Please, if you ever need anything translated, please go to:

https://iblog.dearbornschools.org/translation/

Dav Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants and Dog Man has partnered with Scholastic to offer creative and fun activities with some of your favorite characters from Dog Man and Captain Underpants! Check back every Friday to discover new activities, exciting videos, and so much more!

https://kids.scholastic.com/kids/books/dav-pilkey-at-home/

Here are some breathing exercises to help when you are feeling stressed or anxious. My favorite is Whale Breath!

Prompts for Breathing Techniques

Balloon Breath- Sitting on our knees we breathe in as we fill up our
balloons by raising our hands over our head. As we
breathe out, we let the air out of our balloons by releasing
our hands to the floor. After 2 or 3 rounds, we then blow
up our balloons and release by popping our balloons by
slapping our hands to the floor.

Birthday Candles- Holding a “birthday cake” in our hands in front of us, we
sing Happy birthday as we blow out the candles on your
cake. Also fun to do in candle pose

Pillows Breathing- One yogi on his/her back, Second yogi lies down so that
first yogi is their “pillow”. Take deep breathes…did you
feel your yogi partner move? Switch! You can even make
a “staircase” by having several yogis line up doing this.

Bowl of Soup or Ice Cream- Each yogi decides the flavor of soup/ice cream and then everyone smells & blows off their soup/ice cream. Then
gobble it up!

Cool Breathe This can help calm you when feeling upset or mad. Make
your tongue into a “straw” by opening your mouth and
pulling up the sides in a U shape. Deep breathes in
through straw & out through nose.

Whale breath Sitting pretzel style, sit up tall, take a deep breathe in,
HOLD it while you count to 5 with your fingers then tilt
head up to blow it out of blow hole OR reach hands up
on top of head to create the blow hole to “blow” out.

Snake Breath Sitting tall, breathe in, pause, then slowly & smoothly
breathe out making a hissing sound for as long as you
can.

Bunny Breath This can be done seated or with movement. Seated, sit on
shins hands in “bunny” hands in front of heart as you take
quick sniffs. With movement, start at end of mat in yogi
squat and hop to front of mat while taking quick bunny
sniffs.

Bumblebee Breath With a flower prop, as you breathe in you smell your
flower and as you breathe out, make humming bee
sound. Try for long, short, high/low sounds.

Pom Pom Breathing- For toddlers: With a large pom pom in hand, yogis
practice blowing it out of their hand. For older yogis:
Using a straw, yogis can try to move the pom pom across
the floor.

Pinwheels- Practicing with blowing hard or soft as you spin the
pinwheel with your breath.

Feather Breath Yogis practice their breath by blowing feathers off their
hand, up in the air, or just at the feather to watch it move.

Bubbles A fun introduction to breathing for kids. If you are
outside, use regular bubble liquid and wands. Indoors,
you can use a bubble wand and pretend to blow different
sorts of bubbles.

Volcano Breath With hands at heart center, breathe in as you lift hands
up, and then “explode” and breath out and lava comes
down the volcano, hands down by side.

Belly Breathing Placing hand OR small toy on stomach to see or feel it
rise & fall.

Wood Chopper Standing tall with legs hip distance, raise arms above
head and clasp hands together. Breathe in through nose
and as you exhale say “HA” to “chop” wood or do the
same with a SUN and bring it to your belly saying “HA”.

Alternate Nostril breathing Thumb holds one side, pointer finger holds the other. As you breathe in, hold down one side of the nostril and as
you breath out hold down the opposite nostril.

Hoberman Sphere A very fun expanding toy that helps demonstrate the
inhale and exhale in breathing

I came across this illustrated book for children to support with explaining the Corona Virus pandemic. I hope it is helpful.

https://nosycrow.com/blog/released-today-free-information-book-explaining-coronavirus-children-illustrated-gruffalo-illustrator-axel-scheffler/

I found this tip sheet for taking to your kids/student about Infectious Disease Outbreaks. Of special note is the following statement:

A NOTE OF CAUTION! Be careful not to pressure children
to talk about an outbreak or join in expressive activities.
While most children will easily talk about the outbreak,
some may become frightened. Some may even feel
more anxiety and stress if they talk about it, listen to
others talk about it, or look at artwork related to the
outbreak. Allow children to remove themselves from
these activities, and monitor them for signs of distress.

