Dear Blake Families:
After a long week full of colds, sinus infections, and overall 'malaise' in the Vaughn house, the spring weather as of late has certainly been a welcome sight - amazing how the environment can help to improve the spirits!
The highlight of this past week was our Special Olympics event at Blake on Friday. There are many individuals to thank and I am afraid I would forget someone if I began to list them, but I was truly honored to be a part of the day. The combined efforts from all five communities (Ashland, Holliston, Medfield, Medway, and Millis) resulted in a wonderful day for all of the athletes and their families. As is the tradition/ritual at the beginning of these events, the athletes recited the Special Olympics Oath: 'Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt.' These words represented the tone of the entire day and I believe that we should strive to carry forth this missive with all of our students. The bravery of all of our athletes was present and appreciated by all. If given the opportunity, please take a minute over the next week to recognize and commend all of our athletes and know that you all (students, staff, parents, community) played a part in supporting the event. Thank you.
This past Tuesday evening we held another iPad Highlights Night for parents/guardians in our continued effort to share, highlight, and discuss the progress our challenges, as well as the direction we are moving as a school and district. As I reflect upon our work and think about the integration of technology into our classes, I am continually reminded of the importance of 'balance' and the importance of defining and articulating the purposefulness of our initiatives. In this vein I have posted an article from The New York Times, entitled 'The Child, the Tablet and the Developing Mind', written by Nick Bilton. Bilton's article shares an important perspective on the importance of socialization skills for our children, referencing the work of Sherry Turkle (professor from MIT) who has written the book, 'Alone Together: Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other'. Turkle espouses the importance for children to learn about solitude and the importance of thinking independent of a device: "Ms. Turkle has interviewed parents, teenagers and children about the use of gadgets during early development, and says she fears that children who do not learn real interactions, which often have flaws and imperfections, will come to know a world where perfect, shiny screens give them a false sense of intimacy without risk." Along similar lines, I am also sharing an entry from TeachThought (What a Digital Native Needs to Know About Playing Outside), an 'open letter' to children born into the age of technology. The message is not a new one, but the reminders about healthy alternatives and outlets (enjoy nature, observe, and play) serve as an excellent reminder for all of us as we approach April vacation and (hopefully) the reality of spring! Finally, I am sharing a link that you may find to be helpful (How to Set Parental Controls on In-App Purchases) as a resource for setting appropriate limits with our students. Katie and I have found these to be helpful as parents, and I will be sure to continue in the shared efforts to work together for all of our children.
I hope that April vacation will serve as a welcome break for all, and that you are able to rest and recharge before we approach the 'final stretch' towards summer.
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Take care.
Nat Vaughn