Lower School Newsletter
Monday, February 5
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, February 6 - Baby Bottle Blast fundraiser at Chick-fil-A, 5:00-8:00pm
Monday, February 12 - PreK-4 am Valentine's Day party, morning
Tuesday, February 13 - PreK-3 Valentine's Day party, morning
Wednesday, February 14 - PreK-4 pm - 5th grade Valentine's Day parties, afternoon
Thursday, February 15 - PreK-12th grade Open House for new families, 6:30pm
Friday, February 16 - Trindle Bowl field trip for K, 1st, and 2nd graders
Tuesday, February 20 - US Spotlight Night for current 5th and 8th graders - details TBA
Friday, February 23 - Olympic Skating field trip for 3, 4, and 5th graders
Friday, February 23 - Father-Daughter Dance, RSVP and money due by Feb. 20
From the Principal's Desk....
We recently completed our DIBELS Winter Benchmark with all our students. Reports to parents will be going home by the end of this week along with a letter explaining the tests and their importance of collecting data for your child’s teacher to make informed decisions on individual and classroom instruction. If at any point you have a question or concern, please feel free to touch base with me or your child’s teacher. There are times that I come across articles on line that are helpful to parents. I’d like to share Tips For Parents-Learning Styles (The Learning Community) with everyone this week.
What is a Learning Style?
We used to think that everyone studied best in the same way—sitting alone quietly at a desk in a well-lit room. Recently, researchers have found that this “style” of acquiring new knowledge doesn’t work for everyone. Some people will remember a paragraph better if they read it while lying on the sofa rather than sitting at a desk. Some people will remember it better if they’re listening to music. The individual way in which each of us learns best is our personal learning style. The following will help you better know what to look for to understand your child's learning styles.
Why is Learning Style Important?
Learning style is more than a question of being physically comfortable while studying. A child who doesn’t study according to his or her learning style will have trouble learning and retaining new information. This mismatch not only affects your child’s performance, but also his or her attitude toward learning. In other words, learning style relates to your child’s motivation. It’s important to remember that children can learn almost any subject matter if it’s taught in a matter consistent with their learning style. By the same token, when learning style is ignored, your child’s chances of failing increase substantially. By supporting your child’s learning style, you help make learning easier and more enjoyable—a rewarding, lifelong pursuit for your child.
What is my child’s learning style?
Notice the way your children study. Do they like to study in front of the television or with music? Do they close the door to their rooms and disappear for an hour or two? If it works, don’t try to change your child’s routine. It may seem hard to believe that your child is actually learning, but remember, you may have a very different learning style.
Learning styles can change. In fact, most children start out with a more global learning style and become more analytic as they get older. But this doesn’t mean that your child will eventually end up at a desk.
The Transformed Heart- What Does It Mean to Love God and One Another?
Question for this week: What is genuine love?
This week’s Bible verse is… Romans 12:9-10 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love.”
Yours in Christ,
Mr. Shirvinski
Continuous Enrollment Updates
We are excited that 96% of WSCA families have chosen to participate in continuous enrollment for 2018-2019. We have learned there is one thing you must do to activate your automatic payment for the continuous enrollment fee, which has been billed in FACTS.
1. Log in to your FACTS account.
2. Click "actions" next to Incidental Expenses (below the payment plan and billing box).
3. Select "enroll in auto pay."
4. On the next page, confirm your method of payment and click "enroll."
Once you complete these steps, the funds will be withdrawn in three equal payments on Feb. 15, March 15, and April 15. Thank you for your continued commitment to WSCA!
Two Hour Delays and Lunches
On a two hour delay, our cafeteria is closed. You must pack a complete lunch for your child that day. If your child does not have a lunch, Mrs. VanHart will call you to rescue them. Each time we have had a delay, we have had students with no lunches. How about keeping an emergency stack of Lunchables or pre-made items in your fridge that are easy to grab for those days?
Baby Bottle Blast
We are again supporting the Capital Area Pregnancy Center by collecting change in large baby bottles in each classroom through February 14. Checks and paper money is accepted, but the idea is "spare change can help change a family's life." Our classes get creative - watch for fundraising activities, including a tentative night at Chick-fil-A! The CAPC offers services for pregnancy, parenting, and guidance with a pro-life mindset. We encourage you to check out their ministry at www.capc4u.org.
Security Reminders
Did you know that Mrs. VanHart and Mrs. Wempa have security cameras at their desks? Our doors are locked, and the only way to enter is by them seeing you in the security camera, checking your identity, and unlocking the door. When you enter our buildings, you should always sign in and out at the offices and take a visitor tag. Thanks for helping us keeping your children safe!
