This holiday, I am asking

parents to consider giving

your child gifts that will

help them to grow crea-

tively, academically, and

socially. This time of the

year, I often ask students,

“What do you want for

Christmas?” When a Bull

Dog tells me they asked

for a board game, dolls,

Legos, or other toys that

inspire imaginative and

cooperative play…it

warms my heart. Too of-

ten my students tell me

they only get technology

items for Christmas. A

2017 report released from

PBS states, “Children ag-

es 2 to 4 spend 2 hours

and 40 minutes, and kids

ages 5 to 8 spend nearly 3

hours (2:58) with screen

media daily. About 35

percent of children's

screen time is spent with

a mobile device, com-

pared to 4 percent in

2011”. In fact, the Ameri-

can Academy of Pediat-

rics credits play for its

ability to build confi-

dence, resilience and con-

flict resolution skills.

Some experts feel a lack

of play may result in

childhood depression and

anxiety. Here are some

great gifts to consider:

Books (Series books,

Junie B. Jones, Michi-

gan Chillers, Diary of

a Wimpy Kid)

Card games (Uno,

Skip Bo, Old Maid,

Go Fish, Sequence,

Pyramid)

Board games (Clue,

Shoots and Ladders,

Trouble, Sorry, Mo-

nopoly, Hedbanz,

Life)

• Dolls

• Action Figures

• Blocks of all types

Art supplies

Play-dough

Hot wheels cars

Nerf toys

Sports games

.

All I Want for Christmas...

Burr Elementary School 41460 Ryan Road, Sterling Heights, MI 48314 School Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 3:50 p.m. Phone: 586-797-4100 Jeanne Poleski, Principal

Bulldog Bulletin December 2018

Our sense of urgency continues with a purpose and a plan!

Burr...illiant Points

of Pride:

• Personalized blended learn-

ing in all K-2 classes

• a leader in educational tech-

nology by providing digital

tools that increase student

achievement

• Teaching coding at all grade

levels

• Offering 3D printing

• A Michigan Department of

Education REWARD School!

Keep up with our Burr PTO

at: www.burrbulldogpto.com

For volunteer opportunities

and questions email them

at:

burrbulldogpto@gmail.com

Upcoming Dates:

Dec 6 Student Council Mtg

NEHS Induction

Ceremony 6:00

Dec7 Recognition Assem.

10:45 Grades K-2

Dec 8 Burr Holiday Fair

10:00 a.m.-4:00

Dec10 5:30 1st gr concert

6:30 3rd gr concert

7:30 5th gr concert

BULLDOG PARENT CORNER

Why teaching children empathy is more important than ever

Posted by Goodstart 22 February 2018 Empathy is the ability to put yourself in the shoes of someone else and understand what they are feeling or experiencing. In the early years of life, young children are naturally ego-centric and are very much inclined to think mostly about themselves and their immediate needs. They’re not yet ready to consider the needs and feelings of others. But developing a sense of empathy is an important developmental process for young children, and one that can benefit them not only in childhood but well into adult life as well.

Why is developing empathy important for children?

Building an understanding of what others are feeling, how their own actions can impact on others, and why someone might be experiencing feelings at a particular time is a valuable life skill for chil-dren to possess. Helping young children to develop a strong sense of empathy is beneficial because:

It helps them to build a sense of security and stronger relationships with other children and edu-cators, positioning them well for learning

It encourages tolerance and acceptance of others

It promotes good mental health

It promotes social harmony and can reduce the likelihood of bullying

The benefits of empathetic thinking flow into adult life too. Empathetic adults may have: Greater success personally and professionally

Higher levels of overall happiness

A better ability to understand others, like customers or co-workers

More success in leadership positions

More satisfying relationships and be better at dealing with conflict

Lower levels of stress

These benefits are just the tip of the iceberg too, as this amazing scientifically-backed info-graphic shows.

In a nutshell, developing empathy is a vital building block in a child’s ability to regulate their emo-tions and is so valuable in being able to adapt and succeed in an ever-changing world.

How can we help children develop empathy?

Parents are children’s first and most enduring teachers, and modelling empathetic behavior is one of the best ways parents can teach their child this valuable skill. Other simple ways empathy can be developed include:

Helping your child to name their feelings, as understanding their own feelings is an important first step in understanding the feelings of others

Talking to your child about how other people may be feeling, and why. This helps to build their emotional language and think about other people’s perspectives.

Caring for animals and plants, which helps children understand the role they play in helping an-other living thing survive, thrive and be happy.

Perhaps one of the simplest ways of all to help children develop a sense of empathy is by reading

books together, as children learn to associate feelings and actions with their favorite characters

and stories.

https://www.goodstart.org.au/news-and-advice/february-2018/why-teaching-children-empathy-is-important

PTO Corner

Our annual Cookies with Santa event is scheduled for Thursday, December 13th at

6:00 P.M. We look forward to seeing all of our families there!

There is still time to volunteer to help with Santa Shop. Santa Shop will run during

the school day on December 11—December 13. The link to sign up to volunteer for this fun event to

help our little Bull Dogs shop is:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0c4dadaa2caa8-santa

This Saturday, December 8th, 10:00-4:00, is our first Holiday Market and Craft Fair and volunteers are

still needed. To volunteer for this event please see the sign-up below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0c4dadaa2caa8-holiday

Bull Dog Bites from Kindergarten

Our youngest Bulldogs are working very hard in Kindergarten! The students have gotten in-to the Full-Day routine and love being at school!

