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Elysian Charter School
Weekly Newsletter
A Positively Different Public School
May 14, 2018 Vol. 13 Issue 33
The school newsletter is sent out on Mondays. When there is a holiday, the newsletter is sent the following day.
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Harry's Corner From the NY Times Well Blog 12-16-16
(Please note that the links in the article below refer to expanded thinking on the related topics.)
What Do Teenagers Want? Potted Plant Parents
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Credit Kim Murton
Many parents feel that their adolescents hardly need them anymore. Teenagers often come and go on their own schedules, sometimes rebuff our friendly questions about their days, and can give the impression that interacting with the family is an imposition that comes at the cost of connecting, digitally or otherwise, with friends.
So here’s a complaint one might not expect to hear from teenagers: They wish their parents were around more often.
I spend part of my time as a consultant to schools, where I see teenagers as they go about their regular days. On several occasions over the years students have explained to me that their parents are rarely home. Sometimes, they tell me why — a single mother works long hours, the parents have saturated social lives, a sibling is in crisis — and sometimes they don’t.
Regardless of the surrounding circumstances, the teenagers who say they are longing for more time with their folks invariably seem self-sufficient and independent. Knowing this, I often suspect that the same adolescent who laments her parents’ absence might only faintly acknowledge their presence when they are in fact home.
A new study from Australia confirms the importance of a parent’s physical presence on adolescent health. Researchers from the University of Western Australia studied 3,000 middle- and high school students, including 618 adolescents with one parent who lived away from home for long stretches because of work, like a job on an offshore oil rig or a distant construction site. The researchers wanted to know how the extended absences of these “fly-in, fly-out” parents might affect the emotional and behavioral health of their children.
Overall, most adolescents felt their parents were present in their lives regardless of their work hours. However, a slightly higher percentage of teenagers who experienced the long work absence of a parent had emotional or behavioral problems compared with those whose parents worked more traditional hours.
This echoes research finding high rates of emotional distress in teenagers who routinely returned to an empty house after school or whose parents were rarely at dinner.
Notably, research also shows that Australian “fly-in, fly-out” parents often stay connected during their long absences by regularly checking in by social media, texts and FaceTime — letting their kids know that even though they were away, they were still watching.
And findings also suggest that parents don’t have to be home all the time to be present in their children’s lives, but it helped to be home at certain times. A classic study connected the total time at least one parent was home before and after school, at dinner and at bedtime to improved psychological health in adolescents. Importantly, the studies of parental presence indicate that sheer proximity confers a benefit over and above feelings of closeness or connectedness between parent and child.
In other words, it’s great if you and your adolescent get along well with each other, but even if you don’t, your uneasy presence is better for your teenager than your physical absence.
That there’s value in simply being around should come as a source of comfort for parents raising adolescents. With younger children, we have plenty of opportunities to put our parenting muscles to work. We can read stories together, make up knock-knock jokes, build towers, or go to the museum. Our youngsters still like to join us for a trip to a grocery store and they usually come to us first with their questions or problems.
But with teenagers, it’s not always easy to know how to connect. By their nature, adolescents aren’t always on board with our plans for making the most of family time and they aren’t always in the mood to chat. Happily, the quality parenting of a teenager may sometimes take the form of blending into the background like a potted plant.
Many parents of adolescents instinctively know this to be true and find ways to be present without advancing an agenda. One friend of mine quietly folds laundry each evening in the den where her teenagers watch TV. They enjoy one another’s company without any pressure to make conversation.
Another routinely accepts his daughter’s invitation to work or read nearby while she sits and does her homework. Of course, sharing the same space sets the stage for the possibility of actively interacting, and we have plenty of research attesting to the benefit of talking with or advising our teenagers.
We don’t really know why our mere company would have such value for teenagers, but decades of research on parent-child attachment suggests an explanation. Ideally, children use their parents as a safe and dependable base from which to explore the world and exert their autonomy. Indeed, studies tell us that securely attached toddlers quietly track their parents’ movements from room to room, even while carrying on with their own activities.
While normally developing teenagers seek new levels of emotional and physical distance from their parents perhaps they, like toddlers, feel most at ease when their folks balance active engagement with detached availability.
