Family Resource Center Announces Winter Programs

Our friends and partners at the Family Resource Center of Central New Hampshire have recently announced a number of exciting programs that they will offer right here in Laconia over the winter season.  Please review the descriptions below and consider attending a program or two! 

These programs are nearby, they are free, and there is childcare provided.  Many of the programs offer free meals, and transportation can be arranged -- if that is an impediment to attendance.  These programs offer important opportunities to gain additional insights into role of parenting during these difficult times, and offer opportunities to sharpen parenting and child care skills, as well as build a support network that can really help when the going gets rough.

We are very fortunate to have the Family Resource Center of Central New Hampshite located right in our community.  Don't miss out on these opportunities for education, support, and assistance!  Contact the Family Resource Center to to learn more, or to register for one of their winter programs (528-0391).

Here are descriptions of the Family Resource Center's upcoming programs:

New—Relatives Raising Relatives—A Support Group*

Tuesday mornings from 9:30-11:00 am, beginning December 3 (On-Going Support Group)

A monthly support group for anyone raising children of relatives or friends. Come connect with others in a confidential and supportive environment. Young children in need of childcare will enjoy each other’s company in Giggles & Grins Playgroup.

Meets on 12/3, 1/7, 2/4 (First Tuesday of every month)

Cooking Matters for Adults and Children ages 6 and up

Wednesday evenings from 5:00-7:00, beginning January 15 (6 Weeks) at Laconia Middle School in Laconia

Learn how to make tasty and healthy recipes for your family and share a meal together in class! Groceries will be provided to each household each week to re-create the meal cooked in class for the rest of your family! Income restrictions apply.

Dinner prepared during class.

Meets on 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19. To register call Brenda at 527-5475 or email Brenda.carey@unh.edu

READY! for Kindergarten*

Thursday evening from 5:30-7:30 pm, January 16, at Pleasant Street School in Laconia

READY! is a free program for parents of children ages birth to five, available three times a year to Laconia families. Get new information about how children learn and grow, plus easy learning activities that are fun to do at home.

To register call Kaitlyn at 524-5710 or visit www.readyforkindergarten.org/laconia.

Save the date: Spring class will be held on April 17, 2014.

New—Healthy Eating for Families with Children

Mondays from 12:30-2:00 , beginning January 27 (4 weeks)

Would you like to be a healthy role model and better educator for your children? Topics will include all areas of “MyPlate” including reading labels, healthy fats, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, dealing with picky eaters, exercise and food safety. You will make a quick and easy yummy snack at each class. Upon completion of the series you will graduate with a UNH Cooperative Extension certificate along with some gifts. Income restrictions apply.

Meets on 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17. To register call Brenda at 527-5475 or email Brenda.carey@unh.edu

New—Tenant 101*

Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00, beginning January 28 (4 weeks)

Do you have poor or negative landlord references? Do you want to work on changing them? Come learn how to be the best tenant you can be. Topics include what to look for in an apartment, how to complete a rental application, what to expect in an interview, evaluating whether or not an apartment is affordable, landlord/tenant rights, the eviction process, and being a good neighbor.

Dinner served from 5:30-6:00. Meets on 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18.

Pay Yourself First. . . Plus information on Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)*

Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 pm, January 30 (One-Time Workshop)

Participants will understand ways to save money and savings options to save toward their large–expense goals, including child’s college tuition, car or home purchase, or a vacation. Attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 gift card.

Dinner served from 5:30-6:00.

Cooperative Co-Parenting*

Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm, beginning January 30 (4 Weeks)

This four-week series is for divorced and/or separated parents and other caregivers who are raising children. Topics include: coping through separation and transition, skills for dealing with stress and anger, positive communication strategies, how to reduce and resolve conflict, negotiating agreements, and mediation and guardianship.

Dinner served from 5:30-6:00 . Meets on 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20.

Positive Discipline Practices—A Nurturing Skills Module*

Thursday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm, beginning January 30 (5 Weeks & Orientation)

This Nurturing Skills Module focuses on utilizing nonviolent discipline practices and techniques. The Nurturing philosophy of discipline is based on respect, empowerment, caring, and cooperation. Parents will learn the purpose of discipline, establishing family rules, using rewards and punishments to teach children right from wrong, and a variety of techniques to foster a positive, emotionally healthy home.

Dinner served from 5:30-6:00. Meets on 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 3/6, 3/13.

PAST AND PRESENT FAMILIES OF THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER—You are invited to Prescott Farm's 4th Annual Winter Fest!

