Recycling Rock Stars!

Dear Soundview Family,

We want to acknowledge the heartbreaking events of the last week in Israel and Gaza and the direct impact on people in the Soundview community and beyond. Soundview is a welcoming and inclusive community, and we continue to educate our students with compassion. Our school counselor Travis Wood is available to support students and families. Reach out to him HERE. 

Online images of violence, devastation, and war can have lasting psychological impacts on a child. Please monitor your child’s online activity. Depending on their age, engage in family discussions about how to access information regarding current events. Please see the resources below for developmentally appropriate ways to engage in these important and challenging conversations.

• UNICEF guide to talking with children about conflict and war is HERE. 

• The American Psychological Association’s (APA) “Resilience in a time of war: tips for teachers and parents of elementary students” is HERE. 

• The APA’s resource for middle school teachers and parents is HERE.

• Learning for Justice’s resource for supporting young people through crisis is HERE.

• Common Sense Media’s “How to talk to kids about violence, crime, and war” is HERE. 

We’ve been busy on campus. Recycling Rock Stars hosted a school-wide assembly yesterday about recycling, waste reduction, and simple everyday actions to cut down on garbage. You can learn more about the recycling program in your area HERE.

Today is a staff work day (no school for students) to prepare for our upcoming International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program Evaluation visit. The process happens every five years for each of our IB programs and involves policy review, constituent survey collection, submission of curriculum and student assessments, and a visit from IB examiners. We receive evaluation feedback on all aspects of our program and a five year plan to move forward. We’ll keep you updated throughout the process, which will be ongoing through April 2024. Learn more about the benefits of IB HERE.

Admission tours and applications for the 2024-2025 school year are happening now! Please tell your friends and family about Soundview. We would love to give them a tour and introduce them to our school. For any and all questions, contact our Director of Enrollment Management, Victoria, HERE. 

Here are the upcoming important October events and dates:

• Student/parent/teacher conferences are Monday, October 30th and Tuesday, October 31st. There is no school for students on these days. Electronic conference sign-up forms will be sent to you via Toddle next Tuesday, October 17th. Childcare will be available for the time(s) during your in-person meetings only.

• Next Thursday, October 19th at 10:19 AM local time is the International ShakeOut Day, when millions of people worldwide will participate in earthquake drills at work, school, or home. You can learn more about ShakeOut Day HERE. 

• Soundview Spirit Week is October 23rd through October 27th. Details and daily themes can be found below so your students can plan accordingly. Additionally, you can view the Spirit Week information HERE:

  • Monday: Black or White day

  • Tuesday: Fancy or Comfy / Pajama Day

  • Wednesday: Class Color day

    • EC: Red

    • K: Orange

    • Seals/Otters: Yellow

    • Whales/Sea Turtles: Green

    • Manatees: Blue

    • Grade 6: Purple

    • Grade 7: Pink

    • Grade 8: Rainbow

  • Thursday: Barbie World or Marvel Universe 

  • Friday: Halloween costumes

• The Middle School Fall Ball dance is on Friday, October 27th, 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Look for more details regarding this event in next week's Friday letter.  

• BOOLING is Saturday, October 28th from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM. This great community event is open to all Soundview families and is fully sponsored by Soundview’s Parent/Guardian Association. There is no cost for Soundview families to participate. Wear a costume, enjoy some pizza, and roll a few bowling balls. RSVP HERE.

Here are some other October dates to recognize:

• October 10th was World Mental Health Day to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. You can read more about this day HERE.

• October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. October 13th is nationally recognized in the United States as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, and October 17th through 23rd is Men’s Breast Cancer Awareness Week. You can learn about these awareness days HERE.

• October is Global Diversity Awareness Month. It was initiated in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity of the world around us. It is a time to recognize and understand our differences, be it gender, race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation and other factors while honoring the common essence of humanity. You can learn more about this HERE.

• October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). We recognize NDEAM each October to commemorate the many contributions of people with disabilities to America's workplaces and economy. The theme for NDEAM 2023 is “Advancing Access and Equity.” You can learn more about this HERE.

Rain or shine, it’s great to see you each day!  

Stay dry everyone,
Chris
Chris Watson, Soundview Head of School

One more thing…
On October 13th, 1792 construction of the White House began. The office and residence of the President of the United States was designed by Irish architect James Hoban. It took 8 years for it to become livable and President John Adams became the first president to occupy the building on November 1, 1800. You can read more about the White House HERE.