Notes from the Superintendent
If you are like me, I use a GPS in my car to find unfamiliar addresses. I have named my GPS because I tend to talk to it as she is always telling me things like “make a legal u-turn” or “rerouting”. She actually sounds a bit mad at me when I take a different direction than she intended for me. As we venture into this new year, we may be looking for new directions, such as health or simply trying new household rules or routines.
Schooling your children at home can sometimes be just as frustrating as a wrong turn because there are multiple directions that you can take and no child learns in the same way. You can look up many articles, blogs, books, or other helpful resources, but sometimes it all becomes just another frustration with too many choices or routes to take.
At QPA, we want to help you get on the right course to enjoy the years with your child while watching them grow and learn. This year, we challenge you to take on a more manageable day- to-day pace, where you stop and take a breath when you feel that you need to reroute. Stopping a lesson and continuing a little bit later in the day is the flexibility that we encourage, so that the learning continues without the frustration. Students usually realize in January that school is work and some of them shut down or rebel. It is this time when a little tough love is needed to keep your child on the right road toward learning.
Sometimes we are trying so hard to get to the destination that we forget that it is a journey. This year make your resolution to simplify your life by setting up a schedule that fits your family needs and takes into account the time of day that your child learns best. Think about the familiar roads that meet your family needs. Is the morning the best time to learn or do you need a few hours to get moving? Do you have more success with doing a few minutes on-line and then cuddling up to read a good book? If you are a working parent, does afternoon fit better into your lifestyle?
Children learn best from parents who value education and understand the way they learn. Most importantly, treasure the time together. Make memories with your children that they will fondly remember throughout their life. Remember, that we are here to help you through your journey. Some days may seem long and tough, but the years will go by so fast and your children will become adults in the blink of an eye. Enjoy the adventure!
As I think back to my childhood, I remember the chores my brothers and I had to complete each day. These simple tasks of making beds, hanging clothes on the clothes line, setting a table, doing the dishes are some of my favorite memories with my mother. Back then it was work, but I fondly remember the conversations and time spent with my mom.
As an educator and former Kindergarten teacher, I could always predict if a child would be successful in math and reading in first grade. The secret was whether the child learned to be helpless or was self-confident in their attempts at new situations. The crying child that often uses words such as “I can’t” when doing simple routines such as cleaning up their supplies developed into irresponsible behaviors and transferred into their learning responsibilities.
My advice to families is to continue giving chores to your children on a regular basis even through their complaining. It is important to model the training for them so it is done correctly. It also builds great memories for your child(ren) of time spent together while learning steps to success.
If you are in need of some modeling tips, here are a few that you may want to consider:
Throughout this three step process, always remember to praise, prompt, and give positive constructive feedback.. Practice does NOT make perfect, only Perfect Practice gets the task done correctly. Your presence and time are essential.
You may wonder what to do if your child simply refuses to obey or throws a fit. Remember that this will require persistence and time on your part, as well as some creative motivational techniques. Your time together will be motivation enough for most young children.
Example: You need to get your bath and brush your teeth and when you are in bed then we will have the rest of the time before 9:00 (keep your promises) to read stories together.
Remember that learning responsibility is not like a cold, you don’t catch it; it must be taught!
Summer memories are behind us now, and it’s that time of year again when we try to find a routine and start the new school year with enthusiasm and joy. As a teacher, mother, and grandmother of nine, I know the feeling of starting a new school year when the students do not seem to remember the foundational aspects of their previous school year. Don’t fret if your own children start out the year with what educators refer to as the “summer slide”. Remember that your child(ren) are not just academic scholars. Try seeing each child from a whole child perspective with many different areas of growth. You have given your child(ren) learning experiences over the summer that incorporate much more than book facts. The emotional learning, physical learning, and character learning are just a few important qualities that make up who your child(ren) will become as adults. You are making a real difference in their future!
So instead of starting the school year with stress and doubts, think about where each student is in their growth journey and find ways to enhance and encourage continued learning and discovery in the new school year. We do want our students to excel in their grades, but remember grades don’t determine the overall person.
Begin with a plan for each child by setting up a space, a time, and a goal. Think of a goal as if you were programming a GPS system. Without knowing where you want to go, a GPS system has no idea what course to plot. It is like the saying, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” However, once you know your destination, many other decisions can be made: travel time, eating establishments, traffic conditions and more. Destination is everything when it comes to making purposeful choices.
Some possible goals this year may include some of the following:
Remember to make the most of every moment. As the saying goes, “The days are long and the years are short.” Don’t get caught up in the day to day stress that you forget to make the most of the little moments that you are given each day.
Have a great year,
Debra J. Kennedy
QPA Superintendent
Dear Quaker Preparatory Family,
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year! It is a great honor to work beside our great staff to serve your family this school year. Our vision is for your child to receive the best possible education while building strong family foundations.
Our priority at QPA is to foster resiliency, responsible decision-making, healthy relationship, and empathy through our constant coaching and mentoring sessions. Our greatest hope is that we will provide your family with opportunities to reach out and connect with other families through Zoom Sessions and Field Trips.
If you are new to online learning, you can find resources throughout our student/family handbook to prepare yourself for a successful year. By choosing to learn online, you will learn the skill of perseverance which leads to success in life.
Should you have any questions during the school year, please reach out to your child’s instructional supervisor, school counselor, principal, or any other staff member for assistance. We are truly working together to provide you with the best possible experience and education at QPA.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.” Robert Collier
Debra J. Kennedy, Superintendent
