News from WES 9/29/18

UPCOMING WES EVENTS

• Wednesday-Thursday October 3 & 4 - PTO Bake sale at Norman Williams Public Library 
• Wednesday, October 3, WCSU Community Engagement Event @WUMHS gym, 6pm
• Monday, October 8 - No School, In-service Day for Teachers
• Tuesday, October 9 - 2nd grade to Marsh Billings National Park
• Wednesday, October 10, WCSU Community Engagement Event @Bridgewater Grange, 6pm
• October 9-12 - 6th grade Web of Life at the National Park
• Thursday, October 18 -  Sculpture Fest 
• October 22-26 - Health Center Tile Art Project at WES
• Wednesday, October 31 Halloween Parade starting ~1:45-2:00pm
• Wednesday, October 31  - end of first quarter 

COME TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS!

All WES parents and guardians are cordially invited to attend one of the WCSU Family and Community Engagement Sessions to share input and ideas related to the Profile of a Graduate. Ms. Mills hopes to see many parents at Bridgewater Grange October 10th at 6pm. Mr. Hansen, the TPVS principal, will attend the October 3rd event at the middle school.

FALL ASSESSMENTS 

At all WCSU schools, students participate in fall, winter, and spring assessments to help teachers determine their skills and needs as learners in math and reading. In the fall, these assessments include the Fountas and Pinnell Running Records for literacy skills in grades K-6, the Primary Math Assessment for grades K-2, and, new this year, the STAR assessment for reading and math in grades 3-6. Completing these assessments helps teachers determine how to target and tailor instruction for the whole class and in small groups for individual student needs. Follow this link to learn more about the STAR assessment. 

WIN AT WES

In our August welcome letter, we shared that Woodstock Elementary School is starting a WIN block from 8:15-8:45 four mornings per week. WIN stands for “What I Need” and is a model used in schools across Vermont and the U.S. WIN is a time of individualized teaching such as targeted intervention for math and reading support, enrichment opportunities, and extra practice for students based on needs or interests. Grade level teams have met to review student assessments and discuss needs and have broken students into groups for our first WIN cycle which begins this week. This round of WIN will run for five weeks, and then teaching teams will meet again to review student progress and student needs, and they will reassign students to WIN groups for the next cycle beginning in early November. (There will be five WIN cycles this year.) If your child is receiving a targeted intervention due to needing extra support in math, reading, or socio-emotional development, the teacher leading the intervention will get in touch with you and let you know what your child is working on. All the grade level teams will share on their blogs what the WIN options are for this first cycle. We are excited to try this new approach to small group instruction here at WES as a whole school and welcome your feedback as always.

5,000 PAW PRINTS! 

This past week, we had our first school-wide celebration of reaching our paw print goal. As a school community, students earned 5,000 paw prints when they were recognized by a teacher for being safe, respectful, and ready to learn. All students had the opportunity to make a bead bracelet or keychain during recess on Wednesday. Check out some awesome first grade bracelets! 

BAKE SALE THIS WEEK! 

Please help make our Fall Foliage Bake Sale a success! Volunteers are still needed to help out at our bake sale. Please consider signing up for a 2 hour shift and/or donating baked goods! Here is a link to our sign up page: http://signup.com/go/zFMBDjF Join the PTO Team and help support our WES kids.

Thanks so much! 

FROM THE ART ROOM

Mt. Ascutney Hospital and the Ottauquechee Health Center has invited local artist Robert Rossel to facilitate a collaborative tile project including Woodstock Elementary School, The Prosper Valley School, and Community Members.  This project is at no cost to students and is funded by community members with fundraising done by the Mt. Ascutney Hospital and the Health Center.  

Students will be working closely with Robert and Ms. Piana during their regularly scheduled art classes October 23-26th to create a tile mural of Mt. Ascutney.  This mural is intended to brighten up the outer brick wall of the Ottauquechee Health Center.  Each students' name  will be represented along side of their tile.  

