MCSD Assistant Superintendent Page

Kindergarten is a year of learning. New kindergarten curricula, modern teaching technology, and the integration of kindergarten into the total school program have given serious meaning to the kindergarten experience.

The kindergarten year is a time when children's experiences may determine the direction of future education. It is a time when what happens can either stimulate or stifle future eagerness for learning. Children who experience a rich variety of activities are psychologically and physically ready to accept the frustrations, fears, and difficulties involved in each step of enlarging horizons.

A major value of the kindergarten education results when home and school work together. Frequent visits to the school, conferences with the teachers, and participation in home and school associations offer outstanding opportunities for parents and school to unite to provide children with every possible advantage.

Kindergarten does make a contribution of major proportion to the education of children and provides a rich background of valuable experiences and learning situations.

A report by the National Commission on Reading declared that reading aloud is the single most important contribution that parents can make toward their child's success in school. We want to go a little further than that. We believe that reading aloud may also be one of the most important contributions parents can make toward developing good character in their children. Why? For several reasons. First, because stories can create an emotional attachment to goodness, a desire to do the right thing. Second, because stories provide a wealth of good examples - the kind of examples that are often missing from a child's day-to-day environment. Third, because stories familiarize youngsters with the codes of conduct they need to know. Finally, because stories help to make sense out of life, help us to cast our own lives as stories. And unless this sense of meaning is acquired at an early age and reinforced as we grow older, there simply is no moral growth.

Make the Most of Parent-Teacher Time

Your child’s education is crucial to his future success. That’s why a parent-teacher conference bears much important as it may be one of the only times you can sit face-to-face with a teacher to discuss your child’s successes and difficulties. Here are some tips on how to make the most of your time together.

Prepare Questions

Conferences are short, so write down all the questions – negative and positive – that you want to ask the teacher. That way, you won’t leave the conference saying, “I wish I had asked about that.”

Gear up for the negative

Even the most stellar of students has a bad habit or two. Maintain a positive and upbeat attitude, even if you hear some disappointing comments about your child. Don’t try to challenge the teacher’s comments; remember, you have only heard your child’s side of the story. If something negative comes up, say, “that’s surprising since he’s not like that at home. Why do you think he is acting this way at school? By acting cooperatively, you and the teacher can resolve the situation.

Don’t just discuss grades

Yes, grades are important. But you want to find out more than just your child’s report card. You want to learn about his development emotionally, socially and cognitively. Ask about his ability level in relation to the rest of his class. Inquire about his work ethic, relationships with other children, behavior in class and attitude toward learning. Such answers are things only a teacher can tell you.

Don’t blame the teacher

It’s not the teacher’s fault Billy didn’t turn in his homework. Instead, pick the teacher’s brain with an open ended question. Ask, “Knowing our son as you do, why do you think he isn’t doing his homework?” That way, the teacher isn’t on the defensive and can possibly offer an answer to the problem or help come up with a solution to it.

Alert the teacher to what’s happening at home

If there is stress at home like a baby on the way or your spouse lost his job, tell the teacher. You don’t have to share the details; just providing a heads-up about the situation will help her understand why there’s been a change in your child’s attitude or school performance.

Be prompt

Conferences are scheduled back to back. Don’t lose a moment of your opportunity to discuss your child. If you are going to be late, notify the teacher or try to see if you can reschedule the conferences.

Get a babysitter

Leave babies or small children at home. Conferences demand one-on-one attention. You don’t want to spend it soothing a crying baby or chasing after a toddler.

Thank the teacher

Consider writing a short thank-you note. It will show that you respect the teacher and that you’re serious about your child’s education.

