September is a special month for us because the 5th is the feast day for our patron Saint: St. Teresa of Calcutta. She was known for her work with the sick and the poor, and she said many wise words throughout her life. Many of her statements fit in quite well with the 7 Habits. To start the year, the teachers are doing the “First 8 Days Program” and are introducing all of the habits to the students. These are lessons centered on the different habits which involve creating a classroom mission statement and establishing classroom routines. After this, we will focus on a different habit each month and learn more about it. The following is a summary of each of the habits so that you can use the same language at home with them.
Habit 1: Be Proactive – You’re in Charge
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.”
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind – Have a Plan
“God doesn’t require us to succeed, He only requires that you try.”
Habit 3: Put First Things First – Work First, Then Play
“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
Habit 4: Think Win-Win – Everyone Can Win
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.”
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood – Listen Before You Talk
“Before you speak, it is necessary for you to listen, for God speaks in the silence of the heart.”
Habit 6: Synergize – Together is Better
“I can do things you cannot and you can do things I cannot. Together we can do great things.”
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw – Balance Feels Best
“Life is an adventure, live it. Life is a game, play it.”
Along with our 7 Habits, we are going to be introducing Kelso’s Choice to our students. Rhiece Cordes, Mental Health Capacity Building Facilitator, will be working at St. Teresa on Mondays and Tuesdays. To start with, she will be delivering the Kelso’s Choice program to our grades 1-6 in September and to Kindergarten in October. Kelso’s Choice helps students to develop conflict resolution strategies and helps them to practice Habit 1: Be Proactive and Habit 4: Think Win-Win. Last year this program was introduced to our grades 1 and 2 students and we fell that the whole school will benefit from it too.
We do have a few more activities planned for the month of September. We are planning a virtual Meet the Teachers Night and more information will follow on the details. We have our opening mass on the 16th at 9:00 which will also be virtual and we will email out a link for parents to join us. Our first School Council meeting will be on Monday the 20th at 6 pm. All parents are welcome to join us in the link sent out by email.
Let us follow the guidance of our patron Saint this month, a symbol of love and compassion, and Lead with Love.
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