When thinking about wellness, the one thing
that affects all of us is the health of our Earth. Coming up soon is Earth Day,
a day to show respect for our Earth and be aware of our impact on it. Our
actions today are the legacy we will leave behind to our children and our
children's children. Let's lead by example and encourage each other to do more.
There is no better time to begin that than Earth day, celebrated
on Saturday, April 22. Let's teach our kids that our Earth is worth
celebrating, but more importantly, that one person, no matter how small, can
help make a big difference to make our Earth a happy, healthy place.
Here are some ways families
can encourage environmental consciousness:
Take a nature walk--Talk about the Earth and
how it is important for us to take care of the Earth, not only for ourselves
but for future generations. Ask your kids how they think they could make a
difference, you might be surprised at their creativity and great ideas!
Organize a clean up--Gather family and friends
and choose an area to clean, it could be your neighborhood, a local park or
along a hiking trail.
Plant something--One of the best ways to give
back to our Earth, is to plant new life. It could be a tree, flowers or a
garden. All of it is beneficial to the Earth, as well as ourselves! Earth Day
Network launched a campaign in 2016 called Trees for the Earth. It's goal was
to plant, or inspire the planting of, 7.8 billion trees worldwide by 2020--one
tree for every person projected to be on Earth!
Re-purpose--Reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce
the use of plastic and individual packaging, take reusable bags when you shop.
Find a new purpose for things you already have and recycle what you can.
Help wildlife--Creating habitats for wildlife
is another way you can help. You can hang out bird feeders and houses. You can
plant specific plants and flowers that attract bees or butterflies.
Park the family car--Consider going car-free
for the day. You could walk or bike for simple trips and nearby destinations or
try out public transportation if you need to go farther.
Curb your electricity use--Turn off the
lights, fans, television, computer. "Unplug" for the day.
Save water--Encourage everyone to turn off the
water when brushing teeth. Fix leaky faucets. See who can take the fastest
showers (and still get clean!). Use a broom to clean the driveway or sidewalk
instead of the hose.
Donate or swap things you don't need--Recycle
clothes, toys or other household items you're no longer using by donating them.
Or consider participating in a community swap event and trade items.
Choose your food wisely--By eating fresh,
local, organic and unprocessed foods you are supporting your local economy,
reducing waste, supporting sustainable practices and reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. These are all valuable lessons to teach your kids and are just some
of the ways that improving the environment is impacted by our food choices.
Shopping for food locally and cooking together can be made a fun family affair
that kids of all age can be involved in.
Commit to change--Think of one simple way to
reduce your family's carbon footprint and commit to doing it. Consider
rewarding your family if you successfully commit to change. Don't forget to
choose an eco-friendly reward!
Spring
Break
April
10th-14th is Spring Break at ISLA. The school building will be closed during
this time and Companeros will be meeting at the Mis Amigos Hopkins site. Enjoy your break!
Kindergarten Round-up and New Student Orientation
Incoming
kindergarten students
and new incoming students will be
welcomed at the kindergarten and new student round-up. It will be held on Thursday, April 20th
at 6:30 pm. This is a time for families
of incoming students to complete their registration forms, ride the school bus
and kindergarten students will have time with the kindergarten teachers.
Spring Music Programs
The dates for the spring music programs have been set. They are as follows:
Adventure Wilderness/Aventuras en la Naturaleza
July 24-28
Entering Grades 1-5
Amazing Animals/Animalisimo
July 24-28
Entering Grade K
Magical Wizarding World through Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts/El Mundo Mágico de Harry Potter y las Bestias Fantásticas
July 31-August 4
Entering Grades 1-5
MakerSpace, Coding and Minecraft/MakerSpace, Programación y Minecraft
August 7-11
Entering Grades 1-5