December 2024
Dear P.S. 115Q Family,
We are proud to present our December book of the month titled, The Man With the Violin, written by Kathy Stinson, and illustrated by Dusan Petricic.
The Man With the Violin is a touching picture book that tells the true story of a renowned violinist, Joshua Bell, who performed incognito in a Washington, D.C. subway station. The narrator follows a young boy who becomes captivated by the music and repeatedly asks his mother to stop and listen to the beautiful notes to no avail. The story highlights the joy that the music brings to the young boy who recognizes the feeling it brings him inside despite the busy and bustling setting in which he is located.
We have thoughtfully aligned our virtue of the month to focus on the virtue of joyfulness. Joyfulness is being filled with happiness. It is a peaceful sense of well-being. Joy is inside us all. It comes from an appreciation for the gifts each day brings. Joy comes when we are doing what we know is right, and when we laugh and see the humor in things. Joy is the inner sense that can carry us through the hard times even when we are feeling very sad. (Popov, L.K. The Virtues Project Educator’s Guide. PRO-ED, Inc., 2000). Further, our focus SEL competency for the month of December is optimistic thinking. Optimistic Thinking refers to having a sense of optimism and hope for the future, speaking positively about oneself and others, and belief in the ability to attain future goals. (The Aperture 8: A guide to the research-based social and emotional competencies from Aperture Education, 2021). As you read and listen to The Man with the Violin, we encourage you to engage in family discussions focused on the following: What brings you joy? How do you try to bring joy to others? Why do you think the adults did not stop for the violinist in the story? How can we practice the habit of optimistic thinking?
“If you carry joy in your heart, you can heal any moment.” -Carlos Santana
With joy,
The P.S. 115Q Team
Equal Opportunity for Success