River View News May 5, 2008

News From the Principal:
Helping our children navigate life’s experiences is the most
challenging and rewarding job on the planet! I share with you some key points taken from Child Development experts & authors Dr. Robert Brooks and Dr. Sam Goldstein to encourage us all with this crucial task.

Communicate effectively and listen actively. Effective communication involves actively listening to your children, understanding what they are attempting to say and responding in ways that avoid power struggles. Help your children to understand your point of view and make a sincere effort to understand theirs.

Break free of negative scripts. If something you've said or done for a reasonable amount of time isn't working, think about what you can do differently. This teaches your children that there are alternative ways of solving problems and that you can learn from your mistakes.

Love your children in ways that help them to feel special and appreciated. Once children understand that you love them for who they are – and not simply for what they do or don't do – they develop the confidence to think for themselves and can be less susceptible to peer pressure.

Help your children to recognize that we all learn from mistakes. Resilient children tend to view mistakes as opportunities for learning. In contrast, children who are not very hopeful often experience mistakes as an indication that they are failures. Helping your children to see life as a continuous learning process takes the fear out of trying new experiences.

Judith M. Morin, Principal

Upcoming Events:
Walking School Bus
Meets at Chet’s Market each Wednesday @7:45 A.M.

Mrs. Storey- Grade 3 Field Trip
May 8

Super Skills Assembly
May 15 @ 8:45 A.M.

Grade 3 Maine State Museum
May 19

Early Release Day
Students are dismissed @ 12:30 P.M.
May 21

Grade 5 Plymouth Trip
Friday, May 30

Last Student ½ Day
June 17th
Dismissal @ 12:30 P.M.

MAY 17, 2008~KENNEBEC RAIL TRAIL
Rotary Club of Gardiner
1st Annual Walk-a-thon
Registration begins at 9:30A.M. in the Gardiner Hannaford Parking Lot. All participants will be bused to Hallowell to begin the 4-mile walk back to Gardiner. The walk will begin promptly at 10:30A.M. Walkers will head south from Hallowell on the trail for 4 miles until they reach Gardiner. Pledge forms will be available for anyone who has not received a form prior to the walk. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. A minimum of $20.00 is required for registration. For more information regarding pledge sheets please contact Dale Staples at 582-8458 ext. 215 or E-mail: dalestaples03@aol.com
*ALL PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF GARDINER SCHOLARSHIP FUND.

GEPTA News:

Next meeting: May 6 at 6:00 P.M. at RVCS. Babysitting available

Playground: We are in the process of choosing a design and planning fundraisers. If you would like to be involved please call Helen (582-6492) or Karen (582-0610) or email geptanews@gmail.com

On going Fund Raisers for Playground:
• Shaw's Receipts- send in your original Shaw's receipts! We receive 1% of the amount.
• Terra-cycle - send in your clean yogurt containers. Look for a flyer with more details in your child's book bag.
• Family Fun Magazine - Forms were sent home with your child. Order Family Fun Magazine for $10 and $5 stays with GEPTA! This is a great magazine that promotes fun family activities!

GEPTA and Terra Cycle’s Yogurt Brigade

Every year millions of yogurt containers end up in garbage and landfills. Stonyfield Farm, the organic food leader and environmental pioneer, is partnering with Terra Cycle in a pilot program aimed at collecting used yogurt containers and reusing them as planting pots. Terra Cycle will then sell planting pots to large retailers who currently use black plastic planting pots, millions of which are discarded by consumers every year. For every container collected, Stonyfield will donate 2 cents or 5 cents, respectively, to GEPTA for use in our enrichment and educational programs