Principal's Weekly Message

Happy Fall Spirit Week Bulldogs!

Here are this week's announcements (9/30/24-10/6/24) Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/tncJJOI1YBg

Happy Friday Chatham Park Elementary School Bulldog Families,

We have completed another week of learning, loving, and growing together at Chatham Park. Thanks again to all those families who were able to attend the Back to School Nights for Grades K-5 earlier this month. We will continue to explore ways to improve the format and opportunities presented in our time together. Thanks to all of our teachers who through their presentations left families feeling confident and supported to kick off a positive and productive school year of meaningful learning experiences. 

This week I had an opportunity to listen to an episode of the Raising Good Humans Podcast with Dr. Aliza. In this particular episode, Dr. Aliza interviews US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. The episode is titled “Parenting is a Team Sport”. As a parent myself, it could be stated better. My wife and I have been blessed over the duration of our parenting with a connected friends group that have become an extended family. For example, we are part of a five family group that became connected through pre-school when our first child was 6 months old. 

To date we have been connected for approximately 15 years. We shared and continue to share common values, celebrated good times, showed up for each other in hard times, and cared for each other’s children. Not to mention the gift of the circulated hand-me downs that the group proudly accepts. Our children (each family having two each) are now attending the same school system and participating in extracurricular activities that we all support. In addition, we are connected with the travel/club sports families that have also been a healthy presence. All the connections mentioned assisted us through the COVID19/quarantine times. Showing up for each only deepened the levels and feelings of community on a close and broader scale. 

Hopefully you too can relate to being connected. Yet, with all these connections we can all feel moments of isolation, loneliness that can come with the feelings of missing the mark in our parenting. Here are some main  points that I took away from the podcast episode with Dr. Murthy:

Concerns:

• Parents can deal with loneliness and isolation more than other adults.

• Finances, safety, technology, social media, gun violence, worrying about losing a loved one, and managing the mental health of their children all serve as stressors

• Parents can experience more stress than they can handle in a healthy manner and rarely talk openly with other parents about their struggles/what they’re struggling with 

• There is a connection between the appearance of parental well-being (think the manufactured social media representations) and the well-being of society

• Parents need to know it’s okay to invest in yourself

• Parents are dealing with new factors than prior generations

• Parents are spending more time at work as well as more time in childcare i.e., extended childhood

Helpful actions and ideas:

• Flexible leave time from the workplace helps

• Flexibility in family schedules

• Talk more openly among trusted peers 

• It is okay to ASK FOR HELP

• Showing up in another parent's life to let them know they are not alone can be an extraordinary act of kindness

• Showing up for others reminds us that we matter

• Feeling that you are cared for is more about small moments and small gestures

• Learn how to advocate for yourself at work

• The primary care doctor for parents and pediatricians need to be aware of the overall environment children are being raised in alongside the stressors parents are facing

• Keep free time and creative time prominent. There is great value in unstructured play.

• Universities can seek to be more inclusive instead of celebrating exclusivity. They can take more pride in making space for more kids. 

Below are links to the podcast episode and other helpful media related to the topic:

Raising Good Humans Podcast with Dr. Aliza with her guest Dr. Vivek Murthy (US Surgeon General) 

Parenting is a Team Sport with Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy

Some follow up resources to the podcast episode:

Surgeon General’s Advisory on Parents’ Mental Health & Well-Being

Surgeon General issues advisory on mental health and well-being of parents | AHA News.

Parents Under Pressure

Parental Mental Health & Well-Being | HHS.gov

Hopefully, the above mentioned resources and information is found to be helpful. The adults have to be healthy for the children to be healthy both mentally and physically. We have to be better so they OUR CHILDREN can be better. 

Additional notes and information:

Fall 2024 Spirit Week Themes

• Monday September 30th- Inside Out/Mismatch Day

• Tuesday October 1st- Look Alike Day

• Wednesday October 2nd- Crazy Hat/Crazy Hair Day

• Thursday October 3rd- NO SCHOOL- ROSH HASHANAH

• Friday October 4th- RED and WHITE DAY and BARKAPALOOZA 2024!!!

Follow up to Nurses Newsletter- Please see the active links below in connection to the Nurses Fall Newsletter

Fall Newsletter Links :

• COVID & Respiratory illness guidelines

• Survey

Helpful resource for learning about AI and education

Here are links to a website and blog by A.J. Juliani that addresses artificial intelligence and education. In full disclosure I know AJ through him be our son’s club lacrosse coach (Duke’s Elite Lacrosse). However, his background and experience in the field of education and AI has proven to be beneficial. Check it out for yourself!

• https://www.ajjuliani.com/

• A.J. Juliani | Blog

Breakfast Entry

Students in grades 1-5 MUST access breakfast (with the exception of bus riders) by entering through the exterior cafeteria doors during AM arrival. They are not to report to their classrooms first as it delays students arriving to class in a timely manner. It also creates traffic in the hallways and adds an obstacle for supervision of students. Kindergarten students will continue to access their breakfast in their classrooms once they enter.

NO SCHOOL on OCTOBER 3rd for ROSH HASHANAH

If you have any questions about the aforementioned information, please feel free to contact me directly. We wish everyone a restorative, harmonious, and peaceful weekend with time spent with those you love and light up your world!

With love and gratitude,

 

Dr. Jabari Whitehead

Hello Chatham Park Elementary School Bulldog Families,

Please check out the attached Back to School Health Tips Letter from our School Nurse, Mrs, Ashley Meves. Enjoy the remaining days and we will see you soon!

Dr. Jabari Whitehead 

Back to School Health Tips (2).pdf