January,  2014  Issue  10

Help Your Child Build Healthy Relationships

"Play   nicely."   "Please   share   with   Johnny/Suzie."   These  phrases  or   similar   versions  of   them  are     familiar   to  many  of  us.  We  heard   them  as  children  and  probably   repeat   them  to  our  own  children.  It's  in  the  early  years  when  we  begin  to  help  our  children  make  friends  and  build  relationships.

As  individuals  we  may  be  unique,  but  some  experiences  and  needs   are   common   to   all   of   our   lives.   Having   healthy                  relationships   with   our   peers   is   one   common   need.                          Adolescent  children  especially  need  healthy  friendships.  It's  important  to  this  age  group  to  have  someone  who  shares  the  same  likes  and  dislikes  in  music  or  clothing,  or  someone  who  can  offer  mutual  support  in  navigating  this  difficult  growth  stage.  Parental   guidance  at   this   time   is   key   to   helping   form  healthy  friendships.

Here   are   some   ways   you   can   help   your   child   build  healthy  relationships:

Build   respect   for   other   people's   feelings   and                property.   Compliment   your   child's   knowledge   and            abilities,   pay   attention   and   listen   to   her,   and   ask                  permission   to   use   things   that   belong   to   her.   Your   child  will   display   the   same   behaviors   to   you   and   to   others    outside  the  home.  Respect  is  a  two-way  street  that  builds  trust,  encouraging  good  relationships.

Provide   a   safe   and   loving   home   environment.  Your  child  should  feel  comfortable  bringing  friends  home,  and  her  friends  should  feel  welcome  in  your  home.  This  gives  you   an   ideal   opportunity   to   observe   your   child's   friends  and  spot  troublesome  relationships.

Teach   responsibility.   Give   appropriate   amounts   of      independence   and   freedom.   Do   not   instantly   demand  that   your   child   end   a   relationship   with   which   you   are    uncomfortable.  Instead,  choose  a  time  to  calmly  express  your   concerns   and   gently   remind   your   child   about   the  boundaries  and  standards   you  have  set   for   your   family.  Most   children   will   respect   these   boundaries   and              eventually  make  them  part  of  their   lives.  A  child   is  more  likely   to   give   up   an   inappropriate   friendship   because   it  could   cause   embarrassment   than   because   he   feels        compelled  to.

Resolve   conflict.   Teach   your   child   to   respect   other  points   of   view.   No   relationship   is   without   discord,   and  sometimes   we   have   to   lose   the   fight   to   win   the                      relationship.   Compromise   is   a   key   ingredient   in                maintaining   good,   healthy   relationships.   Where   good  relations  are    concerned,  winning  isn't  everything.

Be   a   good   role   model.   You   are   the   most     powerful              example   in  your  child's   life.  Let   your   child  observe  your  

own   relationships,   especially   those   that   are   long-standing—from   junior   high   or   your   college   days.   Talk  about   your   friendships   openly—the   good   times   and   the  not-so-good   times,   the   ups   and   the   downs.   Your   child  should  know  that  putting  effort   into   relationships   is  what  contributes  to  their  value  and  longevity.

Our   children   spend   many   unsupervised   hours   away   from  home,  and  inevitably  they  leave  the  family.  Learning  how   to  choose  good  friends  and  how  to  nurture  friendships  is  an  important  part  of  growing  up.  These  skills  can  make  coping  with  life's  hardships  a  lot  easier  when  they  occur.                                                                                                                      

Put  It  Into  Practice

Talk  to  your  child  about  her  friendships.  Ask  her  whether  she  and   her   friends   treat   each   other   with   respect.   Talk   to   her  about   how   she   can   approach   a   friend   when   things   aren't        going  well  but  she  wants  to  keep  the  friendship.

A  Virtues-Based  Community

Track and Field Teams Wins COPSAA Championship

Visit our New Facebook Page! “To catch the reader's attention,

place an interesting sentence or

quote from the story here.”

