’t ‘handling’ the situation well, help get them refocused: “What have you got left to do before we head out the door?”

8. Establish routines with your child
Routines provide a child with a framework and the ability to anticipate.

9. Encourage children to use sources outside of the home.
“Maybe the pet shop owner would have a suggestion. Why don’t you give him a call?”
Commitment: One way you’ll encourage your child this week.

10. Embrace a NEW Attitude: The Attitude of LRB
L = Unconditionally love and accept the child as is.
When someone feels safe and secure in our love for them they have the freedom to explore and grow.
R = Respect the child’s right to make decisions and choices for themselves.
Don’t protect them from the results of their choices. Give them a voice and say in family life.
B= Believe in your child’s ability to handle their choices and to learn from their decisions.
Sprinkle faith around them. “Go ahead you can do it.”
“Take it at your own pace.”

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Severe weather warning for Wednesday March 2

Hi Parents, please see the note below from Rippleton's Principal about the upcoming storm and potential cancellation of transportation and, possibly, school. This was emailed to parents as well:
--
Dear Parents/Guardians:

Occasionally, severe weather conditions may require the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to cancel transportation and close schools. This may occur before the beginning of the school day or, if conditions become severe, during the school day. To ensure the safety and welfare of stu-dents and staff during school hours, the Board’s Severe Weather operational procedures will guide decisions and operations.

The safety and welfare of students is a shared responsibility with parents and guardians. In the event of severe weather conditions, please keep children at home if possible. The decision to close schools is made by the Director of Education.

Closure of schools or cancellation of transportation services will be announced on the following stations:

AM Radio
FAN 590
AM 640
CFTR 680
CFRB 1010
CHUM 1050

FM Radio
JACK 92.5
CHFI 98.1
CBC 99.1
VIRGIN 99.9
CFNY 102.1
CHUM 104.5
Q107
Z103.5
EZ ROCK 97.3
FLOW 93.5

TV
The Weather Network
CP24
CTV
CITY-TV
GLOBAL TV
OMNI TV
ROGERS TV

Online
www.globaltv.com
www.thestar.com
www.cp24.com
www.tdsb.on.ca

Information on closure of schools and cancellation of transportation services will be posted on the TDSB website at www.tdsb.on.ca and on the TDSB social media channels.

Thank you for your cooperation. We would ask that you listen to the radio/television station announcements and to the messages via SchoolConnects telephone and email communication to confirm school closure and or cancellation of transportation services. We may not be able to answer the school telephone due to the weather conditions and the volume of calls created if everyone is attempting to call the school for information.