INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS (IEPs) AT STANBRIDGE
   I hope everyone has had a smooth transition back to the real world following break! As spring begins to approach, it is possible that you have an upcoming IEP meeting. I just wanted to send out a reminder of some ways that Stanbridge can support you through this process.

• Annual meeting: Reach out to gather present levels. Let the district know that you would like someone from Stanbridge to attend. Share my email for meeting scheduling.
• Triennial meeting: Reach out to gather present levels. Have the district connect with Alyssa to fill out any rating scales, or forms for the re-evaluation process. Let the district know that you would like someone from Stanbridge to attend. Share my email for meeting scheduling.
• IEE/Additional Testing: If you are having a provider from outside of the district conduct testing, please connect to Alyssa to assist with scheduling and collecting information.
• Observations: Observations are typically conducted by outside providers or districts to aid their IEP Process. Please connect with Alyssa to coordinate scheduling.

   In all cases, it is best to connect the district/provider directly with myself. This eliminates the middle man and can help make the process more efficient. If you are concerned about this immediate connection, please let me know and all correspondence can be connected with you as well.
   For your knowledge, ALL testing can be completed at Stanbridge. It is where your student is comfortable and feels supported!
– Alyssa Dew, Learning Specialist

POST-SECONDARY TRANSITION SUPPORT

• “Your life is a story of transition. You are always leaving one chapter behind while moving on to the next.” – Anonymous

   The flow of the school year is in constant motion – while students are continually moving to the next unit of study and the next semester, they are building on what they learned and stretching past their comfort zone to take on new challenges. Our seniors are about to start their last semester at Stanbridge and are both ready for and nervous about their next chapter.
   We spent time last semester creating a multi-pathed flowchart that took them from graduation to independence. We traveled to the College of San Mateo, as it was on many of their flowcharts. Our students enjoyed hearing from two alumni, as well as seeing one of the recording studios and their resource center. On February 11th, our Juniors and Seniors will visit San Francisco State and learn more about how they support students.
   In March, we’ll be hosting alumni panels so that both parents and students can hear from alumni. The dates and details will be announced shortly.
– Cindy Schlesinger, Dir. of College Counseling & Transitions

SOCIAL THINKING WITH TRICIA (K5)
  The focus before the holidays was gratitude. Executive Function skills were was built into the Secret Santa party and gift shopping, which included planning, organizing, and following through. Everyone enjoyed their gifts! A big thank you to the parents for shopping with your kids and helping to make this lesson a success.
   With the New Year, we are continuing to work on gratitude,  adding in empathy and compromise over the next several weeks. We will connect empathy with the Martin Luther King, Jr., recognition and Black History month. This can also be a continuing conversation at home. Students have many questions about Martin Luther King, justice, and injustice. Keep conversations simple and answer only the questions your child asks in order to encourage understanding at their maturity level. Expanding too deep into the topic before they are ready can cause feelings of anxiety and confusion. Keep it simple.
– Tricia Keener, Speech & Language Pathologist

Talking With Your Child About Their Diagnosis
Parents often ask our counselors how and when to talk with their children about their diagnosis. This excellent article from the Child Mind Institute gives guidelines for beginning and continuing this conversation. Even if you have discussed this with your child, the article may be helpful. You'll discover how the ongoing conversation may change as your child grows into adolescence and adulthood. There are additional links on the web page to insightful articles about how to talk with relatives and others about your child's diagnosis.

HS Social Learning
High School students are using Social Learning time to consider how we communicate with words, body language, and gestures. We've looked at slang and when it should be used, how to determine whether teasing is friendly, annoying, or malicious, and the pros and cons of gossiping. Students have had robust discussions about using group chats and how to keep them positive.
​– Mary Stadler, Director of Counseling

The Book Fair is finally here and what a successful day we had! On opening day, all classes walked through to view and make purchases. Today alone our families purchased nearly $2,000 in books and merchandise! (That's $500 in Scholastic credit for the Stanbridge Library!)

If you are coming in to look at the book fair or to buy your child's books, please plan to park in marked spaces and walk in. (Construction on Claremont is finally done, too!) Cars left without drivers in the drop-off/pick-up line, even "for just a few minutes," can cause lengthy traffic jams in the paring lot. Appropriate parking will help our arrival and dismissal times to run more smoothly. Thank you for your consideration.

The eWallet option is very helpful for students and families. It is important to let your child know if you have set up an eWallet for them as some students may erroneously think they have money available. CLICK HERE to get started with eWallet (especially important for shuttle riders)! Anyone can contribute to your child's eWallet, just share the link with family members far and wide for easy gift giving for the holidays – we still get the credit if purchased online by Nov 21. And there's a warehouse full of books online, too! Just create an account so we still get the 25% credit from your purchase before November 21.

