Along with the month of April comes spring break! There is no school from April 3-7. We hope we have wonderful spring weather and everyone has a wonderful break. Please note, Parklawn’s main office will be open from 9 am -12 pm April 3 -6. It will be closed April 7.

The end of the third marking period is Thursday, April 13. This will be a two-hour early release day for students. Friday, April 14 is a teacher workday with no school for students.

Sleep is essential, but many of us do not get enough of it.  Without a good night of sleep, we feel tired all day, get upset easily, and are not able to focus.  Some children even get misdiagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) because some of the symptoms are very similar.  Poor sleep also has been linked to problems with the immune system, anxiety, and depression.  It is important for children to sleep well at night because sleep helps them learn, concentrate, and manage their behavior and emotions.  Parents and guardians play an important role in encouraging a bedtime routine. 

Here are a few tips for good sleep hygiene: 

• Establish a bedtime routine and be consistent  
• Schedule screen-free time before bed 
• Make the bedroom a good place for sleeping (for example, make the room dark, cool and comfortable, a no-screen zone) 
• Avoid caffeine, large meals, sugary treats before bedtime 

For more tips, please read the following articles: 

• Encouraging Good Sleep Habits 
• Cómo fomentar buenos hábitos de sueño  
• Children and Sleep 

This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Humor. Humor means you like to laugh and bring smiles to other people.

Humor is a sense of playfulness and lightness. It is a way of looking at and describing the world that brings laughter to people. A person with the strength of humor is skilled at seeing the funny side of things, bringing smiles and laughter to others, and identifying and communicating the absurdities in life. People with this strength don’t specifically need to be joke tellers, although many are.

Humor plays an important role in helping groups of people rise above difficult circumstances and boost morale. It removes us from our present difficulties by easing tension and making life more fun. This is why athletic teams often need a jokester to help them get through tough losses and early morning fitness sessions. On a larger societal level, humor often helps downtrodden groups to find cohesion and strength. This is why Simon Wiesenthal said, “Humor is the weapon of unarmed people: it helps people who are oppressed smile at the situation that pains them.”

To practice and encourage the character strength of humor with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2) where together you will watch a video, read a quote and talk about the answers to three questions.

Have a wonderful week!