Weekend Wire
October 10, 2021
WESTWOOD ROADRUNNERS
Welcome to Westwood!
DATES TO NOTE:
10/14--Picture Day
10/15--XPloration
10/22--Fun Run
10/28--Make Up Picture Day
10/29 Halloween activities - This will be for students ONLY.
10/29--Outdoor Movie Night
11/1--Professional Growth Day--EARLY DISMISSAL 11:20
11/5--XPloration
11/11--Veteran's Day--NO SCHOOL
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Have you ever wondered what contributes to helping children reach their full potential? While there are most likely a variety of factors at play, there is some powerful research in this area that addresses the role that adults play in a child’s life.
Back in the 1970's, a psychologist by the name of Robert Rosenthal conducted an experiment that went on to become one of the most well known studies ever performed. In this study, students were given an intelligence test and afterwards, researchers told teachers that the testing had identified three students as having the potential to become academic superstars. The teachers were instructed not to mention this to anyone and were told to treat these three students exactly the same as all of the other students in their class. To reinforce this, the teachers were told that they would be monitored and observed to make sure that they didn't change their behavior as a result of this information. What the teachers did not know was that the three students had tested as merely "average" and that the researchers had lied about the students’ ability.
At the end of the year, the students were tested again and low and behold the three identified students now tested off the charts in intellectual ability. The teachers swore that they hadn't done anything differently with the three students and indeed, observations showed that their verbal communication had been consistent with all students in their class. However, observations went on to show that it was the teachers' nonverbal communication that impacted the students - so much so that it transformed the students' reality. With the idea in their head that these students had untapped potential, these teachers (without even realizing it) were just a little warmer, more engaging, smiled at the students a little more often and provided more time for these students to answer questions. From this study, the phenomenon called the Pygmalion Effect was born which is simply the idea that our belief in another person's potential can bring that potential to life.
This groundbreaking study has been replicated in a variety of ways over the last several decades and the results are always the same. For instance, in a more recent study, a welding instructor was told that five men entering his class had the potential to be outstanding welders. At the end of class, records showed that the five randomly selected men scored higher than their peers on the final test, learned tasks in half the time it took the other students, were selected by their peers as the most desirable work partners and had a higher attendance rate.
What these studies prove is that when we expect good things from others our behavior changes. More importantly, we often aren't even aware of these subtle behavior changes but they are highly influential to those around us. In fact, research has shown that holding a positive vision of others leads us to smile more, give more positive feedback and helpful hints, listen better, be more expressive and encouraging, and offer more interesting and challenging opportunities. As a result, the person on the receiving end of this positive vision experiences greater confidence and achieves at a higher level.
It’s helpful to think of how impactful this can be in your role not only as a parent but as a spouse, friend, colleague, etc. It’s also helpful to think of the words and images you use to describe your children and the people around you. Think of the expectations you have for those same people. And now, realize the incredible opportunity you have to change your perception of others and help them step into their fullest potential as human beings.
SCHOOL PICTURE DAY IS THIS THURSDAY!!
HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS
We will celebrate Halloween with students on October 29th. Students are allowed to wear costumes with recommendations below in mind. Students should come with costume on if they wish to participate. They are welcome to take the costume off later in the day if they can do so independently. We will have a brief parade and class activities designed by the teachers. At this time we are unable to have parents join for the festivities. We are looking in to the logistics of video taping the parade and will post it in the weekend wire that weekend.
Costume Guidelines:
In order to maintain safety and order during Halloween activities, our students should adhere to the standards of appropriate dress for a regular school day: wear appropriate shoes (no high heels), no bare midriffs, etc. It is important to remember that we have very young children on campus that would be easily frightened by scary or gory costumes. Students should not wear imitation bloody clothes or horror masks. Students should not bring swords, imitation guns, pirate hooks, knives or weapons of any kind. The only masks allowed are the masks that students wear daily.
XPLORATION
The X-Ploration Team is so excited to come back to see you for VAPA Theater: Lesson 4:
Pantomime and Improvisation!
Building on skills students practiced during our last lesson, this week’s focus will guide students through pantomime and improvisation activities. At the primary grades, students will participate in pantomime activities using silence and exaggeration. They will be encouraged to pantomime holding objects or different weights and shapes, as well as making unusual facial expressions. The Upper Grade lessons will be a great connection to Benchmark Advance’s skill building in fluency and phrasing (Inflection / Intonation / Volume / Phrasing)! Students will build on their previous work on Improvisation, focusing on how their voice level, expression and intonation can affect a performance.
Essential Questions:
Primary grades: How might we express ideas without speaking? How might I show the weight, size, and shape of an object without using words?