Community members who are interested in participating can purchase a tile and join Robert Saturday the 27th in the Woodstock Elementary School Art Room.  The Woodstock Elementary School and the Hospital hope to offer parents in need of financial assistance a chance to make a tile at no cost.  Please let Principal Maggie Mills know if you would like to participate in the sponsored tile opportunity. Those wishing to donate funds to sponsor the project should contact Charles Clement, director of development at MAHHC 802.674.7321  charles.clement@mahhc.org

Sculpture Fest 2018

It is time again to adventure to Sculpture Fest at King Farm!  We are seeking volunteers to chaperone for 1.5 hrs. Thursday October 18th.  If you are interested please contact your child's classroom teacher or e-mail art teacher Brooke Piana for more details. 

Herb Ferris sculpture

SCENES FROM THE WES MUSIC PROGRAM 

Instrument rental pick-up night!

Kindergarten musicians ready to learn!

Drum lessons

Drum lessons

NEWS FROM WES Sept 22

UPCOMING WES EVENTS

• Monday, September 24 - Musical Instrument Rental Pick-up Night, 6:30pm WES Cafe
• Thursday, September 27 - Picture Day 
• Friday, September 28 - PreK-4th grade to Pentangle, 10am
• Wednesday-Thursday October 3 & 4 - PTO Bake sale at Norman Williams Public Library 
• Monday, October 8 - No School, In-service Day for Teachers
• Tuesday, October 9 - 2nd grade to Marsh Billings National Park
• October 9-12 - 6th grade Web of Life at the National Park
• Thursday, October 18 -  Sculpture Fest 
• October 22-26 - Health Center Tile Art Project at WES
• Wednesday, October 31 Halloween Parade starting ~1:45-2:00pm
• Wednesday, October 31  - end of first quarter 

Please consider attending one of these community engagement sessions about strategic planning for the Windsor Central Supervisory Union. Ms. Mills will attend the October 10th session at the Bridgewater Grange and invites WES families to attend this session or any of the listed sessions. 

DISMISSAL PLANS OR CHANGE OF PLANS? 

If you have had a chance to read our new WCSU Elementary Handbook, you may have noted the following protocol regarding dismissal change of plans: 

Dismissal

1. Call or notify the school prior to 1:30 PM to change regular dismissal plans.
2. Please notify the school office of dismissal changes by phone, e-mail or note.

If your child is taking a different bus, include the name of where they are going and a full address of where they are to be dropped off.

After 1:30, it is VERY challenging to get messages regarding end of day plans to students and teachers and bus line monitors. When plans change, we must notify the student and the teacher and update the bus list. We need ample time between 1:30-2:30 to make these changes as we received dozens of calls/messages each day regarding changes. Our buses have been unable to leave on time due to last minute changes of plans called or emailed into the office. When we have to hold the bus because your child does not know his/her plans or the plan changes last minute, it leads to bus drivers working beyond their contracted hours and worried parents at bus stops due to late buses. Please help us keep things running smoothly so all the buses can run on time.

The best thing you can do is spend a few minutes on Sunday evening or Monday morning reviewing the week's dismissal plan with your child and communicate this plan to his/her teacher and the office. Children feel worried and then have a hard time learning when plans for the end of the day are uncertain or change frequently. PLEASE help your child feel safe and secure at school knowing that all the adults have a plan to take care of their whereabouts after school.

WES PTO ANNUAL FALL BAKE SALE 

The PTO Team is holding its annual fall fundraiser

When: October 3^rd & 4^th, 9am – 3:30pm

Where: Norman Williams Library Front Lawn

New this year: 5^th and 6^th graders will be lending a hand and assisting at the bake sale table and cider stand.

We need your help!

Bake, volunteer or come down and enjoy some delicious treats!

Baking Tip: Seasonal flavors are favorites,

along with easy to take treats like cookies and bars.

Last year proceeds from our annual fundraiser supported:

Harvest Hoe Down Dance

Spring Teacher Appreciation Week

WES School Play

Year End School Wide Activity

6^th Grade Gift

Sign Up Today!

