January 15, 2016
Dear Farmland Families,
It feels like winter is really here now with the colder temperatures. Please remember that it is
our goal to have children go outside to get fresh air and physical activity as much as weather
permits, so make sure your child is fully equipped with necessary items such as a warm coat,
scarf, hat, and gloves or mittens. We recommend that you mark your child’s clothing with their
name on an inside tag so it can easily be returned to the child if lost. There will be outdoor
recess unless the weather drops below 32 degrees (including the wind chill factor) or the
conditions (rain, ice, snow) prohibit it. The county weather notification card went home last
week outlining how you can stay informed for school delays and closings. Please make sure to
sign up so you can get up-to-the-minute decisions.
As the staff continues to study “Growth vs Fixed Mind Set” as part of their professional
development this year, I will be sharing highlights that I hope will be beneficial for you to help
instill a growth mindset in your children. Researchers have long sought to discover how much
nature and genes impacted a person’s ability versus nurture and environment. Each component
plays a role; however, according to intelligence researcher Robert Sternberg, quoted in Carol
Dweck’s Growth Mindset, “The major factor in whether people achieve expertise ‘is not some
fixed prior ability, but purposeful engagement.’” This week I would like to share a list of
wonderful Growth Mindset books we purchased that are perfect for reading and discussing with
your children. Our teachers will be accessing these books from the school library as well:
Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg
The OK Book by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Ish by Peter Reynolds
Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain by JoAnn Deak
The Dot by Peters Reynolds
Everyone Can Learn to Ride a Bicycle by Chris Raschka
Almost by Richard Torrey
Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Think, Think, Think Learning About Your Brain by Pamela Hill Nettleton
Try and Stick with It by Cheri Meiners
Mistakes that Worked by Charlotte Faltz Jones
I have already ordered a set for each of my grandchildren! I am really looking forward to reading
these books to them.
Many thanks to Jen Chaney for bringing the Magic Math Assembly to our school for the
students’ enjoyment. The teachers raved about this assembly as well! Last year, we had the
same magician perform at a Magic Book Club Assembly which was also very well-received. It
is great when we have an opportunity to show that learning is fun!
Please remember there will be no school on Monday, January 18 th as we celebrate the Martin
Luther King holiday. We hope you have an enjoyable and safe long weekend!
“One word or a pleasing smile is often enough to raise up a saddened and
wounded soul.”
- Therese of Lisieux.
Warmest regards,
Mary Bliss, Principal
IMPORTANT DATES
January 18
 Holiday – No School
January 22
 2nd Marking Period Ends
January 25
 No School
January 26


3rd Marking Period Begins
Spelling Bee 9:30 am
February 2
 PTA Meeting 7:00 pm
February 3
 Report Cards Distributed
February 10
 Celebration Assemblies
February 12
 Valentine’s Day Parties 2:45 pm
February 15
 Presidents Day – No School
February 17
 Science Fair 6:00 pm
February 26

Early Release 1:20 pm


PTA Meeting 7:00 pm
Principals Coffee
March 1
March 2
 Family Life – Parent Info. Mtg 4:30 pm
March 16

Science Fair
March 23
 3rd Marking Period Ends
March 24
 No School for Students
March 25
 Holiday – No School
March 28
 Holiday – No School
March 29 – April 1