Congratulations families, you have made it to the last nine weeks of the 2018-19 school year!  Your child has been working, eating, playing and putting up with the same classmates for nearly eight months, and chances are, they all feel like siblings at the end of a long car ride:  cooped up and maybe a little touchy.  This is the time we see an increase in the “she looked at me” or “he took my seat” complaints, and if we are prepared, we can help our kids remember that they are still friends, even if they are growing a little too close for comfort. 

To avoid the “long car ride” scenes, teachers here have been using the Sanford Harmony curriculum, which helps our students connect in positive ways.  In some classrooms, students are paired with buddies for discussion and projects.  Your child’s “buddy” changes frequently and will often be a student outside his friend group.  This encourages students to engage in positive interactions with every single member of their class over the course of the school year.  As students become better acquainted, empathy, kindness, and tolerance should grow.   

If your child is looking for fresh start, encourage her to try talking with a new “buddy” and learning how that child can become a friend.  Remind her that it is good practice to tell friends why you care for them, and to enjoy spending time with both old and new friends. 

Here’s to a harmonious end to the 2018-19 school year!