Theme:  Grow in Leadership and Friendship

Focus: Serving others

Growing in leadership and kindness are crucial skills for children to develop, as they lay the foundation for successful relationships and a positive impact on the world. Leadership isn't just about taking charge; it's about guiding, inspiring, and collaborating effectively, fostering a sense of responsibility and initiative. Kindness, on the other hand, cultivates empathy, compassion, and respect for others, leading to more harmonious interactions and a supportive community. Together, these attributes empower children to navigate social situations with grace, advocate for themselves and others, and contribute meaningfully to their families, schools, and eventually, their workplaces and wider communities.

Parents play a pivotal role in nurturing these skills at home. Encourage leadership by giving children age-appropriate responsibilities, like helping with chores, planning family activities, or leading a game. Allow them to make choices and experience the natural consequences, fostering problem-solving and decision-making abilities. To promote kindness, model empathetic behavior yourself, discuss emotions openly, and encourage acts of service within the family and community, such as sharing toys, helping a sibling, or donating to charity. Reading books that highlight themes of kindness and leadership, and discussing the characters' actions, can also be a powerful tool for instilling these values.

5th grade is working on the Empower You (WHY TRY) Sel curriculum.  This will tie into the them of each month as well. The WhyTry Program is a social and emotional learning (SEL) program designed to build resilience in students and help them develop essential life skills. It uses visual analogies, hands-on activities, stories, and multimedia to teach skills like responsible decision-making, emotional regulation, and problem-solving. The program is intended for students in grades K-12 and is implemented by teachers and counselors.