The Cub Corner
Expect Excellence In Everything
September 18, 2020
A Note from Mr. Bender
Dear Families,
Congratulations to the numerous summer readers that were recognized at school this week. Students that logged at least 480 minutes through the Gwinnett County Public Library’s summer reading program were recognized on the morning announcements this week!
Students, would you like a chance to win $50.00? The Georgia Insurances and Safety Fire Commissioner’s annual Fire Safety Essay Contest is an opportunity for students in grades K-5 to express their views on fire safety. We encourage all students to participate. Students can return their essay with the completed entry form to their classroom teacher. Entries are due to the school by Tuesday, September 22nd. The school will mail all entries to the Safety Commissioner's Office. Please find the entry from below.
Finally, thank you for all of your support as we continue to refine our digital and in-person learning. Our teachers and students are working very hard, and I am proud of our school community.
Have a great weekend!
Mike Bender
Principal
Important Dates
9/25: Progress Reports Go Home
9/28-9/29: IOWA Testing (2nd Grade)
10/8-10/9: Fall Break (No School!)
10/12: Teacher Work Day (No School!)
Meal Service
GCPS to Provide Meals Free of Charge to Students and to Children 18 and Younger
Last week, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted additional waiver extensions that allow school districts to offer meals at no charge through December 31 through the Seamless Summer Option (SSO). This extension, paired with guidance received from the Georgia Department of Education, will allow Gwinnett County Public Schools to offer meals at no charge at school sites to all students. These meals are provided at no cost to the individual through the federal School Nutrition Program.
Students Attending School In-Person
Those attending school in-person will receive meals free-of-charge during their school’s
scheduled meal times.
Curbside Pick-up for Digital Learners
Digital learners may pick up meals through the curbside pick-up programs at each school, Monday through Thursday, between 11:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Each day’s pick-up includes both breakfast and lunch with Thursday’s pick-up including meals for Friday. Families should check with their local school for specific curbside pick-up times and the location of the pick-up program. Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals. (Click here for a list of the 132 schools offering curbside pick-up.)
Curbside Pick-up for Others 18 Years of Age or Younger:
As part of the Seamless Summer Option, curbside pick-up meals also will be available at no charge to anyone 18 years of age or younger, even to children who are not a GCPS student. Please check with your local school for curbside pick-up times and the location of the pick-up program. Individuals will not be allowed to enter the school to pick up or eat meals.
Transportation Updates
Car rider families, please enter and exit the car rider lane from Azalea Drive. Having all traffic enter and exit from Azalea Drive helps to keep the car rider lane moving.
For the safety of our children, families need to use the car rider lane as the primary way of dropping off students in the morning. Students are not permitted to be dropped off in the front parking lot. Students are also not permitted to walk through the parking lot unattended.
Thank you for your cooperation!
Fire Safety Essay Contest
Students, what do you know about fire safety? Would you like a chance to win $50.00 or other prizes? The Georgia Insurances and Safety Fire Commissioner’s annual Fire Safety Essay Contest is an opportunity for students in grades K-5 to express their views on fire safety.
This essay contest is optional, but we encourage all students to participate. Students can return their essay with the completed entry form to their classroom teacher. Entries are due to the school by Tuesday, September 22nd. The school will mail all entries to the Safety Commissioner's Office.
Mountain View School Store
Click on the link below to see the great products we are offering to you for September. All orders must be placed by September 25th.
Orders will be shipped in approximately 10 business days after orders are placed to Mountain View HS.
All customers will be contacted to let them know the product is ready for pick up at the front desk at Mountain View HS.
https://patriciasspiritwear.tuosystems.com/stores/mountainview
Congratulations to our August Cubs of the Month! Teachers selected one student from their class who exhibited the character trait of the month- respect. Digital students who were selected received their certificates and prizes in the mail this week. In-person students received theirs from their teachers.
Please check out the Woodward Mill Counseling Department’s eclass page for resources and opportunities for you or your child to meet with us virtually. You can find us through your child’s eclass page under “My Courses.” Digital students can have one on one sessions via zoom with their counselor during office hours and by appointment.
Character Trait and Mindfulness Activity of the Month
The character trait for the month of September is Responsibility. We define responsibility as doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. As a reminder, teachers will be choosing one student this month who has exhibited responsibility the most to represent his/her class as the Cub of the Month.
Each month, we will feature a mindfulness activity on the announcements, during class meetings, and on our eclass page. You can watch Mrs. Woodworth do a demonstration of each month’s activity on the counseling eclass page. This month is “Mindful Listening”.
Attendance Awareness Month
September is Attendance Awareness Month! Data from the Georgia DOE indicates, "Missing more than five days of school each year, regardless of the cause, begins to impact student academic performance and starts shaping attitudes about school." Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school and by 9th grade, good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores.
