Windsor Monthly Newsletter
October 2017
From Nurse Liz
Weather getting cooler, please see that your child has a jacket for the chilly days. We will most likely go outside for recess.
We also start seeing more illness during cooler months so please keep your child home if they have a fever, diarrhea, or are vomiting. They need to be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. Best practice is HANDWASHING.
Flu shots are available at many locations and doctor offices. October and November is a good time of year to get one before the holidays.
Counselor's Corner
Hello, Windsor Families! It seems like we are starting to lock into school routines. For some, “routine” can be a mind-stifling and boring word. However for students, it can be a word that brings calm, peace, and assurance while at school. With routines come predictability which is good for students as they are aware of classroom and school-wide expectations which brings order and stability into place.
The DMPS Attendance Policy has had some changes this year. Here are some of the highlights that affect students and families:
· Your child’s teacher should be calling you at the 3rd day and 5th day absences. The call is to promote the idea that your child is missed at school, if there are things that we can do to help to improve attendance, and the idea that the more your child is at school, the more successful they will be at school.
· On the 10th absence is when the district says a student’s absences have been excessive. You may receive a letter at that point telling you about this. Past 10 absences, we may arrange a conference, an attendance agreement, etc., to improve the child’s school attendance. Into 15+ absences, the parent/guardian will be referred to Polk County for Truancy Mediation. (If your child is absent because of a medical condition or procedure and you are clearly communicating this to us at school, those missed days do not count towards truancy.)
· 10+ tardies is considered excessive. You will receive a note giving you a monthly snapshot should your student go over the 10+ tardies benchmark.
· Students are considered tardy if they arrive to the classroom at 8:45 AM or after.
· Students are allowed in the building at 8:20 AM. At 8:30 AM, all students may choose to take a breakfast provided by DMPS to their classroom to eat. There is no cost for this meal.
· If a child is late to school by more than 60 minutes, the tardy is now considered a half-day absence.
· When taking your child to their medical appointments, please bring a note from their doctor’s office. This provides the needed information at school.
When I read over these changes to the Attendance Policy, I feel like the grumpy old man telling the kids not to play in his yard. I think most of you will recognize that I am just stating facts and that there is no negative energy behind them. It’s just like with the kids. We’re trying to create routines and familiarity for families by sharing this news so you know what to expect and predict when these matters come up. Fortunately for Windsor, attendance is not a big issue. Our kids do a good job of coming to school – ready to learn.
I think you’ll find the staff at Windsor very open to addressing any concerns you may have regarding your child. If I can ever be of help, I hope you will contact me at school. I love my job. I love helping kids and families.
Take good care,
John Hickling, School Counselor
E-mail: John.Hickling@dmschools.org | Phone: 515.242.8440
From The Art Room
Seesaw--Alll students will once again be able to share their artwork with families online through the Seesaw online journaling app. Information to set up access to your child's work will be sent home with conference materials in early October. Please try to set it up and contact Ms. Imlau if you experience any difficulty.
TAB Choice Based Art--This year in art class we are learning a new way to operate from a method called Teaching Artistic Behaviors (TAB.) Students will be making more independent choices in their art work. You will be seeing less work that looks like the same project from all students in one class. There will still be requirements that all students have to complete, but they may be using different materials from others in their class. Right now classes are learning how to set up, use and cleanup tools and materials. So far we have been working on drawing and painting centers. We look forward to adding centers for assemblage (sculpture), collage, architecture, clay and fiber arts (we even have an old treadle sewing machine to practice sewing!).
Recycled Materials Needed--Here is a list of items we need for our art centers. Some of it sounds like our old junk sculpture materials: old magazines, plastic bottle caps, old CD's, corks, old small plastic toys or toy parts, small pieces of scrap wood, small cardboard boxes, cardboard paper towel or TP tubes. Please have students place items in the ART BOX outside the art room door. Thanks for your help!
October Upcoming Events
- Conferences are October 2,3 & 4th
- School Picture Day is Tuesday, October 17th
- No School Friday, October 27 for staff Professional Development
- More events in P.A.W.S section
Fall Parties
Thursday, Oct 26, 2017, 03:00 PM
Classroom
P.A.W.S. (Partners at Windsor School)
Hello Parents, once a month is just not enough to keep everyone updated on all the PAWS activities, contest results and pictures! Be sure to like us on FB to get the most up to date information.
What’s happening now:
· Butter Braid Fundraiser
· We are very excited to announce the return of Butter Braid pastries as our major fall fundraiser! The proceeds from this fundraiser will support field trips, teacher and class activities, and much more! We have set a goal for each student to sell to six customers. For each pastry sold, our group will earn $6.00 towards achieving our final goal of $3,000! Ask your family, friends and coworkers. We will accept donations in lieu of sales.
· Fundraiser Dates:
Selling 10/02/17 (no late orders) with pick up on Thursday, 11/16/17 at 3:30-5:30 PM in the school cafeteria which is just in time for Thanksgiving morning.
· Fundraiser ends: 10/16/17
· Windsor Wear T-shirts
· The top 3 designs are chosen and school wide voting will begin the first week of October. We will send out the order sheet later this month. These t-shirts make great Christmas gifts.
· Younkers Community Days
· When you donate $5.00 for a Younkers Community Day booklet from Windsor Paws, 100% of your $5.00 donation will be donated to our organization! (Guess what? There’s $10.00 off coupon in this booklet.)
http://bit.ly/2hOMhhF More information below
· DQ Nights
· Grab a sweet treat after conferences and join us for Windsor Elementary’s Dairy Queen Night October 2, 3, & 4. Nathan, owner of the Windsor Heights DQ has generously agreed to donate 25% of your total to Windsor PAWS!
Next Meeting:
- November 21st – 6:00pm
- Report Cards—it’s no longer A, B or C’s it’s now 1, 2 or 3’s! Learn how to read the new S.R.G.-Standards Referenced Grading cards.
- Update on School of Rigor – currently 3 months in
- Family Fun Night
President: Shelley Langfitt
Vice President: Katie Finken
Treasurer: Meggon John
Media Chair: Renea Burg
Contact P.A.W.S.: dsmwindsorpaws@gmail.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/windsordmps
Younkers
Younkers Community Day Booklet Fundraiser
When you DONATE $5.00 for a Younkers Community Day Booklet from Windsor Paws,
100% of your $5.00 will be donated to our organization!
At Valley West Younkers, with your $5.00 donation you will enjoy:
· 30% Shopping pass to use over and over
· 30% off Yellow Dot
· $10 off an item $10 or more
· 100 Super Bonus Buys
· Coupons are good on bonus buys
· Amazing web-exclusive offers
Interested in volunteering to fundraise at Younkers for Windsor Paws?? Email Judy.kirkland@bonton.com for details and times.
To make your donation, visit: http://bit.ly/2hOMhhF
Feel free to share-share-share!
You will also find this link on our Windsor Elementary PAWS facebook page: www.facebook.com/windsordmps
Thank you for your donation!
Windsor Website
Check out the Windsor Website for more information and upcoming events! Click here to be redirected
Windsor Elementary
Email: windsor@dmschools.org
Website: https://windsor.dmschools.org/
Location: 5912 University Ave, Des Moines, IA, United States
Phone: 515-242-8440