WRMS Reflections 11.30.17

The WRMS Season of Giving Adopt-a-Family program is here!!

West Ridge Reflections

November 30, 2017

West Ridge Middle School

Hot Chocolate sales soar for Adopt-a-Family project!

MESSAGE FROM INTERIM PRINCIPAL ROBIN LOWE

Parents -

Right before the break, I promised you we would discuss social media. Where, oh where to start?!

Let's start with this AMAZING ARTICLE by Dr. Victoria Dunckley in Psychology Today. I will not bore you by repeating the article now because I want you to read it, but suffice it to say it was written for parents of middle schoolers and approaches social media from a developmental standpoint for middle school students. She rocks it!!

So now that we have that background, what in the heck do we do about it? We know our kids are on it. We know their friends are on it. We know most of us are modeling this to our children because we are on it.

Hmmm...

Suggestion #1
Check your child's phone, iPad, computer (all electronic devices that access the internet) on a weekly basis. And don't do it the same day of each week - they are smart kids and they know how to get around us! What should you look for on their device? Look at all apps - open them and ask questions about them. Look at calls, text messages, photos, videos. Insist that you have the password to all accounts and if they resist, then don't give them back the device. Look at the times the texts, photos, etc are happening. You may be shocked to learn that many are happening during class time, but I suspect most are in the middle of the night when they should be sleeping.

Suggestion #2
Take away all devices at a certain time each evening or lock down internet access. Now, locking down internet access doesn't work on cell phones because they can use their data plans. Don't let your kids use the excuse they need their phone to be their alarm clock. Buy them a good old fashioned alarm clock. The best thing you can do for your tweenager is to take temptation out of their hands and keep it until the morning!

Face it, there is no easy answer when it comes to this stuff. All we can do is try to keep up with the latest technology and apps and keep the lines of communication open with our kids. Every few weeks google latest updates and things parents should be on the look out for when it comes to their kids and technology. And talk to your kids. Instead of everyone being on their devices in the evenings, have a game night or have dinner together and pick different topics to discuss. Remember, middle school years are the most critical and even though your child wants to push you away, don't let them. They need you now more than ever.

Robin

ACTION ITEMS

Ask your student to see their Wildcat Time Adopted Family Wish List.
Talk with them about the project and how they can make an impact.
Watch the launch video at the bottom of our home page in the Spotlight Section (click on Spotlight icon and scroll to bottom of flyer) WRMS home page
See more info below!

THANK YOU for making a difference. And a HUGE one at that!

WILDCAT CLUB NEWS

Welcome back, Wildcat families! We hope you all enjoyed the long Thanksgiving weekend with family and friends.

Last Tuesday was Pie Day! Every year, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, each member of our WRMS staff gets to stop by the Teen Skills room and select a delicious pie to take home with them for the holiday.

THANK YOU, Terri Ganem-Budiselich, for once again organizing this special treat for all of our staff! And thank you to ALL of our families that baked and donated pies and to everyone who volunteered to help on Pie Day, as well as to the Loving Libbie Memorial Foundation for baking the remaining 115+ pies! They all looked delicious!

It's a great day to be a Wildcat!
Aimee Cunningham & Suzanne Newhouse
WRMS Wildcat Club Co-Presidents

Don't Want to Miss a Thing This Year at WRMS?
Join the Wildcat Club on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildcatclub

ADOPT-A-FAMILY

SEASON OF GIVING LETTER FROM ROBIN

In case you missed the Adopt-a-Family launch email, here is the letter that was included with the Wish Lists. Wish Lists for all Wildcat Times were sent out Tuesday, 11/28. Your student's WCT teacher should also be emailing you.

Project Note for Students with PE Waivers

Adopt-a-Family Supplemental Gift Ideas

LION KING

Image: Dan Siegel, author, Unlocking the Adolescent Brain

DISTRICT NEWS

Adopt-a-Family

Community Approves Penny Swap & Drop/TRE

Eanes ISD voters overwhelmingly passed the proposed tax ratification, or Penny Swap & Drop proposition by 89 percent in the November 7 election. The TRE approval lowers the overall Eanes ISD tax rate by more than a penny to $1.20 and adds an estimated $3 million of non-recapturable funds to the district's operating budget.

SEL Highlights Self-Awareness & Self-Management

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) focus highlights self-awareness and self-management. Educating teens about the mindfulness research and the benefits of mindfulness is a way to support teens in developing their own mindful practice. Building autonomy, competence, and connection with our kids develops self-reliant, competent and resilient adults.