The Wonderful World of Woodbury
December 2017
Tis the Season!
Dearest Woodbury Families,
Happy December! I love this month and all of the warmth and love that surrounds it! I admit that our tree at home was up and decorated before we carved the Thanksgiving turkey (I know, I know…) but I am enjoying how the lights warm our little home and my own children’s faces as they anticipate the holiday ahead. You see, this is our last year in our first home. It is filled with so many memories, big and small, bursting at the seams (along with all of the stuff we have accumulated as a family of 4 over time!). As life carries on, I’ve learned that we have to live in the moment and celebrate it all when we can. So, alas, the lights went up. #noregrets
Now that school is in full swing your child is likely pretty routine in his or her day and the expectations for learning and navigating the building. I often ask my own children about their day at school. Our routine goes something like this: What was your high of the day? What was your low? How did you get through your low? And how did you show kindness today? We have had this conversation so much over the past couple years that sometimes they surprise me and start asking me first.
I started this because my oldest daughter’s answer to the question How was your day? was always “fine” or “good.” She struggled to share the details of her day and I wanted to know more without feeling like a pestering mom. We worry about our kids and want to know about their day beyond the “It was fine...” Asking open-ended questions is the key to establishing meaningful conversations regardless of the child’s age. It also doesn’t hurt to help build social skills for conversation and to see if your child can hold a conversation in an age-appropriate manner. The most important thing to remember though is to listen. I have found myself guilty of this as at times our days are so rushed that I have to be more intentional about listening to my own children so that they feel heard and so they also understand the importance of listening to others.
Here are some of my favorite questions from a variety of resources that you can use to start conversations with your children about school.
#1. What made you smile today?
#2. Tell me about a story you read.
#3. If you could choose who would you like to sit by in class?
#4. What did you do that was creative?
#5. What was your peak and the pit? High and low? How did you get though the low?
#6. If I called your teacher tonight what would she tell me about you?
#7. Can you tell me an example of kindness you saw/showed?
#8. Did you learn something that you didn’t understand? Can you teach me?
#9. Rate your day on a scale of 1-10.
#10. When were you the happiest today? What made you proud?
#11. Did you see your principal today? What was she doing?
#12. If an alien spaceship came to your class and beamed up someone who would you want them to take?
#13. Who sat near you at lunch today? Who did you play with at recess?
#14. Tell me something good that happened today.
#15. What word did your teacher say most today?
#16. What do you think you should do/learn more of at school?
#17. What do you think you should do/learn less of at school?
#18. Who in your class do you think you could be nicer to?
#19. How did someone fill your bucket today? Whose bucket did you fill?
#20. Who is the funniest person in your class? Why is he/she so funny?
#21. What was your favorite part of lunch?
#22. If you got to be the teacher tomorrow what would you do?
#23. What is something that challenged you?
#24. If you could switch seats with anyone in the class who would you trade with? Why?
#25. How were you brave today?
Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season filled with peace, joy, and laughter!
With Kindness,
Mrs. Kern
Last Day to Complete Survey for a Chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
Update: Amazon Gift Card Winners!
This Holiday Season, may you be grateful for all of the gifts that surround you!
Franklin Mall Project, Holiday Open House & Play Performance
Woodbury is supporting the Franklin Mall Christmas Project. The Franklin Mall Project was founded by the late Frankie and Peg Mall about 65 years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Mall would buy and deliver groceries for struggling families over the Christmas holiday. As time passed the Sandwich Lions Club took over this wonderful project, as well as donation boxes throughout our community. Woodbury is collecting non-perishable items for the families in need over the holidays. Donations of boxed or canned foods as well as shampoos and other toiletries can be donated until December 15th.
Woodbury will also be hosting our 4th Holiday Book Fair from December, 7th-December, 14th from 8:00a.m. –3:00 p.m.. Thursday, December 7th is our Holiday Open House and Play Performance from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. To help fill our Franklin Mall donation box, we will have a raffle for a shopping spree at our book fair. For every 3 items donated and brought down to the Learning Center, the student’s name will be put in a drawing for a $10 shopping spree at our Holiday Book Fair. There will be 5 lucky winners.
Thank you for your support and generosity!
Cold Weather Reminders
Winter weather is just around the corner. It is important that children are dressed properly to go outside for recess. When the wind chill is 10 degrees or higher, we will be going outside for recess. It is important that our children have the ability to run around and get some exercise. Weather will be checked prior to each recess to verify the wind chill.
Coats: Currently we do not have an established policy for wearing coats. Teachers will always send students outside with their coats on on those iffy days. Unless it is obviously cold enough to warrant a coat or jacket, we will allow the students to determine if they choose to wear their coat once outside. The weather has been unseasonably warm and everyone is different in what feels hot and cold to them. As we experience more extreme temperatures we will certainly require students to have coats on. Pleases set your rules as a family of what you expect from your child in wearing their coat.
In addition, the district website (www.sandwich430.org) will contain information regarding school closings. If a school is closed for an emergency during the day, parents will be notified by a SchoolMessenger phone call. Please be sure you have discussed a plan with your child in case of an early dismissal.
Festival of Trees
Woodbury students are invited to sing at the festival of Trees on Sunday, December 3rd, from 1:30-2:00. We hope to see you there! Please check out the Sandwich Park District's Website or Facebook page for more information. Thank you to Mrs. Reedy and Mrs. Brummel for helping to put up our tree and decorate it at the hotel!
Always Choose Kind Grade-Level T-shirts
Beefing up our Daily Morning Announcements
Tuesday: Kindness Quote
Warm-Hearted Wednesday: Random act of kindness challenge
Throwback Thursday: Did you know that on this day in....
