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A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER TO EDUCATE & ENTERTAIN OUR PARENTS OCTOBER 2021
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 I would love to take this time to send a warm welcome to all staff, students and families to Arts Academy at Estrella Mountain.
We have started this year off with a bang! It’s wonderful to hear the sounds of the students walking the halls, engaging with one another and most importantly they are eager to learn.
We pride ourselves on being part of a community here in Tolleson, it’s easier to reach people when you know where they come from. We’ve been here on 91st Ave now for over 16 years. I remember the ribbon cutting as if it were yesterday. Our hope is that we’ve been able to properly educate our students and touch the lives of those we’ve come in contact with.
Let me share a little bit about me, I’m an avid hiker and in Oct. will be doing a North Rim to South Rim hike in the Grand Canyon. If you enjoy hiking and appreciate the state we live in, there are so many, many beautiful places to visit and hike. Pack up the family, it’s a great way to spend quality time together!
Something else to share…I’m president of a non-profit called “Mission Africa.” I’ve been involved for the past 4 ½ years, traveling to Nigeria in the rural communities to assist schools there with textbooks and supplies. Being involved certainly changes your perspective on life, it makes you appreciate what you have whether it be small or great.
I so look forward to an amazing year! I look forward to meeting new families and staying connected with some of you that have been here a few years now. You can always stay connected with us though; www.plcaaem.org, Facebook, Dojo, and Instagram, or just stop by the office.
Stay Safe,
Kim Steele
CEO
PS - We're looking for new students who would be an asset to our school. Please forward this newsletter to your friends who have children in public schools. Soon we'll be offering an exciting, "Student get a Student" program with awesome prizes!
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X
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In This Issue
- CEO's Corner
- 911 Remembrance
- Principal's Corner
- Financial Times
- Balancing Family and Work
- Nutrition Tips for Growing Families
- Misleading Science Facts
- Monthly Quotes
- Monthly Humor
- Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
- Anecdote
- Dates to Remember
911 Remembrance
On Friday, September 10th, the students faculty, members of the Tolleson Fire Department, and the Tolleson VFW participated in remembrance of the tragedy of September 11, 2001.
Below are photos from the event.
Students assembled in shape of a heart.
National Anthem Ceremony
 
Principal Joe Schiff emphasizing the importance of the remembrance.
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 Principal's Corner
Greetings AAEM Family!
I am excited to re-introduce myself via this newsletter and be able to give our community another avenue for communication!
Again, I couldn’t be more excited to have this opportunity to introduce myself as the new principal at the Arts Academy at Estrella Mountain. After being a part of the staff over the last 6 years, and 14 years total in Arizona education, I have been fortunate to see many great pieces be put into place to help our students be successful. I now look forward to building upon those pieces to further and having our campus reach new heights!
For a little more background on me, I am another Arizona transplant, coming over from New Jersey where I was able to start my education experience as a Pre-School and Kindergarten Instructional Aide, a 1-on-1 Aide for a Special Needs student, and an “everyday sub” at the local elementary and middle schools (did one day of high school, no thank you J). I’ve been fortunate to experience all grade levels in one form or another and have worked as an Instructional Coach for teachers, a Curriculum Coordinator, and an Assistant Principal. If there’s a box that needs to be checked, I’ve done it!
As I’ve mentioned previously, I believe in emphasizing the Performing Arts to allow students to express their knowledge, viewpoints, and emotions. We will continue to build on our mission as a school to enrich the whole individual by incorporating the Arts in our instruction and after school experiences. I am excited about the programs and opportunities that will be coming our way!
As the year has gone, we’ve already adjusted and adapted to our “new normal.” We have mandated masks on our campus and will continue to do so to keep our Scorpion Family safe. Our facilities team has been working overtime to make sure our classrooms and common areas are sanitized. I couldn’t be more proud of the efforts of all of our staff to ensure the safety of everyone who comes to our school.
With all of that being said, I want to express my belief that nothing can be done alone. We are all partners in education and each one of us holds an integral piece of allowing our students to reach the vast potential every one of them holds. I hold that responsibility dearly, but know that it won’t be nearly as meaningful or successful without your help.
Again, I am grateful for this opportunity to help AAEM continue to move forward as a leader in education and the Performing Arts and working with you to allow that potential to be reached!
