Are you fully present with your loved ones?

   

On Sunday, I had the privilege of spending the afternoon with a group of adults and children at CNH who were fully present with one another, whether it was their child or someone else’s. One of the beautiful things about CNH is that we are more than a school – we are a family. On days like the Family Work Day at the school on Sunday afternoon, you could see children helping their parents, helping other people’s parents, and parents working together like old friends, even if they had just met.

Witnessing this day of love, laughter, and work around the school made me think about a study that tracked the physical and emotional well-being of over 700 men from various socioeconomic and educational backgrounds.  The study followed these men for 75 years investigating what makes your life long and healthy. What did they find?  It had nothing to do with money.  It had nothing to do with your educational level or professional successes. It had everything to do with the quality of relationships in your life. How vulnerable can you be with your friends, families, and romantic partners?  How often do you choose to go to the farmers market with your sister rather than going into the office on a Saturday? How well do you turn off your electronics when having dinner with someone you care about?  These are the predictors of happiness and well-being.

I ended the weekend with gratitude for the families that reminded me of being fully present.  Instead of staying in my office to write the “What’s Good,” I spent the day with them considering which step to paint red and which one to paint blue.  No matter how late it made my evening after I got home, it was totally worth it.  I wish for you all, in this 14th week of school, a week filled with loving moments and presence with one another.

A Look Ahead

  • This Thursday, December 6th, 6:00-8:00 — Trimester One Arts Showcase
  • This Friday, December 7th, 2:30-3:15 — Buddy Day Hour(ish) of Code (we need volunteers to help prepare this week. Email anovak@cityneighborshamilton.org if you can help out on your own time between today and Friday)
  • Monday, December 10 — New Middle School electives begin
  • Tuesday, December 18, 6:30-7:30 — Puerto Rico planning and fundraising meetings
  • Friday, December 21, 1:00 — Early Dismissal for the start of Winter Break!!
  • Wednesday, January 2 — Classes resume

 

Last Day for Zeke’s Fundraiser is Thursday!

Thursday, December 6th is the last day to submit your Zeke’s Coffee order!  The City Neighbors Hamilton blend is a great gift to give to friends and loved ones!  I prefer to give the bags to people as a New Year’s gift so that they start the day alert and awake.  The order form was sent home with your child last week and is available in the office.

If you would like to print the order form at home and drop it off at school, you may access the form using this link. One note of advice — the coffee will not be shipped anywhere.  All orders must be picked up at school.

Thank you, in advance, for supporting CNH!

 

Arts Showcase, Thursday 6:30-8:00

At the end of every trimester, the arts teachers are coordinating an arts showcase.  Each trimester the format will change, and each time it will be incredible! This trimester Ms. Breai’s dance classes will be performing in the auditorium.  They have been working diligently over the past few weeks to finalize their costumes, streamline their dance routines, and develop their stage presence.

The show will begin promptly at 6:30.  If your child is performing, be sure to drop them off in their classroom no later than 6:00.

 

Vision for Baltimore Program — aka Free Glasses

We are 9 students short of meeting the total for the eyeglass bus to come to CNH.  That means that we still need 9 more people to return their glasses forms.  If your child did not pass the eye exam, and you need another copy of your form, please let us know.  We’d be happy to send it home with your child this week. If we don’t get nine more people, no one gets free eyeglasses.

Even if your child already has glasses that you purchased, it’s never a bad idea to have an extra pair to keep at school! Please email Shyla at srao@cityneighborshamilton.org if you’d like another copy of your child’s form.

End of Trimester 1

Trimester 1 ends this Friday.  For middle school students, this has meant an increased attendance in coach classes as students are trying to improve their grades in the 11th hour.  For elementary students, this means that teachers are checking student reading and math levels in order to give you the most up-to-date marker of your child’s growth and learning so far this year. Next week, teachers will be completing final grading and writing comments on all of the report cards.  The following week, I will be reading every report card before they are mailed out. Report cards will be stuffed into envelopes and mailed home on Friday, December 21st.

 

Night of Code Was A Great Success!

Thanks to Mr. Eames, our students had a great night of code at City Neighbors!  First, the students met video game designers who asked them to draw different foods that they then scanned and uploaded into a video game where they could maneuver the birds to eat their food.  After that, the students played coding games at various levels to learn basic coding skills.  It was a great night!

Reminder:

Parents’ Night Out has been rescheduled

Instead of this Friday night, Parents’ Night Out will be in January.  We will announce the date before Winter Break so that you can plan accordingly.  It will be a super fun evening of live music, great food, raffles, and a maker space for parents.  We look forward to kicking back and having fun with you in January!