Manor Middle School – Title 1 Times

Something to think about…

“‘Stop and smell the roses’ isn’t just good advice—it’s also a powerful safeguard against stress. Mindfulness, or the practice of consciously and non-judgmentally observing the present moment, has been linked to better well-being in previous research.

Luckily, mindfulness isn’t just a personality trait—it’s a skill you can learn.”

– taken from an article in Women’s Health BY AMARY WIGGIN MAR 12, 2013

One of our goals for the 2022-2023 school year is to introduce Mindfulness to the students we will be working with. You may ask why we would choose to teach this? Well, here is some interesting research.

“Not knowing the answer to a question when you’re called on in front of the entire class. Forgetting your homework. The kid behind you pulling your hair. School poses a lot of stressful moments, but how children (and teachers) react to them can make all the difference.

A new study suggests that mindfulness education — lessons on techniques to calm the mind and body — can reduce the negative effects of stress and increase students’ ability to stay engaged, helping them stay on track academically and avoid behavior problems.”

https://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/19/01/making-time-mindfulness

A HUGE THANK YOU to all of you for your support this school year.

We hope you have a safe, restful, and Mindful summer break!

Click Here (English)

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to provide us with valuable feedback for our

Title One Program in the 2021-2022 School Year

UPCOMING PSSA TESTING INFORMATION

PSSA Testing Window 2021-2022

​Assessment	​Dates	​Grades
​English Language Arts	​April 25-29, 2022	​Grades 3-8
​Mathematics, Science and Make-ups	​May 2-13, 2022	​Grades 3-8

7th Grade: PSSA tests in reading and math

8th Grade: PSSA tests in reading, math, writing, and science

The PSSA assessments are criterion-referenced tests, as opposed to norm-referenced tests. Thus, your child will only compete against him or herself, rather than be compared against the group. Also, the PSSA scores have no influence on promotion, placement, or grades for our students.

The real preparation for the PSSA tests, or any standardized test, begins with your commitment to your children’s education throughout their school years. Devote time and effort to helping your children learn. Start by making sure your kids do their homework and read every day. 

adapted from: https://www.time4learning.com/testprep/pennsylvania-standardized-test-prep/

Something to think about…

People who regularly take time to notice and note the things they’re thankful for, experience more positive emotions, sleep better, and express more compassion and kindness toward others.

In response to your BRAGGING RIGHTS survey feedback, this blog addresses the topic of Active Listening.

When you practice active listening, you make the other person feel heard and valued. In this way, active listening is the foundation for any successful conversation. Sometimes we confuse LISTENING with HEARING. However, listening requires attention, meaning it’s active. Hearing is passive — you can’t close your ears, so sounds will enter and be heard. This makes it involuntary.

As an active listener, you are there to act as a sounding board rather than ready to jump in with your own ideas and opinions about what is being said. This can be difficult for all of us to do and requires thought and practice.

Tips for Practicing Active Listening

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-active-listening-3024343

The following tips will help you to become a better active listener:

• Make eye contact while the other person speaks. In general, you should aim for eye contact about 60% to 70% of the time while you are listening. Lean toward the other person, and nod your head occasionally. Avoid folding your arms as this signals that you are not listening.
• Paraphrase what has been said, rather than offering unsolicited advice or opinions. You might start this off by saying “In other words, what you are saying is…”.
• Don’t interrupt while the other person is speaking. Do not prepare your reply while the other person speaks; the last thing that he or she says may change the meaning of what has already been said.
• Watch nonverbal behavior to pick up on hidden meaning, in addition to listening to what is said. Facial expressions, tone of voice, and other behaviors can sometimes tell you more than words alone.
• Shut down your internal dialogue while listening. Avoid daydreaming. It is impossible to attentively listen to someone else and your own internal voice at the same time.
• Show interest by asking questions to clarify what is said. Ask open-ended questions to encourage the speaker. Avoid closed yes-or-no questions that tend to shut down the conversation.
• Avoid abruptly changing the subject; it will appear that you were not listening to the other person.
• Be open, neutral, and withhold judgment while listening.
• Be patient while you listen. We are capable of listening much faster than others can speak.
• Learn to recognize active listening. Watch television interviews and observe whether the interviewer is practicing active listening. Learn from the mistakes of others.

