General Meeting Minutes 5-14-26

General Meeting Minutes 5-14-26 Lincoln Library 5:30 pm

Board Members Present; Nicole Hryciw, Skyla Boivin, Julie Bowman, Jenny Grimaldi

Guest Speaker: Krissie Lenahan Author of “Survive and Thrive in Middle School"

Bridging between Elementary & Middle school with your pre-teen

Bridge Framework:

(B) Bond with their Brain -

  • Understand their brain right now

  • Protect your relationship even when they push away

  • Connect before you correct, then connect again

  • Spend one-on-one time regularly

  • Join their world (games, shows, hobbies)

  • Get specific with praise

  • Make space for words

  • Have solid screen-time limits and explain why

  • Strengthen ties with traditions

  • Share your own personal stories.

(R) Routine & Regulation Build Responsibility -

  • Routine; Structure helps kids feel stable (imagine bridge) it decreases anxiety, especially through transition.

  • Regulation; Practice it, model it, Quote; “Consistency creates calm.”

  • Ideas: Use a visible calendar, Teach how to break tasks into chunks, Keep bedtime and morning routines consistent, use checklists, check grades (starting weekly), Let the reigns go slowly but never completely pull away.

(I) Identity Through Exploration -

  • Emphasize trying new things, embrace failure, find passions

  • Why: Insight about what their passions are, their natural abilities and skills, their challenges, their interests, their patterns.

  • Start an Experience Log. “IDK” Quote “Let middle school be messy. Try everything.”

  • Ideas; Encourage clubs or electives, summer camp, cultural events.

  • Let them choose their clothes, hobbies, and small decisions.

  • Reflect together on what excites them.

  • Tell them what skills you notice. Ask questions.

  • Notice learning styles.

  • Travel.

(D) Develop good habits -

  • Talk early and often about emotional and physical safety. Quote: “guide, don’t guard.

  • Emphasize body autonomy/boundaries, consent, healthy routines, and self awareness.

  • Conversations about digital choices, peer pressure, and health. Ideas: “What-if” role-play for tricky situations.

  • Have code words / emojis for support.

  • Encourage empowering confidence building activities like martial arts, sports, volunteering.

  • Come to some healthy food agreements together.

(G) Growth Mindset -

  • Going from Not Knowing how to do something - to Knowing. It can be a really rough road. It will be bumpy, like learning how to ride a bike. The space between is called the Learning Space. When you are in that space; there is a main emotion (frustration), which signals that you are in the middle. Recognize when you’re in the learning space; get comfortable there, congratulate yourself there, allow your child to feel the struggle. Look at Dr Becky Kennedy video about this. Why struggle? - Learning, how to reframe frustration, use frustration to fuel.

  • Ideas; Talk openly about your own failures and what you learned. Praise strategies, not outcomes, Use language like “not yet”

(E) Equip with Life Skills -

  • Teach planning, organization, and self-advocacy. Quote “Preparation builds confidence”,

  • Ideas; Model everything; (self regulation, good habits, talking about the tough stuff (emotions), asking for help and problem-solving.

  • Cook, Clean, do laundry, do yardwork etc.

  • Bring them in on life skills (change a tire, online banking, clean a toilet, unclog a drain sew a button, change the oil, mow the yard, take out the trash.

Resources: http://sites.google.com/view/pathwayspublishing/

Facebook Group- The Middle School Network

Fundraiser Follow up

Chuck E Cheese raised $100

5th Grade Fundraiser (about $3400, but not completely finalized yet)

5th grade events - Have a splash tower, kickball game, kona ice, inflatable axe-throwing, other fun things planned as well.

Treasurer’s Report

Checking: $13,536.34

Savings: $10,048.79

Total: $23,585.13

Recent Expenses:

Sports: Basketball - $1,200 to Jennalee and Amanda

             Volleyball - $100 to Brandon Baker for Volleyball

Staff Appreciation - $303.59

Crochet Club - $75.77

Teacher Reimbursement - $8.70

Recent Income:

$71 from All Saints to go in our General Scholarship Fund

5th Grade Grad - $449.44

Upcoming Expenses:

$800 for End of Year BBQ

Around $3400 for 5th Grade Celebration and Ceremony (We are still waiting for Red Robin Check and Proceeds from the flower fundraiser to know exact amount)

LPSG Event Follow up Discussions:

  • Teacher appreciation follow up- Had a great week, was really successful and staff enjoyed it.  Monday/Tuesday was rainbow snacks, Tuesday was Syrup Trap waffles, Wednesday was charcuterie boxes, Thursday was a dip/chip/veggie day, Friday was the announcement for raffle winners and handing out gift cards for Dutch Brothers.

  • Green Team planted trees with the city of Vancouver and the 5th graders. The next phase is the garden / outdoor learning lab. We have submitted a proposal to the principal to get district approval for a garden and outdoor classroom space in the grass area to the West side of the building. There is a lot of excitement and volunteer support ready to build!

  • Also trying to get picnic tables - the principal is helping us facilitate this.

End of Year BBQ Schedule:

Lunch/Recess Schedule:

10:00 am - 5th Grade Lunch / Kindergarten Recess

10:20 am - Kindergarten Lunch / 5th Grade Recess

10:40 am - 1st Grade Lunch / 2nd Grade Recess

11:00 am - 2nd grade lunch / 1st grade Recess

11:20 am - 3rd Grade lunch / 4th Grade Recess

11:40 am - 4th Grade Lunch / 3rd Grade Recess

Logger Report:

June 8th Final 5th Grade Store

June 10th Party Day

June 11th Promotion and BBQ

June 12th 5th Grade Kickball game

Ways to give:

  • Families helping families

  • Field trip scholarship

Volunteer Opportunities

  • June 2nd Track Meet at Columbia River

  • End of year BBQ

  • Makerspace pack and move

Meeting Adjourned 6:35 pm.