The Puma Pride
January 10, 2022
Principal's Message
Hello, Willow Dale Families!
Welcome back, and Happy New Year!
The classrooms are gearing up for an exciting 2022 year. With the New Year upon us, many of our classrooms are reflecting on the first half of the year and setting goals for future learning. This is also a good time for family conversations about setting personal and academic goals. From the words of Mark Twain--“To live a fulfilled life, we need to keep creating the "what is next," of our lives. Without dreams and goals there is no living, only merely existing, and that is not why we are here.”
The weather is ever-changing. The conditions on the recess yard may be a bit windier and colder than what is expected due to the open fields. Frequently there is a “wind-tunnel” effect on the recess yard. Occasionally, we may have to switch to indoor recess because of the outside conditions. Please refer to the cold weather guidelines below. Thank you to our recess monitors who do an excellent job of facilitating and managing outdoor and indoor recess activities when warranted. Please make sure your children come to school with a coat, hat, and gloves. We will continue to monitor the weather daily and make the best decision for the safety of the students and staff.
Our Lost and Found area has grown over the last few weeks. If your child is missing an item, have them check the designated area in the cafeteria. Please continue to label all student items. This ensures that when something goes lost or missing, we can return it to the student.
On Monday, January 17, all Schools and Offices are closed to honor the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Have a Pawsome week!
Dr. Catherine Perkins and Mr. Daniel Julius
Website: https://wdes.centennialsd.org/
Phone: 215-441-6093
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Education/Willow-Dale-Elementary-School-331460017756772/
Twitter: @Willow_Dale_ES
Snow Day Fun!
NOVA Passive Parent Consent
Dear CSD Parents and Guardians,
This school year, Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) will be visiting the K-5 classrooms at Davis, McDonald, and Willow Dale to deliver a 60-minute workshop designed to help keep kids safe. This is being offered to all K-5 classrooms in our district for free as part of the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative.
The workshops are as follows:
Kindergarten - Personal Safety
- Teaches body boundaries and safe, appropriate touches or requests
First, Second, and Third Grade - Safe Touches
- Teaches children how to keep their bodies safe
- Uses puppet shows to teach and deliver the lessons
- Is an evidence-based program developed by the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Fourth Grade - iSmart
- Teaches how to use technology safely, responsibly, and effectively
Fifth Grade - Cyberbullying Prevention
- Clarifies digital rights and responsibilities and teaches appropriate strategies and effective responses to handle cyberbullying
On the day of the workshop, your child will also receive a free activity book to take home.
If you have any questions about the workshop, contact Susan Romano (susan.romano@novabucks.org / (215) 343-6543 ext.6702)
If you DO NOT want your child to take part in the NOVA workshop, please let us know by completing the form below no later than Thursday, January 20, 2022.
Mr. Golderer, Principal at LCMS, will be available to answer questions at the Virtual Home & School Meeting on Monday, January 10 at 6:15 PM.
Join us virtually for our Home and School Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73298628902?pwd=U2NQNVVOZ0pESnpMNnNRbVppanlEZz09
Meeting ID: 732 9862 8902
Passcode: g0m7x8
Specials Rotation Calendar
Counselors Corner
Helping Kids Cope with Sadness – from Kidlutions: Solutions for Kids by Wendy Young, LMSW
The blahs, the doldrums. Whatever you call it, sadness is a part of life. So is learning how to deal with sadness. And when it comes to learning how to manage BIG feelings, kids look to us. Good thing there's lots we can do to help. And the earlier we help them, the better.
5 Ways to Help Kids Cope
1. Empathize
"You are so sad!" "This is tough for you." "Your sad is bigger than you are." "I'm sorry you're having a rough time right now."
2. It doesn't last forever.
Help kids understand that sadness (or any other feeling, for that matter) doesn't last forever. Sometimes even adults benefit from being reminded of this fact.
3. Empower them.
You can empower kids to feel more control over difficult moods, by helping them understand that they can do something about them. If nothing more, we can teach kids strategies to "think" differently about a situation. We can help kids train their brains to think more positively, even in tough times. (More about that in step 5.) This is not to say we are trying to deny that difficult feelings exist. Quite the opposite, as you shall see in the next step.
4. Name it, Claim it, Tame it.
Our goal is to help kids identify whatever feeling they are experiencing. When they can name it claim it (accept they are feeling it), they can tame it (deal with it). What a gift to give to kids. This is a key component of social-emotional development.
5. A Balanced View
This relates back to number 3. Thinking strategies are crucial. Help kids understand that they can feel their feeling, while at the same time not catastrophizing it. This helps kids gain a more balanced view, and hence a new perspective, which can help them cope better. Here's a few examples of how you can help kids balance out their thinking, "I know the rain ruined your outdoor party, but luckily, we have a house. The party will go on indoors." "We can't go swim today. That's disappointing. I know you would like to, but we can't. Let's find a time on the calendar when we can. We'll write it down." And so on.