To join the bake sale team go to http://signup.com/go/zFMBDjF

The 4th grade class had a great three day trip to Hulbert Outdoor Center and our very own Mr. Mumford was recognized for bringing students to HOC for 15 years!

FREE FIELD HOCKEY CLINIC OFFERED

  WUHS Varsity Field Hockey Coach Wendy Wannop and JV/Assistant Varsity Coach Jane Hoisington, with assistance from Middle School coach Leanne Tapley, hosted a FREE field hockey clinic at the high school this past Sunday, to help elementary school players with their skills, and get them excited about the game.  Varsity and JV players ran six skills stations that over a dozen younger players rotated through, including one where they could shoot on varsity goalie Maggie Parker in the net!  Fun relays including players of all ages were run as a grand finale.  Another FREE Field Hockey clinic for grades K-6 will be hosted this Sunday, September 23rd, 4:00-5:00 pm at the WUHS field hockey field behind Union Arena.  Were you there last Sunday? Come again!  All are welcome - sticks will be provided.  For questions contact:  Varsity Coach Wendy Wannop:  wendywannop@gmail.com.

 3rd graders Zala Farlow (left) and Addison Tapley (right) learn some stick skills from varsity players Lily Sorrentino (center) and Co-Captain Claire Coates (right).

Players of all ages participated in these fun relays at the end of the field hockey clinic.

Health Insurance Information for Families

http://www.healthvermont.gov/children-youth-families/health-care-children-youth/find-health-insurance

The State of Vermont would like all families to have health insurance. Many children qualify for a program called Dr. Dynasaur. Please use the link below to access information on how to obtain health insurance for all members of your family. If you need any assistance with applying for health insurance, please contact me. I am here to help!

Child Car Seat Safety Information

Guidelines for Children's Car Seats have changed. Please read this important information.

https://medcenterblog.uvmhealth.org/children-health/new-car-seat-recommendations/

WES UPCOMING EVENTS 9/16/18

UPCOMING WES EVENTS

• Tuesday, September 18 - WES PTO and Principal coffee reception for WES parents, 8-9am at WES

• Weds-Friday, September 19-21 - 4th grade to HOC 

• Monday, September 24 - Musical Instrument Rental Pick-up Night, 6:30pm WES Cafe

• Thursday, September 27 - Picture Day 

• Friday, September 28 - PreK-4th grade to Pentangle, 10am

• Wednesday-Thursday October 3 & 4 - PTO Bake sale at Norman Williams Public Library 

• Monday, October 8 - No School, In-service Day for Teachers

WONDERFUL WEDNESDAY!

This year, we are switching from Terrific Tuesday mornings twice a month to Wonderful Wednesday afternoons once a month. We had our first Wonderful Wednesday this past week. It is a chance for us to gather as a whole school community, share what's happening across the school, and build relationships across grade levels. 

WCSU ELEMENTARY HANDBOOK

Did you know that all elementary schools in our supervisory union are now using the same handbook with common protocols and procedures? Links to updated district-wide policies are also included in the handbook. Click here to take you to the handbook. Hard copies were available at Meet Your Teacher Night and can be picked up in the office. The link is also on our school website for reference. Our website is www.wesvt.org 

First grade students learning about animal senses practice looking  at objects and drawing objects with owl eyes.

COFFEE WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND WES PTO 

 The PTO and Principal Maggie Mills will co-host a coffee reception on Tuesday 9/18 at 8:00 am in the café. Come hear about WES PTO and school-wide plans for the year, ask any questions you have about Woodstock Elementary School, and share any suggestions you have to make us even better. An important upcoming event is the annual PTO Fall Foliage Bake Sale which will take place at Norman Williams Public Library on October 3rd and 4th from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. This is our only fundraiser for the year, and the PTO counts on Woodstock Elementary families to help make it a success! The proceeds from this fundraiser help support field trips, school community events, and school enrichment programs. 

WES IS HIRING! 

We have openings for two positions immediately: Part-time recess supervisor 11-1:30 and a full-time special education para-educator. We will need a special education para-educator long-term sub starting after Thanksgiving break. Please contact Maggie Mills if interested.