The Puma Pride
Week of October 8, 2018
Principal's Message
October is off to a great start! It was great to see so many families support the Chick-fil-A Spirit Night on Tuesday evening. Mr. Julius, Ms. Ricci, and I lost to Mr. Markowski, the reigning champion, in the milkshake drinking contest.
Congratulations to our third graders! They were the first class to win the Playground Pride Award. The third grade received an extra fifteen-minute recess on Friday for being PAWSOME. These students regularly exhibit a Positive attitude, Act respectfully, Work responsibly, and they make Safe choices.
Congratulations are also in order for Ms. Sobczak's class. They won the Silver Spoon Award for having PAWSOME behavior during lunchtime! This class will be served a special lunch by Mr. Julius and Mrs. Perkins courtesy of our Home and School Association. Way to go Ms. Sobczak and class!
Tomorrow, October 8, is picture day. Students will rotate according to grade-level and classrooms to have their pictures taken. If for some reason you do not have the picture packet, you can access the information on the LifeTouch website. See the information below.
This week, on October 10 and 11, NOVA will be visiting our classrooms to deliver grade appropriate lessons to our students about personal safety and bullying prevention. More information can be found on the NOVA website. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child's teacher or the counselor.
Last Wednesday, parents of students in grades 4 and 5 should have received your child's PSSA information in the Wednesday Express folder. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Mrs. Perkins
Picture Day- October 8
Willow Dale Classrooms Dive Into LearnStorm
LearnStorm is off to a fantastic start. LearnStorm is a competition offered through Khan Academy. Last year, the Centennial School District elementary schools participated in the competition and Willow Dale students finished on top and earned one of the top prizes nationally. This year, LearnStorm includes research-based growth mindset activities that teach students about brain learning. Students also receive real-time feedback and master skills as they progress through the LearnStorm platform. Each day, teachers and students celebrate progress on an interactive tracker, unlocking individual and class prizes as they go. Willow Dale students are excited to have the opportunity to repeat their win while gaining confidence and knowledge in math.
Check out the video below from Khan Academy. You may see some familiar Willow Dale faces.
The Importance of Reading
- Read with your child every day or as much as possible.
- Have your child read to you. All student visit the library at school regularly. Ask them to share their books.
- Build a home library. Garage sales and thrift stores are great ways to build your library inexpensively.
- Visit the local library
- Keep books in the car for long trips or appointments
- Books on tape are great for students who struggle with reading
- Magazines count! Some examples: Sports Illustrated for Kids, Time for Kids, Highlights, National Geographic, Ranger Rick)
- Set a good example
- Practice with Lexia Reading at home
What is Lexia Reading?
Lexia Reading Core5®is a dynamic, fun computer program that helps students develop reading skills through personalized learning. The activities and instruction in Core5 are aligned to rigorous English Language Arts standards, including the Common Core State Standards.
Our school is using Core5 as part of our curriculum in reading and language arts. Students also have access at home.
Here’s how this award-winning, computer-based reading program works:
Students complete placement activities in Core5 to determine their appropriate, individualized starting level.
Students work independently and at their own pace on activities in Core5.
Students develop fundamental literacy skills in six areas of reading instruction that have been identified by national reading experts: phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
Students receive scaffolding, corrective feedback, and direct instruction in Core5 when needed.
Your student’s teacher will monitor his or her progress and performance in the online activities through data reports. These reports help teachers to determine if a student is struggling with a specific skill and requires targeted, teacher-led instruction.
Students may also receive paper-and-pencil activities that provide offline practice to further improve and expand their skills. They may work on these activities in school, or they bring them home to complete as out-of-class work.
As an added benefit, students can use Core5 at home. Getting started is easy!
- Launch a web browser and go to www.lexiacore5.com.
iPad and iPad Mini users can download the Core5 app from the App Store. Search for “Lexia Reading Core5.”
- Android tablet users can download the Core5 app from the Google Play store. Search for “Lexia Reading Core5.” Note that the app is not available for Kindle. The first time you access Core5, you must set up:
- Click the Student/Parent button.
Type in your teacher’s email and click the arrow button to continue.
