Weekend Wire
November 1, 2020
WESTWOOD ROADRUNNERS
Roadrunners, We Are Proud of YOU!
DATES TO NOTE:
10/31-11/3 -- WESTWOOD IS A POLLING VENUE
11/5 SSC - Virtual Meeting
11/11 -- Veteran's Day--NO SCHOOL
11/17 -- XPloration
11/20 -- Make-up Picture Day
11/23-11/27--Thanksgiving Break--NO SCHOOL
12/7--Parent/Teacher Conferences--NO SCHOOL
12/21-1/1--Winter Break--NO SCHOOL
Roadrunner News
Counseling Corner
Parents often reach out to me for strategies to help with their child’s behavior. There are specific skills that we can teach a child to help them learn how to manage behavioral issues such as how to control their impulses and how to express anger in appropriate ways. However, these new skills will not be very impactful unless we examine how we are relating to our child and perhaps make some modifications in our own behavior.
Our child looks at us and sees who they are. Sometimes this is reflected in subtle ways - a look on our face or a tone in our voice. Other times, this is done more overtly such as when we say something like, “I wish you wouldn’t get so out of control when you are mad.”
What’s important for us to remember is that we are showing our child who they are every time we interact with them and this can cause a vicious cycle to begin. For instance, our child has frequent outbursts rather than expressing his anger appropriately and when he does, we get frustrated with the child. The child tunes into that and starts to think, “I am somebody who does not know how to manage my anger.” As a result, the outbursts continue and they might even increase in intensity and frequency. We can teach all sorts of anger management skills but it will be hard for the child to change their behavior until their perception about who they are changes.
It might sound counterintuitive, but what is most helpful when trying to change behavior is to speak to the child as if they already exhibit the desired behavior. For example, we might say something like, “John, you are a boy who really knows how to manage your big feelings.” When we do this, our child’s perception of who they are slowly begins to change. This won’t happen overnight. It’s like wiggling a loose tooth - we wiggle and wiggle and soon the tooth falls out and a new one takes its place. If the child has been hearing one message about who they are for a long time then it will take a while to undo that. But if we are consistent, then over time that old perception will fade away and the child will start to see himself in a whole new light and that is when long lasting behavior change happens.
If you have a child who has been struggling with a particular behavior issue, I would invite you to give this a try. Make a note on your calendar of when you are starting and commit to making one statement every day to your child about how you see them. Start your sentence with, “You are a person who...” Try this for a month and make sure your nonverbal behavior aligns with what you are saying to your child because if we say one thing but our body language and tone of voice say something else, the child will internalize our nonverbal cues. Remind yourself daily of what a privilege it is for all of us parents to be a mirror and reflect back to our child how we see them. Then sit back and watch your child step into becoming the person they are capable of being.
LEXIA
Lexia® Core5® Reading is a fun, computer-based program that has helped millions of students improve their literacy skills. The activities in Core5 support and build on classroom curriculum and focus on developing reading skills in six areas: phonological awareness, phonics, structural analysis, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
https://www.lexialearning.com/
Thank you for encouraging your students to utilize this amazing resource especially our kinder and first grade students!
WESTWOOD - NO PLACE FOR HATE
We are excited to share that the Westwood No Place For Hate committee made up of staff and students held our first meeting this past month and our entire school has taken the No Place For Hate Pledge. For those who aren’t familiar with NPFH, it is a self-directed program helping all of the stakeholders take the lead on improving our school climate so all students can thrive. The Westwood NPFH committee will be designing and implementing three school wide anti-bias activities. Our first activity will be taking place before winter break, followed by an activity in February and one final activity in spring. Our goal with these activities is to help everyone in our community recognize that we all have a role to play in combating bias and bullying, to provide students with strategies for difficult situations, and to foster an appreciation for people who are different from us. We are so proud to be a NPFH school and to let others know that Westwood upholds the rights for everyone to feel safe and respected at school. Be on the lookout for our first NPFH activity in the coming weeks!
POLLING VENUE
- Saturday, Oct. 31 through Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Election Day, Nov. 3, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To help reduce traffic during the school day, we encourage you to vote on the weekend if possible. If you are voting at Westwood on Monday or Tuesday, please park Off Campus and avoid student drop-off and pick-up times.
Please be prepared for extra traffic on these two days.
Health Office Notes
Please remember to be proactive and prescreen your student at home prior to leaving for school. If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep them at home. If your child has developed any one of the symptoms below while at school, they must be sent home immediately. Parent(s) will be notified to pick up their student immediately.
- 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
Per the CDC Guidelines: The individual may return based on one of the following:
a) 10 days from the day symptom(s) first appeared, AND improved symptoms and no fever (or fever reducing meds) for the last 24 hours.
b) With proof of negative PCR COVID viral test, may return after 3 days if all symptoms are fully resolved; or after 10 days from the day symptom(s) first appeared, AND improved symptoms and no fever (or fever reducing meds) for the last 24 hours.
c) A signed note from a licensed MD, DO, NP, or PA (who manages that condition) must: confirm the chronic diagnosis (i.e., cites labs, date-of record when diagnosed); include provider’s contact information; explain how symptoms are unrelated to COVID-19; and be accompanied by signed consent for school to interact with MD, DO, NP, or PA.
Calling All Roadrunner Artists!
Reflections has gone Virtual this year!
Reflect, Create Art and Be Recognized by submitting your work online!
WWES PTA 2020 Reflections Entry Form and Upload
(Please note: you can use your students PUSD account to authenticate with Google if you don't have a Gmail address)
Submissions Needed by November 5th, 2020
Entry Guidelines can be found on our WWES PTA Reflections page: https://www.westwoodelementarypta.com/reflections.html
For questions or help, please contact: westwoodroadrunnerpta@gmail.com
PTA Membership
The year may look different but Westwood still needs you! Join the PTA so we can all work together to make this year the best possible.
Yearbooks
Halloween Photos
We can't wait to see all of the awesome Halloween costumes in the yearbook this year!
Please upload your Halloween photos for the yearbook here: https://tr5.treering.com/school/231813/photos/shared-photo-folders/172118699
Picture Day
Make-up pictures will happen on November 20th! Be on the lookout for more information in the next few weeks. If you are not comfortable with having your child come to the MPR for pictures, information will also be given on how to submit a photo for the yearbook. Looking forward to seeing all of these smiling faces!
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