*Visit http://kidlutions.blogspot.com for more great ways to help kids cope with feelings*
Willow Dale is a Title I School
Safety & Security
Visitors to the school must enter the school’s front foyer (white doors) and ring the bell, located next to the door that leads to the main office. Once buzzed in, our fantastic staff will be happy to serve you!
- Visitors must obtain a visitor’s pass from the main office.
- All visitors to the building must have his/her photo identification card scanned through the Raptor system to ensure everyone’s safety. Please make sure you have your driver's license or state photo ID card available upon entrance. The system will also ask questions related to health and wellness (COVID symptom check).
- Visitors or parents may be escorted to their room where their business or volunteer work is being conducted.
- Students are requested not to bring guests to school unless permission is granted in advance by the principal.
- Forgotten books, lunch money, lunches, etc. should be left in the office. We will see that they are delivered to the student.
- If a parent or designated adult is picking a student up from school early, a driver's license is required and the above process (step 2) must be completed to release the student.
Thank you very much for helping us maintain a safe school for our students and staff!
Breakfast and Lunch Information
ALL STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A FREE BREAKFAST & LUNCH DAILY
The USDA has extended the waiver to continue feeding under the Summer Programs which entitles all children 18 and under to eat for free. These programs have been extended throughout the entire school year.
Parents, please continue to apply for free and reduced programs, as this helps fund other programs in the district which could benefit families. Now more than ever, we need families to complete the Free and Reduced meal application even though all meals are currently free. Please complete the application today.
2021-2022 Bus Schedules
Attendance
Children who attend school regularly make the best academic progress, graduate, and go on to successful post-secondary education and/or careers.
Students, who arrive late (after 8:45 am), must report to the office for a late slip. Parents should accompany tardy students to the office to sign in the student.
If your child is going to be absent, please notify the school to let us know.
Reporting Absences
SUBMITTING ABSENCE NOTES
Attendance Notes can be Submitted Electronically via email at WDAttendance@centennialsd.org. Please know you will still receive automated phone calls (to the primary phone listed in Skyward) if you have not submitted an absence note via email on the days your child is absent from school.
**Absence notes must be submitted within 3 days of the student's absence, otherwise, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.
E-Mailing Attendance Notes
- Parents with children in Willow Dale may e-mail attendance notifications/notes to the following address: WDAttendance@centennialsd.org
- E-mail notifications are encouraged on the morning of the absence day. However, e-mailed absence notes may be sent on the day following the absence.
- When sending an absence notification please include the following information:
- Child's Name
- Child's Grade
- Child's Homeroom Teacher
- Date(s) of Absence
- Reason for Absence
- Contact Phone # for Parent/Guardian
- Other Pertinent Information
- While you may still continue to call the school on the day of absence, a follow-up e-mail or a written note is still required for the absence to be excused.
Email: WDAttendance@centennialsd.org
Phone: 215-441-6093
Childcare Arrangement Request
Transportation for childcare arrangements must be on a fixed schedule that is consistent from week to week. Transportation arrangements may take a week to arrange; please find alternative transportation for your child(ren) until you are notified of arrangements. Please confirm all arrangements with your child and your child(ren)’s teacher(s).
Please email completed forms to wdattendance@centennialsd.org.
Below is a link to the form.
Family Trips Scheduled During the School Year
Dear Centennial Families;
The Centennial School District Board of School Directors approved Policy 204.1, Family Trips Scheduled During School Year.
Although the scheduling of family trips during the instructional year is not encouraged, the Centennial School Board recognizes that students may benefit educationally by accompanying their parent(s)/guardian(s) on trips. The revision to the policy will allow the schools to approve up to five (5) days instead of three (3). Any trip beyond five (5) days will need the approval of the Superintendent.
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) who are requesting approval for a family trip need to complete and submit the attached form to their building principal at least two (2) weeks before the trip.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Perkins or Mr. Julius.
School Safety Drills
We will practice fire, lock-in, lock-out, and weather emergency drills. These drills may or may not be announced. Unannounced drills more accurately indicate the preparedness of the school and the effectiveness of safety procedures. Your child's teacher will review the exercises and procedures with their classes. Please make the teacher aware of any concerns regarding your child's participation in the safety drills.
The Warminster Director of Emergency Management Services and the Warminster Police Department will be invited to observe our drills and provided feedback for improvement.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Perkins or Mr. Julius.
Willow Dale Elementary School
Email: perkca@centennialsd.org
Website: https://wdes.centennialsd.org/
Location: 720 North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: 215-441-6093
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Education/Willow-Dale-Elementary-School-331460017756772/
Twitter: @Willow_Dale_ES