ResilienceTanyaO’Rourke

Whenfacedwithlife’schallenges,bothbigandsmall,minorandtragic,wearepresentedwitha

choice.Howwillwechoosetodealwithwhatlifehasdealtus?Whenlookingattwopeoplefacedwiththesamesituationweknowthatsomeofuswillgetbackupandkeepgoingbutforotherswemaybecomefixedinourbeliefthatwecan’tpossiblycarryon.Wemightbelievethatthereisnopointincontinuing,becauseforwhateverreason,thedeckisstackedagainstus.Thedifferencesinthesetwoapproachestoadversityisdefinedbyresilience,theabilitytobouncebackrelativelyquicklyfromdifficulties.

ThismonthatEastRidgewearetalkingaboutresilience.Althoughnotatallanewconcept,in

recentyearsresiliencehasbecomequitethehottopic.Manyofushaveconnectedtoresiliencewhenreadingaboutgrit,growthandfixedmindsetsandthewaysthatthosethingsimpactacademicperformance.Weknowthatthegrowingbodyofresearchtellsusthatallofthecharactertraitsthatwehavebeenhighlightingthisschoolyeararealllinkedtogreateracademicperformance.Empathetic,persistent,flexible,generous,gratefulandoptimisticstudentsarebetterstudents.Thesestudentssitstilllongerandpayattentionbetter,theyarelessimpulsive,morelikelytokeepgoingwhenfacedwithchallenges,andlikeadultswhoalsopossessthesequalities,theyarejustgenerallymorefuntobearound.😊

Althoughgrit,inparticular,hasbecomequitepopularandsharesmanysimilaritieswith

resilience,resilienceisdifferentinsomeimportantways.Gritisreallypersistence,it’sthatsticktoitattitude,butresiliencetakesgritandsays;“wellthat’sawesomegrit,goodforyou,buthowpersistent

East Ridge Elementary Home of the Suns!

SarahWhite,Principal 22150NE156thPlace April17,2018swhite@nsd.org Woodinville,WA98077 Vol.2,#14RaeAnneJordan,OfficeManager Office425.408.4400 RaeShepherd,Secretary www.nsd.org/eastridge SafeArrivalLine425.408.4410

OurAprilTraitisResilience! Definition:Resilience is the ability to bounce back and recover from setbacks or failures: When you have trouble, you bounce back and try again.Resilience is the ability to cope with negative life events and challenges. It has been described as the capacity to “bounce back” from difficult situations and persist in the face of adversity.

EastRidgeElementary HomeoftheSuns!areyouwhenthegoinggetstough,howgoodareyouatbouncingback?”Resilienceisaprocess,it’snotjustoneskill.It’showwenavigateourworld,howweinteractwithothersandwithourselves.

Resilienceisn’tjustabouttraumaorriskeither.Weoftenthinkofsurvivalandresiliencein

connectiontochildrenandadultswhohaveundergoneseveredifficultyand/ortrauma.Inreality,resilienceisahandyskilltohaveinanyofouremotionaltoolboxes.Thestress,uncertaintyandpressureofdailylifeshouldnotbeunderestimatedandweknowthatthosewhocan“handle”everydayandintenseperiodsofstressdobetteroverall.Resilienceisn’tjustaboutsurvival,it’stheabilitytothrive.So,whataresomeofthekeyfactorsthatweneedtoknowaboutresilience?Howcanwefosterresilienceinourchildren?

Thebiggesttakeaway,Ithink,fromresilienceresearchisthepowerofrelationships.Oneofthe

biggestindicatorsofachild’sabilitytoberesilientdependsonhavingatleastoneverymeaningfulconnectionandrelationshipwithanadult.Thisconnectionprovideslove,supportandthecomfortthatallowsachildtotrustintheirabilitiestokeepgoingandallowsthemtohavethekindofreflectionthatencouragesathemtotakeresponsibilityforthemselvesandhowtheytreatothers.