Ask how you can be more involved

A conference is the perfect time to see how you take a more active role in the education of both your child and his classmates. See if you can volunteer your time, attend school trips or provide study assistance. The teacher will undoubtedly be glad you asked.
(Printed in the Center Daily Times Family Pages September 2004)

Dr. Joseph P. Maginnis - Elementary Principal
Office: Highland Park Area Elementary School

Dr. Linda S. Mohler - Elementary Principal
Office: East Derry Elementary School

Mr. Mark K. Hidlay - Elementary Principal
Office: Lewistown Elementary School

Mr. Michael H. LaMarca - Elementary Principal
Office: Armagh Elementary School

Mr. E.Terry Styers - Elementary Principal
Office: Strodes Mills Middle School
205 Chestnut Ridge Road
McVeytown, PA 17051
Phone: 717-248-5488
Fax: 717-242-5839

Raising a child means more than helping him or her grow up healthy and happy. It's important that, by the time they're ready to leave home, children have learned to be self-sufficient and responsible. Those kinds of lessons take an entire childhood to learn, but they're among the most important legacies you can pass on to your children. Here are some ways to start:

Make them Calendar girls (and boys). Give your child his or her own calendar. Have children mark when a test or project is due, or when a sports or group activity is scheduled. Each child's calendar should be posted in a visible spot, and get them in the habit of checking it every day-either adding new events and deadlines or crossing off things they've completed.

Keeping Track. As tempting as it is to bail out your children if they forget their lunch or homework or put off an assignment until too late, those mistakes can be excellent tools to teach responsibility. If your child needs to borrow lunch money, make sure it is paid back from his or her own savings. If the project is due the next day, fight the urge to step in and help get it done. Children only need a few such lessons, and some serious follow-up discussions from their families and teachers, to realize that it's not worth it to be irresponsible.

Helping others. No matter what your child's situation in life, there always are others in greater need. Get your child involved in helping those less fortunate by working through community, school, or religious groups that focus on community service. Show that you believe in what you're teaching by volunteering yourself as well.

Pet Smarts. Taking care of the family pet is an excellent way to learn responsibility. Children quickly learn the consequences if they forget to take the dog out, forget to feed the cat, or let a caged pet stay out unattended. Your children need to know that their pets depend on them.

Get to Work. Assign weekly chores to everyone in the house, rotating them so that, eventually, everyone has a turn at doing the dishes, putting away laundry, and taking out the trash. Divide the jobs by age, with older children doing the harder jobs, and make sure to never list anything as a "girl" job or a "boy" job.

Save for the Future. Financial responsibility is easy to teach if you start when your children are young. From their very first birthday money, teach them to set aside a certain amount for the future. A good rule of thumb is to put half away for savings and save half for spending, either on things they want right away or things they'd like to buy in the future.

Consider Matching Funds. If your children are saving for something that's a big-ticket item, consider setting up a matching fund, where, if they earn the first half, you'll chip in the second. Even though it sounds like the same concept as saying you'll split the cost with them, it's actually more effective to have them demonstrate to you first that they've worked and saved enough to pay their share.

Finally, remember that the only way to teach your children responsibility is to model the behavior yourself. Make sure they know that they can depend on you to follow through on promises. Help them see that you value your contributions to your job, your community, and your family.

Find a 'study spot'. Some children sit at a desk; others concentrate better lying on the floor. No matter where your 'spot' is, it should be well lit, quiet, comfortable, neat, and well supplied.

When at school be sure you have the necessary pencils, pens, calculator, and other supplies you will need. Always keep them in the same place such as a box or zipper bag in your notebook or backpack and keep it with you.

Write down your assignments as your teachers give them to you in a notebook. Take the notebook with you to every class and write down the assignments. It helps to have all assignments written down in one place. You can also make note of supplies you need in this notebook.

I hope you will find this information helpful and the school year will be enjoyable and productive for your children.

Assistant Superintendent

Dr. John J. Czerniakowski

Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent: Ms. Angela Hillard
Phone: 717-248-0148 Fax:717-248-5345

Assistant Superintendent

Dr. John J. Czerniakowski

Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent: Ms. Angela Hillard Phone: 717-248-0148 Fax:717-248-5345

Secretary to the Assistant Superintendent: Ms. Angela Hillard
Phone: 717-248-0148 Fax:717-248-5345