Page 2 RADIANS SCHOOL

     Yet   another  COPSAA   Championship   for   Radians   School.   The   Track   and   Field  Team   has   won   First   Place.   This   year   has   been   a   successful   year   with   our   teams            winning   championships   in   Futsal,   Volleyball,   Softball,   and,   now,   Track   &   Field.                                                                    We   congratulate   our   student   athletes   who   demonstrate   the   virtues   of   dedication   and  commitment   in  sports  and   in   their  academic  work.  Many   of   these   athletes   are   “A”          students  and  manage  their  time  to  successfully  fulfill  their  academic  responsibili-­ties,  as  well  as  their  athletic  ones.  Gooooooo  SHARKS!  

Radians   School   is   happy   to  announce   its   new   Official                Facebook  Page.  A  long  time  in  the  making,  the  new  page  provides  a  new    outreach  for  information  about  our  school  and   the   extensive   activities  that   it   undertakes   every  year.  While  the  newsletter  is  a   wonderful   forum   for   the  dissemination   of     all   school  news,   Facebook   allows   for  immediate   communication  with   our   school   community,  

current  students,  and  alumni.  

While   establishing   strong   lines   of   communication  within   the   schoolhouse   has   always   been   essential  for   maintaining   focus   and   for   building   momentum  toward   shared   objectives,   communication   beyond  the   schoolhouse   has   become  more   important   than  ever.     Faced   with   shrinking   budgets   and   constant  scrutiny   in   today’s   accountability   culture,   public        relations   has   quickly   become   a   new   priority   for          academic   institutions.     After   all,   the   fact   is   that          informed  communities  tend  to  care  more  about  their  schools.  

Things  have  gone  extremely  well  with  our  Facebook  Page   –   parents   love   it.  We  have  grandparents   and  other   relatives,   former   students,   and   community  members   (businesses,   reporters,   etc.)   that   “LIKE”  

the  page  and  therefore  get  constant  updates  on  their  Facebook  Page.    It   is  THE  best  way   to  showcase  the   great   things   that   are   happening   at   our  school. So  we  recommend   that  each  and  every  member  of   our   academic   and   virtues-based   community  connect  with   our   Facebook   to   be   “in   the   loop”.                Our  link  is:      

h ps://www.facebook.com/pages/Radians-School/1382577338659900  

...informed  communities  tend  to  care  more  about  

their  schools...

High School Students Video Chat with EV Nautilus

Volunteer Parents Join in Reading Marathon Students

always enjoy

the

wonderful

experience of

their having

their parents

come and

participate...

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Prof.   Burgos’   Science   Class   was   able   to   have   a  question  and  answer  session  live  online  with  the  crew  of   the   Nautilus.   From   June   through   November   of  2013,   Exploration   Vessel   Nautilus   explored   the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Caribbean  Sea.  The  rotating  Corps  of   Exploration   aboard   EV   Nautilus   mapped   the            geological,   biological,     archaeological,   and   chemical  aspects  of   these   regions   to  depths  of  approximately  2000  meters.  During  the  expedition,  they  shared  their  discoveries   live   on   the   web   via   tele-presence                technology,   putting   the   unexplored   ocean   directly   in  our   hands   via   our   new   interactive   initiative,                        Exploration  Now.

Ms.  Burgos’  class  asked  questions  which  the  crew  of  the   Nautilus   answered,   A   great   experience   for   our  students   to   directly   communicate   with   professional  researchers  and  to  expand  their  view  of  the  world  of  science.    

Above,  High  School  Science  class  in  communication  with          researchers  onboard  the  EV  Nautilus.  Students  asked  questions  

and  received  answers  form    the  scientists  on  board.  

Every   year   Radians   School   Elementary   promotes  student  enjoyment  of   reading  by   inviting  members  of  our   school     community   to   visit   the   classrooms   and  read  a  virtues-based  story  to  the  students.  Afterwards,  they  lead  the  class  in  guided  discussion.  

We  had  many  parents  involved  in  this  activity  and  the              students   always   enjoy   the   wonderful   experience   of  having   their   parents   come   and   participate   in   this  school  event.  

The Right School for Your Child’s Future Success!!