Finally, we know how exciting the Annual Book Fair is (we are excited, too!). Middle Schoolers may have big feelings that they will be missing part of it due to the awesome Nature Bridge overnight to the Marin Headlands this Wednesday (Nov 13)-Friday (Nov 15). We’ve got great news – they will get additional class time in the Book Fair! MS students can shop the Book Fair during the entire 1st Period on Wednesday morning before they leave on their trip. They can buy a book or two to bring with them (we suggest writing their name in it). Or they can store purchases at school until they return, if they are worried about it getting lost.

ELEMENTARY
   This month, Elementary Students have been learning about fidgets as a tool for self-management. We discussed how fidgets can be important tools for learning, but different tools work for different people. Students learned about the expectations, signed a contract, and selected their fidgets. Next week in class, students will receive their personalized fidget bags. Teachers will support students in following expectations and using fidgets to support focus and attention.
     Also, check out our Crankenstein Halloween Craft below! What makes you cranky?

MIDDLE SCHOOL
    This month Middle Schoolers explored how music can impact mood. Students listened to different songs and recorded the emotions they felt while the music was playing. We discussed how music can be used as a coping skill and what works for different people. Students then created their own mood playlists!
   Additionally, students worked on awareness of self and others by making their own versions of the New York Time "Connections" game. Students were able to share new things about themselves and play each others' games.
Connections Games:

• https://connections.swellgarfo.com/game/-OAK61JBy1hk2fTGZR_9
• https://connections.swellgarfo.com/game/-OAPFyDt-fH-9buWG88d
• https://connections.swellgarfo.com/game/-OAPFbh4mo7Cyvce1kd0

We are excited to share what our students have been up to in Tech class! Each group has been working on exciting projects and developing essential skills:

• Lower Elementary students are learning the basics of coding through colors using Ozobots. This fun and interactive activity helps build problem-solving and sequencing skills.
• Middle and Upper Elementary students are exploring digital citizenship by playing Google’s "Be Internet Awesome" in Roblox. They’re learning how to be safe, smart, and kind online while navigating virtual challenges.
• Middle School students are putting their creativity to work by designing their own t-shirts using Canva. They are getting hands-on experience using a heat press to bring their designs to life!
• High School students have launched a podcasting project, where they’re developing storytelling, editing, and audio production skills while discussing topics that interest them. We’ve also had some exciting field trips recently! Students visited the Pinball Museum to learn about the mechanics and design of classic arcade games, and attended the Maker’s Faire in Vallejo, where they were inspired by innovations in technology and engineering.

It’s been a wonderful start to the year!
– Gregory Wilson, Director of Instructional Technology

Tenth and Eleventh Grade students had a memorable time on the Mother Lode trip last week! For some of our students, it was their first time staying overnight on a Stanbridge experiential trip. Students stepped out of their comfort zones to have new experiences, which helped boost their confidence and helped them realize that they are capable of doing many things. Following are a few highlights from the trip:

• Students loved the ropes courses, which included wall climbing, crossing a high balance beam, zip-lining, and taking a leap of faith jump from a very tall tree. Students conquered their fears in order to experience these challenges and they spoke very highly of these activities.
• Students loved the food! The Mother Lode kitchen staff provided delicious meals that the kids raved about, including a yummy cheesecake dessert which they had with dinner on the final night. Students also got to make s'mores on one of the nights, and they had a blast singing "Down By The Bay" around the campfire. Camaraderie was clearly in the air!
• The biggest highlight of the trip was the students getting to experience whitewater rafting! Several of them had never whitewater rafted before, and they quickly got into it! On Thursday, students were taught safety skills on dry land for the following day: how to properly paddle and how to pull someone back into the raft should they fall out (which they only ended up needing to know for those who chose to go overboard into calm waters). Friday morning was the big day where students geared up and got to paddle down the river! It was an exciting experience students will not soon forget!