The giving season is at hand and the holidays hold the promise of families having more time to spend together. Our hopes for joyful engagement with our teenagers shouldn’t keep us from embracing the benefits of simply playing the role of a potted plant. In the swirl that can come at this time of year, we might offer our teenagers a gift we know they can use: Our quiet and steady presence.
Lisa Damour (@LDamour) is a psychologist in private practice in Shaker Heights, Ohio, a clinical instructor at Case Western Reserve University and the director of Laurel School’s Center for Research on Girls. She is the author of “Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions Into Adulthood."
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FIELD DAY INFORMATION
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Here are some important field day logistics. - Children will report directly to Field Day at the 1600 Park Avenue Field. They should arrive no later than 8:45 a.m.
- During the morning, there will be a snack and water break. The morning will end with Italian ices for everyone!
- School lunch will be served at school, in the classroom, as usual. We kept it simple, with only sandwiches on the menu.
- Parents/caregivers who attend Field Day are welcome to take their children and leave directly from the event without returning to school. HOWEVER, they must sign them out with their child's classroom teacher. Parents who do not attend field day and wish for other parents/caregivers to pick up their child(ren) must provide written permission (email okay) to the child’s teacher no later than Tuesday, May 15th.
- Parents and caregivers should be prepared to show ID if requested, just like a normal day.
- Remember, there is no self-dismissal from the park. All students not picked up come back to school for lunch and dismissal at12:30 p.m.
- Field Day activities will be completed by 11:00 a.m.
Please note: There will be nine stations and each grade will circulate through them.
Any changes or cancellations will be announced through email, and our reverse call system. An announcement will also be placed on our webpage.
A big thank you to Adam, Lauree Barnes, Nina Blake and the PTSO for organizing this day. Decision will be made by Tuesday, May 15 by 2:00 PM if a raindate is necessary. Raindate: Monday, June 25
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May is Lupus Awareness Month
Lupus does not discriminate.
It can affect anyone, at any age, in many different ways.
Please wear purple on Tuesday, May 15 in memory of Tanisha Jackson, daughter
of our Diane Jackson and for all those that are affected.
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Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Contest
On Thursday, May 17, Ben and Jerry's is once again sponsoring an ice cream contest, where the school that has the most participation wins a prize. Abra Kessler (2nd grade teacher), Diane Macon and Pam Gorode from the Business Office and our own Bob Maltese will volunteer their time to be ice cream scoopers. Please come between 6:30 PM and 7:30 PM to be counted for Elysian.
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Spring Track Team
Spring Tract Practice will be held at 1600 Park Avenue from 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM Practice dates are: Thursday, May 17
Monday, May 21
Tuesday, May 29
Monday, June 4
Track Meet Dates are: Saturday Dates: June 9th
Sunday Dates: May 20Any questions, please contact Coach Adam. His email is Adam.Froimowitz@ecsnj.org
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This Week's Enrichment Clubs **Chess is cancelled this week**
Monday
Debate Club III - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
"No Bake" Baking Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Broadway Bound Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Tuesday
Drawing Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Create It and Make It Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Calligraphy Club - 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (1 1/2 Hour)
Anime Club - 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM (1 1/2 Hour)
Wednesday 1/2 Day
Chess Club - Cancelled this week - End date June 13 (14 week club)
Basic Baking Club - 12:45 PM- 1:45 PM
Clay Creations Club - 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM
Lego Club - 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM Thursday
Yoga Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Dance with Derrick Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday
Game Show Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Hola Amigos! Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Jewelry Making & Craft Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Rock Climbing Club - 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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BIG NEWS!
We’re celebrating 20 years of Elysian!!!
It’s all happening this May…
- Purchase a copy of the Elysian20 Memory Book
A Journey to Home- a “yearbook” with pictures, memories, poetry, songs and more from the first day of Elysian to the 20th year.
You need a copy of this book!! $25 for hardcover or $15 for a softcover version.
ONLY available May 1-20 so get your copy at http://elysian20.picaboo.com/memorybook
- Come to Homecoming!
Sunday, May 20, 12:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Block party, food trucks, the premiere of The Elysian Movie, poetry readings, Honor Ceremony at 3pm and MORE!!
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7th Grade Students and Parents High School Info Session Monday, May 21 - 6:00 PM - Hillary's room (Room 316) Learn about the High School Application Process from the 8th Grade Teachers and the Guidance Counselor.
