Thursday, July 23, 2009

Preparing for a terrific 2009-2010 school year!

Soon teachers and students will be coming back to school. Here at Fort Myers Christian School students will begin August 17 with a half day and BBQ lunch. The lunch is an important time to meet your child's new classmates and network with parents. I hope you will plan on lunch with us once you pick up your child from his or her new class that first Monday of school!



I am excited about the Learning Resource Program this year. I am preparing to work with K-8 students who have been identified and have an IEP (Individual Educational Plan) for Specific Learning Disabilities, ADHD/ADD, and/or dyslexia. These students may also have academic needs in processing information related to reading, written language or math. Many hours have already been logged this summer working on programs and procedures for this new school year. I can hardly wait for items ordered to appear so I can get them ready for implementation. But I am mainly excited about the many wonderful students who will benefit from this program and with whom I am priviledged to work!



If you are looking for a great school and have a student who is able to keep up with his or her regular class intellectually, but needs help in one or more of the processing areas to be successful, just contact the school office at 939-4642. We will need some specific information from you and a packet will be sent for you to aquaint yourself with our programs. Some grade levels are already full for this year.



There is still time to boost your child's skills for this coming school year! Simply spending a quality 15 minutes per day working with math fact cards, writing a 3-5 sentence paragraph with illustration, reading a non-fiction book, or doing academically strong activities on the computer could make the difference in how well your child is prepared for his/her new grade level. A variety of grade level workbooks and activities are available for you to purchase at a reasonable price in many stores you regularly shop as well as in educational supply stores like School Stuff and The Little Red SchoolHouse.



Talking about what your child is reading or learning is extremely important. It is one thing to do an activity or read a book by one's self, but the real learning takes place when the child can retell a story or discuss an activity and tell you how it is done! Don't neglect this very important aspect in your child's success as a learner.



In the hustle and bustle to get supplies for the new school year, don't forget to PRAY for the new school year. Pray for your child's teacher(s); for your child's administrators; for your child's friendship circle; for your child's well-being; for his/her learning success. Pray for your child to develop good character qualities and work ethic. Pray for God's wisdom for your own decision-making regarding your child and his/her educational challenges this year. God is SO faithful and will never leave nor forsake us. He holds all wisdom and tells us to ask him when we lack it. And, plan to PRAY WITH your child, too. This is a wonderful way to begin each day and send your son or daughter off to school in the best way.