From the Director’s Desk:

As I analyze your children’s ITBS scores and prepare to send them home with report cards, I have some “Cliff Notes” (do they still use those?!?) to prepare you as well.  Research tells us that optimism is one of the strongest predictors of adult happiness; optimistic people will not wither after a few setbacks–pessimists do!  It is the repeated experience of mastery that help build an attitude of optimism.  Here are some tips to remember as you go over your child’s scores:

1. Be sure that you and your child know the difference between achievement and mastery.  Achievement is a benchmark, while mastery is a feeling.
2. The feeling of mastery is the great motivator; the more you can lead your child to experience mastery, the more internally motivated your child will become.  Those of you who play golf understand that hitting one good shot overrides all the flubbed ones and motivates you to play again.
3. Don’t expect praise to take the place of the experience of mastery. Sometimes adults believe they can instill self-esteem simply by offering praise–it doesn’t work.  Self-esteem and confidence com from the experience of doing something well yourself!
4. Explain that pain and frustration precede mastery.  Offer it as a point of information, a curious fact you want your child to know is that we often purchase the price of mastery with some pain.  So when your child complains about how hard something is or how frustrating it is not to be able to do better, say, “it is actually really good you are feeling that way.  That means you are stretching yourself.  And that means you are getting better.  Just keep at it; you will see!”

Our children learn from parents how to react to problems.  It is their non-genetic inheritance.  They will learn from your explanatory style and they will inherit your attitudes and behaviors (no pressure, right?!?).  We as parents and educators can do a lot to foster the development of optimism as a learned way of viewing life!

Calendar of Events:

• Tuesday, May 17–Drama after school; last class before the play.
• Wednesday, May 18–Books & Breakfast, 7:45 a.m.; Upper School to the Zoo!
• Thursday, May 19–Spring Music/Drama Performance, Moody Mansion, 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, May 24–Middle/Upper School Science Fair, 8:30 a.m.
• Thursday, May 26–Field Day; lunch time cookout on the playground
• Friday, May 27–LAST DAY OF SCHOOL (please note the calendar change on this!)

Upper School:
Students will go to the Houston Zoo on Wednesday; this is a free field trip because Ms. Corley and her class participated in the Eco-Learning Lab–Water and Wetland Conservation Program and were selected to be a part of the free program!  Don’t forget to send lunches and snacks, a hat, walking shoes, and Satori shirt.

Art:
Students are working on art for the spring musical for two songs, “A Frog Went A’Courting” and  ”Do Re Mi.”

Spanish:
Students have ended the direction section of Rosetta Stone (on top of, under, in, and around).

PE:
Students still training for Field Day.

From the Director’s Desk:
I don’t know about you but I am craving BBQ this a.m.!  On behalf of the faculty and the precious children, we thank you for the amazing amount of work that only 21 sets of parents put in to ensure a successful fundraising event!  It was most impressive!  Particular thanks to Don and Janene Davison for their incredible leadership, andto Jody Wood for her ticket sale-a-rama!  To the men of meat, the BBQ was delicious; to the women of beans, my husband said he wants the recipe.  To the Mims/Aubins, Benards, Boullions, Bradleys, the Mike Davisons, Densons, Donlons, Galloways, Georges, Havards, Howreys, McClures, Patels, Smiths, Valbuenas, Vieaus, Weathers, Wessales, and Wilbers,  we think you are simply the greatest!

For those who couldn’t hear or were outside, Matt Havard was selected as PARENT VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR!  Thanks, Matt, for all you have done to keep us “online” and for installing our laptops!  Your commitment to this is critical to our students’ enhanced educational opportunities!  Stop by and see the plaque where Matt’s name is the first of many “Parents of the Year!”

Calendar of Events:

Monday, May 9–Visit from Galveston Bay Foundation
Tuesday, May 10–May Tuition is due.
Wednesday, May 11–Books & Breakfast, 7:45 a.m.
Thursday, May 12–Parent Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m. at Moody Mansion
Friday, May 13-Early dismissal at noon; faculty in-service

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Science Fair, May 24th
Field Day/Cook Out, May 26
Upper School Awards Day–May 27

One More Thing to Remember:

RE-ENROLLMENT CONTRACTS ARE DUE!

Red aprons are for sale for $25 if you would like to order one; meat committee is welcome to purchase their own and as they are used, they will be $20.

Art:da Vinci to Rembrandt this week for Middle/Upper school students.  Chinese brush painting should excite Lower school and provide a new hall way exhibit.  Thanks to Mr. Jesifor his leadership in our table decorations and student art, and to Linda Denson for her guidance and talent–little fat red birds abound!