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PTSO News
Field Day is Here! - Field Day will be held THIS Wednesday, May 16! We are still looking for volunteers to help out that morning. Please visit https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10c0948aca928abf49-field if you'd like to volunteer.
Annual Year-End Picnic - Elysian Picnic in Columbus Park will be held Wednesday, June 6 (rain date Thursday, June 7th) from 6-8 pm.
What Can You Bring to Share?
Incoming K – current 2nd Grade: Entrees – pasta, pizza, sandwiches, chicken, etc.
3rd – 5th Grade: Salads, Sides or Fruit
6th – 8th Grade: Dessert, Water, Juice Boxes
Bring for Your Family:
Blankets and chairs
Toys to share (No water balloons or water guns, please)
Volunteers wanted to help the night of the picnic! If you are interested, please email elysianptso@gmail.com.
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For the eighth year in a row, Elysian Charter School will be participating in the "Swing Fore the Schools Golf Outing.” This is Hudson County's largest golf outing benefiting multiple local schools serving more than 1,500 students. Last year our school earned over $7,000 by identifying sponsors and registering enthusiastic golfers.
This year's tournament will be held on Thursday, June 7, at the Crystal Springs Resort in Northwest New Jersey. Bus transportation to and from Hoboken will be available. Registration and the driving range open at 11 AM. Lunch begins at 12 Noon. Tee-off is at 1:30 PM.
Please consider being one of the 300 golfers who will play 36 holes, participate in fun contests, win prizes, and enjoy a delicious lunch and dinner while raising money for our schools! In order to take advantage of early bird special pricing, make sure to register before May 17!
And finally, please don’t miss out on the opportunity to promote your business through this well-attended event. There are several sponsorship packages (starting at $250) that provide for great visibility for companies interested in reaching families in Hudson County. Please contact Jeff Joss (jeff.joss@gmail.com), chairperson for the tournament, for additional details.Design best-practices suggest a large font size for easy readability both on desktop and mobile devices.
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SPRING FLING IS ALMOST HERE
Who: All 6th, 7th and 8th gradersWhen: May 18 from 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm Where: Willie McBride's Back Room, 616 Grand Street, Hoboken
If you have not handed in your permission slip, please email Shana Lee at shanalee@gmail.com to let her know your child is attending. This should be by tonight.
Are you available to help set up? We need 6 parents on Friday to meet at Willie McBrides from 4:30-5:30 to do light set up. I can also use a few more non middle school parents to chaperone. If you are a middle school parent, you are more than welcome to come sit with me (Shana) at the other bar. Willie McBrides has two rooms. I will be there the entire time and would love the company.
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Do you want input to the song selection at Spring Fling this year? Do you want to hear a certain song? No problem!
Write down your ideas and hand it in to Hillary!
Don't forget to hand in your permission slips by this Friday. We'd like to get an accurate count for the venue.
You don't want FOMO on this super fun night for all middle schoolers
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There are still spots available for the family kickball and basketball events. These are wonderful opportunities to spend time with family and friends, gather with the Elysian community, and support the school all at once!
MAY: BASKETBALL TOURNEY THURSDAY, MAY 24 • ONLY 5 SPOTS LEFT!
Join other Elysian Charter School families for a basketball shoot-out and charity basketball tournament on Thursday evening, May 24, at 6:30 PM. There will also be some special guest stars including current and former Elysian staff! Includes pizza and beverages, to keep that energy up!
JUNE: KICKBALL/DODGEBALL III (PARENTS VS. KIDS)
Grab the kids and join Elysian Charter School families for a night of games on Friday June 1, at 7:00 p.m. It’s parents vs. kids! Includes pizza and drinks, and a lot of laughs!
- Donated byJohn Rutledge (referee supreme!)
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First Week Sold Out!!
Only A Few Spots Remaining in Week 2
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Reminder: Elysian has a nut-free policy Any lunches, snacks, classroom treats, etc. must be a nut-free product.
Please call Diane DeSombre, RN with any questions. Thank you.
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News from the Office
If your child has an appointment during school hours, an adult must come to office to sign him/her out. No student may leave on their own. This is a Department of Education regulation.
