Thanksgiving Day Family Fun

With Thanksgiving Day fast approaching, families can take advantage of this special holiday to give their children an opportunity to show gratitude for blessings of the past year. Even during hardships, tragedy, and loss, families pull together and grow stronger during these trials.
Here are a few ideas you can share as a family to express emotions of Thanksgiving.

Make a Thanksgiving Tree

• Use a sheet of construction paper, drawing paper, or even a brown paper bag to draw an outline of a tree with extended bare branches.
• Brainstorm a list of items for which the family is thankful for. Think of people, places, animals, and things that are meaningful to each family member.
• Next, cut leaf shape patterns from colored paper, wrapping paper, or plain white paper.
• Assist your child, as needed, to write a word on each lea from the list of items generated by the family.
• Glue or tape each leaf on the tree pattern.
• Hang the tree somewhere in your home that will be visible each day during the holiday season.
• Take time each day to reflect on the “Thanksgiving Tree”.
• As extra idea for using this tree would be to have family members to say “thank you for…” one item each day as you gather around the table to share a meal together. This activity will bring the family closer together and will instill a sense of gratitude in the hearts of your children.

Happy Thanksgiving and may your holiday season bring your family blessings of joy and peace.

National Family Involvement Day - November 21, 2013

November 21st is National Parent Involvement Day. This day is set apart to bring awareness of the importance of parent involvement and family engagement in schools. This of course is not the only day for families to be involved in their child’s education but the attention of this day can stir up ideas of how parents can become partners in their child’s school.

When families are involved in their child’s education, their children benefit in very positive ways. Research shows that children are more likely to succeed academically and are less likely to engage in violent behavior if their families are involved in their education. Research has shown that:

• These children receive higher scores in tests and earn higher grades.
• They attend school more regularly.
• They complete their homework in a timely manner.
• They demonstrate more positive attitudes and behaviors.
• They graduate from high school and are more likely to enroll in higher education.

The National PTA has set the following National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs:
1. Establish regular, meaningful communication between home and school
2. Promote and support parenting skills
3. Encourage active parent participation in student learning
4. Welcome parents as volunteer partners in schools
5. Invite parents to act as full partners in making school decisions that affect children and families
6. Reach out to the community for resources to strengthen schools

So use “National Parent Involvement Day” as a reminder of the importance of being involved in your child’s education. If you haven’t done so, make contact with your child’s teacher and find out how you can make a difference in your child’s academic progress. Continue to read with your child every day and talk with him/her about the importance of doing well in school. When your child recognizes your personal involvement in his/her education, positive results will be seen and you will have an impact on your child’s successful achievement.

November is Family Involvement Month - How will you get involved in your child's school?

All family and community members are invited to be involved in schools throughout the year but in Virginia, Governor McDonnell has declared November to be “Family Involvement Month” in all Virginia schools. This is a special time set aside to nurture involvement in the education of all students. This emphasis opens the opportunity to strengthen the lines of communication between educators, family members, the community and students.

Here are a few suggestions to encourage participation in “Family Involvement Month”:
• Plan to spend some time at your child’s school this month
• Participate in planned activities and events at your child’s school
• Business partners can allow for flexible scheduling to allow employees time to visit their child’s school to volunteer or to have lunch with their child
• Community leaders can visit their neighborhood schools to observe excellence in education at work
• Show appreciation to teachers by helping your child to write a “thank-you” note to his/her teacher
• Plan to have lunch with your child during November

So during the month of November, take advantage of opportunities at your child’s school to show your child how much you value an excellent education. After November, you may find that you will want to become more involved in your child’s school as a volunteer in the classroom or on a planning committee. Either way, your child and your child’s teacher will appreciate your involvement and you will see an improvement in your child’s academic progress.

Veterans' Day Past and Present

In November 1919, following World War I, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words:

“to us in America, the reflection of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.”

 An Act of Congress (52 Stat. 351, 5 US Code Sec 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday. This day is to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and continued to be called “Armistice Day”.

The 83rd Congress amended the Act of 1938 by striking the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans”. With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American Veterans of all wars. On October 8, 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first Veteran’s Day Proclamation.

The observance of Veteran’s Day on November 11th not only preserves the historical significance of the date but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veteran’s Day: A celebration to honor American’s Veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

The brave men and women who serve and protect the United States come from all walks of life: they are parents, children and grandparents. They are friends, neighbors and coworkers. They are an important part of our communities. So on this November 11th Veteran’s Day, give “thanks” to living Veterans in your community who served our country honorably during wartime or peacetime.

November is National Family Involvement Month - Volunteer at Your School

• Do you want to help your child's school but are not sure how? Contact your child's teacher or school principal for volunteer opportunities. Let your child's teacher know you are interested in being a helper. Maybe you would like to help children read or write, or work on a computer project. You could become a tutor. Maybe you have an ability or skill that you would like to share with the class. Talk with your child's teacher to see if your talent can be aligned with the school curriculum.

• Look for "Sign-up" sheets at Open House, Parent/Teacher Conference time, or parent meetings to see if there is a need you would be interested in helping. Some schools are looking for parents who like to work in gardening to be on their "Beautification Committee" or "Building and Grounds Team". Maybe you can gather a group of parents to help with the weeding and shrub trimming; or plant a small flower garden to help with the school's outside appearance. If you have an idea, talk with the school principal or PTA/PTO president who may help to start a school project for volunteers to work together.

 • Are you a well organized person who has a niche for scheduling events? Volunteer your services at your child's school and become the Volunteer Coordinator who plans for all of the other volunteers that come to the school. This is a big responsibility and one that would be greatly appreciated by the school principal.

 • Does your school have a comfortable space for parents to work on school projects? Maybe you could help establish an area for parents to meet and help with school projects. A parent meeting room is a good way to welcome parents into the school and to help them feel they are a part of the school culture. A parent room is ideal for small meetings to make plans for volunteer opportunities and to have helpers complete project work for teachers and students.