Wasco Weekly
THE STRENGTH OF THE WOLF IS ITS PACK
October 15, 2020
Wasco Families,
How wonderful it was to reconnect with students after the extended weekend. We all enjoy the stories they share about their fun activities and adventures. It is a great time of the year to enjoy colorful scenery and the fall festivities.
On October 30th, our school will be celebrating fall with a day of fun activities. Students are invited to come to school dressed up, if they choose and each grade level will be coordinating special activities during the last hour of school. The guidelines for this day are below.
The Wasco Weekly also contains a curriculum focus on writing. All of our grade levels have different writing tasks they are practicing during the first trimester, you can receive more details about your child’s writing goals from your teacher. At home, you can also provide writing opportunities and I have attached an informational article with ideas. Our student writers can express themselves in a wide variety of ways: journaling, making lists, taking dictation, writing directions. All of these processes provide children with opportunities to learn about the many purposes and values of writing.
Kind regards,
Principal Brennan
331-228-6294
Stephanie.brennan@d303.org
All Wasco Students: Remote and In-person
Halloween/Fall Celebration Plan 2020
- Students may choose to wear the following to school on the day of the Fall Celebration: a costume, PJ's, a hat, Wasco or team spirit wear. They should come to school wearing their choice along with their regular face covering to protect from spreading germs (mask).
- The following is not allowed: Costume masks covering the face, costumes with weapons or depicting violence.
- No parades and no food will be allowed.
- Unstructured time (party) is scheduled for 1:00-1:40.
- Any questions? Please reach out to the office or your teacher
Curriculum Focus: Writing
The picture below is a great example of functional writing. We teach writing to communicate ideas and we revise our writing to facilitate the reader's comprehension. As a school staff we invite students to learn and practice purposes of writing. One of our school writing goals is to increase students' knowledge of how to convey their thoughts and ideas with clarity.
iReady Progress Reports
All D303 students utilize the iReady tool to practice skills at their individual level. The chart below shows you the progress of the whole school. Each student has a weekly 45 minute goal of practice in each content area: reading and mathematics. We will provide parents updates on goal progress in future Wasco Weeklies. If you have a question about your child's individual progress, please contact your classroom teacher.
Preparing for outdoor PE in cold weather
There is a chill in the air and the weather is turning colder. Please dress your students appropriately for P.E. and recess with coats, hats and gloves. Please put your name on things so they don't get lost! If you are missing an item please stop by our lost and found inside the vestibule.
Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions at julie.misner@d303.org.
Julie Misner
Physical Education teacher
How's Your Child's Reading Life?
Parents use these reflection questions to examine your child's progress.
- What is your child reading?
- How are they accessing reading materials?
- Do they have enough access?
- How quickly do they turn over reading materials?
This link to the Wasco's Library provides your family with access to electronic and physical text. The public library is also a good resource. Wasco Elementary aims to foster active reading among its student body. Contact your teacher for more information.
Book Checkout for Remote and In Person Students
Our school library is here to provide reading materials for your child. We have three ways to access fiction and nonfiction books: Print books for In-Person Learners, Digital/eBooks for In Persona and Remote learners, and Book Pickup for Remote learners. Please use this link below to access the pathway you choose. Happy reading!
Book Checkout procedures
Parent Resource Survey
It is important to us at Wasco that we provide a community of care and support to our families, especially when faced with financial hardship.
The current situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused some families to experience a need related to job loss, medical bills, child care, etc. District 303 has several supports available for families through our schools.
The supports available include: Thanksgiving Meal Support and Big Hearts of Fox Valley Holiday Support Program. If you are interested, please complete this survey.
Attention Parents who drive to Wasco for pickup
Parents we really appreciate your attention to safety you are when you arrive on campus. As inclement weather approaches, we are working to make sure we move traffic as smoothly as possible. Here are some suggestions:
Please pull up AS FAR AS POSSIBLE in available space, without occupying the crosswalks (marked with white stripes). This will enable us to place more students in cars.
Please be aware of loading quickly so that we can exit cars in the pickup line as quickly as possible.
Take care to limit social interactions while driving. During arrival and dismissal, there is a lot of activity and we want to ensure all adults are watchful for moving students.
Encourage your child to watch for your vehicle.
Homework for student absences
If your child is absent from school, your child's teacher will provide the necessary classwork, just as has happened in the past. Teachers can send home online resources as well as provide you with the learning objectives for each content area. Please reach out to your child's teacher when you need information about their lessons.
Mask and Space Requirements When Visiting our Campus
Parents and other visitors to a school campus are expected to be wearing a mask when at the school. Our school community goal is to be as safe as possible and following the precautions such as wearing a mask when sharing space with others or when we are unable to keep our distance is a community practice that decreases the spread of germs. Your help modeling mask-wearing and spacing from others demonstrates our commitment to the health of one another.
New to Wasco? Here is a guide to help! Welcome to Wasco Elementary for Families SY 21
We realize there is much information to digest, especially if you are a parent new to Wasco. Please use this link to access a plethora of information about the daily operation of our school. We hope this guide answers all of your questions. When in doubt, please reach out to our office. We are happy to help! Even if you are a returning family, you might want to keep the link handy.
Bus Information
Transportation route information is accessible to families using this link: Bus Routes. You will need your HAC number to access the information. Transportation route information will not be sent home through the mail and can only be accessed online. Please note that for the first two weeks of the school year, the district will not make adjustments to the transportation routes. Our transportation department will collect suggestions about the routes and make adjustments where necessary after the first two weeks of classes.
Food Service Programs
Since March, District 303 has collaborated with our food service vendors to provide grab and go meals for students to enjoy at home. We want to make you aware of the procedures for making sure that students continue to receive meals, whether they are learning in-person or remotely.
Families who choose to purchase meals for their children will have their PushCoin accounts debited, unless eligible for free lunch. For more information about eligibility for free and reduced lunch, please contact Patricia Townsend at 331.228.6529.