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| Elysian Collects Box Tops and LABELS for Education Look for the container near Deb's desk in the office! Thank you!
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As per state law, we no longer publish the exact location of trips for security reasons.
Please read the calendar weekly, as changes are updated regularly.
MAY/JUNE CALENDAR Tuesday, May 15 - Rugby practice, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM. 1600 Park
Wednesday, May 16 - Field Day, (Raindate Monday, June 25)
- 1/2 Day, 12:30 PM dismissal, Aftercare until 6:00 PM
Thursday, May 17 - Kindergarten Orientation, 8:45 AM
- Track Practice, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM, 1600 Park
- Ben and Jerry's Contest, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM, 405 Washington Street, Hoboken
Friday, May 18 - Community Meeting. 8:45 AM - Gym
- Middle School Spring Fling, 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM, Willie McBrides
Sunday, May 20 - Elysian 20year Homecoming, 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Track Meet, 10:00 AM, Lincoln Park, Jersey City
Monday, May 21 - Dress Rehearsal for Mary Poppins
- Track Practice, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM, 1600 Park
- High School Info Session for 7th Grade Students and Parents, 6:00 PM
- Board Meeting, 7:00 PM
Tuesday, May 22 - Performance of Mary Poppins
- Rugby practice, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM, 1600 Park
Wednesday, May 23 - Performance of Mary Poppins
Thursday, May 24 - Auction Charity Basketball Game, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, Gym
Friday, May 25 - 1/2 Day, 12:30 PM dismissal
Monday, May 28 - Memorial Day, School Closed
Tuesday, May 29 - 6th and 7th Grades Trip
- Rugby practice, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM, 1600 Park
- Track Practice, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM, 1600 Park
Wednesday, May 30 - 5th and 8th Grade Science Exam
Friday. June 1 Sunday, June 3 - Track Meet, 10:00 AM, Lincoln Park, Jersey City
Monday, June 4 - Track Practice, 3:00 PM - 3:45 PM, 1600 Park
Wednesday, June 6 Thursday, June 7 Friday, June 8 - 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Spring Concert - 9:00 AM - Gym
- 8th Grade Trip
Saturday, June 9 - Rugby Cup - Grades 4 & 5, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM, Randalls Island, NYC
- Rugby Cup - Grades 6 - 8, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM, Randalls Island, NYC
- Track Meet, 10:00 AM, Lincoln Park, Jersey City,
Sunday, June 10 - Track Meet, 10:00 AM, Lincoln Park, Jersey City
Wednesday, June 13 - Town Hall Meet and Greet - New Director Susan Grierson, 6:30 PM *See below
Thursday, June 14 Friday June 15 - Community Meeting, 8:45 AM - GYM
Wednesday, June 20 Thursday June 21 Friday, June 22 Monday June 25 - 1/2 Day 12:30 PM Dismissal
Tuesday, June 26 - 1/2 Day, 12:30 PM Dismissal
Wednesday, June 27 - 1/2 Day 12:30 PM Dismissal
- Last Day of School, Report Cards Distributed
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*Save the Date
Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at 6:30 p.m.
Town Hall Meeting and Meet and Greet
This will be an opportunity to meet and greet Elysian’s new director, Susan Grierson.
There will also be a presentation by Donna Siminski and Rick Pressler of the NJ Charter Schools Association on funding and other issues that directly affect Charters.
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| Calendar Update - Because we have exceeded the number of built in snow days, we are required to extend the school year. The last day of school, as of now (i.e. if we have no more snow days), will be Wednesday, June 27th. The regulation is that we must have completed 180 school days prior to June 30th of the school year.
- June 25, 26 and 27 will have 12:30 dismissals
- 8th grade graduation has been moved to Thursday, June 21st.
Every year we build two or three days into the calendar to account for possible snow days. We also designate a number of days after the scheduled end of the school year as “snow day makeups.” This is designed to let everyone know, up front, of the possibilities. A note about attendance: The New Jersey State Law is very specific about school attendance. By law, children are expected to be in school every day unless they are ill. There is no room in the law or regulations to excuse any children who have prior plans. We must mark all children absent who are not in attendance.
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1460 Garden Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Harry Laub, Ph.D., Director
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harry.laub@ecsnj.org
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Phone:201.876.0102
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Fax:201.876.9576
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