New at MCC Elementary
Please join me in welcoming some new staff members to the MCC family. Teaching staff includes Selina Ludolph in 3rd grade and Brittany Berndt in 5th grade. Tina Bengtson has moved to 4th grade and Britta Malchow has joined our special education team. New paraprofessionals include Kathy Vroman, Courtney Mandersheild and Nancy Moberg. Also, new at MCC Elementary is our Junior Kindergarten program we will be implementing this year.
MCC Elementary became a 1 to 1 school last year, meaning each student has their own device at school. K-3 students have IPads and students in grades 4-6 have Chromebooks. With that comes more responsibility for our young learners. Please help us teach students how to be safe online.
Here are some ways to make these conversations easy and painless.
- Use everyday opportunities to talk to your kids about being online. For example, news stories about cyberbullying or texting while driving can spur a conversation with kids about their experiences and your expectations.
- Communicate your expectations and how they apply in an online context. Sharing your values clearly can help your kids make smarter and more thoughtful decisions when they face tricky situations. For instance, be specific about what’s off-limits — and what you consider to be unacceptable behavior.
- Resist the urge to rush through these conversations with your kids. Most kids need to hear information repeated, in small doses, for it to sink in. If you keep talking with your kids, your patience and persistence will pay off in the long run.
- Work hard to keep the lines of communication open, even if you learn your kid has done something online that you find inappropriate. Listening and taking their feelings into account helps keep conversations afloat. You may not have all the answers, and being honest about that can go a long way.
Each child's safety and welfare is of the greatest importance. Consistent communication between home and school is essential to promote the best interests of your child and all children attending MCC Elementary School. I encourage you to become involved and to contact your child's teacher or myself if you have any questions or comments throughout the year. Our web-site at http://www.mcc.mntm.org is an excellent resource for students and parents. You can log into your account to check your student’s progress reports, attendance and lunch account balances. Sports scores, daily announcements, monthly newsletters and staff information are just a few of the things available. I look forward to meeting you and your children and encourage you to contact me with any questions on programs or services at 836-6450 ext 5102. You may also email me at todd_burlingame@mcc.mntm.org. It is my hope that this academic year will be the best ever for you and your family. Make Good Choices and be awesome.
Sincerely,
Todd Burlingame
MCC Elementary Principal