Akeyfactorinthedevelopmentofresilienceisprovidingachildwithhighexpectations.They

needustobelievethattheycandohardthingsandtheydependonthepositiveencouragementandthehands-onpracticethatthislovingrelationshipcanprovideforthem.Ourchildrenneedone-onetimetolearnresilience,theyneedmeaningfulconversation,problem-solvinghelpandcelebrationsoffailurethathighlighthowsetbacksarecriticaltosuccess-somethingthatweoftenknowtobetrueasadultsbutforgettotellourownchildrengrowingup.Failureisuncomfortableforparents,wewantourchildrentosucceed,wewantthemtodowellandit’shardforustowatchthemfail,butnormalizingstruggle,andprovidingourreflectiononset-backs,aretheessentialbuildingblocksofresilience.

OneoftheeasiestwaysthatIcheckinwithmyownchildreninregardstoresilienceisbydrawing

onworkthatwasdoneinthe1960’s(Itoldyouresiliencewasn’tnew😊)thatprovidedtheABC’sofresilience.Inshort,AlbertEllis’smodelshowsusthatbetweenadversity(A)andconsequence(C)thereisaveryimportantletter(B)thatrepresentsbehavior.Inotherwords,adversitydoesnotdirectlyleadtoconsequence.Adversitytriggersasetofbeliefsaboutasituationthatthenleadstoareactionorconsequence.So,whatwebelieveaboutanadversitymatterssignificantly–isthedeckstackedagainstussothere’snopointintryinganyharderortokeepgoing?OrperhapsIdidn’tdowellonthisspellingtestbecauseIdidn’tstudyfortherightamountoftimeorbyusingthebeststrategy?It’snotthatI’mabadspellerbutperhapsIjustneedtotrysomethingnew?Forthoseofyouwhohaverecentlyreadaboutagrowthandfixedmindset,oraboutgrit,thispartshouldsoundfamiliar😊.Becausejustlikescrunchies,everythingoldisnewagain.

So,thebehaviorswewanttoencourageisthatnotyetattitude.“Ihaven’tmasteredungrouping

yet,butIknowthatifIkeepworkingatitIwill.”Thebehaviorswewanttodiscouragearethingslikenegativeself-talkoradefeatistattitude.“Iamjustnotgoodatmath.”“Iwillneverbeagoodspeller.”“I’mjustnotawriter.”Ofcourse,thisdoesn’tmeanthatthingsaren’thard,butthetrickwithresilienceisthatwecanonlyreallybuildthismuscleifinfactwearepushingourselves,orbeingencouragedbyanadult,todothingsthatareactuallydifficult.

Myownsecondgraderwilloftencatchherselfengaginginnegativeself-talkbydeclaring“waita

minute!That’snotagrowthmindset!”(ThankyouMrs.Griffin😊)Thisisaskillthatshewillcontinuetodevelopbutsheneedsmyhelpandsupporttodoso.Sheneedstobeabletotalktomeaboutherfailures,her“notyets,”andherfrustrationsandIneedtoholdheraccountablewhenshe’susinga

EastRidgeElementary HomeoftheSuns!detrimentalbeliefsystem.That’sthenot-so-funsideofparentingbutit’swhatwesignedupforandit’swhatteachesourkidsresilience.Theyneedtobelievethattheycanbackupandkeepgoingbecausewehavetoldthemthattheycanbutalsothattheymust!

Andjustlikeoptimism,resilienceisnotafixedskill.Anyone,atanytimecandevelopresilience,it’sacombinationofskillsthatwedevelopovertimeandthroughexperiencesohonestly,it’salwayssomethingthatwearegrowing.There’sjustnowaytobegoodatthisunlessyouarewillingbuildonasetofexperiencesandlessons.Likemyhusbandalwaystellsourkids“theonlywaytolearnhowtodohardthingsisbydoingthem.”Soundssimpleenoughbutthetruthis,likewithallofthetraitsthatwehavecelebratedthisyear,readingtheresearchandtheorizingourapproachisnotenough.Theskillandthemasteryliesinthepractice.Likemyhusbandalsoalwaystellsourkids(he’sgoingtolovethatI’mquotinghim,insertsarcasmhere)“enoughtalking...nowaction.”I’mnottellingyoutothrowtheminthewaterwithouthavinganyideaofhowtoswim,thisiswhywetakethetimetoreflectandlearnandsharewithourchildrenalongtheway.Thisiswhywebuilduptothings.ButIamaskingyoutomakeriskaccessible.