Car Line Reminders
In the mornings, please do not unload your children until they are "at the cones and on the curve." Please pull forward as much as possible to help prevent traffic jams - they happen quickly! And even though we have teachers on duty to assist, sometimes it is busy, and we encourage your children to get out of the car by themselves. Students should be not be arriving before 7:30 am (9:30 on a 2 hour delay). Thanks!
Substitute Nurse and Substitute Teachers
We are looking for a substitute nurse, who can help out once in a while when Mrs. Krouch and Mrs. Hoover cannot come to WSCA. We are also looking for additional substitute teachers, PreK-12th grade. Please fill out an application on our website and help us spread the word!
Bill: WSCA-0001
During our Winterim class on government, our students voted to have extra dress down days. We added February 7. Students can wear jeans, sweatpants, and any style shirt. And of course, they are always welcome to dress up! Thank you to our government teacher, Mrs. McDonald, for teaching us how a bill becomes a law, complete with the Schoolhouse Rock video!
Open Houses for Prospective Families
We have now entered "open enrollment" time at WSCA, meaning that we are accepting applications from new families to join our WSCA family. Please help us advertise our upcoming Open Houses:
Thursday, February 15, 6:30pm, PreK-12th grade open house
Sunday, March 18, 2:00pm, PreK-12th grade open house
Tuesday, April 10, 6:30pm, PreK-12th grade open house
If you have any questions about re-enrollment, enrollment for new families, or how you can best help advertise our school to prospective families, please contact our admissions director, Mary Beth Gilge, at mbgilge@westshorechristian.org. For starters, share events and posts from the WSCA facebook page to your personal page!
Business Office Updates
We are pleased to announce that Lynne Cox will be joining the CSAGH finance team as our Finance Clerk. Lynne and her husband, Tim, are WSCA parents and have two Upper School daughters. Lynne and Tim are also heavily involved in WSCA Athletics. Lynne will be splitting her time between WSCA and HCS and will be responsible for accounts payable, back reconciliations, and cash management. Her email is lcox@westshorechristian.org.
All tuition and financial aid questions should be sent to Amy-Jo Walborn, our CSAGH Controller: ajwalborn@harrisburgchristian.com, 717-525-3728.
Beginning on January 1, 2018, 529 plans can be used for K-12 private school tuition up to $10,000 annually. To use your 529 plan to pay for tuition, contact your financial advisor or plan administrator.
If you applying for financial aid through FACTS, please note the deadline for the first round of awards is February 28th. Awards will be posted in the beginning of April, nearly a full 4-6 weeks sooner than in years past. A second, but unguaranteed, batch of financial applications may be submitted by March 15th.
Lower School Intramural Sports Program
Who: After school sports program open to all students in grades 1st-5th grade.
What: After school intramural program for students interested in basketball or soccer. The first day of the week (Monday or Tuesday) will be instructional time while the second day (Wednesday or Thursday) will be a game day atmosphere. Program led by WSCA Athletic Director Jen Cornetto. Coaches will be comprised of current WSCA coaches and other possible special guests.
When: After school from 3:00-4:30pm for 6 weeks beginning April 3rd & April 4th concluding May 9th/10th.
Basketball - (Mon. & Wed.)
Soccer (Tue. & Thur.)
Where: WSCA home fields & courts
Cost: $45 per student (or $65 for both Soccer and Basketball) Registration opens February 16th & includes a t-shirt & ball for each student. Cash or checks made out to WSCA must be submitted by March 12th. Brochure and registration form will be sent home with students the week of February 12th. Please submit forms and money back to the lower school main office (with attention to Jen Cornetto) by March 16th in order to be accepted.
Hoss' Fundraiser - High School Spain and Italy Trip
Mrs. Hartshorn and her Spanish classes are traveling in 2019 to Spain and Italy! You are invited to join them at the Mechanicsburg Hoss' Steakhouse on Friday, March 2nd from 11:00am-10:00pm. Simply show the picture of this flyer on your phone (or provide a paper print out) and the group will receive credit for your meal that day. Hope to see you there!
Inclement Weather - Updated on Jan. 18
School closings, delays, and early dismissals are posted on the home page of www.westshorechristian.org, via all-school email, Facebook, and on local news media: WHP (580 AM), WGAL (Channel 8), WHP (Channel 21), WHTM (Channel 27). Please remember that WSCA watches other local districts, then we make our own decision about inclement weather, so watch for our name on media sites, especially if you see other local school districts taking action. Please note that as of right now, we will not be making an all-school phone call, due to problems with our calling service. On a two hour delay, parents transporting students should have them at school by 10:00 a.m. Students and staff should not arrive to school before 9:30. The cafeteria will be closed - please pack a lunch to eat in classrooms.
