The Character Education Theme for January is Tolerance

The weekly thoughts are:

Week 1: Being able to accept that people are different is the oil that takes the friction out of life.

Week 2: One of the best lessons I ever learned was to be kind and friendly to even those that were not my friends.

Week 3: Tolerant people judge others not by how they are different but by how they are alike.

Week 4: How have you practiced being tolerant this month?

PARENTS

January has arrived and it is my sincere hope that everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Each January, I anxiously await the return of your children because I am certain to hear some fascinating and entertaining stories. I often marvel at the detailed descriptions they provide when describing their time away from school.

January will be a busy testing month. As a result of the No Child Left Behind Federal Mandates, children in Grades 3 and 5 will now take a state assessment in English Language Arts. Of course, our fourth grade students will continue to be tested in this regard as they have been for the past several years.

With the arrival of winter comes the opportunity for our children to enjoy snowshoeing in physical education classes. This is a very popular activity allowing the children to enjoy winter in Western New York. Please send you child to school properly dressed for this activity on days when they have gym class. The children enjoy being outside in the fresh crisp winter air but in order to participate they will need winter coats, hats, gloves, boots and winter pants, if possible. As you know this activity is based on weather conditions and I, therefore, ask that children be prepared to snowshoe whenever snow is on the ground during the month of January.

Happy New Year!

David Patronik
Principal
J.T. Waugh Elementary