All Things January

From the Desk of Dr. Sladek:
I wish you a happy and healthy New Year! I hope that the Winter Break was a restful one
and that you are ready to embrace the next few weeks as our partners in your child’s education
with renewed energy and enthusiasm. The students are still in Trimester TWO. The last day of
Trimester 2 is on February 25th!
I believe we are all excited to start a new year and forget about most things that
happened this past year, but here is something I won’t forget about 2021.
 I will not forget that your children were still able to learn and grow socially and
academically.
 I will not forget hearing their happy voices and giggles as I walked around the building and
visited classrooms.
 Honestly, it’s been an amazing experience to watch and learn from them on how to be
flexible and take things day by day. They are truly incredible little human beings!
Thank you for supporting your children, our school, and our community. Wishing you and yours a
happy, healthy and abundant 2022!
Please be sure to contact me if you feel the need at any time!
Jsladek@mvr3.k12.mo.us or 636-346-6156 

You can find all things January on our website [https://www.mvr3.k12.mo.us/o/Truman]

or at these links:
 Breakfast Menu: https://5il.co/13ljo
 Lunch Menu: https://5il.co/13ljp
 January Calendar:
https://5il.co/13ljq

The month of January, across our entire district of #MVNation, we are focusing on one of
the 8 Pillars, Responsibility! See below for:
Responsibility – Be in Control

I can own my words and actions

We all know the kids who jump up to help their parents clear the table after dinner or
walk an older adult across the street, and we want our kids to be those kids. It is not
hard to imagine that their instincts to do well for themselves and others will take
them far in life. But how does a child without these instincts gain the same skills? How
do we impart the value of responsibility and teach our children to be conscientious,
competent, and reliable?
Most experts agree that children pick up our values from listening to us and watching
us every day. Remember the old adage, “Do as I say, not as I do”? Children learn as
much from watching what we do and how we do it as they do from what we say to
them. Try these strategies to help kids along their path to responsibility and
independence:
1. Model responsibility and accountability
Show your children that you take responsibility for getting things done and keeping
your word when you have said you will do something. Take out the trash, pick up the
cupcakes for the class party, sew the button on your child’s favorite shirt so they
can wear it again.
2. Give kids the experience of participating in group causes
Make at least one hour a week, or one day a week, a time when all members of the
family work together to clean up the house.
3. Let your children help you whenever possible
Kids love to help adults with tasks. Even if it may take a little longer to have your
little one help you make sandwiches for lunch or bake the cake for the scout
meeting, let them help. They learn important skills, and it encourages responsibility
and accountability.
4. Provide structure in the form of schedules and routine
Get your child into a routine around responsibility as young as possible. It will help
tremendously if their responsibilities are built into their day. Have them bring their
breakfast dishes to the sink after eating, help wash their dishes if they are old
enough, make their bed in the morning, and more.
5. Encourage your child to think through situations
Have a chart of responsibilities for them to refer to each day and let them think
through the order of events, let them remember how to complete tasks (with
simple reminders if needed), and let them organize themselves to get things done in a
timely manner (they may need some extra support around this one).
These techniques should go a long way toward fostering the responsibility and
cooperation that children need for later success.


Dr. Jenna Sladek

Truman Elementary Principal

636-346-6156