Please see the SAMHSA tip sheet below

First, I would like to share a message to staff, students, and parents from Dr. Maleyko in regards to the school closure. I echo his sentiments that although we are all sad that students will not be returning to school, it is in the best interest of the health and well being of all. You can read the message here:

Secondly, I want to remind students and parents that next week is Spring Break for teachers and students. Please spend this time practicing social distancing and self care (building forts, watching movies, talking/cuddling loved ones in your home, drawing, dancing and listening to music). Please take care of yourself and one another. Together we can get through this. Much love. Kristine

A new Michigan COVID-19 Pandemic Resource Guide provides information on how to access various resources aimed at supporting Michiganders through the coronavirus pandemic and related economic slowdown.

Please check it out here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-r9zam_Gh8Up-msqb4T0BRirLzV5obyuZA91Csbcqb4/edit#heading=h.an3oh59d7wsg

Or click the impeded link above.

Parents can utilize this program for a 30 day trial period to teach social skills. It was developed by speech therapists.

https://everydayspeech.com/parents-and-families/

I came across a great article that gives 5 tips to parents of student’s with ASD who are transitioning to this new normal.
The article is here:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/london-tips-parents-children-autusm-covid19-1.5510273?fbclid=IwAR1V_dDJWd-OldN1r95qFoBogp5ZXDiU7cD9PEuAlhQvSRMg474dhPVT-DA

Please reach out to me should you need any guidance, advice, or just need to talk.

Much love,
Kristine

Week of March 30, 2020

Good Evening Miller Families,

I hope this email finds you well and enjoying the quality family time with loved ones. Adjusting to the Governors Stay at Home Executive Order ensures we all remain safe and do our part to decrease the spread of COVID-19. Understandably this new normal comes with increased uncertainty, please take care of yourselves and loved ones and continue following guidelines communicated by the State of Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Service https://www.michigan.gov/coronavirus . Continue speaking to and practicing recommended safety precautions to mitigate the spread of COVID – 19: social distancing, proper hygiene habits and healthy eating is a great start and will be the new normal moving forward.

Miller Staff continue using new tools and/or mastering the current technology to support on-line learning and maintain students’ academic, social and emotional growth. Thankfully Dearborn Public Schools and Miller Elementary Staff are state leaders when it comes to on-line learning and technology integration.

Miller Staff remain committed to supporting student virtual learning and continue:

1) Posting weekly academic enrichment lessons, online physical activities and special resources to assist students with instruction and enrichment activities. Please access and sign up for teacher Blog posts at: https://miller.dearbornschools.org/parents/school-news/

2) 3rd Card Marking Ended Friday March 27, 20202. Grades will be available on Parent Connect by the end of the week, Friday April 3rd, 2020. Report Cards are NOT being mailed home.

3) Please forward any questions to staff or administration and we will gladly respond.

4) Gleaners Food Bank is Tuesday March 31, 2020 at 11 a.m. and will be conducted via curbside pickup. IMPORTANT – DO NOT exit your vehicle,

A. Follow the cones and pull up in the Bus Drop.

B. A Staff member will take down your information, while other staff members load your trunk. Make certain you have cleaned out your trunk prior to coming to the school.

C. Pop the trunk, additional staff member will place contents in the trunk and close the trunk.

D. If you are walking, there will be a table set up on the sidewalk, please maintain the six feet social distancing guidelines, cones will be set up six feet apart to help maintain a safe distance. One person at a time will be processed at the table, please do not approach the table until notified by a staff member to approach. Ensuring everyone’s safety is the top priority and requires we work together, if safety guidelines are not followed violators will immediately be asked to leave.

Stay, Safe, Healthy and Take care of your families. During these unprecedented times, I encourage you to do what is necessary to protect your loved ones. It is disappointing but very necessary given these times as we need to do our part to flatten the curve and support our medical service workers who are going above and beyond to help those who are sick or in need of medical assistance. We can all do our part!

What We know and don’t know: Unfortunately, this situation is very fluid and we do not have answers to all questions that may be out there. The Governor stated Friday morning she does not think that we will return to school this year. Team Miller and the Dearborn Public Schools will continue to plan for that possibility along with the possibility of returning. Regardless of the outcome I’m comforted we will continue supporting students, one another and the Miller Community during these unprecedented times. Stay SAFE STAY HOME!

Respectfully,

Team Miller sending our LOVE and BLESSINGS!

Virtual Spirit Week info is attached: