12/1/22 Update:

As you may know, we are using the Second Step program in your child’s classroom. The Second Step program teaches children important skills for getting along with others and doing well in school. It also helps our school be a safe, respectful place where everyone can learn.

To further help our school be a safe and respectful place, we are also going to use the Second Step Bullying Prevention Unit. In the lessons, your child will learn specific skills to help stop bullying. Students will learn how to:

•   Recognize when bullying is happening

•   Report bullying to a caring adult

•   Refuse to let bullying happen to themselves or others

•   Be a bystander who stands up and is part of the solution to bullying

In addition, your child will bring home simple, fun activities called Home Links that will help you understand what your child is learning about bullying at school. They also give your child another chance to practice skills for handling bullying.

For bullying prevention to work, everyone at school needs to be involved. So all our staff will get special training in how to:

•   Recognize and respond to bullying

•   Support children who have been bullied

•   Correct behaviors of children who are bullying

•   Use strategies that support a positive school and classroom climate

And we need your help, too! Get involved in making our school a safe and respectful place by letting us know if you hear about bullying at our school. Make sure your child knows to tell you or someone at school if they are being bullied. And give your child the clear message that it is never okay to bully others.

If you have any questions about the Bullying Prevention Unit or the Second Step program, please contact me. For more information on our school’s anti-bullying policy and specific procedures, check our school website or contact the school office. Thank you for helping us make our school a safe, respectful place where everyone can learn.

Sincerely,

  Kate Kanin

P.S. Make sure to join www.secondstep.org with the activation key BPU2 FAMI LY02 to get information about what your child is learning in the Second Step program!

Update 9/23/22:

Welcome to 2nd Grade! I have been having so much fun seeing our returning students and getting to know all of our new kiddos. I get to teach Social Emotional Learning to all of your students every week. I am also hoping to provide regular updates on what we are covering in lessons so that you can support your kiddos at home with common language and practice. 2nd students are going to spend the first few weeks of school with me reviewing Kelso the frog and the choices students can use when they have a small problem.                                                               
Kelso the frog teaches students how to solve “small” problems on their own. “Small” problems include conflicts that cause “small” feelings of annoyance, embarrassment, boredom, etc. “BIG problems” always need to be taken to an adult. These are situations that are scary, dangerous, illegal, etc. 
  
Kelso has nine choices to solve “small problems.” These are illustrated in the Kelso’s Choice Wheel. They include: 
•    Go to another game 
•    Talk it out 
•    Share and take turns 
•    Ignore it 
•    Walk away 
•    Tell them to stop 
•    Apologize 
•    Make a deal 
•    Wait and cool off 
When a child comes to you to solve their “small problem,” tell them to try one to two of Kelso’s Choices first. If that doesn’t work, then an adult can intervene. Make sure your kids know to ask an adult for help in the event of a “BIG problem.” https://kelsoschoice.com/free-resources/for-parents/ 

Kelso’s Choice wheel: 

Please let me know if you have any questions!

-Kate Kanin kkanin@lwsd.org