Carr.  735  Km  0.4 Cayey,  Puerto  Rico  00736 (787)  738-4822 www.radiansschool.org

The Importance of a Well-Planned Curriculum The   curriculum   of   a   school   is,   in   essence,   the   academic    offering  it  will  give  to  your  child.  It  is  the  roadmap,  the  course  that  your  child  will  follow  to  achieve  his/her  future  goals.  The  curriculum  at  Radians  School  was  carefully  and  meticulously  prepared  not  to  fulfill,  but  rather  to  surpass  the  educational  requirements   and   standards   established   by   the   Puerto  Rican  Department   of   Education.  As  an  example,  Radians  School’s  English  Curriculum,  is  one  of   the  most  competitive  in   the  entire  United  States.   It   is   important   to   understand  the   difference   between   meeting   the   standard   and          SURPASSING  the  standard.  

As   our   curriculum   experts   worked   on   the   curriculum   for      Radians   School,   they   were   searching   for   several   points   in  particular.     After   a   thorough   and   exhaustive   process,   we  selected  the  most  challenging  and  age  appropriate  academic  standards  for  our  students.  Among  these  were:

A. A  curriculum  that  surpassed  the  standards  established  in    Puerto  Rico

B. A  curriculum  that  would  provide  our  students  the              necessary  skills  set  to  compete  successfully  in  an  ever  competitive      academic  and  real-life  environment.

C. A  curriculum  that  aligned  completely  with  the  school’s        educational  philosophy  of  the  development  of  an              integral  individual

         There  are  three  important  and  key  elements  in  the              success  of  any  academic  institution.  These  are:

The  strength  of  its  curriculum The  capacity  of  its  personnel  to  transmit  the  content  of  

this  curriculum  in  a  way  that  is  comprehensible  and      enjoyable  to  its  students

The  capacity  of  the  students  to  absorb,  comprehend,  and    apply  this  content.  

Even  with   any   change   of   teachers,   the   school’s   curriculum  serves  as  the  guide.  What  a  teacher  brings  to  the  course  he/she   teaches   is   the   creativity   and   personality   they   possess.  We  are   blessed   to   have   a   staff   of   educators  who   are   truly  committed  to  the  ultimate  success  of  their  students.  

As   a   college-bound   prep   school,   our   students   are   being    prepared   to   be   able   to   select   where   they   wish   to   study,  whether  in  Puerto  Rico  or  abroad  (United  States,  Europe,  or  Latin   America).   The   success   of   our   curriculum   has   been  validated  by  the  many  awards  we  have  obtained  both  locally,  nationally,  and  internationally.  Our  school  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  in  the  nation,  and  we  are  proud  of  this.  

Our   students   have   the   capacity   and   skills   to   successfully  compete  with   the  best  students   the  nation  has   to  offer.  We  have   sent     students   to   outstanding   universities   such   as:    Cornell,  Johns  Hopkins,  Penn   State,   Georgia  Tech,   Purdue,   Tulane,  and   more.  Many   have  won  scholarships  and    go   on   to   become  Dean’s   List   members,  Honor   students   and      leaders   at   these          institutions   of   higher  learning.  

You can be certain when you chose

RADIANS  SCHOOL You are giving your child the best

educational experience available!

New  School  Webpage   On   January   14th,   Radians   School   unveiled   an   exciting   project  months   in  the  making:  a   refreshed,   refurbished,   and   redesigned    website.   The   new   look   included   substantial   input   from   students,      faculty,  and  staff—all  culminating  in  a  unique,  eye-catching  and  easy-to-use  design.

The  new  site  is  dynamic,  colorful,  and  most  importantly,  self  directed.  You   can  move,   expand   and   shrink   the   homepage’s   gridded   boxes  highlighting   news,   photos,   and   facts.   Interested   in   our  newsletters?  There’s  a  box  for   that.  What’s   the  latest  news  on  activities?  There’s  one  for  that,  as  well.

This   sleek   and   eye   catching   redesign   for   the   homepage   and                information  areas,  as  well  as  mobile  optimization  and  an   impressive  Radians  School     timeline,  are   just   the  beginnings  of  a   larger  project  aimed  at  transitioning  every  page  of  the  school  website  into  a  similar  look   and   feel.   Be   sure   to   share   your   impressions   and   suggestions  with  the  website  team  by  using  the  link  to  the  email  form  on  the  home  page—and  stay  tuned  for  more  updates!