Ordway Weekly Newsletter - December 9, 2024

Posted Date: 12/09/24 (7:48 PM)

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Monday December 9, 2024

Inside this Newsletter

Counselor's Corner
Toys for Tots
Parking Lot Safety
Lost and Found
PTO News

Empathy

Our December Character-Strong trait that students are learning about is empathy—defined as understanding and connecting to other people's feelings. Working in an elementary school, I am fortunate to witness students caring for one another, showing kindness, and looking out for each other every day.

Why is empathy important? Social scientists have discovered that in our personal lives, empathy helps form healthy relationships. In the workplace, higher levels of empathy are linked to increased performance and stronger leadership abilities. Psychologists Daniel Goleman and Paul Ekman have identified three types of empathy:

Cognitive empathy: the ability to understand how someone else feels and what they might be thinking.
Emotional/Affective empathy: the ability to share another person’s emotions.
Compassionate empathy (or empathetic concern): the act of turning feelings into action—by relating to someone’s situation, you choose to do something about it.

When your children walk down the hallway, what are some ways they observe empathy in our building? As Ordway Otter educators, we model what empathy looks like. We show we care for one another through our conversations and how we treat each other. We want everyone to feel and experience empathy when they walk through our front door.

Additionally, the introduction of literary fiction in the classroom helps students identify with people and groups outside of their own experiences.

Happy December to all of our Ordway families! I wish you the very best as we head into the Winter Break.

Sincerely,

Janette Dodge

Ordway Counselor

Parking Lot Safety

A reminder - there is a safer, quicker way to drop off your child at school in the morning. The district driveway on the south side of Ordway! See the map below.

Pull in, wait a short time (if at all) drop your child off and they are greeted at the south door.

If you are using the Ordway parking lot - park in designated spaces ONLY. Do not block cars by parking behind them, or parking on curbs, or in handicap spaces. When you do, you create a hazard for others.

Please if at all possible, encourage your child to ride the bus routinely with drop off/pick up as the exception.

Arrival and Departure Diagrams

Toys for Tots 2024

Ordway is collecting new unwrapped toys for the Annual Toys for Tots Toy drive. Please bring your donation to the Ordway office through December 13th.

Brown Bear Car Wash Sales

PTO - 4th Grade Outdoor Ed Fundraising team will be outside Ordway 12/12 and 12/13 selling Brown Bear Car Wash tickets.

1 tickets - $15

2 tickets - $25

5 tickets - $60

4th grade families - they will also be at the Sing-a-long (4th grade families only) on Dec 18th.

Brown Bear Flyer

Lost and Found

Lost and Found will be donated on 12/20.

Please come and check the rack. We comb the rack weekly for items with names - these all do not have names! Come take a look.

Ordway Calendar

DECEMBER

18: Winter-sing-along (4th grade parents only)

23: Beginning of Winter Break

Community Events

This page on the BISD Website publicizes information about community events as a service to non-profit community organizations. These events are perceived as appropriate for students, parents, and families. Interested in submitting news and events? Learn how to do so by visiting our webpage, Distributing News & Events.

Community Events

Non-Discrimination Statement

Bainbridge Island School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination: Kristen Haizlip, Civil Rights Coordinator and Title IX Compliance Officer 8489 Madison Ave. N, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110; 206-780-1058; khaizlip@bisd303.org BISD: All Are Welcome