Forthemtofeelbraveenoughtotry,toriskfailure,theyneedtoseeusdothesame.Theyneed

toseeustrythingsthatarehardandacknowledgewhenwedon’tgetthingsquiteright.Believeme,yourkidswilllovethis.Theywillloveyouadmittingtothemthethingsthatyoudon’tgetrightordon’tnecessarilydowell,andit’sok,youandIbothknowthattherearen’tmanyofthesethings.

Kids.Are.Brave.Nothingmakesmebraverthanmyownchildren.Iwantthemtoseeinmethe

thingsIsometimescan’tevenseeinmyself.Iamterrifiedofbugs,almostanykindreally,butmyyoungestthinksIamthebiggestbaddestbug“relocator”intheuniverse.Why?BecausesheisterrifiedofbugsandIdon’twantthatforher.IwanthertoseethatIcandealwithbugseventhoughI’mcompletelyfearfulwhiledoingit.Iamalsorelativelyafraidofheights.ButmysonthinksthatIcouldservecoffeefromthemiddleoftheCapilanoSuspensionBridgeforkicks.Why?Becauseheisrelativelyafraidofheightsandwasn’tsurehe’dbeabletocrossthebridgethefirsttimehetriedbutIwantedhimtoknowthathecouldbecausehesawmedoitfirst.

I’maskingyoutoshowyourchildrenthatahealthyapproachtoriskiscriticalforsuccess.Iwant

youtoteachthemhowtoswimintheshallowendandthenwatchyouswimouttothedeepend.ThenIwantyoutoallowthemtheopportunitytoswimouttoyou.Then,afterlunch,andtherecommended2-hourwaittime(Imeanlet’snotgetcrazy),Iwantthemtoseeyoujumpinsothattheycanjumpouttoyou.WhenyouknowthattheyhavetheskillstomanageIwantyoutowatchfromthedockandcelebratewhentheysuccessfullyjumpinontheirown.Showthemthatyoubelieveinyourselfandthatyoubelieveinthem.Happyswimming.

EastRidgeElementary HomeoftheSuns!

SBA Testing Dates:

Please be aware that SBA testing (grades 3-5) will begin the week after spring break and continue throughout April and May, ending the first part of June. It is important your student attend school and arrive on time as testing will begin at 9:10 am.

*** We encourage attendance during testing days as missing these days can be disruptive to your student, as well as the rest of the class. If your child is absent (sick) on a testing day, please notify the 24-hour attendance line at 425.408.4410 and your child's teacher. Your child will be able to make up the test on another day.

EastRidgeElementary2018SBASchedule

TestingWindow:3/26-6/8.Science:4/16-6/8

ELACAT

ELAPT1

ELAPT2 SCIENCE MathCAT MathPT

3rd 4/24 Tuesday

5/1 Tuesday

5/2 Wednesday

5/15 Tuesday

5/21 Monday

4th 4/26 Thursday

5/8 Tuesday

5/9 Wednesday

5/16 Wednesday

5/22 Tuesday

5th 4/30 Monday

5/10 Thursday

5/11 Friday

6/5 Tuesday

5/17 Thursday

5/24 Thursday

4/5th(Irving)

5/1Tuesday

5/10Thursday

5/11Friday

6/5–5thgradeonlyTuesday

5/22Tuesday

5/24Thursday

CongratulationsSuperSpellers!ThePTASpellingBeeshavewrappedupandthewinnersare:1st/2ndGradeBee-1stPlace:MiliJ.and2ndPlace:LilyC.3rd/4thGradeBee-1stPlace:MaxC.and2ndPlace:OwenM.Thankyou,LorieBrogan,fororganizingthisfantasticevent!

EastRidgeElementary HomeoftheSuns!