Students who attend school regularly feel more connected to their community, develop important social skills and friendships, and are significantly more likely to graduate from high school, setting them up for a strong future. During this unprecedented time of digital/in person learning, it is important to make routines and goals for education. We do not want our students to fall behind in school and get discouraged. If a student is struggling with health, social, or emotional issues that are affecting attendance or academics, reach out to Ms. O’Rear and Ms. Woodworth for additional support today!
Curbside Book Checkout
Our digital learner curbside checkout is being offered each week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Parents must receive an email hold notification from our media center before coming to pick up books. If you are not receiving timely emails, particularly if you use a yahoo email account, please notify the media staff.
If you are unable to pick up your child’s books during the curbside hours, you are welcome to stop by during school hours to pick up your books. Only digital learners will be placing holds on books. In-person students will have access to the media center with their class during the week.
Please review these links to get started with reserving books if you are a digital learner. All digital holds automatically expire after 21 days, so please be prompt about picking up your books after receiving the email notification. Contact Jennifer.Alden@gcpsk12.org if you have any questions.
Using the Destiny Discover for Digital Learners
Hi Cubs! Welcome back! Don’t forget to join PTA on My Payments Plus by paying a $5 membership fee per adult member. Membership is open to any and all adult family members. (You do not need to pay for students.) While we’re facing a unique school year, we’re committed in our efforts to support our school and our Cub families. We would love to hear ideas from you for virtual events to hold this school year. Please join our Facebook page for continuous updates- Woodward Mill PTA.
Teacher Spotlight
This week's PTA Teacher Spotlights are...
Mrs. Harrison
Ms. Goodman
Mrs. Smith
Testimonies from the parents:
“Ms. Harrison, Ms. Goodman and Ms. Nicole Smith!!! You all are soooo amazing and patient with the kids. You guys are energetic and fun! My daughter absolutely loves you all and can’t wait to see you in person! Great job!”
For more teacher spotlights, or to submit a spotlight for your teacher, please check Woodard Mill PTA Facebook page!
National PTA’s Reflections Art Contest is underway! Deadline for entry submissions is Friday, October 2nd. Both in-person and digital students are eligible to participate. Please see below for contest categories as well as the link to rules and entry form.
The Reflections Program is a National PTA and Georgia PTA cultural arts competition. Since 1969, over 10 million students across the nation have taken part in this popular PTA program.
The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works. The excitement and enthusiasm that the program generates for students, parents, schools and communities is unmatched with the majority of Georgia PTAs participating in the program at all PTA levels.
Young artists get involved through their local PTA or PTSA. A student may submit an entry in any of six arts areas. Only original works of art are accepted. The six art areas are: Visual Arts Photography, Literature, Music Composition, Dance Choreography, and Film Production.
That's why the Reflections Program provides an excellent opportunity for students of all ages to:
- Unleash their creative talents and be inspired
- Express themselves imaginatively in their artwork
- Experience the joy and fun of making art
- Tap into critical thinking skills to create art inspired by the annual theme
- Receive positive recognition for their original works of art”
Rules/guidelines here: https://www.georgiapta.org/reflections/reflections-submission-info#80-rules-and-forms.
We are excited to announce that WMES has been designated as a “No Place for Hate School”! No Place for Hate helps schools foster a culture of respect and create a safe, bully-free learning environment for all students. During the 2019-20 school year, we completed activities as a school to work toward building a brave and equitable school. This year, all students and staff signed the No Place for Hate pledge on a banner outside of our cafeteria. We also completed three activities to encourage kindness, respect, and inclusion in our building: the addition of the Buddy Bench to our playground, Kindness Week in November, and “Mix it Up” day in February. Thank you to student council who served as our student group in planning activities for this initiative!
"The Promise of Gwinnett” campaign is a means of focusing attention on the importance of public education, the role it plays in our nation, and the outstanding schools found right here in Gwinnett County. In addition, the campaign focuses on the accomplishments of our students and the promise they hold for a bright future. Click here to visit the Promise of Gwinnett.
In5ive is a fast-paced, fact-filled informative program that gives you a quick five-minute update on the latest good news in education from Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Help our school everytime you shop! Enroll in the Publix Partners program to earn money for Woodward Mill every time you go grocery shopping.
Woodward Mill just received our quarterly check from the Publix Partners program for $122 dollars. Please help us raise more money for our school by registering for a Publix Partners account and entering your phone number every time you grocery shop at Publix. Every dollar counts!
Business Partners
Woodward Mill would like to take this opportunity to thank the numerous business partners that support the students and teachers at our school. Our business partners support our school in various ways such as sponsoring after-school clubs, providing teacher appreciation gifts, donating supplies, and mentoring students. Please check out our wonderful business partners below:
Woodward Mill proudly thanks our business partners! Please support these businesses that support our school!
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About Us
Website: http://www.woodwardmilles.com
Location: 2020 Buford Drive Northeast, Lawrenceville, GA, United States
Phone: 678-407-7590