WFES Newsletter
February 22nd, 2019
News and Announcements
Make Your Day Feedback
Technology resources grow at WFES
For the past few years, Wildfire students have enjoyed a 1:1 device ratio in 1st - 6th-grade but WFES believes its students need more opportunities to use and benefit from the latest 21st-century technologies.
During the 2018-19 school year, Wildfire has greatly increased the technology and resources available for student use. This year alone WFES has either purchased, received through grants, or been gifted from our very generous PTO:
- 120 Chromebooks
- 1 Chromebook charging/storage cart
- 50 iPads
- 50 Headphone
- 1 3-D Printer (WFES has 2 total)
- 4 HD digital cameras + memory cards for student use (students had been using iPad's to take pictures)
- Digital sign-in system and 4 iPad kiosks
- 16 Sphero coding robots
- 10 Makey-Makey coding circuits
- A Nintendo Labo Grant Winner (1 of 100 schools nationwide)
- 10 Amazon Echo Alexa Assistants
- Brain Pop digital subscription
- Brain Pop Jr. digital subscription
- IXL digital subscription
- Learning A-Z digital subscription
- Raz-Kids digital subscription
- Splash Math digital subscription
- AR Renaissance digital subscription
- Created a WFES Facebook Page
- Created a WFES Twitter Page
In addition to incorporating additional resources, a faculty committee has started creating a refined tech vision to help lead WFES to the future.
Enroll Now for the 2019-2020 School Year
New students will need the following documents:
- A completed registration packet
- Original birth certificate (a copy will be made by the school and the original document will be given back to you)
- Immunization records
- Proof of residency (i.e. utility bill or house payment or lease/purchase agreement)
To register for kindergarten, a student must be 5 years old prior to September 1st, 2019.
Morning Drop off Changes and Kiss'N'Go Volunteers needed!
Field Day Update
Dr. Suess Spirit Week
STUGO designated the following days for the Dr. Suess Spirit Week
Tuesday, Feb 26th: My Many Colored Days
- Pre-K: red
- Kindergarten: orange
- 1st-grade: yellow
- 2nd-grade: green
- 3rd-grade: blue
- 4th-grade: purple
- 5th-grade: pink
- 6th-grade: tie dye
Wednesday, Feb 27th: Wacky Wednesday (wacky hair, clothes, etc)
Thursday, Feb 28th: Sleep Book (Wear PJ's)
Friday, Mar 1st: Oh! The Places You’ll Go (Wear something from a place you have visited)
Events and Lessons From Around Wildfire
STEM Day Recap
Students experienced the engineering design process and worked collaboratively to solve real-life scenarios and problems.
As WFES moves forward with incorporating more STEM practices and learning focuses into the general education classroom, the staff has decided to also include the arts and have a school-wide STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) focus. we will be having STEAM Days on all future half-days to provide students with unique learning opportunities and challenges that can only be experienced at Wildfire Elementary.
View the video below to look at highlights from the first-ever WFES STEM Day.
The Stock Game (SMG)
What would you do if you were given $100,000? Would you spend it all at once? Would you think about putting some of it in the bank? Sixth-grade students will experience this through The Stock Market Game (SMG) and develop a fundamental understanding of investing and how you might get your money to work for you.
The Stock Market Game will also help students do better in school. When you participate in The Stock Market Game, you are in a real-world situation where you practice the content and skills you’re taught in math, English Language Arts, economics, social studies, and other school subjects. Most importantly, The Stock Market Game will help you develop positive money habits and prepare you for your future.
The game began February 4 and runs through April 18.
Catalina Island
Special Agent Investigation
Student Buddies
Float like a Butterfly
Renaissance Festival
Learning Letters
Music News
All students are learning about pianos, keyboards, note reading and playing the keyboard during the month of February. Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 are learning about important piano composers and performers and were entertained by a jazz ensemble from Arizona Musicfest
Thank you to our amazing PTO who purchased a large floor keyboard and two full sets of keyboard whiteboards, complete with markers and erasers.
We are rocking out in February here at Wildfire!
SPARK Card Winners
Makey-Makey
Pearly Whites
News from the Nurse
ILLNESS: The health office has been a busy place these past few weeks! Please be sure to adhere to the following District policy with regards to ill students returning to school:
If a student has been ill at home or if a student has been sent home ill, that student should be: fever-free for 24 hours (temperature below 100°F without fever reducing medications); free of diarrhea and vomiting for 24 hours; and if antibiotics were prescribed, student must have completed the initial 24-hour dosage of medication.
