The Serve. Lead. Succeed Team is hosting a week full of events that will honor the men and women of our military and benefit the Armed Services YMCA of San Diego. Students in Grades K-6 will have the opportunity to participate in various activities starting next week during lunch recesses.

Monday, May 20, is American Handprint Day. Students will decorate their hands with red, white, and blue paint and stamp them on a piece of paper to create a patriotic display. On Tuesday, May 21, 4th-6th grade students will have the opportunity to submit a special thank you note or message to our troops. Wednesday, May 22, is Red, White, and Blue Day. Your child is encouraged to come to school dressed in red, white, and blue attire. We will also be covering the playground ramp handrails with red, white, and blue ribbons during lunch recess. Thursday, May 23, is Bead Bracelet Day. Students can design a special patriotic bracelet that can be worn to honor our troops. For our final event, we are challenging students to participate in the Military Fitness Challenge on Friday, May 24. We ask that all students who would like to participate turn in the registration form they received this week and a suggested donation of $5.00 by Wednesday, May 23.  All donations go directly to support the amazing programs that the Armed Services YMCA provides for our military and their families. We appreciate your support!

Thank you,
Gia M. and Allegra F.
SLS Team Student Members

Dr. Adria O’Donnell, a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Carmel Valley, will be working with Gillispie students, teachers, and parents on pro-social behaviors. For the past 10 years, she has specialized in working predominantly with children and adolescents and is a highly-regarded speaker with the Girl Scouts and other non-profit organizations, as well as at local public and private schools.

During student assemblies (Grades K-2 and 3-6 on 4/25), Dr. O’Donnell will help students understand some of the subtle forms of aggression that cause them social stress and confusion. She will answer questions often asked by students, such as, “Why do ‘good’ friends sometimes treat each other badly?” and “How can you stand up for yourself?” Children will learn the difference between mean verses bullying behaviors, effective conflict resolution skills such as “BRAVE Talk,” and how not to give their power away to others. Dr. O’Donnell will speak to faculty on 4/29 and will offer a free parent workshop from 8:45-10 a.m. on Monday, May 13.

During the parent workshop (offered to all Gillispie parents), Dr. O’Donnell’s remarks will center around: “Friend and Foe: Helping Your Child Navigate their Social World.” Recognizing that peer relationships are an important component of a child’s school experience, join Dr. O’Donnell in a lively presentation as she discusses how to help children navigate their social worlds. Learn about “frienemies,” relational aggression, and how technology is changing peer interactions. Topics will also include advice on “BRAVE Talk,” conflict resolution skills for kids, and parent protocols for managing your child’s peer conflicts—how and when to get involved.

Alison Fleming
Head of School

Gillispie School students benefit from access to a variety of technologies to support their study of Spanish. Students use computers to explore and discover by virtually “visiting” Spanish-speaking countries–they have learned about different cultures from Spain to Chile. With technology, students can create movies, write books, or gain insights from educational videos–all high engagement learning strategies. For example, this year Grade 5 students are using iPads and various apps to record, create, and listen to dialogues. This is a very effective way to practice speaking a foreign language!

Children in Grades 4-6 can visit Gillispie’s Spanish program website where they can access their homework assignments. Material learned during each lesson is readily available on the site to allow students to practice their Spanish at home. Games are available to review and master vocabulary and grammar.

The use of technology creates endless possibilities for fun and provides students with hands-on learning experiences. Whether it’s practicing vocabulary with games on Quizlet, or creating presentations to share with the class, students are motivated and excited each day to learn something new.

Wherever technology takes us next, we can count on our students and teachers to use it to learn Spanish in ways history has never imagined!

Carol Radchik
Spanish Teacher, K-Grade 6