Something to think about…

Other upcoming events: 

• Manor Middle Spirit Week Feb. 7 – Feb.11
  • Monday PJ’s
  • Tuesday Crazy Socks
  • Wednesday Hair Color
  • Thursday Flannel
  • Friday Freaky Friday
• February 16, 2022 Last day for Cult. Arts rotation#6
• February 18, 2022 Early Dismissal
• February 21, 2022 No School President’s Day

By the way, if you haven’t completed the BRAGGING RIGHTS survey, you may still do so! So far, we have received 18 responses – Thank you!

Out of those parents who responded to our BRAGGING RIGHTS survey last month, approximately 59% chose EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION as the number one social skill they would like to see developed in their child.

ACTIVE LISTENING and SOCIAL PROBLEM-SOLVING both came in a close second. These three skills are closely related to one another, so over the next month or so, we will share some insight into how we can work together to improve these important life skills.

Here are some facts that may help …

Effective communication with your teenager can help you both feel happier and more connected in your relationship, and more confident about having difficult conversations and resolving conflicts.

What Kind of Communicator is Your Child?

Consider sitting down with your child and answering the following questions together.

Passive

• Do you try to push your feelings away rather than express them to others?

• Do you worry expressing yourself will cause others to be angry or to not like you?

• Do you often go along with others’ opinions because you don’t want to be different?

Aggressive

• Are you concerned with getting your own way, regardless of how it affects others?

• Do you often yell, swear or use other aggressive means of communicating?

• Do you not care if others get what they need as long as your needs are met?

Passive-Aggressive

• Do you have a tendency to be sarcastic in conversations with others?

• Do you give people the silent treatment when you’re angry with them?

• Do you often find yourself saying one thing but really thinking another?

Assertive

• Do you believe you have the right to express your opinions and emotions?

• Do you treat others with respect and respect yourself during communication?

• Do you listen closely to what other people are saying, sending the message that you’re trying to understand their perspective?

The best way to communicate is by being assertive. Next time, we will share some things that will help your teen in developing the skills necessary to get points across effectively and improve the quality of his or her relationships.

Excerpted from “Don’t Let Your Emotions Run Your Life for Teens” (March 2011, New Harbinger). 

Something to think about…

Other upcoming events: 

• January 17, 2022 Martin Luther King Holiday No School Teachers & Students
• January 21, 2022 Inservice for Teachers No School for Students
• January 28, 2022 Early Dismissal

By the way, if you haven’t completed the BRAGGING RIGHTS survey, you may still do so!

Even as we work through marking period 2, we are discovering new and exciting things about your child. We continually want to get to know each student better, so that we can better assist with meeting each one’s unique needs in our classroom. 

In order to do that, we’d like to learn more from your point of view! 

In other words, we are giving you some

To do that, please click on the link below (Bragging Rights) and answer our short survey about your child. We greatly appreciate you and your time!

BRAGGING RIGHTS

Something to think about…  

Other upcoming events: 

• December 9, 2021 Combined MS Holiday Concert (Opening Remarks) 7-8 pm @ PMHS
• December 23, 2021 Early Dismissal K-12
• December 24 – Jan 3, 2021Holiday Break No School: teachers/students

HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD MANAGE STRESS DURING THE HOLIDAYS

(https://living.aahs.org/childrens-health/tips-for-helping-teens-manage-stress-during-the-holidays/)

A survey by the American Psychological Association found that younger Americans report the highest level of stress among all age groups. In addition to peer, academic, social and family pressures, the holiday season can bring seasonal stressors.

Good self-care can help combat stress and prevent it from becoming a more serious problem. 

DOING THESE THINGS COULD HELP:

Get active. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress. 

Rest. Teens need between eight to 10 hours of sleep a night but rarely get it. 

Eat well. A healthy diet can help regulate your mood.

Meditation. Breathing techniques and yoga are great stress relievers.

Giving back. Helps your child gain perspective and foster gratitude.

