Dragon Blast
Mary C. Howse Elementary School
From the Principal
Dear MCH Parents:
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving break - regardless of whether you celebrate the actual holiday or not, I am sure it was nice to be with family and friends. As I continue to grow personally and in my role as principal, I become more and more convinced that stress is the number one barrier to an overall healthy way of living. Too much emphasis is placed the minutiae with very little benefit (return on investment). More than ever, we need adults to connect positively and respectfully for our children.
Here at Mary C. Howse, we continue to teach and model this - through our Second Step Program, students are explicitly taught things like empathy, emotional management and situational awareness. They are given opportunities to show this and they are acknowledged for it as well as held accountable should they not. It is all part of growing up.
We have some wonderful celebrations upcoming - our Winter Concert on December 6th at 7:00 and our PTO sponsors our Barnes and Noble Night on December 10th starting at 6:30.
You will be receiving a few more e-mails from me in the future - based on feedback from multiple parents, everyone seems to be enjoying hearing parent stories and perspectives. Even some staff have shared. I will share these (no personal names included of course) moving forward. Nothing is more empowering than simply sharing information and making connections.
Enjoy a Throwback Thursday video - this was from the Fall of 2011 - those 5th graders are seniors in high school now!
As always, do not hesitate to reach out - I have had amazing conversations and meetings with parents (book club, workshops, informal, etc.) thus far and want to continue. With social media, it is so important to be sure we have the correct information.
Have a great weekend!
Dr. Cat
Announcements and Reminders
- Car line will end at 8:55 AM this year. Please make every effort to get your child to school before then. We have seen such an improvement thus far.
Hello MCH Parents,
Outdoor Recess in Cold Weather:
The WCASD follows recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses for outdoor recess during the cold weather. Barring extreme temperatures, children will play outside for at least part of their recess time. Please plan for this and make sure that your child is dressed appropriately.
Attached (below) is the Candy Gram flyer. We will be selling Candy Grams the mornings of December 4th, 5th, and 6th. Students may also fill them out at home and send them in to their teacher.
Math Club- Two weeks ago you should of received a paper on how to sign up for alerts on the Remind me app for Math Club. If your 4th or 5th grade child is in Math Club please use the code @7eh8kd to be added to our group.
CANNED FOOD DRIVE
MCH Canned food Drive- 2nd annual canned food drive
Bring a Canned food Item to the band/orchestra and chorus concert on December 6th.
All donations will be made to the Chester County Food Bank
SUPPORT OUR VETERANS
CANDY GRAM
Andrew Hicks Foundation Toy Drive
SECOND STEP
WCASD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Parent Second Step Letter
Dear Parents,
Over the past three school years the WCASD has been implementing the Second Step program in our elementary schools. We are excited that the program now encompasses all elementary grades K-5. This program was selected as a way to introduce our children to the critical skills needed to get along with others.
Each grade using Second Step will have four main concepts or units that will be covered with individual lessons for each unit. There are approximately 26 lessons depending on the grade level.
The four main units covered in each grade level are:
SKILLS FOR LEARNING- Students gain the skills to help them learn including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, learn to be assertive and learn to ask for help.
EMPATHY-students will learn to identify their own and other’s feelings
EMOTION MANGEMENT- students learn specific skills for calming down when experiencing strong feelings
PROBLEM SOLVING-student will learn a process for solving problems with others in a positive way
Each unit has lessons that teach the skills related to that main topic. The younger grades learn many of the skills through singing and puppets and the older grades learn skills through role playing and videos showing actual situations they could encounter during the school day. Your child’s teacher will be able to tell you which unit the class has completed or what skill the class is working on as the year progresses.
Throughout the school year your child will be listening and learning about the skills necessary to get along with others. Please ask your child to share what they are learning and help them to use the skills they have been taught as they learn and grow.
www.secondstep.org Kindergarten enter: SSPK FAMI LY70
First grade enter: SSP1 EQAY 99EJ
Second grade enter: SSP2 BX9m 6DZM
Third grade enter: SSP3 CYA7 7EHU
Fourth grade enter: SSP4 B6G8 7LPV
Fifth grade enter: SSP5 CBGD 8RQ2
Thank you
WCASD School Counselors
Fifth Grade Career Day - Dr. DeStefano's Visit
After School Math & Winter STEM Flyers
AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER
5th Grade Boys
Nov. 28
Dec. 4
Dec. 13
Jan. 10
4th Grade Boys
Nov. 27
Dec. 6
Jan. 3
4th and 5th Grade Girls
Nov. 29
Dec. 11
Jan. 8
POSTIVE PRAISE
Dr. Florio,
My daughter is in Miss Jacien's 5th grade class at Mary C Howse. I just walked out of our conference and wanted to send a note.
Miss Jacien is an excellent teacher. We feel very lucky to have her. Our daughter is growing in her abilities as a student and looks forward to going to school everyday, largely because of Miss Jacien. She's outstanding!
In response to an email from Dr. Scanlon:
I could not agree more Jim! It truly has been wonderful to be a parent in this amazing district, and we are so fortunate to have our children attend MCH! They have two amazing teachers this year who really know and “get” our children. They are challenging them yet are being understanding and assisting them with their issues. Our daughter was really struggling with her anxiety about the start of the school year, and we were incredibly pleased with the response from Dr. Cat and Mrs. Powers to help her feel more comfortable before the year even started. Mrs. Powers continues to make connections with her that is truly helping her feel more at ease and enjoy being at school.
Ms. Forbes is doing amazing things in our son's class that truly helps him focus and reel in his energy and “silly” tendencies. She has helped him to balance the time to focus and the time to have fun! I am even borrowing some of the things she is sharing to use in my own Kindergarten classroom!
Both of these teachers truly care about our children, are helping them grow and be challenged, yet are also supporting them as needed. We are so blessed to have these amazing teachers impacting our children.
Dr. Cat was incredible with communicating the buses leaving last week. My husband had actually already had our children due to an early pick up for a doctor appointment, but it was very reassuring to know we had such fantastic communication if they had still been at school.
I also had the pleasure to attend one of the book club sessions. It is just wonderful that Dr. Cat has decided to explore such a hard yet important topic so we as parents can help each other to assist our children to reach their personal best!
We look forward to the rest of an amazing year at MCH! We cannot believe that for our daughter it is her last, but are beyond blessed by all of the absolutely amazing teachers and staff that have helped her to develop! Peirce has tough shoes to fill!
I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Dear Mr. Fabian,
I wanted to follow up after our conference yesterday and thank you for recognizing and promoting my child's strengths. I am extremely appreciative that you have taken the time to get to know my daughter. I have often felt like she has been a misunderstood child and labeled as quiet and shy. In the few months that you have been teaching her, you have created a supportive teaching environment in which she feels safe taking risks. She begins and ends each day excited for school and learning new things.
This was the first parent teacher conference that I left and thought someone truly understands my child.
THANK YOU!!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
FROM THE NURSE'S OFFICE
Citadel Heart of Learning Award
Each year, Citadel receives thousands of nominations to honor local teachers with the nationally recognized Citadel Heart of Learning Award.
Nominate a Teacher here: https://www.citadelbanking.com/giving-back/citadel-heart-of-learning
SCIENCE EXPLORERS
Science Explorers After-School Science Club
at Mary C Howse for Grades 1-5:
The next club of the school year begins soon!!
Science Club will meet on Thursdays at Mary C Howse
after school from 3:50-4:50pm
and is available to students in grades 1-5.
The next club topic, which begins on Dec. 6th, is BLINDED BY THE LIGHT:
LIGHT! It bends, it bounces, it scatters! Explore the science behind color and light in this exciting hands-on exploration of the science that illuminates our world. Make a rockin’ rainbow tube, create a light maze, experiment with UV detectors, and make a luminescent goo tube.
Club topics later in the school year include Anatomy Academy, Earth's Mysteries and Magical Mixtures.
Please click here for more information on club dates, cost or to register your child. Class size is limited to 23 students per club...so, please register early to guarantee your child a spot.
Please email questions@scienceexplorers.com or call our office
at 610.816.5047 with any questions.
Contact and Additional Information
Email: scatrambone@wcasd.net
Website: http://www.edline.net/pages/mary_c__howse_elementary_schoo
Location: 641 West Boot Road, West Chester, PA, United States
Phone: 484-266-1302
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mchpto/
Twitter: @SteveCat19
Parent Portal
Use the link below to access the parent portal page:
http://home.wcasd.net/pages/West_Chester_Area_SD/ForParents/Parent_Portal
On the page, there is written documentation (English and Spanish,) as well as videos (English only) that walk parents through how to set up your parent portal account, how to access grades and set alerts, how to view the online report card, how to check attendance, etc. There is even an app for your phone if you prefer.
Please call the office for your child’s user name and password if you do not have the information that was provided to you at the beginning of the school year.
Parent Resources
Community Bulletin Board:
For activities offered around West Chester, see:
http://home.wcasd.net/pages/West_Chester_Area_SD/Community_Bulletin_Board/Other
Articles to consider:
Should we still give grades?
Are letter grades failing our students?
- http://neatoday.org/2015/08/19/are-letter-grades-failing-our-students/
Allowing students redos and retakes: http://wp.vcu.edu/hhughesdecatur/files/2012/08/Wormeli_Redos-and-Retakes-.pdf
Our Mary C. Howse School Pledge
I pledge
To be the best that I can be
Respect myself and others
Make safe choices
And take responsibility
For my learning and behavior