Sincerely,
Joseph M. Schiff, Jr.
Principal
Arts Academy at Estrella Mountain
(623) 474-2137
jschiff@plcaaem.org
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Financial Times
Train your kids to handle money responsibly
If you’re tired of arguing with your kids about money, don’t despair. You can help your children develop a healthy relationship with money by following a few simple steps:
• Give them an allowance. Agree on a reasonable weekly or monthly amount and then let your child know that he or she must stay within that allowance. Then stick to it. Creating this habit now will teach them to be responsible about their finances as adults.
• Give them responsibilities. Don’t link allowances to household chores. Let your children know they’re responsible for helping out around the house without expecting pay.
• Let them see you paying bills. Expose them to the fact that bills are part of everyday life. Show them how you write checks and examine bills for errors. Encourage them to ask you questions about the entire bill-paying process.
• Teach teens about credit. Before they go off to college or out on their own, teach your teenagers not to take good credit for granted. Discuss the consequences of abusing credit cards, such as damaging their credit rating, interest rates, and getting over their heads in debt.
Spark Imagination in Your Children
Most parents want to raise children who are creative and resourceful. Here are some tips for encouraging their creativity from a young age:
• Ask them to describe what they’ve done. When your child draws a picture or makes a statue from clay, ask him or her about it. Encourage the child to explain why he or she chose the subject and what different colors mean. You’ll get them thinking about their imaginative decisions.
• Answer questions with questions. If your son asks, “Why is the sky blue?” ask him, “Why do you think?” before giving him the answer. This helps children start to learn how to reason out answers on their own.
• Let kids get bored. Don’t try to keep them entertained 24/7. Allow children to find their own (safe) ways of having fun without your supervision. They’ll learn now to depend on other people for mental stimulation.
• Tolerate mistakes. Kids need to learn that mistakes are OK. Don’t be a perfectionist with their projects. Talk about what does work, and what your child might do differently next time. Leave him or her feeling positive about the attempt.
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Work/Life Balance
Balancing Work and Family
Balancing the demands of work along with that of your family can be a tough enterprise, but the good news is there is much helpful advice that can assist you to do so without too much difficulty.
One good tip is to make sure you have the made correct kind of commitment to your own brain and body. The keys to good health in both of these areas are good rest, nutrition, exercise, and even the odd bout of stillness. Find out what works and start immediately.
Making a plan is also essential. Developing a healthy balance between work and life does not happen overnight; plans need to be structured while also having some degree of flexibility in order to deal with the unexpected changes that can and will occur.
Another tip is to learn to let go. Unnecessary meetings, social media, and even a few tedious acquaintances should be at the top of anyone’s list of things to get rid of that are only hogging your time and cluttering up your life.
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Nutrition
Tips for Growing Families
A healthy diet is vital when it comes to living a life that is  both active and lengthy. It is important to eat a variety of healthy, real foods and to cut down on the number of processed calories that we consume. You can help your kids develop healthy eating habits in the future by focusing on particular practices or nutrients when they are at different ages.
Good nutrition is pretty simple for babies, who should receive iron-fortified formula or breast milk as their primary nutritional source for their first year of life. The introduction of solid food can start when babies start to sit on their own after gaining some neck strength. It is best to wait until they are around six months old before doing this, according to recent research.
Toddlers should be allowed to feed themselves, even if that can get messy, to develop their appetites along with their motor skills. Toddlers’ tastes can change wildly and sometimes it may take as many as 20 exposures to an unfamiliar food before they will be willing to eat it on their own.
Older children and teenagers lead busy lives, but it is still vital that they eat well-balanced meals. Snacking is common at this age, so be sure to have snacks on hand that are nutritious and portable, such as wholegrain muffins, nuts, string cheese, and pre-cut vegetables and fruits.
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Science of the World
Misleading Science “Facts”
The world of science seems to be plagued with myths. People often misguidedly believe stated science “facts” that are not actually true at all.
A good example of this is the commonly accepted “fact” that bats are blind and navigate by echolocation. While bats do indeed use echolocation, the fact remains that, barring unfortunate accidents, all bats can, in fact, actually also see where they are going.
