Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; the readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. To feel grateful is to feel thankful for something. Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness.
Assembly Read Aloud: Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson

Read books about gratitude:

• An Awesome Book of Thanks by Dallas Clayton
• Thankful by Eileen Spinelli
• The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood
• Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
• The Most Thankful Thing by Lisa McCourt
• Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? By Dr. Seuss
• I’m Thankful Each Day by PK Hallinan
• A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
• The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

Sing About Gratitude:

Books About Gratitude Shared on YouTube:

The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

Are you thankful for the little things? Here’s a new perspective on gratitude that might make you think again. Be GRATEFUL!

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Every night in the United States an estimated 600,000 people live on the streets. This October, SoulPancake and Kid President want 2 million people to prove that even the smallest acts of love, like donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors who are homeless.

Socktober was launched by Kid President creator Brad Montague five years ago. It’s a movement to get kids and grown-ups to help the homeless in an easy, fun way.

Last year, more than 10,000 schools, families, businesses, and churches rallied together to bring Socktober to life. People from every state and continent have taken part in Socktober! This year, William O. Schaefer is participating and we are having a “Sock Drive” until the last week in October!

All of the socks we collect as a community will be donated to a local shelter.

K presentation Meet the Teacher 2017-py1rdn

Set SAIL for a Respectful Year!
Be respectful!

Songs:

We Know the Way (Moana):

Respect Song:

Sesame Street Respect:

Bruno Mars You Can Count on Me:

Read Aloud YouTube Videos:

Are You Respectful Today Video:

Me First by Helen Lester:

What is a Friend:

Recess Queen:

Same Same But Different:

Support our school wide character ed program with the following parent resources:

Flexibility…Be flexible!

April’s word of the month is flexibility. Having a positive and hopeful attitude helps us to overcome challenges. When times are difficult or mistakes are made, it is important to stay motivated and be flexible. Being flexible helps us when we need to cope with changes. Flexibility helps us to think about problems in new, creative ways.

Overview: Flexibility is the ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Assembly Read Aloud: But, Excuse Me, That Is My Book by Lauren Child

In this funny “Charlie and Lola” adventure, Lola insists on going to the library to get her favorite book, the same one she has taken out over and over again. What will happen when she discovers that the book she loves is not on the library shelves? Will Lola be flexible and take an different book from the library shelves?

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Read Alouds:

Zoom by Istvan Banyai

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun by Maria Dismondy

Not a Box by Antionette Portis

The Girl Who NEVER Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein

Duck Rabbit by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Not a Stick by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Be responsible! Responsibility is being accountable for your own actions.

Assembly Read Aloud:
But It’s Not My Fault! by Julia Cook

My name is Norman David Edwards… but everybody calls me Noodle. Sometimes things happen to me that get me into trouble. But it’s not my fault! This first book in the new Responsible Me! Series, follows Noodle through a very rough day at school. It just isn’t his fault that his brother’s game ran late and he didn’t finish his homework. Or that his mom forgot to remind him to turn in his library book. Or that Mary Gold got in his airspace and hit his arm with her head…

Students will join Noodle on his journey as he learns not to blame others or try to find fault, but instead practices accepting responsibility, and turns his very rough day into a very good NEW day!

Books:

• Pigsty by Mark Teague
• I Just Forgot by Mercer Mayer
• Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin
• The Way I Act by Steve Metzger
• Lucy Goosey Takes Responsibility by Katherine Ciriello Clark
• The Worst Day of my Life Ever! by Julia Cook and Kelsey De Weerd
• I Am Responsible! by David Parker
• I Tell the Truth! by David Parker

Read Aloud YouTube Videos:

Charlie and Lola:It Wasn’t Me by Lauren Child

Pigsty by Mark Teague

What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick

The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey

Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin

The Emperor’s Egg by Erin Boone

The Way I Act by Steve Metzger

The Worst Day of my Life Ever! by Julia Cook and Kelsey De Weerd

This request may find you busy preparing for the upcoming holidays and sharing special celebrations with family and friends. It is our hope, however, that your family will reserve some time to help with our community service project.

For the fifteenth year, William O. Schaefer’s community service activity will be donating BLIZZARD BOXES, formerly known as Covered Cupboards, for the Meals on Wheels Program.

A BLIZZARD BOX is an assortment of donated non-perishable food items packed into shoeboxes. Refer to BLIZZARD BOX FOOD LIST to find out all the details, including the suggested foods. Please be sure to check product expiration date.

