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OCTOBER 29, 2015 | The Jewish Home
B A LT I M O R E J E W I S H H O M E . C O M
THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
SEPTEMBER 2, 2021
100
TOP 10 THINGS Your Child’s Principal Wants You to Know at the Start of This School Year 1.
My priority is your child. At the same time, remember that I cannot respond immediately. Give me 24 hours. It’s not personal. I don’t lead only 400 children. I lead 400 only children.
2.
Talk to me. Tell me about concerns you have. If there’s something that your child has been going through, your family has experienced, or a medication your child has started, trust me and my staff that we will keep your confidence. It’s good for us to know these details to understand your child and give him or her the right kind of support.
3.
Perspective taking is important. When your child comes home and shares something with you, call me to find out what happened. There are often two perspectives.
4.
Call me, email me, but remember: talk to the teacher first. Go to the teacher about issues that arise or concerns you have before coming to my office.
The teacher is at the frontlines and works with your child most closely.
5.
Help your child process things, but try not to escalate issues. Your child is here to become a resilient adult who grows from adversity. Encourage your child to stretch him or herself and praise him or her for doing so. Your child will grow from it.
6.
Anxiety in children is at an all-time high. Acknowledge it, work with me, and let’s work together to parlay the anxiety into strength. This is coming out in different ways in different children. Camps this summer reported that older children were homesick this summer and that the anxiety levels are rising. This is a reality that we cannot change. But our goal is for children to become resilient in the face of obstacles, to manage their anxiety, and eventually become strong adults. Together, we can help the students grow.
