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We are excited to have Ms. Tatijana Gainey join or Mental Wellness Team at Cameron for the remainder of the school year. Ms. Gainey worked as a School Counselor with FCPS for two years and is a graduate of the University Of Virginia. |
Positivity Project: Social Intelligence
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What is Social Intelligence?
You are aware of other people’s thoughts and feelings. You understand why they do things. Examples of social intelligence include knowing when to talk or listen, what to say, and what to do.
Why is it important?
Social intelligence helps individuals build relationships – by allowing us to form friendships and alliances. People with social intelligence can “read” other people’s faces and know what motivates them.
Families use the resources below to connect with your child's learning.
The password is: P2
https://posproject.org/p2-for-families/
 
  
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National School Social Work Week |
This week March 5-12 is National School Social Work Week. Please join me and give Porcha Baker a huge shout out! She is an invaluable asset to our Mental Wellness Team, our Equity Lead in the building. and goes beyond her call and duty to help students and families in our community. Porscha was named FCPS Outstanding School Social Worker for the 2021-2022 school year. Her work and passion speak for itself. We are so fortunate to have you on our team!
Best Regards,
Your Cameron Family
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Daylight Saving Time Begins: Move Your Clocks Ahead One Hour on Sunday |
This Sunday, March 13, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour! As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark.
Help your child stay safe by having him or her wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run or dart into the street or cross between parked cars.
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Student Holiday and Spring Break |
The third grading period ends on Thursday, March 31. Students will be dismissed at 1:20 p.m. Please make arrangements for your children to arrive home early.
There will be no school on Friday, April 1, 2022. The school office will be open.
Spring Break is April 4-8, 2022. There will be no school for students. The school office will be closed.
Family Engagement Survey Opens March 13
FCPS is partnering with independent firm K12 Insight to administer its second Family Engagement Survey to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our school communities. The survey will be emailed to FCPS parents and caregivers on Sunday, March 13. Topics include:
- Welcoming environment
- Communication
- Student success
- Advocacy
- Family and school partnerships
- Collaboration with the community to see if FCPS is meeting its goals at the school, region, and division levels.
Results will be used to develop a plan to improve family and school partnerships throughout the division. The survey will be available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, Chinese, Urdu, Farsi, and Amharic. For more information, watch this short video from Superintendent Brabrand and visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage.
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Children Developmental Stages |
Children may go through developmental stages (see chart below) at different rates. Although there are general characteristics at each developmental stage in any given culture, how quickly a child goes through these stages depends on many things, including the child’s personality and environment. It’s common and normal for some children to arrive at a developmental stage a bit earlier or later - sometimes a year later or earlier - than their peers. Also, a child might mature quickly in one area, such as physical development, but more slowly in another, such as social development.
Children do not suddenly change on their birthday. For example, a child who just turned eight may still show a lot of seven-year-old behaviors, and a child who’s eight-and-a-half may already be showing a lot of nine-year-old behaviors.
This information is for you to have a better understanding as to what to expect your child may be experiencing at school and at home.
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Common Social Characteristics by Child's Age
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4 Year Old’s
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- Friendly, talkative, “bubbly”
- Love being with friends
- Learn from modeling and practicing of appropriate behavior
- Can make decisions based on their interested, but need adult advice
- Need adult help finding words to express needs
- Love “jobs” - counting attendance, putting out snacks, etc.
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5 Year Old’s
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- Early in the year, like to help, follow rules, and be ‘good’
- Later, may test or oppose adult authority or show uncertainty (not sure whether to be ‘good’ or ‘naughty’
- Need consistent rules and enforcement; respond well to clear and simple expectations
- Need empathetic discipline as they test limits and make mistakes
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6 Year Old’s
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- Competitive; not always good sports’ sometimes bossy or critical
- Either rush to be first or dawdle to be last
- Want to have friends; may have best friends
- Enjoy dressing up, putting on plays, etc., with other children
- Talkative and noisy
- Easily upset when criticized or discouraged
- Love encouragement, surprises, and treats
- Might test authority with tantrums, complaining, or tattling
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7 Year Old’s
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- May be moody, shy, sully, touchy; sometimes depressed
- Prefer playing and working alone or with one friend
- May change friendships quickly and feel “nobody likes me”
- Rely on adults for help and reassurance
- Need the security of rules, routines, and physical boundaries
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8 Year Old’s
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- Love group activities and cooperative work
- Prefer playing with peers of the same gender
- Like to talk and explain ideas
- Good sense of humor
- Adjust well to change; bounce back quickly from mistakes or disappointments
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9 Year Old’s
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- Very competitive, yet may form cliques
- Complain a lot; criticize self and others (including adults)
- Often says “I hate it,” “I can’t,” “It’s boring,” etc.
- Like to work with same-gender partner
- Can work in groups but with lots of arguing
- Enjoy exaggeration and ‘dirty’ jokes
- Need adults to be patient and explain clearly
- Need adult lightheartedness, humor, and encouragement to lighten their mood and relieve anxiety
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Digital Citizenship Resources for Parents
The partnership between FCPS and Common Sense Media provides great resources for parents. The links below lead you to our ICES All Parents Schoology site where you can watch videos from the Parenting in the Digital Age playlist, or learn more about specific apps like Tik-Tok and Snapchat with Parents’ Ultimate Guides.
Parenting in the Digital Age Playlist
From Common Sense Media, this playlist includes four videos addressing many frequently asked questions.
- What are ways I can set boundaries and support my kids in their tech lives?
- How can we ensure our kids are having high quality experiences?
- I don’t know anything about social media or the apps my kid is on. What do I need to know to keep them safe?
- I’m worried that my kids will use social media inappropriately; and what are these “challenges"?
Parents' Ultimate Guides
Struggling to keep up with the media and tech your kids are using? Common Sense's Parents' Ultimate Guides can help keep you up to date and answer your questions about all the latest titles and trends. Whether you're trying to figure out if a new app is safe for your tween or if a popular game includes blood and gore, we've got you covered.
Parents can also sign up for the Common Sense newsletter to get up to date information sent to their inbox.
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Register Now for the FCPS Virtual Special Education Conference on March 26 |
CPS’s 17th Annual Special Education Conference will be held virtually on Saturday, March 26, with a combination of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) sessions supporting the conference's theme:
Bringing our Inclusive Community Together: Affirming, Assessing, Advancing.
Welcoming ceremonies, guest speakers, FCPS presentations, and an exhibit hall are included. Registration for this free conference is now open online.
- Parents and community members will be able to register online.
- FCPS educators, administrators, and preservice teachers will be able to register online and earn recertification points for attending the conference.
- Individuals needing foreign language interpretation (Spanish, Ahmaric, Arabic, and Korean), American Sign Language (ASL), or Cued Language Transliterator (CLT) for the live sessions may request this on the registration form.
- For questions, please contact the Special Education Conference Planning Committee at specialedconf@fcps.edu.
Speakers include:
- Dr. Lisa Cullins, A Conversation About Compassion Fatigue
- Marlo Keller, Exceptional Family Member Program Pathways: Navigating the Halls of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) School Move
- Ann Dolin, Less Policing, More Parenting: How to Improve Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills Without All the Arguments
- Dr. Lisa Bateman, Reducing the Stigma Around Mental Health Challenges and How to Support Children in Asking for Help
Visit the Special Education Conference webpage for more information and to register.
Important Reminders
- Thank You For Supporting The Cameron PTA. Please view the PTA website here
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Ms. Sandy Yi-Davis
PTA President
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Quick Links
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