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Letter from Lynne |
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Dear Parents,
“It’s not fair!” Have you heard these words uttered by your Middle Schooler in recent months? We hear it at school from time to time, and frankly, we expect to! Fairness is an important issue to early adolescents.
Although Middle Schoolers can be somewhat reactive at times just on general principle, it’s been my experience that the “it’s not fair” complaint typically stems from one of the following four perspectives:
1. Fairness is interpreted by many adolescents as “sameness” or “equality”. In fact, though, it is not fair to treat all siblings in a family the same, or to have equal expectations for 11-year-olds and 14-year-olds…that would be very unfair.
2. Some Middle School girls have only recently discovered the fallibility of the adults in their lives. Some are disappointed by that discovery, some are empowered by it, but many go through at least a period of feeling they can be adults better than the adults themselves. This feeling can lead to a subsequent belief that they, the adolescents, are truly the ones qualified to make judgments, determine fairness, and “keep score”. Sometimes this is true, sometimes it is not.
3. Along with a Middle School girl’s newly acquired ability to think abstractly and make conjectures comes an ability to see the “gray areas” in many situations. Interestingly, those instances where she perceives the gray are often those where the adult is convinced it’s a clear-cut black and white issue, or vice versa! This difference in perceptions can easily lead to questions of fairness.
4. Finally, for many adolescents, “That’s not fair!” translates as “You didn’t hear my side.” Girls who are wrestling with issues of right and wrong or fair and unfair wish to be heard. They may not end up any happier about the decision in question, but they are capable of a conversation that elicits understanding by all parties.
It can be frustrating to hear complaints of unfairness, and sometimes, of course, the only response available is, “You’re right. Sometimes things aren’t fair.” However, seeing “fairness” through the eyes of an adolescent may help you understand the source of the complaint and may, on occasion, help diminish the parental frustration just a bit. After all, that’s only fair!
Lynne
Pictures from MLK CC Carnival on 1/16/2011 |
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Coming Up at AIS ... |
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Sat., Jan. 29: Middle School Musical Rehearsal, 10:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M., West-Wike Theatre
Sat., Jan. 29: Dance Motion, 7:00 P.M., West-Wike Theatre
Sun., Jan. 30: Middle School Lacrosse Clinic for 7th and 8th graders, 11:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M., US Gym
Tues., Feb. 1: Middle School Musical Rehearsal, 3:45-4:45 P.M., West-Wike Theatre
Tues., Feb. 1: Documentary Screening: Race to Nowhere, 7:00 P.M., West-Wike Theatre
Wed., Feb. 2: Black History Month Music Assembly, 8:15-8:50 A.M., West-Wike Theatre
Thurs., Feb. 3: Grade 8 Parent Coffee, 8:00-10:30 A.M., MS/US Assembly Room
Thurs., Feb. 3: Middle School Musical Rehearsal, 3:45-4:45 P.M., West-Wike Theatre
Thurs., Feb. 3: 5th Grade Parent Chat, 7:00-8:00 P.M., MS/US Assembly Room
Sat., Feb. 5: Middle School Musical Rehearsal, 10:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M., West-Wike Theatre
Sun., Feb. 6: Middle School Lacrosse Clinic for 7th and 8th graders, 11:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M., US Gym
Looking Ahead …
Tues., Feb. 8: Middle School Musical Rehearsal, 3:45-4:45 P.M., West-Wike Theatre
Thurs., Feb. 10: Red Cross Blood Drive, 7:30 A.M.-5:00 P.M., Laura Thomas Buck ’49 Pavilion
Thurs., Feb. 10: Middle School Conferences: Noon Dismissal
Conference Times: Thurs.: 1:00-4:00 P.M. and 5:00-8:00 P.M.
Fri., Feb. 11: Middle School Conferences: No Classes
Conference Times: Fri.: 9:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. and 1:00-3:00 P.M.
Sat., Feb. 12: Middle School Musical Rehearsal, 10:00 A.M.-12:30 P.M., West-Wike Theatre
Sat., Feb. 12: AIS Family Skating Night, Philadelphia Skating Club in Ardmore, 8:00-10:00 P.M. |
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Announcements |
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Winterfest: March 12, 2011
Look for the Winterfest table on Friday evening at the Dance Motion performance. We will pre-selling casino chips as well as answering any questions you may have regarding the evening. We will be accepting cash and credit cards for these purchases.
MLK Caring Community Carnival 2011
Wow, what a great community effort!
Martin Luther King Jr. once said,
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"
On Sunday, January 16, over 100 Middle School students, faculty and parents from Agnes Irwin joined with The Haverford School and The Baldwin School for the Caring Community Carnival. This effort was a part of the MLK Day of Service; A Day On, Not A Day Off.
The carnival provided a day of fun for Variety Club kids and their families. Activities included a moon bounce, veggie races, Twister, parachute fun and having a picture taken with your buddy. Middle School students from the three schools led games, ran activities and hosted disabled children and their siblings from the Variety Club for the afternoon.
It is safe to say that everyone left that day tired but energized by the positive interaction with others at the event. The day is best summarized by a student who was telling a teacher about her experience and said, “This was one of the best days of my life!”
Introducing the AIS Parents’ Fund Council
Please see the download box for a letter from Brooke Record, Director of Annual Giving Programs, introducing the AIS Parents’ Fund Council.
Parents: Consider Donating Blood
As in years past, the SOS Board is once again hosting a Red Cross blood drive, to be held on Thursday, February 10 from 9:30 A.M.-3:30 P.M. in the Laura Thomas Buck '49 Pavilion. Our goal is for about 75 people to sign up, so help us achieve this by clicking here to schedule your appointment. Right now our area is in a blood shortage, thanks in part to the latest bad weather. Each pint donated helps save three lives, and our Thursday drive will help support the area's blood needs through the weekend, when the need is highest. Please consider donating on February 10; it should only take about an hour of your time. Appointments are preferred, but walk-ins are welcome. |
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