They say it takes a village to raise a child and I am finding that statement to be accurate as I raise my own children. If you think back to your teenage years who were the grown-ups in your life who mattered most to you? And who most impacted you? It could be a coach, a teacher, or a family member. What do all those people have in common? Most likely they intentionally sacrificed for your benefit. They made it clear they were there for you. They were the ones pushing you to do things that you doubted you could.
Growing up can be tough. As children’s bodies and brains are changing rapidly, they’re also dealing with new ideas and influences that will shape who they become. Parents, teachers and other caring adults work hard to teach kids how to become knowledgeable and responsible citizens. As a parent or caring adult it is sometimes hard to know what it is that a child needs.
Josh Shipp is the author of The Grown-Up’s Guide to Teenage Humans: How to Decode Their Behavior, Develop Trust, and Raise a Respectable Adult. We have him scheduled to train our employees this fall. The main idea of the book is to help adults understand teens and teens understand themselves. He outlines seven things every teen needs to hear. According to a recent study published in Science magazine, adults say about 16,215 words per day. Here are seven phrases – each one less than five words– that every teen need to hear from you, regardless of their age or stage.
I love you. This is crucial. Always be strong enough to say this to your kids. Grown adults have said they have never heard this from their parents. If your teen doesn’t hear it from you, I don’t know whom he or she will hear it from.
I’m proud of you. As parents or caring adults, it’s important we applaud effort more than achievement because achievement is often subjective to the group we are competing against. So applaud and reward effort over achievement and let your child know you’re proud of him or her.
I’m sorry. Taking responsibility as an adult is important for our kids to see. We have to model what it looks like to be an adult and apologize when we make mistakes. And don’t cop out by saying, “I’m sorry, but…!” Remember that kids learn a little bit from what we say, a little more from what we do, but the most from who we are.
I forgive you. It’s crucial for young people to know that if you want to succeed, you must be willing to fail. They are going to mess up, it happens. The question is always this: What will you do when they inevitably mess up? When you say, “I forgive you,” kids know it’s okay to admit mistakes.
I’m listening. Once your child is a preteen or teen, the name of the game isn’t about control-it’s about influence. You can’t control a fifteen-year-old, but you can influence him or her by listening and asking questions. Lecturing doesn’t work as well as asking strategic questions and then listening; doing that will help teens come to their own mature decisions and beliefs about situations.
This is your responsibility. Don’t bail your kids out of problems they can solve. Instead, remain like a coach: prepare them before the game, cheer from the sidelines, and then review what went well and what went badly (also from the sidelines). If you fix it for them, they’ll interpret that to mean that they don’t have what it takes. Instead, be there for moral support and guidance, but let them take responsibility.
You’ve got what it takes. It’s important for them to hear from you that they have what it takes. If they know you believe in them, they’re better prepared to take baby steps to accomplishing their goals and dreams and facing those difficult situations.
Children are truly craving someone to be interested in them, to care for them, to be there for them, and to focus their time and attention on them. By using these phrases with our kids they will start to find meaning and purpose in their life and it will contribute to their overall happiness.
Josh Shipp’s motto is ‘Every Kid is One Caring Adult Away from being a Success Story!’ He says in his book, “being a parent is often a thankless job. Nobody hands out awards to good parents. You won’t be mentioned during the state of union address. There won’t be a lifetime achievement award given to you at the Academy Awards. But even when your teens confusing signals say otherwise, your voice is the single most important voice in their lives. And those moments when they’re honest with themselves, your teens instinctively know that they need your voice. Your voice is needed and crucial and matters more than you know.”
I do believe it does take a village to raise a child. As a parent, teacher, coach, or other caring adult we have the ability to be a child’s one caring adult. I also believe that having the right tools and knowledge is essential to helping our children find success in their lives.
Student Health and Safety Resources
Dear Parents,
Sevier School District leaders are in consistent communication with public and private health officials on effective precautions and responses when it comes to the health and safety of our students. We frequently meet and collaborate with community leaders and health care officials and we have met several times over the past few weeks to specifically discuss COVID-19 (the coronavirus).
We need to work together in our efforts to help ourselves and our children stop the spreading of illnesses. Often this is as simple as remembering to wash hands and avoid touching our mouths, noses, and eyes. Perhaps the most important lesson we can teach our children is how to appropriately respond using reason, rationality, and open-mindedness when our society is faced with a difficult situation or threat.
Attached below is a list of links to factual and accurate information concerning COVID-19. Please take a moment to review the information and check back for updates. We will continue to communicate with you using email, text message, social media, and the Sevier School District webpage.
https://www.seviersd.org/index.php?view=article&id=973:when-to-stay-home-from-school&catid=108
https://www.seviersd.org/index.php?view=article&id=1045:reduce-your-risk-of-coronavirus&catid=108
Parents,
This is a great article from HOPE4UTAH for parents and families about Warning Signs of Emotional Struggles.
Sevier School District Emotional Safety/Culture Initiatives
Safe Schools Department
2019-20
School Based Mental Health Coordinators:
Sevier School District has hired and implemented a School Based Mental Health Counseling program. At this time 5 (five) Mental Health Coordinators/Therapists have been hired district wide to help students on a daily basis dealing with such student issues as resiliency, self-esteem, emotional safety, anxiety, etc. Our coordinators will work with whole classrooms, small groups and on occasion individual students. SSD School Coordinators will help provide students and parents with additional resources outside of the school if necessary.
Read more: Sevier School District Emotional Safety/Culture Initiatives
Internet and Smartphone Safety
Staying up-to-date with your child's online activity
https://www.graniteschools.org/blog/2014/02/13/staying-up-to-date-with-your-childs-online-activity/
2019-20 School Attendance Calendar
2020-21 School Attendance Calendar
2021-22 School Attendance Calendar
| Wed, Jul 8th, 2020 Board Meeting |
| Wed, Aug 5th, 2020 Board Meeting |
| Thu, Aug 13th, 2020 New Teacher Training |
| Tue, Aug 18th, 2020 No School - Opening Institute - Contract Day |
| Wed, Aug 19th, 2020 First Day of School |
| Tue, Aug 25th, 2020 Kindergarten First Day of School |
| Mon, Sep 7th, 2020 Labor Day - No School |
| Wed, Sep 9th, 2020 Board Meeting |
