by Sarah Duddy

At this morning's lower school assembly, we took some time to view the above commercial. I did not give the clip much of an introduction other than telling the children that the minute I saw this commercial, I could not wait to share it at an assembly. I also explained that the commercial instantly reminded me of something we have spent time discussing in assemblies and I wondered if anyone would be able what that was after viewing the commercial. 

After watching the video, I was so pleased to see so many hands fly up in the air! Children pointed out good sportsmanship, kindness, and empathy as themes that they noted in the commercial - all terrific answers! We spoke specifically about the example of empathy. The neighborhood children gathered different wheeled vehicles - tricycles, office chairs and boxes with wheels to ride during their basketball game, helping their new neighbor to feel welcome and included. What a terrific example of putting yourself in someone else's shoes to make them feel more comfortable and accepted. This commercial share a simple message, yet one that it so important to keep in mind as we encounter differences in our world. 

by Sarah Duddy

I could not resist the urge to talk about sportsmanship following last night's Super Bowl match up. The Falcons and the Patriots met up for a game that proved to be pretty exciting, if not the outcome that most Bills fans hoped for! As much as Bills fans love to cheer against our rivals, it must be said that their comeback was impressive last night. So, we all had an opportunity to be good sports and recognize the Patriots for their win. We also took a look at this picture and had a discussion about how Matt Ryan must have been feeling in this picture. During the first half of the game, he must have felt on top of the world. In this picture, he was surely feeling disappointed with the direction that the game had gone in. However, he still crossed the field to shake hands with Tom Brady and congratulate him on his win. A perfect example of good sportsmanship between two professional athletes. 

by Sarah Duddy

During this week's lower school assembly, we took some time to review the themes that we have discussed over the course of the year: culture, community, safety, sportsmanship, empathy and kindness. To be sure, each of the themes that we have discussed, through our "Photo of the Week" routine, are important elements of character development in young children. The themes that we have discussed thus far are easily tied together in many different ways. One that stands out to me is togetherness. Each of the themes are at their best when people are working together. We come together to create culture and build community. We work together to keep each other safe. Empathy brings people together, creating a connection through a shared experience or feeling. Kindness helps to keep people together. In our small, nurturing community we are together in everything we do - our work, our play, and our challenges. Through this togetherness, I hope that we are teaching EFS students how they might create connections with others, in places other than school. 

by Sarah Duddy

Kindness is everything. It is a simple concept, but one that is ever so important for us all to remember. Kindness is an integral element to all we do at Elmwood Franklin. Growing up is tricky business and sometimes it turns out that children make poor choices and are not kind to each other. In school, these moments provide us with an opportunity to teach children about appropriate words and feelings to share with a friends. Additionally, it is an opportunity to teach a child who may have been on the receiving end of unkind word to advocate for their own feelings. Underlying the complex exchanges that we help our growing students navigate through, the message is consistent - kindness is everything. 

by Sarah Duddy 

Empathy is a big idea. It is a big idea to consider when you are a small child. Developmentally, children are wired to think of themselves first. Their egocentric tendencies are what they bring to the table when they enter their first social situations and begin to navigate the dynamics of sharing space with a classmate, friend or family member. As the adults in their lives, we are tasked with helping them to unravel their egocentric selves. Challenging them to engage with a group and see the world from another's perspective. That can be hard! 

I find that in my travels through educational blogs and publications, the word empathy and how it pertains to young children is coming up with greater frequency. In our ever evolving world, getting to know and understand each other is becoming more important than ever. 

In our lower school assembly this week, we took a look at the above picture. We talked about how the boy in the middle might be feeling and students predicted what his friends might be saying to him. There were many thoughtful answers, and one friend shared that they might be saying, "I understand how you feel." What a great example of empathy, because when it all comes down to it empathy is about understanding. Understanding what others are feeling and supporting them in those feelings. 

Empathy is a big idea, especially when considered from a child's perspective. So, we plan to continue our discussion in assemblies to come. You should ask your children what they have learned about empathy - I think you might be impressed with what they have to share.  

by Sarah Duddy

This morning in our Lower School assembly we watched a beautiful music video for the song, Grateful: A Love Song to the World by nimo. 

