Baranoff Newsletter

OUR COUNSELEORS’ CORNERParents of 5 th grade students- check out thecounselor’s section of the Baranoff website. Wepost updated AISD Magnet Middle School informationas it arrives.Student Council officers were voted on and thefollowing students will lead the Baranoff StudentCouncil this year:Abbey Daigle- Sergeant-at-armsEleanore Nelson- SecretaryLauren Spencer- TreasurerDominick Incognito- Vice PresidentSeve Moya- PresidentThe student council has had one meeting so farand look forward to more throughout the year.They will discuss topics such as choosing a communityproject. If your child is a member of thestudent council, please look in his/her folder forinfo and important dates for the rest of the year.Let’s Be Thankful for Kindness Month continuesthrough 12/13/13. It is very impressive tosee the kindness shown every day here at Baranoff!Parents and other family members are encouragedto sign the “Parent and Family” Resolutionof Respect poster to support our Baranoff commitmentto treating all people with respect despiteour differences.Our Peer Mediation program continues to helpsmooth over little conflicts. Teacher training hasbeen done so Mr. Cartlidge, Ms. O’Keefe,Ms. Saucedo and Ms. Kelley have joined the PeerMediation staff.Parent ConnectionParent ConnectionAt times, we as parents do not know whether weare advocating for our children or whether we arebeing a “helicopter parent”. Here is an excerpt ofan article that may help. “Helicopter ParentingVS Helpful Parenting”, by Dr. Brad Schwall.We don’t want our children to fail or hurt but tosucceed. We must determine the best strategiesand techniques for helping our children grow,mature, and thrive. Here are key differences:Helicopter Parenting.Goal-avoid all pain and problemsStrategy-intervene and rescueTakes away problemsLeads to dependence and externallocus of controlHelpful ParentingGoal-teach how to face problemsStrategy- equip, listen, and guideHelps problem solveLeads to independence and internallocus of controlIf you rescue your children without helpingthem problem solve or reflect on the situation,they learn that there are forces outside themselvesthat can take away problems rather thanto rely on their own strengths and wisdom tohandle challenging situations.How to Be a Helpful Parent*Decide what values you want your child tolearn *Teach problem solving*Make expectations for behavior clear*Communicate positively*Set Limits*Teach accountability*Enforce consequencesWe must accept challenges, our own mistakes,and different personalities and choose to respondin the most respectful and responsibleway possible. Our children will learn to blameothers if we immediately blame a problem onanother child, a teacher, a coach, or anotherparent. There’s nothing wrong with watchingover our children it’s what we do when weswoop in when they have a problem that matters.Instead of intervening to take away theproblem, step in to guide and help your childthink, accept responsibility, and learn.