Author: Reardon, Wendy

November 2018

WHITEHOUSE NEWS

FROM THE PRINCIPAL . . .
Dear WHS Friends and Families,
I just received word that our National School of Character designation is effective until 2022!!! We remain excited by this prestigious distinction and continue to be committed to this important work. Did you know that there are five areas of focus that we emphasize in our efforts with teaching Social-Emotional Learning or SEL ? They are listed below with just some examples of how each is addressed with our children at Whitehouse School. Our goal is to help students recognize and become proficient with these competencies as we build upon the foundation that you have already established at home.
*(CASEL, 2017)
Please join us as we embark on another fabulous year! Continue to work with your children and please use our monthly character traits as a springboard for similar discourse at home. This is one way that you can help us link learning for your children. Encourage them to complete their monthly bucket puzzle SEL homework and please return it with a signature. We were thrilled that last year, 100% of students in the school turned in their SEL homework 100% of the time… every month, all year long! WOW!!! Thank you for your continued support and please contact me if you have any questions, comments, or ideas to share!
Warmly,
Ann T. DeRosa, Ed.D.

Character Corner

5 SEL Competencies*	WHS examples in action
Self-Awareness	Regular introspective SEL journal entries
Self-Management	Mindfulness techniques such as coming-back-to-calm, changing the channel in your mind, etc.
Social Awareness	Monthly service projects for in-house causes or community organizations that are timely and linked to our curriculum
Relationship Skills	Weekly school-wide bucket ticket (notes of appreciation & love) writing; Monthly school assembly Town Hall Meetings followed by co-mingled small group Family Conferences
Responsible Decision-Making	Providing choices and empowering students to solve problems and effect change with Kelso the Frog’s Conflict Resolution Wheel, which is displayed in every classroom in the building

October’s Theme:
Friendliness
October Awareness Efforts & Service Projects:
-New Jersey Week of Respect I
(October 1 – 5)
-New Jersey School Violence Awareness Week
(October 15 – 19)
-Food Drive for Readington Starfish Pantry
-Paint for Pink for Steeplechase Cancer Center at Robert Wood Johnson University
Hospital
************************
This was the third year that we joined this global movement. On September 26, our whole school stopped to reflect on character as we responded to prompts in our SEL Journals.

The mission of Whitehouse School is to provide children with a nurturing environment where they will feel safe and accepted.
Our school community encourages respect and builds
independence while fostering academic and
personal growth and creating a love for learning.
a love for learning.

We are cubs of character!

Are you kidding me?

What do you call a boomerang that does not come back to you?

Answer: a stick

50 Whitehouse Avenue, P.O. Box 157 Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 (908) 534-4411 Fax (908) 534-9157

50 Whitehouse Avenue, PO Box 157, Whitehouse Station, NJ 08889 Phone: 908.534.4411 Fax: 908: 908.534.9157