NEWS FROM WES
From Principal Maggie Mills ~February 7, 2020
Upcoming Events
*NOTE: TBD - A RESCHEDULED DATE FOR THE SNOWBALL SOCIAL GATHERING*
- Monday, February 10th: Show Your Stuff Online sign-up due
- Monday, February 10th: WCUD Board Meeting at WCSU Central Office, 6pm
- Tuesday, February 11th: WES PTO Meeting, WES library, 4:30pm
- Wednesday, February 12th: WES PreK Info Night for prospective parents/guardians 6pm
- Thursday, February 13th: WES PTO Game Night, WES cafe, 5-6pm
- February 17th-21st: February Break, no school
- Tuesday, February 25th: 1st grade concert, 6pm WES gym (snow date 3/9)
- Wednesday, February 26th: 2nd grade concert, 6pm, WES gym (snow date 3/4)
- Thursday, February 27th: 3rd grade concert, 6pm, WES gym (snow date 3/5)
- Monday, March 2nd, WES PreK new applications due
- Tuesday, March 10th: 4th-12th grade Band Showcase, high school gym
- March 15th: School Choice first round applications due
- Tuesday, March 24th: 4th grade concert, 6pm, WES gym (snow date 3/31)
- Wednesday, March 25th: 5th grade concert, 6pm, WES gym (snow date 4/1)
- Thursday, March 26th: 6th grade concert, 6pm, WES gym (snow date 4/2)
- Wednesday, May 27th May Day, 10am-11am WES playground (rain date 5/28)
For the complete WES events calendar, click here.
For individual classroom news and events, click here.
For all WCSU school board and committee meetings, click here.
Woodstock Elementary School PreK Info Night
Families in the Windsor Central School District with children who will be age three or four by September 1, 2020 are eligible to register for the 2020-2021 preK school year. Parents or guardians looking for more information about the PreK program at WES are invited to an information session on WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2020 From 6-7PM.
There is no childcare at this event, and it is not recommended that children attend given the hour, and that the audience for the event will be adults, not children. New students who enroll will have orientation opportunities prior to the start of the school year.
To learn more about WES preK, you can visit our school's preK site.
School Choice Window Open
The Windsor Central Modified Unified Union School District (WCMUUSD) began accepting FY21 Elementary School Choice applications for students entering grades K-6 that reside within the district on Monday, February 3, 2020. Apply at https://www.wcsu.net/schoolchoice.
What is WCMUUSD Intra-District School Choice and who is allowed to exercise it?
It is anticipated that children entering grades K-6 who live in the towns of Barnard, Bridgewater, Killington, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, and Woodstock will enter the elementary school operated for their town of residence. This is considered their "home" school, and original entry admission is assured. Alternatively, parents within these towns may choose to exercise school choice; parents may apply to send their child to any WCMUUSD elementary school operating within any of these towns. Available elementary schools are: Barnard Academy (Grades K-6), Killington Elementary School (Grades K-6), Reading Elementary School (Grades K-3), and Woodstock Elementary School (Grades K-6).
If your K-5 child is currently attending WES through choice and you want to stay, no action is necessary.
Students entering Kindergarten from Bridgewater, Pomfret, or Woodstock automatically can enroll at WES without applying for choice. Students wishing to enter WES Kindergarten from other district towns (Barnard, Killington, Plymouth, Reading) need to apply to enter WES through school choice.
For more information, please go to https://www.wcsu.net/schoolchoice.
Show Your Stuff Info
Every year WES holds a celebratory, community-building talent show in which students are given the opportunity to demonstrate a talent or skill on stage at the Town Hall Theater. Students may perform an act alone, with a friend group, or with siblings. Students interested in participating in this action-packed, fun-filled, mind-bending spectacle should have a parent complete the online Show Your Stuff Sign-Up & Contract by Monday, February 10. See office staff in the event you do not have internet access. Please keep in mind that the contract is a commitment by parents and participants that the act will be practiced regularly and performed as it has been described. Presenting a talent on stage before our entire school community is a major commitment. Parents, be sure that if your child is interested s/he and the other participating members of the group are willing to put in the necessary time to make the performance a successful one. The mandatory try-out on Thursday, April 2, is where students obtain final approval to perform their act at Show Your Stuff. Students unprepared at this time will be invited to wait until next year to participate in the show. Fifth and sixth graders are invited to sign up as a lighting technician, sound technician, stagehand, or usher. Spots are limited to the first seven students, so sign up as soon as you can. Finally, four WES sixth graders have the opportunity to act as masters of ceremonies for the show. Interested students should complete the application that was sent home with them on Thursday, January 23. They are due to Mr. Mumford by Friday, February 7. Basic guidelines for acts are as follows: Acts are limited to two minutes thirty seconds Karaoke music is allowable—no lip-syncing or singing along with original artists Parents are responsible for providing music and editing songs—given enough lead time, I am happy to help give guidance to those who need it All lyrics must be appropriate in both content and language Students may participate in only one performance Students must attend both the try-out and dress rehearsal Acts must be appropriate (song / skit content, dance moves) for all students Mark the following dates on your calendar: Try-Out at Town Hall Theater—Thursday, April 2, from 3:00 - 6:00ish Dress Rehearsal at Town Hall Theater—Monday, April 6, from 3:00 - 6:00ish Show Your Stuff at Town Hall Theater— Friday, April 10, TBD (mid-day) If you have questions, contact Jay Mumford at jmumford@wcsu.net . Rock On, Mr. Mumford
PreK Foundational Math Skills Development
Nurse News -Seasonal Illness Follow Up
Last week, we shared information with our community about steps we suggest to prevent the spread of cold, flu, and stomach bugs throughout the school population. We continue to disinfect classrooms and high traffic surfaces nightly as illness remains present among us. We have had up to 30 children absent in one day in the past month, though not all absences are due to illness. In addition to keeping children home when they are ill and making sure they can be in school as much as possible when they are well, here are some other tips related to seasonal illness, particularly influenza:
It is not too late to get a flu vaccine. While drop-in flu shot clinics are more common in early winter, hospitals and healthcare providers can still schedule patients for a flu shot now. According to the CDC, historically February is the highest month for new infections, with significant numbers in March as well. Getting a flu shot can also reduce the need for doctor's visits and allow healthcare providers more availability to provide treatment for other seasonal illnesses.