Saturday from 12:30-3:00 pm, February 15 (One-Time Outing)

Join us for a family outing to Prescott Farm. Free admission. Event activities include a bonfire with smores, sledding, snowshoeing, and crafts. Free transportation will be provided to and from the Family Resource Center for families past or presently served by the Family Resource Center. Please call to reserve your spot on the bus. Bus will leave our center promptly at 12:30 pm and leave Prescott Farms promptly at 3:00 pm. Please RSVP to Katherine at 581-1574 by February 12.

SAVE-THE-DATES

New—Transforming Stress…Simple Steps, Not Always Easy

Tuesday evenings from 6:00-8:00, beginning March 4 (4 weeks)

Stress is common in all of our lives. While we can’t get away from it, we can manage it differently.

Dinner served from 5:30-6:00. Meets on March 4, 11, 18, 25.

Children’s Authors Tea—Tuesday evening from 5:00-7:00 pm, April 8 at the Historic Belknap Mill, 25 Beacon St. East, Laconia (One-Time Event)

You are cordially invited to attend the Children’s Authors Tea. This wonderful, free event is organized to promote the importance of early literacy. Come celebrate “Strengthening Families and Communities Month” with us! Evening Events: Book signing and sales by authors, local libraries will offer information about their services, and story telling. This is a free family event. Every child will receive a free book!

To register call 528-0391 or e-mail erikal@lrcs.org

*Limited on-site childcare available for these programs. Please reserve a space for your child when you call to register.

A Great Strength of Our School, Is Our Teamwork

A team is a group of individuals, who work cooperatively to reach a goal.  At Woodland Heights, our goal is to offer a quality educational experience for every child. 

Most people are familiar with sports teams, but are less familiar with teaming in the modern workplace.  Forming and serving on collaborative work teams will be an essential skill for our students to develop in preparation for the workplaces of tomorrow.  At WHS, our staff members model the teaming concept in everything that we do.

Like every great learning organization, the WHS staff is made up of many teams.  Working collectively, toward common goals, our overall strength and effectiveness is greater than the sum of its parts.  Working together, we can do great things! 

Our classroom teachers and paraprofessionals belong to one primary grade level teacher team, or Professional Learning Community (PLC): Grade 1, Grade 4, etc.  Our Specialist Team comprises a team of their own (Music, Computer, Physical Education, etc.), as does our Office Team (School Counselor, Nurse, Secretaries, Student Services Coordinator, etc.).  Some of our staff members belong to multiple primary teams, such as our Special Education and Title I Teachers, who form an 'interventionist' team and also belong to a grade level team.

Additionally, most all of our staff members belong to one or more secondary school-based teams (Faculty Leadership, Safety, WildCORE, etc.) which are formed to address particular school-based initiatives or issues.  Others may serve on school district councils (Humanities, Technology, Math & Science, etc.) to engage in district curriculum, instruction, and assessment projects.

We know that we are better when we work together -- teachers working in isolation are a thing of the past, and likely never happened in our open-concept learning community!  Our staff members work together on almost everything that they do.  We are more effective this way, and it is more fun!  That is why you will typically see kids working together on cooperative learning activities, projects, or assignments at Woodland Heights.  The many collaborative experiences they enjoy at WHS will serve them well later in their learning, and in their workplaces during the time after that.

We have many small teams here at Woodland, but our greatest strength is clearly our whole school team.  After all, We Are Woodland!

  

The Month of December is 'Prime Time' for Learning

Contrary to what one might think, the month of December is prime time for teaching and learning at WHS.

Rather than a time to take our foot off the pedal and bask in the holiday glow, this is a time to make a final push to finish our fall unit plans and prepare for our winter testing cycle.  Shortly after students return from the Holiday Break, they will participate in our winter assessment program.  Students in Grades K-2 will take the AIMSweb assessment and students in Grades 3-5 will take the NWEA assessment for the second of three administrations this school year.  Three times a year (Fall, Winter, Spring), Woodland Heights students complete these important tests, which serve as a measuring stick for our effectiveness, and suggest where changes need to be made in order to maximize learning experiences for our students.

We have three important weeks in the month of December to teach, teach, teach, and learn, learn, learn.  You can be assured that your friends at WHS will make the most of them.

As has been expressed so many times before, we are excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with your child(ren) here at Woodland Heights.  If ever there is something that we can do to support your child and her/his learning at our school, please be in touch, and let us know.  As always, we want your child to experience the best education possible in our learning community.  Let's maintain our strong partnership, and make your child's success a reality at Woodland Heights.  Every day of elementary school is critical to a child's academic and character development, let's make each one great!