Allow or help your child to log in. The student username is the same login they use at school (graduation year, first 4 of last name, first 2 of first name – ex. 22smitjo) the password is the word read.
We hope you enjoy participating in your child’s reading acquisition and success! Reach out to your child's teacher or a Reading Specialist if you have any questions.
From the School Nurse
Emergency Cards
- On Wednesday, emergency cards will be coming home for this year.
- It is important to complete the emergency information and return the card to your child's teacher as soon as possible.
- Updated information is essential, especially in the event of an emergency.
Playground safety
- Proper attire is important, especially on the playground.
- Sneakers are the recommended footwear on the playground. Please do not send students to school in slides, flip-flops, sandals, or other flimsy footwear. These pose a safety hazard and cause many of the injuries we see from the playground.
- Avoid clothing with strings, large buckles, or scarfs that can get caught on equipment.
- Remind students about the following safe practices:
- Waiting your turn
- No pushing, shoving or tripping
- Keep ropes and scarves away from playground equipment and fences
- Keep clear of moving things
- Hold on with both hands when swinging or climbing
- Only one person on the slide at a time
- Slide down feet first and sitting up
Email: whitde@centennialsd.org
Website: https://www.centennialsd.org/domain/699
Phone: 215-441-6093 . 17025
Willow Dale Breakfast Cart
Launch Your Day With Breakfast
"Grab & Go" breakfast options are now available daily. The cart will be stationed between the first and second-grade hallway.
Offering all Whole Grain Options, 100% Juices, Non-Fat Milk
- Assorted Cereals
- Low-Fat Muffins
- Bagels with or without Cream Cheese
- Cereal Bar or Whole Grain Pop-Tart
- Cinnamon or Regular Whole Wheat Toast Stack
- Wow Sandwiches
- Fresh Fruit
Cost- $1.25
Joe Corbi's Fundraiser
- Orders Due Friday 10/12
- Deliveries on November 5 (pick-up 6-8 pm )
Friday, Oct 12, 2018, 08:30 AM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Gals & Pals Fall Ball
October 19, 2018
6:30- 8:00 PM
All current male Willow Dale students and an accompanying adult female are invited to join us for a night of dancing and fun.
*Costumes are optional*
Website: https://www.centennialsd.org/cms/lib/PA01001061/Centricity/Domain/692/Gals%20n%20Pals%20flyer%20Oct%2019.pdf
Location: 720 North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
October Rotation Calendar
Parent Drop-Off Procedures
The safety of your children and all of our students is our number one priority. We have established a number of procedures to keep all of Willow Dale’s students and staff safe as well as providing a smooth transition from your car to our care. Please review the procedures below to ensure a prompt and secure drop-off.
Drop-off
- Drop off time is from 8:25 to 8:45 am.
- The traffic pattern is a one-way system throughout the parking lot of Willow Dale. All cars are to enter via the entrance closest to Street Road.
- Please follow the arrows upon entrance onto the Willow Dale campus. The traffic pattern follows around the parking lot (on the loading dock side of the building, nearest Norristown/Street Roads), and winds around to the front of the building. Please follow the one-way arrows in the parking lot to ensure student safety. Do not cut across lanes for the sake of ease. This is a safety hazard, and we value the safety of our students and staff.
- Pull up valet style so that upwards of 4 vehicles at a time may unload. There is personnel on duty to help direct traffic and to ensure the safety of our students as they are dropped off.
- Enter the drop off area at the white doors (main lobby entrance) in the front of the building.
- Students should be ready to exit vehicles immediately and only from the driver side of the vehicle.
- Do not exit your car as this causes traffic to back up along Norristown Road.
- Parents wishing to assist their children or say goodbye should park in the designated parking area and escort their child safely to the main entrance.
- All cars will exit onto Norristown Road from the intersection nearest the Willow tree.
- Cars will then continue forward and turn RIGHT to arrive at the stop sign for Norristown Road. There are two lanes: Left turn only and right turn only.
We thank you for your cooperation in ensuring that morning drop-off runs smooth and is safe for all.
Willow Dale Elementary School
Email: perkca@centennialsd.org
Website: https://www.centennialsd.org/Domain/692
Location: 720 North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: 215-441-6093
Twitter: @Willow_Dale_ES