A rather bizarre oft-repeated “fact” is that pure water is able to conduct electricity. This is simply not true. Pure water is actually a very weak conductor of electricity and would actually conduct it much better if contaminated with minerals, dirt, and various other substances.
One of the most common science myths is that cracking knuckles will lead people to develop arthritis. This is also completely false. The most danger people who regularly crack their knuckles will experience is probably from those around them who they annoy with such activity!
“Lightning never strikes twice” is a famous saying. It is also completely wrong. Lightning often strikes in the same place twice – the Empire State Building is hit by lightning around a 100 times per year, and some people have even been struck as many as seven times.
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Monthly Quotes
Every place where we feel safety is a treasure.
—Jan Jansen
All labor has dignity.
—Martin Luther King Jr.
Passion is the driving element of purpose. When one is possessed with it, labor is not perceived as toil—it is revealed as love.
—T.F. Hodge
Each of us is an artist of our days; the greater our integrity and awareness, the more original and creative our time will become.
—John O’Donohue
Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole universe to order.
—Virginia Woolf
If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.
—Steve Jobs
We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.
—Maya Angelou
Storytellers have as profound a purpose as any who are charged to guide and transform human lives.
—Nancy Mellon
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Monthly Humor
Not Stupid
A boy named Johnny hung out at the local grocery store. The manager noticed that the other boys who hung out in front of the store always teased him, calling him stupid and playing tricks on him.
One of their tricks was to offer Johnny his choice between a shiny nickel and a dusty old dime. Johnny always took the nickel because it was bigger and shinier.
One day the store manager took Johnny off to one side. “Look, son, those boys are making fun of you. They think you don’t know the dime is worth more than the nickel. Don’t you know that?”
“Yeah,” Johnny said, “but if I took the dime, they’d quit doing it!”
Flag Day
An American tourist in the Netherlands was chatting with a friend and asked about the meaning of the red, white, and blue stripes in the Dutch flag.
“Our flag symbolizes our taxes,” the friend joked. “We get red when we talk about them, white when we get our tax bill, and blue after we pay them.”
“That’s the same with us,” the American said. “Only we see stars, too.”
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Anecdote
What Goes Up . . .
Isaac Newton may have formulated the laws of motion and the theory of gravity, but on the stock market, he was just as fallible as anybody else. As reported on the Business Insider website, the famed mathematician owned shares in the South Sea Company, at the time (1720) the hottest stock around.
When he got worried that the market was getting out of control, he sold his shares for a 100 percent profit of £7,000.
Smart, right? Unfortunately, a few months later as South Sea’s stock continued to skyrocket, Newton went back in and bought up a parcel of stock at a much higher price. He ended up losing £20,000—about $3 million in today’s money.
He was so upset that for the rest of his life he insisted no one speak the name “South Sea” in front of him.
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Dates To Remember
Oct 1– Coffee with the Principal 8:30am – 9:30am
Oct 4 - 10 – No School Fall Break
Oct 6 - Coffee With A Cop Day
Oct 8 - World Octopus Day
Oct 12 - Father-Daughter Day
Oct 13 - Bullying Prevention Day
Oct 16 - American Frog Day
Oct 17 - Wear Something Gaudy Day
Oct 18 - Meatloaf Appreciation Day
Oct 21 – Student Fall Picture Re-Takes
Oct 22 – Sip N Paint with Mrs. Garina 5pm-7pm
Oct 26 – Oct 28 – Galileo Bi-Weekly Test 4 for all students
Oct 27 - Black Cat Day
Oct 29 Fall Fair & Trunk or Treat
Oct 29– COVID Vaccinations in Middle School Gym 4-7pm
Oct 30 - Haunted Refrigerator Night:
Oct 31 - Halloween
Oct 31 - National Doorbell Day
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Una dieta saludable es vital cuando se trata de vivir una vida activa y prolongada. Es importante comer una variedad de alimentos reales y saludables y reducir la cantidad de calorías procesadas que consumimos. Puede ayudar a sus hijos a desarrollar hábitos alimenticios saludables en el futuro centrándose en prácticas o nutrientes particulares cuando tengan diferentes edades.
menudo cree erróneamente en “hechos” científicos declarados que no son realmente ciertos en absoluto.