Upper grades: How might we act without a plan? How might we express a character’s objective and motivation?
PARKING LOT
We now have over 100 staff members on campus. Parents and visitors, should only use the Visitor marked spaces or the unmarked parallel spaces for parking on campus. Please do not park in the ----Staff---- marked parking spaces even if it is for a couple of minutes. We have been having issues with Staff not being able to find parking on or near campus in the morning.
APEX FUN RUN
APEX is coming soon! Visits from Super Fly Ty and the APEX team begin on Oct. 12th! Get your sneakers ready to run on Friday Oct. 22nd!
PUSD IS HIRING!!
NOON DUTIES NEEDED ON OUR CAMPUS
Parent/Guardian Health and Safety Agreement
Please click on this link: The Parent/Guardian Health and Safety Agreement (Spanish Version) and print/sign a copy for each student to submit to their school at the beginning of the school year.
Health Office Updates
https://covid-19.sdcoe.net/Portals/covid-19/Documents/Health%20Practices/COVID-19-Decision-Tree.pdf
Symptoms:
Fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea.
TESTING INFO:
Please visit
https://www.powayusd.com/en-US/Communications/COVID-19-Updates
at the Covid 19 Updates page for testing sites and other important information.
Does your student have known chronic illness/condition such as allergies that would cause frequent coughing, runny nose/congestion or a condition that would cause any of the listed symptoms? Please have your child's physician complete the Certification of Chronic Condition for those specific symptom(s) to keep on file at school. This will help keep your student in school if the symptom(s) occur while at school. Students with this form on file can remain at school as long as symptoms are not severe. Please use the link below for the form or pick one up in our office.
Please remember to self screen your students at home prior to leaving for school. Keep them home if they have any of the symptoms listed above. Please feel free to call Miss Mary in the Health Office with any questions or clarification.
COVID RELATED INFORMATION
ATTENTION ALL ARTISTS!!!
National PTA's Reflections event is ON!
The theme for this year is "I Will Change The World By.." Submissions may include dance, literature, film, music composition, photography or visual art.
Submissions are due to WWE by October 20, 2021 with a completed entry from.
SPIRIT WEAR AVAILABLE NOW!!
MATH OLYMPIAD IS MOVING TO ZOOM
Math Olympiad will begin Thursday Oct. 21st. Check your email for more details!!
RUNNING CLUB
- We made it to Disney World in Florida! We are now at just over 2,200 miles. A second round of 5 mile ribbons have already been distributed!
YEARBOOKS
2021-2022 Yearbooks
Yearbooks are 5% off until October 31st. This is the last chance to get a discount before they go up to full price and you'll want a yearbook to remember the year so get it now!
Visit https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1015978769242468 to purchase.
PTA MEMBERSHIP
Thank you to all of our families who have become PTA members. We are on our way to do great things at Westwood this year with your help. It isn't too late to join, so do so today:
Amazon Smile
Amazon Smile
Does the Amazon driver know you by name? Got enough boxes to stack to the moon? Did you know that with every delivery you can raise money for Westwood Elementary?
1. Go to smile.amazon.com
2. Sign in to your Amazon account
3. Search for Westwood Elementary PTA San Diego
4. Sign up!
Or scan here:
BOX TOPS FOR EDUCATION
Simply scan your grocery receipts to help earn $$$ for our school through Box Tops for Education! Website to download the app: https://www.boxtops4education.com/ Check out all the participating Box Tops products CLICK HERE.
Our school will earn 20 box tops or $2 for signing up for the Box Tops app! Enter our referral code on the "Create Account" screen. Our referral code is CK0Z26MF
Parents, CLICK HERE to download the Box Tops For Education app to start scanning your grocery receipts.
Remember to assign your earnings to your student/teacher name under the "Credit" button (star icon) after you take your grocery receipt image.
Click here to watch how to assign BTFE credit to your student/teacher! Good luck, Westwood Roadrunners!
WWES FOUNDATION
The highly anticipated Butter Braid Fundraiser is back at Westwood! Here is a short video to help you learn all about Butter Braids and how to get started selling: https://youtu.be/OqZrH75aHa8
If you’d like to sell online, please register your child by clicking this link: https://store.myfundraisingplace.com/RegisterSeller/45709f0f-d684-489c-a68a-aa31a4bf7975
About Us
Principal
Email: kholmes@powayusd.com
Website: https://powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/ES/WWES/Home
Location: 17449 Matinal Road, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: 858-487-2026
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WWESRoadrunners
Twitter: @RoadrunnersWwes