Friday Live: Check out our Woodbury Facebook page on Friday mornings to see our announcements via Facebook Live!
Friendly Reminders...
To report an absence, parents or guardians are to call the office at 815-786-6316 before 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence. An answering machine will take calls before 7:00 a.m. and after 3:30 p.m. If a phone call is not received, a reasonable attempt will be made to contact a parents or guardian. If contact cannot be made, the absence will be considered UNEXCUSED. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Please be reminded that school is in session from 8:10 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Students who arrive late to school are considered tardy and need to sign in at the office. Please make sure your child(ren) arrive before the tardy bell rings.
Hot Lunch: Thank you to everyone that uses the hot lunch program and for keeping a positive balance on your account. When sending in lunch money with your student, please remember to put the first and last name of the student, their grade, and also indicate “lunch money” on the envelope. You can also load money via the Tyler Student Information Portal.
Visiting: Please remember to stop by the office first to sign in. If your student is late arriving, you must come into the office to sign them in.
Change in transportation: If your child is going home a different way or being picked up by someone else, please send a note with your student to their teacher. In the event of an emergency or last minute change, please call the office with the information. Please do not text or e-mail the teacher.
Holiday Smencils are for sale!
The Scented Pencils are $1.00 Each and are available in the following scents: Sugar Plum, Gingerbread, Hot Coco, Candy Cane, & Snowberry.
Smencils may be purchased in the school office before and after school. Students will also be able to go to the office to purchase when they have free days in the Learning Center.
Veteran's Day
Parent/Guardian Volunteers for District Handbook Committee Needed!
Please No Smoking
News from the Nurse
FLU SEASON:
Flu season is around the corner! Protect yourself and your family this season with an annual flu vaccine for everyone in your family who is 6 months and older. While the timing of flu season is unpredictable, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and last as late as May. CDC recommends that people get vaccinated by the end of October, if possible. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against influenza virus infection.
You have the power to protect your family against flu this season. Get yourself and your family a flu vaccine. Fight the Flu!
Visit www.flu.gov for more information.
HEAD LICE PRECAUTIONS:
This following information is being distributed as a precautionary measure to curtail and/or control any head lice outbreak in our district.
Since cases of head lice are always a possibility, we recommend all parents check their child’s head regularly once a week.
The following signs may indicate the presence of lice in your child:
- Persistent itching of the head or the back of neck
- Scratch marks on the scalp
- Nits attached to the hair – grayish white eggs visible to the naked eye difficult to remove from hair shaft unlike dandruff or hair spray flakes
Lice are easily transmitted by close physical contact. They can also be transmitted by sharing head coverings, combs and brushes from an infected person.
If your child has lice, please contact the school nurse. Immediate treatment of all cases is the best way to contain an outbreak. Your child(ren) will be rechecked before returning
to class.
THERE IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF……EXCEPT NOT TREATING IT PROPERLY AND PROMPTLY!
Thank you for your cooperation and continued support in this matter. I am excited to be your School Nurse for Woodbury and also Prairie View. I look forward to working with you to help support a healthy and safe learning environment for all our students! Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
Lauren Hoyt RN, MSN
School Nurse
Arrival & Saying Goodbye:
As students adjust to their morning routine and a new school, sometimes saying goodbye can be hard to do. Reassuring your child that they will see you later and saying goodbye at the door or on the playground will help build their independence and allow them to learn to cope with emotions about separation. We have lots of adults on hand to help your child navigate the building and start their day. This also helps teachers begin the routines of their day more smoothly with their students.
In addition, please note that we do not have playground supervision in the morning until 7:45. Please do not drop students off or release them from your vehicle until an adult is present. It is important to us that our students are safe.
Lunch Card Negative Balance Policy for WWW
Please be sure to keep up with your student's lunch balance. Notes are sent home weekly to those students who have accumulated a negative balance on their lunch account. Any student with a negative balance will not be allowed to purchase milk and snack time. Students with a balance of -$5.00 or more will be given the "Cheese Sandwich" lunch option until the balance has been taken care of. We try and make every effort possible on our end to avoid this happening with any student, but your help is needed as well.
You can check your student's balance online at the district web page www.sandwich430.org under the Lunch Program Link section. If your student reaches -$5.00 we will contact you and the above provisions will be put into place.
Upcoming Mobile Dentist Dates
H.E. Dummer/SMS: 2/22/2018
Woodbury: 3/15/2018
Prairie View: 3/16/2018
Electronic Devices & Personal Items
Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices: The possession and use of cell phones and other electronic devices, are subject to the following rules:
- They must be kept out of sight and in an inconspicuous location, such as a backpack, purse, or locker.
- They must be turned off during the regular school day unless the supervising teacher grants permission for them to be used or if needed during an emergency.
- They must not be used in any manner that will cause disruption to the educational environment or will otherwise violate student conduct rules.
- Cell phones with cameras are not permitted in bathrooms or locker rooms. The taking, disseminating, transferring possessing or sharing of obscene, pornographic, lewd, or otherwise illegal images or photographs, whether by electronic data transfer or otherwise on school grounds, or at any school function, is prohibited.
We also ask that personal items such as toys, trading cards, dolls, stuffed animals, etc. please remain at home or in backpacks unless a specific request is made by the teacher to bring those items to school (show and tell, star of the week, etc). Many of these items often become a distraction during the school day. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items of personal property and electronic devices brought to school.
Debt Service Extension Base (DSEB)
November Fun!
Remind
Always Choose Kind
Email: jkern@sandwich430.org
Website: www.sandwich430.org
Location: 322 East 3rd Street, Sandwich, IL, United States
Phone: 815.786.6316
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Woodbury-Elementary-School-175306045839116/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Twitter: @Woodbury430