Mathews Local Schools | February 2020

FEBRUARY 2020

MATHEWS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

MATHEWS SCHOOLS INTRODUCES MINDFULNESS TO STUDENTS LEARN MORE ON PG. 3

INSIDE THIS EDITION

Mindfulness at Mathews - 2 Currie Students of the Month - 4 Teachers recognized for PBIS efforts - 4 Kylie Garrett wins spelling bee - 5

Welcome Miss Munroe - 5 Students to learn about census - 7 Mark your calendar - 8

MINDFULNESS AT MATHEWS HIGH SCHOOL

Click here to watch a video on the district's new initaitive.

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Students in Sarah Rouzzo’s seventh grade English Language Arts classes have been learning more than just reading, writing and language this year. They’re also learning about mindfulness, the psychological process of purposely bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment without judgment.

“I was shocked at the results and the positive benefits that are coming from this. I have less discipline problems. Students request the meditations if I forget, which happens. If we do this at the start of the class, they are much more prepared, focused, centered, grounded,” said teacher Sarah Rouzzo.

Mathews High School is one of thousands of schools across the country bringing mindfulness into the classroom. Studies show it has the ability to reduce levels of stress and anxiety, increase focus and selfregulation, and improve academic performance and sleep. At a professional development opportunity in November, school counselor Julie Berkhouse learned about how other local district were incorporating mindfulness into their schools. She decided to implement the practice beginning with Rouzzo’s seventh grade classes.

“One of the reasons we like seventh grade is because it’s a new building. It is a new environment and it’s transitioning you to the next five or six years that you will be here. So, if we can teach you these skill sets now, when you do get this heavy testing in high school with the ACT and college decisions, it kind of gives you a place to step back and relax and reground yourself,” said Berkhouse.

In January, the district welcomed Alliance City School’s director of curriculum and instruction to Mathews High School to provide guidance on setting up a mindfulness program.

“I was here to share some of the things that I have done in my other districts that have helped students and staff.

Mrs. Berkhouse invited me to talk with her as she is going through the

development of a program to go along with their PBIS and they have a lot of great things in place,” said Christine Gibowicz. Next year, the district hopes to expand its mindfulness program to include more grade levels.

Students in teacher Sarah Rouzzo's seventh grade English Language Arts classes participate in regular mindfulness exercises to decrease stress and increase focus.

MATHEWS HIGH SCHOOL

PBIS TEA C HER OF THE WEEK In addition to recognizing Mathews High School students for their efforts to create a

more positive environment at the high school, teachers are now being nominated for their commitment to the school-wide PBIS program. In January, three teachers were named "PBIS Teacher of the Week".

Mr. Michael Snyder PBIS TEACHER OF THE WEEK JANUARY 13-17, 2020 Mr. Snyder was chosen as the PBIS Teacher of the Week for leading the charge in awarding students extra credit points for wearing the district's new PBIS, "Be Part of the Herd" shirts!

Mrs. Sarah Rouzzo PBIS TEACHER OF THE WEEK JANUARY 20-24, 2020 Mrs. Rouzzo was awarded the PBIS Teacher of the Week for the partnership she's created between her ELA classes and a junior high English class in Israel.

Mrs. Julie Ring PBIS TEACHER OF THE WEEK JANUARY 27-31, 2020 Mrs. Ring was awarded the PBIS Teacher of the Week for operating the high school's popcorn station and for getting her students involved in the program.

CURRIE ELEMENTARY

MUSTANGS OF THE MONTH During the month of January, students at Currie focused on the character trait caring. Teachers talked with their students about what it means to be caring and nominated students from their classes who demonstrated these traits. Congratulations to all of our caring Mustangs!Â

Kindergarten: Makayla Babcock, Jaxon Ladeau, Logan Schutt 1st Grade: Miley Miller, Wyatt Yoak, Ariel Dahman 2nd Grade: Leeann West, Turner Douglas

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SPELLING BEE On Thursday, January 9, 2020, Baker Elementary held its annual Spelling Bee. Sixth grad student Kylie Garrett (left) was this year’s champion and fifth grade student Soraya Sassya (right) was our runner-up. Kylie will go on to compete in this year’s Trumbull County

Spelling

Bee

and

The

Vindicator

Spelling

Bee

at

Youngstown State University.

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Mathews Schools partners with U.S. Census Bureau to educate students about the upcoming census This year, the U.S. Census Bureau will conduct the 2020 Census to count everyone living in the country. A complete and accurate count is critical to school districts, including Mathews Local Schools. Census data directly affect how the federal government allocates more than $675 billion every year to communities for programs and services like Title 1, special education, school lunches, after school programs, Head Start, and more.

The district has partnered with the Census Bureau to offer students a free educational program called Statistics in Schools (SIS) that teaches children in a fun and informative way why the census is important. It provides lesson plans, activities, materials, and resources to enhance learning across a variety of subjects for pre-K through 12th grade students.

BE PART PART OF OF THE THE HERD! HERD! BE

MARK

YOUR

FEBRUARY CALENDARS

Monday, February 3

Friday, February 14

Kindergarten begistration

No School

begins Monday, February 17 Thursday, February 6

President's Day

Early Dismissal

No School

Parent-Teacher Conferences Saturday, February 22 Wednesday, February 12

Winter Dance

NHS Inductions at 6 p.m.

Tuesday, February 25 Thursday, February 13

ACT Test

Valentine's Day Parties at Baker and Currie

Friday, February 28

NHS Breakfast

Community Art Show

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