During the year, all CCUSD parents received physical KIDaccount cards for secure and expedited pick up and drop off in the front office. You no longer need to carry that physical card as there is now a digital card you can scan when you come in.
How do I download the KIDaccount Parent App?
You can download the KIDaccount Parent App from both the App Store and Google Play store by searching “KIDaccount”.
Five years ago, I sat down to write what I believed was my best parenting advice—wisdom shaped by my own challenges and victories as a parent, years of working in education, conversations with parenting experts, and watching thousands of parents navigate the ups and downs of raising kids. I’ve seen the patterns, the choices that lead to growth, and the ones that lead to frustration. Parenting isn’t easy, and there’s no perfect formula, but there are guiding principles that make a real difference. As I revisit this advice now, I find it just as relevant as ever. I hope it helps you reflect, adjust, and feel confident in the incredible job you’re doing as a parent.
Raising Kids in a World of Excuses
It’s natural to explain our choices based on external factors. “I was late because of traffic.” “I lost my temper because he was being rude.” Our kids do the same: “I didn’t finish my homework because it was boring.” “I hit him because he gave me a dirty look.” These explanations might be true, but they don’t change the fact that we were late, lost our temper, or didn’t finish our work. Focusing on external reasons takes away our power and doesn’t move us towards a solution at all. When we teach our kids to focus on what they can control - their effort, their attitude, their choices - we give them the greatest tool for success: self-accountability.
It’s easy to try hard in a subject you love, but true perseverance is trying hard even when you don’t enjoy the lesson. It’s easy to be kind when others are kind, but real character is being kind no matter how others act. When kids (and adults) blame their circumstances, they give away their control. They are choosing to be a victim. When they take ownership of their responses, they take back their power.
When my own kids tell me about their day, the things that went wrong are almost always someone else’s fault - a teacher, a classmate, a tough test. While this may be true, I don’t let them stay in that mindset. Instead, I acknowledge their feelings and then shift the conversation to what they can do next. I coach them to focus on what they can control and help them come up with a plan to solve their own problems. I won’t let them get stuck blaming others because, in the end, the only person they can truly control is themselves.
Almost every conversation I have - whether with kids or adults - tends to focus on external factors first. As parents, we must help our kids break this habit. We need to teach them that no matter the situation, they are responsible for their own actions. And when they show integrity, when they make the right choice despite difficult circumstances, we should recognize and praise that effort. After all, the strongest people aren’t those with the easiest path - they’re the ones who choose to do what’s right, no matter which way the wind is blowing.
🔹 2/10 - Teen Lifeline: Suicide Prevention & Resiliency Skills - Parent and Community Forum at 6:00 PM at the Fine Arts Center.
🔹 2/11 - Virtual Event - Avoiding Strangers & Dangerous Situations - Keep Your Child Safe Online. More info below:
🔹 2/11 - CCUSD administration will present their final school closures, updated boundary adjustments, and grade configuration recommendations to the Board during the regular Governing Board meeting at 6:00PM
🔹 2/14 - Spring Pictures (Classroom, 6th Grade Pano, and Clubs)
🔹 -2/17 Presidents Day - No School
🔹 2/20 - 1-3rd Grade Cross Country at 4:15 PM at LMES.
🔹 2/24-2/28 BMES Book Fair
🔹 2/25 - 4-6th Grade Cross Country at 4:15 at CSHS Track
🔹 2/26 - PTO Meeting in the BMES Meeting Room at 6:00 PM
🔹 2/28 - Site Council Meeting at 8:00AM
🔹 3/4 Student-led conferences this evening
🔹 3/6 & 3/7 - Field Days
🔹 3/10-3/14 - Spring Break - No School
🔹 3/27 - State Testing begins this week and runs through most of April. While the kids will only test a few days per week, attendance is vital during this time.
🔹 4/3 & 4/4 - BMES Night of the Arts. BMES Drama Production of Schoolhouse Rock!
🔹 4/18 April Break - No School
🔹 4/21 One Voice Choir Concert at 6:30 PM
🔹 5/5-5/9 - Teacher Appreciation Week
🔹 5/9 Art & Choir Performance at 6:00 in the BMES Gym
🔹 5/12 - PTO Meeting
🔹 5/16 - CSHS Seniors (and former Bobcats) visit this morning to walk in their caps and gowns.
🔹 5/21 - Last Day of School
🔹 5/21 - Move Up Day (students visit the next grade level and hear from those teachers about what to expect)
🔹 5/21 6th Grade Student’s take their Final Walk around campus and say goodbye as the whole school cheers them on to STMS! 6th grade parents are encouraged to attend.
A huge shoutout to Ashlie Dvorak, our incredible BMES PTO President! She constantly puts in a million hours behind the scenes to make every event a success. Just like always, she went above and beyond - spending countless hours reaching out to vendors and building connections to bring in amazing community support. We appreciate you, Ashlie!