April

4/16 PTAImaginewithFashion,3:45pm IntramuralDance,3:45-4:30pm4/17 BeginningStrings,8:15-8:55am PTAFundraiser,Chipolte,4:00-8:00pm Track&FieldPractice,3:45-4:30pm4/18 EarlyReleaseWednesday,2:10pm PTAGOTimeSports,2:20-3:20pm PTAComicBookDesign,2:20-3:20pm4/19 NoBeginningStrings 4thGradeFieldTriptoUWEngineering

DiscoveryDay,8:00-2:00PM GameRoomOpen Track&FieldPractice,3:45-4:30pm PTALanguageClass,3:45-4:50pm PTAGeneralMeeting,6:00pm4/20 ProgressReportsMailedHome4/23–4/25CampCedarSprings

4/23 PTAImaginewithFashion,3:45pm IntramuralDance,3:45-4:30pm4/24 BeginningStrings,8:15-8:55am Track&FieldPractice,3:45-4:30pm4/25 EarlyReleaseWednesday,2:10pm PTAGOTimeSports,2:20-3:20pm PTAComicBookDesign,2:20-3:20pm4/26 BeginningStrings,8:15-8:55am GameRoomOpen Track&FieldPractice,3:45-4:30pm PTALanguageClass,3:45-4:50pm4/27 PioneerDay,4thGrade PioneerDayPerformance,2:50pm ERSpiritDay–CrazyHairDay Sciencetogo1st&2ndGrade4/30 PTAImaginewithFashion,3:45pm IntramuralDance,3:45-4:30pm

Camp Cedar Springs Camp Cedar Springs will be held this year from April 23rd through the 25th. Important upcoming dates:

• Luggage and medication drop off at East Ridge before 9:30 am, Friday, April 20th.

• Parent Pickup at East Ridge on Wednesday, April 25th between 1:15-1:30 pm.

Thank you, East Ridge! Thanks to all the support from our East Ridge community, we were able to collect 2,186 food items!

Way to go, East Ridge!

Important PTA Meeting! The next PTA General membership meeting with be April 19th at 6pm at Pizza Coop in Woodinville. All parents are invited to attend. We will be voting on next year's slate of nominees.

Track & Field Starts Tuesday, 4/17!

EastRidgeElementary HomeoftheSuns!

New After School Enrichment Class!

Springishere!Getyour3-5thgraderoutsideforfunplayingallsportsgames,nodrills!Don’tmissoutonthisfun,creativeclass!Only2spotsleft!Registertodayaterpta.org.Questions?vpprograms@erpta.org

GOTime SPORTSGrades3-5

Wednesdays 4/18 – 6/6

Go to the ERPTA website for more information and to enroll your student.

EastRidgeElementary HomeoftheSuns!

2018 BEcommunity Auction

Dessert Dash! Dear East Ridge Families, After a wildly successful 2017,theDessertDashisbackforanotheryear!Thedessertdashisapopularauctionexperiencewhereattendeetablespooldonationsfortheopportunitytoselectfromagroupofdessertswiththehighestbidgettingfirstchoice,soforth. We arepartneringwithlocalbakeriestoprovidein-kinddonations,butwearealsolookingformembersoftheschoolcommunitiestocontributeadessertthatfeedsupto8people.Schoolcommunitydonationswereourprimary,andfavorite,sourceofdessertslastyear.Varietyisthekeytothisactivityasthemorediverseandinterestingoptionsavailablemakestheprocessmoreexcitingforallinvolved.Anythingfromyourgrandma’ssecretrecipepietoagourmetlemonbaroratriplechocolatecaketoacustomthemedcookie,wewilleventakestoreboughtifbakingisn’tforyou.Thisyear'sauctionthemeisMasqueradethoughdessertsarenotrequiredtoresidewithinthistheme. Any goodsyouprovidetotheeventmaybetax-deductibleandasagenerousdonoryourinformationwillbeprintedonthedessertdisplay. If you or someone you know are interested, please signupviaSign-upGeniusor email jstrutzel@hotmail.com andletherknowwhatyouwouldliketoprovideasyourdessert.Youdonotneedtoattendtheauctiontoparticipateandasweapproachtheeventshewillreachoutwithadditionaldetailsregardingpick-up/delivery,etc.Thankyouinadvanceforyourconsideration,theBearCreekandEastRidgecommunitiessincerelyappreciateyourassistance.

EastRidgeElementary HomeoftheSuns!

Northshore School District prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, sex, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation including gender

expression or identity, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification, in all its employment procedures, training, programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged unlawful discrimination: Jeff Sherwood, Human Resources Director, 3330 Monte Villa Parkway, Bothell, WA 98021, (425) 408-7606.