The video is a beautiful visual accompaniment to a song that reminds us of all of the things that we have to be grateful for. Many of us recently celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday. While Thanksgiving is a day that provides a reminder to check in and reflect on all we have to be thankful for, it is also important for us to be aware of the many gifts around us every day. This time of year is filled with celebrations and nimo's song reminds us to take time to celebrate each other, the little moments, and the grand accomplishments. 

This morning, each Lower School grade left the theatre with a stack of paper strips. During the week, students and teachers are going to spend some time writing what they are grateful for on their strips of paper and connecting their pieces together into paper chains. Next Monday, we will come together to join our paper chains and decorate the lobby. Please join us in celebrating all that we have to be grateful for - supplies will be in the lobby next week so that you may add your own link to our paper chain. 

We would love to hear what you are grateful for! 

by  Sarah Duddy

At this week's Lower School assembly, we took some time to talk about the difference between being a reporter and a tattletale. The term tattletale does not have a good reputation. Children feel the negative conotation that comes with the word - they do not want to be thought of as a tattletale by their peers or their teachers. This is an understandable response, typically the term tattletale conjures up an image of someone who tries to get someone in trouble, often repeatedly and perhaps not always for the right reasons. 

At EFS, we feel it is important that students not let the fear of being a tattletale inhibit them from seeking help from an adult when they feel they need it. It is our goal to help our students to build strong social skills in a safe environment and in order to do this, we need to be sure that our students understand when it is appropriate to seek help from an adult. 

A reporter finds an adult when they or someone else are in trouble and need help getting out of trouble. A tattletale finds an adult to get someone in trouble. Through formal and informal conversations, we work with students to guide them in understanding the difference between the two. We want our students to feel safe and empowered to speak up when they need help.

Parents, please use this language with your children when you are helping them to navigate social situations. We want to be sure that each and every member of our community feels safe and happy during their days at school. 

by Sarah Duddy

This Monday's Lower School Assembly came on the heels of a very eventful week for our country. The outcome of the 2016 presidential election was met with mixed emotions by the students - some were joyful, some disappointed and others may have felt indifferent about the outcome. In any case, it felt like a good time to have a conversation about sportsmanship. 

I love talking about sportsmanship with children. I think it is such an important practice that encompasses so many elements of character development that we feel are important for students at EFS to embody, on and off of the athletic field. Good sportsmanship involves taking the high road, being a representative for your team, working collaboratively with a group, and graciously accepting the outcome of an event - whether or not it goes your way. To be sure, being a good sport is not easy. It is something that you need to practice and work at. 

As an example of good sportsmanship, I shared this video with the lower school students. What an amazing example of taking the high road! After experiencing a big win, the Barcelona players took time to console their Japanese oponents. If you ask me, this is how every competition should end - on the sports field and off.

 

by Sarah Duddy

​Yesterday, in our Lower School assembly we discussed the above picture. When asked about their observations of the picture, children noted that the man was helping the little girl to ride her bike - some thought he was helping her to go fast, others thought he was helping her to balance as she learned. When asked what elements in this picture were helping to keep the little girl safe, children quickly pointed out her helmet and also that the adult helping her.

We then shifted our conversation to what makes us feel safe at EFS. The overwhelming response from children was that their teachers make them feel safe and take care of them in school. We also spoke of friends at EFS making us feel safe. When it comes right down to it, it is the people that create the environment, culture and therefore feeling of safety at EFS. I often hear comments about the wonderful people at EFS from adults in the building - teachers love working with their colleagues and parents enjoy each other's support and friendship. I was so happy to hear the children echo this feeling in our discussion yesterday. It is indeed the people that make the place.

by Sarah Duddy

On Monday at our Lower School Assembly, Mrs. Marth and Mrs. Kulpit spoke to the children about being bucket fillers rather than bucket dippers. Mrs. Kulpit read the book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. Each one of us carries around an empty bucket. Acts of kindness fill our buckets and when we are kind to others, we fill their buckets as well as our own. When you are not thoughtful in your actions towards others, you are a bucket dipper. Dipping into someone else bucket makes them feel badly and you feel badly as well. 

We are going to focus on being bucket fillers this year. Mrs. Marth explained to students that each lower school homeroom will now have its own orange bucket. When someone feels that a friend has filled their bucket or a teacher spots a student filling someone's bucket they will take a minute to jot down the example on a piece of paper and drop the paper into the bucket. Each week at our assembly we will fill a big bucket and pick out several examples so that we may recognize our bucket fillers and learn from their examples. 

​Have you filled a bucket today?