Knowing when to return to school can reduce the risk of getting others ill. Most health care practitioners agree that you should stay home for a long as you have severe symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, and cough with mucus or vomiting. Some practitioners may advise that you do not return to school for five days after the onset of symptoms and 24 hours after your fever has cleared. Please be sure to follow the advice of your practitioner. It is also important to keep in mind that even when you begin to feel better, you may still be contagious for several days. The CDC advises, “Most healthy people may be able to infect other people beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.”
It is not too late to get a flu vaccine but remember that it does take two weeks to develop immunity. Also keep in mind that if your practitioner does prescribe Tamiflu, it does not mean your child is no longer contagious; Tamiflu only lessens the severity of symptoms and the duration of the flu by a day or two.
STUDENTS CALLING HOME: If your child calls or texts you on their own and asks to be picked up, please tell your child that he/she must first be seen by the nurse and the nurse will then make the determination as to whether to call you.
IMMUNIZATIONS: As a reminder and in accordance with the new State of Arizona immunization law, once your child turns 11 years old, regardless of grade level, your child will be required to have the Tdap and meningococcal vaccines. Please be sure to provide evidence of these vaccines to the nurse.
PVSchools Governing Board Selects Jesse Welsh, Ed.D. as Next Superintendent
Paradise Valley Education Associate Prom Clothing Drive
Upcoming Events
Sights and Sounds of Paradise Valley Arts Festival
Along with art, our very own band, strings, and chorus students will be performing some of their best pieces on Saturday.
- Advanced Strings is performing at 10:00 AM
- Intermediate Strings is performing at 11:00 AM
- The Chorus is performing at 2:00 PM
- The Band is performing at 3:20 PM
We hope to see you at PV Mall!
United Parent Council Events
The Seven Challenges of the Gifted Child
Tuesday, February 26, 2019, at 6:00PM-7: 30 PM
While being gifted can be fun and interesting, it does come with challenges, intellectually as well as socially and emotionally. But what are those challenges and how do we deal with them as a parent? This seminar describes seven main challenges that came up while working with thousands of parents. The concerns apply to gifted children worldwide and include ways to overcome a fixed mindset, how to use one's memory, stay focused, and how to gain motivation for learning in school. In a spirited presentation, Tijl will take you through the seven challenges and, most importantly, practical applications parents can use to address these challenges.
Presenter:
Tijl Koenderink has been involved in hands-on gifted education for over 10 years in the Netherlands and throughout Europe. From setting up full-time gifted programs to a gifted dropout center. From parent training to setting up an innovative public school, he is looking at hands-on ways to make gifted kids thrive.
Parent Advocacy, Support & Resources with Raising Special Families
Thursday, February 28, 2019, at 6PM-7: 30 PM
Having a child with Special Needs can bring a lot of extra challenges, but you're not alone! Join us to meet and network with other parents, and learn more about how Raising Special Kids can help support you and your child. Nannette Salasek from Raising Special Kids will be here to discuss:
- Who Raising Special Kids is and how they can help parents
Finding accurate, authoritative information related to your child's disability or special health
condition
- Special Education consultations, training, and problem-resolution services
Education and coaching for parents to learn the most effective methods in managing challenging
behavior
Connecting with a trained Parent Mentor that is skilled at providing more specific information
and support
At the end of this seminar, time will also be given for parents to network with each other so families can connect to create stronger support systems for our PVUSD families.
On the Calendar
Important Upcoming Dates
- STEP IT UP! Event: Feb. 26th
- Early Release Day: Feb. 26th
- Field Day: March 1st
- Sights and Sounds of PV Arts Festival: March 2nd at PV Mall
- 4th-Grade Field Trip to the Renaissance Festival: March 5th
- Spring Picture Day: March 7th
- 6th-Grade Human Growth & Development Meeting: March 12th at 6 PM at Liberty ES
- Mathnasium Family Fun Math Night: March 14th at 5:30 PM
- 1st-Grade Field Trip to the Children's Museum: March 15th
- End of the 3rd Quarter: March 15th
Wildfire Elementary School Firebirds
Email: wfes@pvschools.net
Website: https://www.pvschools.net/wfes
Location: 3997 East Lockwood Drive, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Phone: (602) 449-4300
Facebook: facebook.com/WFESFirebirds
Twitter: @WFESFirebirds