We are working very hard on learning all of our letters and sounds. Daily literacy stations help us with phonemic awareness and writing. We have been sending home Bulldog Book Bags filled with high frequency word books and your child’s on-level reading book. Please be sure to sign the log every weekend so we know your child is reading at home!

(Common Core State Standards: Know and Print many upper- and lowercase letters, write a letter or letters for most consonant and short-vowel sounds (phonemes), Phonics and Word Recognition.)

In math we have learned all of our colors and explored patterns. These are important con-cepts that get us ready for the rest of the year. Some math concepts we will learn are shapes, story problems, addition and subtraction and measurement. We also use math daily during our calendar time by counting, place value, patterns, and telling time.

(Common Core State Standards: Counting to 100 by ones and tens, decomposing numbers,

describe attributes by weight/length, fluently add and subtract within 5, correctly name

shapes, identify shapes as a two or three-dimensional solid)

Bull Dog Bites from Second Grade

Second Grade has spent the beginning of the year talking about the 5 W’s. (who, what, where, when, and why) The next strategy we have started talking about is main idea and de-tails. When you are doing your nightly reading, please keep these strategies in mind. Ask your child questions about the story using these strategies and it will help with their compre-hension.

In Math, we are using our new Math Expression Series. The students are using different strategies they have learned to problem solve. The children are using Math talk to share their knowledge with other students. Practice your basic Math facts. Enjoy the Math Bags that are coming home. These games will reinforce what we are doing in the classroom.

Thank you for your support and be sure to KEEP READING!

Happy Holidays From Student Council

Pennies for Pasta – Thank you for all your support! We raised $1,002.47!

Mrs. Carlin’s class raised the most money - $153.43. Ms. Peila raised $124.94 and Ms. Gronzo raised $116.64.

December Happenings

Toys for Tots – December 1st – Dec. 14th.

Please send in new unopened and unwrapped toys for those in need.

Hat/Mitten/Scarf Tree – Dec. 1st – Dec. 20th.

Please send in new items to be distributed to those in need – both in the school and the community.

Canned Food Drive – Dec. 1st – Dec. 20th.

Please send in nonperishable foods to be donated to Community Christian Church. The class who collects the most will win an ice cream party or pizza party.

Spirit Days

Dec. 7 – Wear your class colors

Dec. 14 – Wear red

Dec. 19 – Wear your class colors

Dec. 21 – Comfy Clothes Day

Thank you for your continued help and support for children and families in need!

Be sure to collect and send in Box Tops for your child’s class!

(Each one is worth 10 cents for our school!)

Any questions, please email Mrs. Haroney or Mrs. Carlin.

DOING THEIR BULLDOG BEST AND LOVING SCHOOL!

Congratulations to our 6th graders working hard on their take home math bag activities!

We encourage all of our families to play these learning games with their children.

More Bull Dog photos……..

December 1 Hat and Mitten Tree Begins

Toys for Tots Begins

December 3 PTO Meeting 7:00 p.m. in the

media center – all parents are

invited to attend

December 5 Lockdown Drill 1:30 p.m.

Honor Roll Assembly Grades 3-6

Bible Club 4-5 P.M.

December 6 Student Council Meeting

NEHS Induction Ceremony 6:00

December 7 Recognition Assembly 10:45 Low-

er

December 8 Burr Holiday Fair 10:00 a.m.-4:00

December 10 5:30 1st grade concert, 6:30 3rd

grade concert, 7:30 5th grade

concert

December 11 Parent math/reading event at

Rudgate 9:30 AM

December 12 Bible Club 4-5 P.M.

December 11-13 Burr Santa Shop

December 13 Cookies with Santa 6:00-8:00

p.m.

Toys for Tots ends

December 14 Canned Food Drive ends

Recognition Assembly Grades 3-5

2:00 PM

December 18 Staff Meeting 8:00 a.m.

December 19 SMART Moves Graduation 2:00

PM

December 20 Hat and Mitten Tree ends

December 21 Recognition Assembly 10:45 Low-

er

Dec. 24 - Jan. 1 No school – Winter Break

January 2 Classes resume

January 3 Student Council Meeting

January 10 Elementary Honors Choir Concert

at Henry Ford II High School

January 16 Bible Club 4-5 P.M.

January 17 5th Grade Field Trip to the DIA

January 21 No school – Martin Luther King Jr.

Day

January 23 Recognition Assembly 2:00 Upper

Bible Club 4-5 P.M.

January 24 Half day (12:04 dismissal)

January 25 End of second marking period

Half day (12:04 dismissal)

Recognition Assembly 10:45 Low-

er

January 28 NEHS Mtg 3:50-4:50

January 30 Bible Club 4-5 P.M.

February 6 Bible Club 4-5 P.M.

February 7 Academic Blitz – Henry Ford II

High School

Student Council Meeting

February 11 Lockdown Drill 10:30 a.m.

February 13 Recognition Assembly 2:00 Upper

- ¼ Awards

February 15 Recognition Assembly 10:45 Low-

er

February 18-22 No school – Mid-Winter Break

February 25 NEHS Mtg 3:50-4:50

March 7 Student Council Meeting

March 18 NEHS Mtg 3:50-4:50

March 14 Spring Pictures

March 20 Recognition Assembly 2:00 Upper

March 18-20 District Student Art Show

March 21 Career Expo

Bulldog Dates to Know: