Pray-Woodman Elementary School
A message from Principal Mr. Nils Gabrielson
A Note from Nils
Happy New Year!
We are looking forward to a great second semester at PWS!
Every day is special at our school, and we have some special theme days throughout the week.
Magnificent Monday and Fantastic Friday-We are working hard on reducing our chronic absentee rate of 26%. Our data review showed that Monday and Fridays are the two days with the most absences, so we are adding some fun things on these days to further encourage attendance. Watch your email for these special events.
Tuesday Tips-One of our school improvement goals is to provide helpful tips for families for their students to be successful at school and in life. Our next focus will be ideas for helping your child use technology safely.
Wild Card Wednesday-Have your child tell you about this fun event. Each class gets three giant cards and a chance to win certificates for the wild card, the highest total and the lowest total.
Stay Connected
Visit our website at www.usd266.com/pws.
Connect with Mr. Gabrielson at ngabrielson@usd266.com or call 316-721-0902.
Pray-Woodman Elementary School is located at 605 W. Academy Ave. in Maize.
A message from Assistant Principal Callie Harris
Catching up with Callie
Hello, PWS!
I hope you have been able to stay warm with this extreme weather! It’s been a long time since we’ve had this many snow days. I wanted to talk a little bit about outdoor recess in the winter time.
We like to get the kids outside for recess as often as possible! It is important that they are able to move their bodies, breathe fresh air and have the opportunity to be wild and crazy with their friends. We will go outside as long as the windchill is above 19 degrees and the conditions on the playground allow safe playtime. Please make sure your child has a coat, hat and gloves. If you need assistance with this, please let us know!
On another weather related note, I want to celebrate our staff who are bundled up outside helping get our students into the building and back home, again. They are superheroes!! Thank you so much for following all of the circle drive procedures, so that we can get them back into the building quickly.
Stay Connected
Visit our website at www.usd266.com/pws.
Connect with Mrs. Harris at charris@usd266.com or call 316-721-0902.
Pray-Woodman Elementary School is located at 605 W. Academy Ave. in Maize.
Media Center with Mrs. Trish Shields
Spring Book Fair "Read 🌸 Know 🏵️ Grow"
February 12 - 23, 2024
Online shopping: February 12 - Feb 23
In person shopping: February 21 & 22
On Wednesday, February 22, 2024, students will have the opportunity to purchase books and other items at the Book Fair during the school day. Scholastic eWallet is a safe, cash-free way for your child(ren) to shop at the book fair. During parent/teacher conferences, the book fair will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Teachers will have wish lists available if you would like to purchase a book or two for your child's classroom. Online shopping is available from February 12–23. Please visit the PWS Scholastic Book Fair to shop at your convenience and set up an eWallet.
We will be hosting a coin collection contest during our Book Fair this spring. Students are invited to drop spare coins into their favorite bug box. As the coin boxes are filled, fun rewards will be awarded. Student-suggested awards are a garden party with yard games, special choice boards in the library, and lawn chairs outside reading. These rewards will take place during your child’s library time. All proceeds from the coin competition will benefit our school! At the last book fair, we used the collected coins to purchase over 100 books to put in our PWS classroom libraries. Start saving those coins and dropping them in the jars beginning on February 12!
We hope to see you at the book fair. It is a wonderful way to support our school and help provide additional resources for our children.
STEAM with Mrs. Christina Eck
STEAM-Lympics is in full swing here at PWS!
Huge shout out to the PTO for making this school-wide event happen—you’re the real MVPs! Thank you for supporting our little innovators!
This quarter we are focusing heavily on coding and robotics, with an art unit soon to come!
Music Notes with Mrs. Zuniga and Mrs. Bye
Bug Out!
Bug Out will be held March 5, 2024 at the Maize Performing Arts and Aquatic Center (MPAAC).
Kindergarten will perform at 6.p.m. and first grade performs at 7.p.m. Stay tuned for more information.
