Dear Global Village Academy Families,
Welcome to springtime in the Rockies—where it’s completely normal to experience sunshine, wind, and snow all in the same week! This week’s forecast includes highs of 80°, 56°, and 73°, followed by a dip to 41° with possible snow showers. Please continue to send students dressed for changing conditions—layers are your friend!
Supporting Friendship & Conflict-Resolution Skills
Lately, we’ve noticed that many of our students are working through challenges related to friendships and resolving social conflicts. These skills are just as important as academics and take time and practice to develop.
At school, our counselor has been partnering with teachers and playground staff to provide extra support, including:
- Classroom lessons on problem-solving
- Small group friendship coaching
- Structured games at recess
- Social “resets” with assigned lunch seating when needed
We also use community circles to help students talk through common peer situations and practice finding positive solutions. Topics might include:
- What if I want to play something different than my friend?
- What if someone I want to play with chooses someone else?
- What if we disagree about the rules of a game or something feels unfair?
- How can I help others feel included?
After discussing these scenarios, students brainstorm solutions together or role-play respectful responses.
To reinforce these skills, we consistently revisit our expectations during recess and lunch—those less-structured times when conflicts tend to arise. We remind students to:
- Use kind words and respectful tones
- Include others in games and conversations
- Respect personal space and boundaries
- Use tools like rock-paper-scissors or taking a break
- Follow directions the first time
- Share playground equipment fairly and safely
We also teach students a simple 4-step problem-solving strategy to use when something isn’t right:
- Face each other and make eye contact
- One student says, "(Name), I don’t like when... It made me feel... Please stop."
- The other student replies, "I’m sorry for... I will stop."
- Move forward with kindness and respect
What Can Parents Do at Home?
You can support these skills at home by:
- Modeling calm communication when you have a disagreement
- Role-playing common scenarios with your child and brainstorming respectful solutions
- Encouraging them to name their feelings and explain why they’re upset
- Praising positive interactions when they use kind words, solve a problem on their own, or include someone
- Using books or shows to spark conversations about friendship, fairness, and conflict
Friendship takes practice—just like reading and math. Thank you for working with us to help our students grow into kind, confident, and caring individuals.
CMAS Testing Continues This Week!
CMAS testing is in full swing for students in Grades 3–6. Please ensure your child:
- Gets a good night’s sleep
- Eats a healthy breakfast
- Arrives on time every day
Your encouragement and positivity go a long way in helping students feel confident and prepared. Thank you for your partnership!
With gratitude for your continued support and commitment to our school community,
Stacy Bush,
Principal, GVA Douglas County
[email protected]