Slow Down. Take time to slow down and enjoy the season.

Remember though – Stress isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it can motivate us to work harder and be more efficient.  If all else fails…

Something to think about…  

Other upcoming events: 

• November 22,23 K-12 Early Dismissal
• November 24 Act 80 No School
• November 25-29 Thanksgiving Break No School: teachers/students

DID YOU KNOW… Three decades of research provide convincing evidence that parents are an important influence in helping their children achieve high academic standards. When schools collaborate with parents to help their children learn and when parents participate in school activities and decision-making about their children’s education, children achieve at higher levels.  In short, when parents are involved in education, children do better in school and schools improve. (https://www2.ed.gov/programs/titleiparta/parentinvguid.doc)

    How Do You Know What to Work on First?

An excerpt from: http://blog.cambridgecoaching.com/study-skills-time-management-guide-for-middle-schoolers

Time management is among the most common concerns voiced by parents and students. Students these days are perhaps busier than ever before: between academics and a barrage of extracurricular commitments, how can your child expect to keep up the juggling act and manage to get enough rest? 

A few suggestions for creating an effective schedule:

• TASK-ORIENTED: Help your child develop a realistic schedule by focusing on tasks. In emphasizing what he must accomplish each night – as well as during the week – you’ll help your student to improve his concentration in pursuit of specific, concrete goals.
• CONSISTENT: If possible, carve out a nightly time for the completion of homework; this will establish accountability while enabling your child to internalize a study routine.
• MANAGEABLE: Break it down by subject. Especially at the beginning, create conditions that will allow your child to acclimate to a new schedule. For example, you might suggest that he begin each day with his most daunting subject and work towards those he finds less difficult. Or, he might dedicate a small window to long-term projects, such as lingering tests or presentations. By breaking down large assignments into individual tasks with deadlines over a period of a few days/weeks, such projects will feel more manageable and will be less likely to be left until the last minute.

Something to think about…

Other upcoming events: 

• Picture Retake on November 16, 2021
• November 22,23 K-12 Early Dismissal
• November 24 Act 80 No School
• November 25-29 Thanksgiving Break No School: teachers/students

The end of the first marking period is here. Have you checked in with your child on how they are doing? Do you know how to access their grades on Sapphire? https://www.pennmanor.net/parents/sapphirehelp/

A short conversation asking them to share their grades, along with how they are feeling about school may give you insight, if necessary, into how much more time they may need to spend on schoolwork. It’s not too late to make the 2021-2022 school year a successful one!

Other upcoming events: 

• In-Service Day K-12 on November 5, 2021 – No school for students
• Picture Retake on November 16, 2021

Welcome to the Title I Times – a new blog meant to keep you informed about what’s going on with us and with the Manor Middle School community. Check us out each month for updates, study strategies, and other important information to help your student realize their potential.

Miss Amy Niemkiewicz is the Title I Teacher and leads two 7th grade reading classes in addition to her Title I and Academic Support responsibilities. Miss Niemkiewicz has been at Manor Middle School for 17 years.

Mrs. Donna Carle assists with eighth grade and has been at Manor Middle School for 11 years. She is joined by Ms. Lisa Acquaviva who is new to our team this year and we are all very excited about it! Ms. Acquaviva (meaning: water of life) taught emotional support for a total of 23 years between York Suburban Middle School and at Manheim Township Middle School. Before becoming a teacher, she worked for her dad’s home improvement company in York, PA. When her dad became ill, she decided to go back to school to become a teacher. She loves all animals and has several rescue dogs and cats. She also takes care of her mom, who lives with her, along with her 2 dogs and a cat. She has three sisters who live close by – family is extremely important to her and she spends a lot of time with them. She is very excited to be working with the students in the Title One Program. 

Mrs. Jen Lewis and Mrs. Theresa Lehmann both came to Manor Middle School during the 2019 – 2020 school year and work with seventh grade.

We are looking forward to this school year. From American History to World History, the Animal Kingdom to the World of Geology, Algebra to Geometry, and a whole alphabet of authors, we will be exploring our world and learning new things. We hope your student shares our enthusiasm and is as excited about this year as we are!