Parent Newsletter 4-12 - Peru Community Schools

P E R U C O M M U N I T Y S C H O O L S
PCS Parent Newsletter
April 2012
Volume 4, Issue 8
Don’t Miss Your Opportunities
A father and his young daughter walked into a McDonalds.
They ordered their food and walked over to a table to eat.
They sat down and the father laid their food out on the table.
You could see the sparkle in the little girl’s eyes as she
started to eat lunch with daddy. As soon as she started eating,
daddy pulled out his cell phone and spent the rest of
the time texting, playing games, surfing the web. He did
not once speak or even look at his little girl again. After a
while she left the table looking for someone to play with or
talk to; and daddy didn’t even notice.
This is a true story and it happened right here at our
McDonalds in Peru. You immediately feel sad for the little
girl, but it’s just as sad for daddy. He missed out on a wonderful
opportunity to get to know his daughter better and
develop a lifelong bond with her that could grow stronger
with time.
Our children are amazing human beings, and we need to
make the most of our opportunities to spend time with
them and help them develop socially, emotionally and academically.
Here are a few facts:
• Spending time in everyday family leisure activity is
associated with greater emotional bonding within the
family.
• Children’s academic success is associated with having
mothers who frequently communicated with them
• Children whose fathers spend time with them doing
activities tend to have better academic performance.
• Adolescents whose parents are involved in their lives
tend to exhibit fewer behavioral problems.
• Youths who communicate, do activities and have close
relationships with their parents are less likely to engage
in violence.
• Teens who frequently have dinner with their families
are at a lower risk for substance abuse.
The basic theme here is that healthy active families enjoy
being together, and it starts with spending quality time
communicating with your children, doing things with them,
right from the beginning. It’s important from the day they
are born until the day they move out of the house and beyond.
Please don’t think that once your children can physically
care for themselves that they don’t need you any
more. As they get older they need you just as much as they
did when they were little.
When children are asked “What makes
a happy family?” they respond “Doing
things together!” Family time doesn’t
have to be elaborate or expensive.
Just be sure that you are there and engaged
with your child. The simplest
activities can contribute to family
bonding and long-term memories.
This may seem obvious, but it seems to often get overlooked.
Here are some ideas for busy parents to get some
quality family time:
• Play games or dance as you shop, cook, clean or do
other household chores.
• Expand healthy ideas into family time, like exercising
together, or cuddling up with a good book.
• Sit down next to your child to pay bills or go through
the mail while he/she is doing homework or coloring a
picture.
• Limit TV time. A little time together watching some
quality shows on TV is good, but look for better ways
to spend your time.
• Plan to use car travel as special “together time.” Sing
together, tell stories from your childhood, talk about
how your day was and ask about theirs, have your child
make up a story and tell it to you.
• Give your children a responsibility in the grocery store
such as pointing out items from your list or matching
coupons to labels.
• Along with a goodnight hug and kiss, tell your child
how much you appreciate the good things he/she did
that day. Be specific.
Above all, just be aware of the time with your child and
make the most of it. Don’t feel guilty. Time with your
child might not always be “greeting card” happy. Just do
your best, and try again tomorrow.
From Superintendent Chuck Brimbury, Ed. S.: Please take
time in your busy day to spend talking with and enjoying
your children. The time your children spend with you
means the world to them.

Your Parent Liaisons for School Year 2011-2012
South Peru - Jennifer Hopkins 473-3081
Elmwood - Ann Martin (765) 863-0350
Tanya Masters 469-1065
jhopkins@peru.k12.in.us
amartin@peru.k12.in.us
tmasters@peru.k12.in.us
Blair Pointe - Judy Inglehearn 469-1164 jinglehearn@peru.k12.in.us
PJHS - Angie Marburger 469-1762 amarburger@peru.k12.in.us
Judy Inglehearn 469-1164 jinglehearn@peru.k12.in.us
Parent Coordinator
Jan Douglas 473-3084 ext. 2357
jdouglas@peru.k12.in.us
Together
we can
reach
for the
stars
Parent involvement dedicated to building
stronger schools by helping our
children get a solid education thus resulting
in successful lives.
See What’s Happening in April
The YMCA Healthy Kids Day is being held this year on April 28th at Peru Junior High School from 9:00AM -
2:30PM.
South Peru - Scholastic Book Fair - April 16th-20th. Your child can purchase books all
week. Then we will end the book fair with a Movie Night on April 20th where you can
also purchase books. We will sell books from 5-8PM. The movie will start at 6PM
Popcorn Day - April 20th
Elmwood - Scholastic Book Fair April 9th-13th. Spaghetti Dinner
April 11th from 6-8PM where you can also purchase books. Tickets
are $3.00, but no more than $10.00 for an immediate family.
Popcorn Day - April 20th
Blair Pointe - Talent Show - April 20th at 6PM. Come and see all the talent at Blair Pointe.
It’s a fun evening for the whole family. Admission is free. Concessions will be sold.
Popcorn Day - April 20th - This is a free popcorn day for Blair Pointe
Don’t Forget: All three elementary schools’ Parent Organizations meet together in order to save time for everyone.
Due to various events and school schedules, our last meeting for this school year will be April 25th at
Elmwood School. These are important meetings because there are a number of things planned for the end of
school. Please try to attend.
Peru Junior High - The PJHS National Junior Honor
Society trip to Washington D.C. is April 18th–
22nd.
Peru High School - The Senior Art Show is
Wednesday, April 25th at 6PM.
All Pro Dads: There will be no April meeting. May
meeting date TBA.
No School
April 2-6
Spring Break
April 27
Mid-Spring
Break