Physical Education with Coach Schuette and Coach Hubert
HELLO 2024!
It has been a crazy start to the New Year – bitter cold and snow days have presented challenges to the start of this year. In physical education class, students have attacked those challenges by getting their bodies moving!
We have gone a little “old school” and got students hearts racing by playing: rock/paper/scissors and tic-tac-toe. We know what you think – those are stationary games, so we put a physical education twist to them. Please, feel free to ask or have your child share our creative twist on these games at home. It is a great way to get your whole family moving and laughing!
Speaking of HEART rates, we have also spent time in class teaching your child how to take their heart rate, why it is important to their health, and activities they can do to help strengthen their overall health.
We wish you a wonderful 2024!
Coach Schuette and Coach Hubert
Nurse Katie News
I hope everyone has been trying to stay healthy! With as much illness as I am seeing around the school, I just wanted to remind families that the best way to prevent the spread of germs and to stay healthy is to wash hands with warm soapy water often and to stay home from school when running a fever or having symptoms of illness. Please remember that if your child is running a fever of 100.1 or above, they must stay home from school until they have been fever free for over 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
I also wanted to remind families that our dental screening day is approaching! It is Friday, February 2, 2024. The dentist will look into your child's mouth and write down any recommendations. The dentist does not poke around with tools, and no treatment is provided. If you do not want your child to have this screening, please email me as soon as possible at kwallender@usd266.com.
If you have clothing, specifically shorts or pants, that your child has grown out of, please keep us in mind! We are always in need of sizes 4/5 and 6/7 for boys and girls!
Thank you so much, and stay healthy, friends!
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Carrie and Mrs. Haley
The Capturing Kid’s Hearts word of the month is Respect, with the slogan “Honor You, Honor Me.” Grade levels are working to understand what respect looks like, feels like, and sounds like across various settings.
Additionally, round two of tier 2 special counseling groups are underway for students who signed up to participate.
We are here to partner with you for the success of your student. Please call (316-721-0902) or email us if you have any questions or concerns.
Carrie Heide cheide@usd266.com - grades 1,3.
Haley Spears hspears@usd266.com - grades K,2,4.
Kitchen News with Mrs. Erika Molde
Please send students to school with lunches that do not need to be heated or have hot water supplied. Unfortunately, our lunchroom cannot provide hot water or microwaves for individual student lunch use.
Our staff serves three entrees each day. Students may choose one of two hot entrees or the grab-and-go meal.
For more information about food service, please visit us on the web at USD 266 Food Service.
PTO Urban Air Spirit Night
Thursday, Feburary, 15, 2024
Join us at Urban Air from 4-8 p.m. Show the flyer below or let the counter staff know you are supporting Pray-Woodman Elementary School.
Urban Air
8545 West Irving Street, Wichita
Thursday, February 15, 2024
Time: 4 - 8 p.m.
Important Upcoming Dates
Mon., February 12
Professional Development – NO SCHOOL
Wed., February 14
Valentine Parties 2:30-2:50
Wed., February 15
Spring Individual and Classroom Group Picture Day
Wed., February 15
Urban Air Spirit Night 4-8 p.m.
Thu., February 22
Parent Teacher Conferences 8 a.m.-8 p.m. – NO SCHOOL
Fri., February 23
Conference Comp Day – NO SCHOOL
Helpful Reminders
- After school transportation changes please call the Pray-Woodman student pick-up line (316) 721-0902 (option 5) by 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday please call by 3 p.m. Wednesday please call by 2 p.m.
- All visitors and volunteers who wish to enter the school during school hours must present a government issued photo ID, such as a driver's license. This includes parents, guardians and grandparents. Please allow for extra time to either run the driver's license or to look up their information if already in our system.
No cell phones/communication devices allowed during the school day. The use of cell phones/communication devices during the school day is prohibited. Phones should be turned off and kept in student backpacks during the school day unless special permission has been given by the administration for use in classroom projects directed by teachers.