Please sign up for text alerts for WSCA emergency and inclement weather plans, as outlined in Mr. Beardmore's email on January 12. To sign up, text the message Follow WSCA_ Alerts to the number 40404. The message is case sensitive. There were a few bugs with our texting system. We are working them out, but in the meantime if you did not get a text, please sign up again. For some reason that has seemed to correct the problem.
If you are a bus family, please know that each school district handles closings, delays, and early dismissals differently. Please refer to the PDF (updated 1/9/18) at the bottom of the newsletter. There are a few clarifications in BOLD. It's ready for you to print your page and put on your fridge as a reminder! Please email lvanhart@westshorechristian.org with any bussing questions. We appreciate your patience on early dismissal days - it is very busy and the phone rings off the hook! Our number one goal is your child's safety.
Volunteer Cashier Needed
We are in need of a cafeteria cashier volunteer. If you, or someone you know, is interested in ministering to our school and students in that way, please contact Sandy Berry at sberry@westshorechristian.org. Volunteer clearances will need to be completed prior to starting.
Large Plastic Bins Needed
The Upper School is in need of 10-12 forty quart clear plastic storage bins. We are continuing to clean up the attic and large bins would helpful. If you are willing to donate a bin, please bring it to the Upper School office. Thank you for your help!
We have received four so far! Thank you!
Dress Code Reminders
Please make sure your students are following the WSCA dress code. If not, we will ask them to change clothes from the uniform room. If your child is growing, we have plenty of free clothes! Mrs. VanHart will gladly pack a bag for you to try on at home. We will be sending home reminders to students not fully in dress code.
Here are a few reminders:
-If there is a logo on the polo, it needs to be the same color as the shirt.
-Dresses/skirts/jumpers need to be no shorter "just a little above the knee," even while wearing leggings.
-Knit pants do not qualify as uniform pants, even if there are pockets sewn on. Uniform pants should be cotton, Docker's style, pants. If the pants are too tight, we will ask the student to change clothes.
-On Fridays, students may wear jeans with WSCA shirts.
-On dress down days (you might have received a RFE coupon), students may wear jeans or windpants. Girls may not wear tight knit pants/leggings.
-4th and 5th graders have been issued a PE uniform: They should be wearing black WSCA shorts and any WSCA t-shirt. If it's cold, students are welcome to wear leggings underneath their shorts. If you need a new PE uniform, please email jcornetto@westshorechristian.org. She also accepts outgrown ones to reissue to other students!
CATS Prayer Team Update
We have changed the day that we gather as parents in prayer for our school to Tuesday afternoons from 2:00 to 2:45 in the Lower School Conference Room. We pray for staff members, teachers, and students by name and any special requests for that week. If you aren't available on Tuesday afternoons you can get the prayer requests via email each week to commit to pray at home. For more information contact Gretchen Carvella at CatsPrayerTeam@westshorechristian.org . Thanks for lifting our WSCA community before the Lord in prayer!
Here's a link to a prayer calendar which all of us can use to pray each day for our children, our children's friends, their teachers, and all who are in the WSCA family. Just follow the date, no matter which day of the week it falls on each month -
http://www.motherhoodonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/September-Prayer-Calendar1.pdf (Copyright Bob Hostetler (www.bobhostetler.com). Used with the permission of the author. Also available as an iPhone/iPad app in the iTunes app store.)
WSCA Lower School Yearbook Orders
Go to treering.com/validate to purchase your student’s yearbook. Your Lower School passcode is 101495056158615. There is an option to personalize two pages with your student’s favorite photos at NO additional cost. If you start designing the two pages and then decide against completing them, it will automatically revert to a standard yearbook.
Please note, if you have students in both Upper and Lower Schools, you will need a different passcode for the Upper School yearbook. If you have any questions email Yearbook@westshorechristian.org or call 717-737-3550 x134. See the attached PDF (at the bottom of the newsletter) for additional information on how to purchase, customize pages and download app if desired.
West Shore Christian Academy
Email: info@westshorechristian.org
Website: www.westshorechristian.org
Location: 201 West Main Street, Shiremanstown, PA, United States
Phone: 717.737.3550
Facebook: www.facebook.com/westshorechristian
Twitter: @WSCA1