   We are approaching to the end of Hispanic Heritage Month. In Spanish, we are learning about this celebration as part of our cultural approach to Hispanic traditions and the importance of the community to the United States in general. We have much more to learn but we had a great beginning of the year in Spanish and we are always getting better.
   In Lower El, we are learning vocabulary of animals, numbers, colors, days, months, and basic expressions – hello (hola), bye (adiós), how are you (cómo estás), morning, afternoon, night, and more. A common activity we use in class is drawing pictures and then adding Spanish words according to the picture. We then repeat the words and expressions in class to help them with pronunciation. We occasionally watch scenes of movies in Spanish to learn new Spanish words from recognizable characters such as Mickey Mouse.
   Middle El is learning vocabulary of sports, plants, foods, animals, countries, and cities. The students practice basic expressions including questions and answers about the things they do, like, and want. As part of our cultural approach, we watched a video about the Mexican Independence Celebration. 
   Upper El is learning vocabulary of numbers 1 to 100, as well as animals, places, colors, school items and more. We are also learning basic expressions such as how are you (cómo estás); what's your name (cómo te llamas); where do you live (dónde vive) and how old are you (cuántos años tiene)? Along with asking the question we learn how to respond, too. This group is still interested in sports and foods!
  In Middle School, we are learning different expressions and sentences that are commonly used. Students practice pronunciation and common sentences in class. We are reviewing numbers and how to write them. We learned about Spanish speaking countries and their culture including traditions and gastronomy.
  High School Spanish continues to use the Realidades textbook for all levels (1-3). Realidades materials are understandable and activities are easy to complete. We continue to work with working with grammar, specifically with the conjugation of verbs. For Hispanic Heritage Month, students researched different Hispanic personalities and their contributions to this country. We learned about the Independence of Mexico as part of cultural approach. 
   While I am out on medical leave in the coming weeks, Gladys will be taking over my classes. Please see more about what's coming below.
– Rubén Núñez Sanchez, K-12 Spanish Teacher

   We will be learning about Spanish speaking countries and their different cultures to end Hispanic heritage month on a strong note. 
   In the next few weeks we will be learning about Dia de los Muertos, a tradition that is very important to me and Mexican culture. We will be learning all about ofrendas - what goes on them, what the different objects on them mean, why we place food and pictures on it as well. We will even be assembling an ofrenda in our classroom! More information about how your student will be able to contribute will come soon. 
   Redwood City will have their annual Día de los Muertos celebration on Sunday, November 3, from 3:30–8:30 PM in Courthouse Square. Hope to see some students there!
– Gladys Arana, K-12 Substitute Spanish Teacher

​Student Government has gotten into a rhythm these last few weeks! The new members have quickly learned the ropes from the veteran members about the standard operating procedures for all of our sales. The members are energized, motivated, and working collaboratively to run our sales each week. Speaking of sales, we would like to thank SPA for providing such delicious treats for our first Bake Sale of the school year! We thank you and appreciate you!

This week in Student Government, discussions began about things we could purchase for the school with the funds that we get through our weekly Friday sales. This will be a process, but already, students are thinking deeply about ideas that can improve the experience of students at Stanbridge. One such idea under consideration is installing another microwave in the courtyard, as this year students have seen slightly longer lines to use the microwaves at lunchtime.

Student Government is currently researching a variety of pizza places as we consider changing the location of where we get our pizza for our monthly Pizza Sale. Members are taking initiative and looking at the prices of different pizza places, as well as their quality, as we consider switching to a different restaurant. We will keep you updated as we continue to research and weigh our options.

Our Student Government wants to hear from our students! This week we put our Suggestion Box back in the front office, where students from any division are welcome to write down ideas and suggestions that they would like Student Government to consider. Your input is taken seriously and is greatly appreciated!

–Kenny Katz, Student Government Faculty Advisor

​What's up Bulldogs? It's your blondest Bulldog Blogger Ian Mackenzie here. In this post, I'm going to tell you about the various speeches I’ve made across my time at Stanbridge, what it felt like to give them, and how you can improve your ability to speak to an audience. I am also going to explain how I soothed my anxiety and my stage fright. The capability to keep my emotions on stage took many hours of work for me. Now, I've gone over how I give speeches, and man, Ian sure talks a lot but what's the point?! I’m going to show you four lessons real soon, calm down Mr. exclamation point.

Alright, Lesson One: Practice!! I cannot emphasize this enough. If you want to give a speech that people other than your parents will applaud, then review the words you’re going to say constantly. That means P-R-A-C-T-I-C-E. Don’t try to memorize the whole speech. Just don’t. Or if you are more experienced at giving speeches, you could have the paper in front of you for reference, but only look at it when you need the exact words from your speech.

Lesson Two: Make sure you are slowing down and enunciate clearly. If you are like me, then you need to slow down that speedy mind of yours, as well as that tireless mouth. Don’t forget to check on that every once in a while when you're giving a longer speech. 

Lesson Three: if you stutter or say the wrong line, there are two ways to deal with it. 

1.   Pretend it never happened and continue what you were saying. 
2.   Go off of your script to make the incorrect lines you stuttered suddenly make sense.

-What not to do?
Stop the entire speech and say something like, “Sorry I messed up.” This shows the audience that you are less prepared or willing than you first let on.  

And finally, Lesson Four:
Try to make as much eye contact as possible. If you look down at your paper too much, the audience will lose interest way faster.

Simple as that. I hope this was helpful to you. Maybe you can apply some of these skills to your everyday life. Why not give it a shot?  See you in the next post!