Please wrap the lids separately from the boxes – wrap the top of the shoe box separately from the bottom of the shoe box (no boot boxes please) in grocery bag paper in order to make sure contents are easily accessible. Do not put any decorations on the box. Children can use their imagination to draw pictures on the paper that seniors would enjoy receiving! The BLIZZARD BOXES will be delivered to the recipients of the Home Delivered Meals Program if regular food deliveries are halted due to weather related or other emergencies.

Consider creating a BLIZZARD BOX with your family. Drop off your BLIZZARD BOX at William O. Schaefer (WOS), 140 Lester Drive, Tappan, New York between December 5th and December 16th.

Thank you in advance for giving so generously to the seniors in our community during this winter season.

Questions can be forwarded to hhill@socsd.org, ebarsanti@socsd.org, ccosgrove@socsd.org.
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Gratitude

Be grateful!

Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; the readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Assembly Read Aloud:
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

I am thankful for music because it makes me want to dance.
I am thankful for my feet because they help me run and play.
I am thankful for kisses because they make me feel loved.

Additional Titles:

• An Awesome Book of Thanks by Dallas Clayton
• Thankful by Eileen Spinelli
• The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood
• Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson
• The Most Thankful Thing by Lisa McCourt
• Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? By Dr. Seuss
• I’m Thankful Each Day by PK Hallinan
• A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
• The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

Other Resources:

Pigsty by Mark Teague

An Awesome Book of Thanks by Dallas Clayton

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams

The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

It is difficult to believe that most elementary-age children were not born when the horrific events of September 11th rocked our nation. However, as teachers and as communities we respectfully remember and learn about what happened during and after the 9/11 terrorist attacks just like we learned about the American Revolution, the Civil War and the Declaration of Independence. The stories below will empower students at William O. Schaefer to discover their own super powers!

The Man In Red Bandana by Honor Crowther Fagan

When Welles Crowther was a young boy, his father gave him a red bandanna, which he always carried with him. On September 11, 2001, Welles Remy Crowther saved numerous people from the upper floors of the World Trade Center South Tower. “The Man in the Red Bandanna” recounts and celebrates his heroism on that day. Welles’ story carries an inspirational message that will resonate with adults as well as young children.

Listen to the story below read by Emma.

September 12th: We Knew Everything Would Be All Right

Heartfelt and touching book by 1st graders at Masterson Elementary School in Kennet, Missouri, about the day after the tragic events of September 11th.

On September 11th horrific events occurred, yet through the simple text and vibrant art of first graders, we are reminded that the world continued the next day. On each page, children experience the comforts of ordinary routines, such as their teacher reading books to them, having homework and recess, and knowing that 2 + 2 still equals 4. This is a poignant message of hope that reassures us all that even after bad things happen, tomorrow always brings a new day.

Listen to the story below read by our assistant principal, Jeannine Carr.

Assembly Read Aloud:

Respect: Dare to Care, Share, and Be Fair by Ted and Jenny O’Neal

Please Say Please by Margery Cuyler	Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller	Frog and Toad All Year by Arnold Lobel
Clifford’s Book of Manners by Norman Bridwell	The Legend of Papa Balloon by C. R. McClure	How To Be a Friend by Laurie Kransy Brown & Marc Brown

Read Aloud YouTube Videos:
Me First by Helen Lester

Pinkerton Pig always has to be first — first to eat, first off the bus — until, running to be first for a sandwich, he finds himself in trouble with the Sand Witch.

The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill

Mean Jean is the reigning Recess Queen, pushing and smooshing, hammering and slammering the other kids whenever they cross her. And then one day a puny new girl shows up on the playground and catches Mean Jean completely off-guard. Not only is little Katie Sue not the least bit intimidated by the bully, she actually asks her to jump rope with her. In no time flat, Jean and Katie Sue are best buddies, and the playground is safe for all again.

Same Same But Different by Jenny Kostecki-Shaw

Elliot lives in America, and Kailash lives in India. They are pen pals. By exchanging letters and pictures, they learn that they both love to climb trees, have pets, and go to school. Their worlds might look different, but they are actually similar. Same, same. But different!

Are You Respectful Today? by Kris Yankee and Marian Nelson

Why do you need to be respectful? Patience, tolerance, consideration, and trustworthiness are qualities of respectful people. Life is happier with a respectful heart.

Respect Song:

Bruno Mars You Can Count On Me video

Below is a short film created to help teach students “What is a Friend?”