Wildcats News-Walkathon Edition
October 1, 2021
Student Drop Off Time is 7:35 am
Walkathon, Open House and Fall Family Picnic Set for Oct. 7th.
Walkathon- Thank you for your support of the PTO sponsored Walkathon Fundraising and Event. Our students and families have raised just over $6000 dollars so far. The goal for the week ahead is to continue to reach out and connect with those you know to consider a pledge for whatever they can donate to the Walkathon Fundraiser. We will accept donations through next week. Students will participate in dress up week, and engage in classroom and school-wide incentives when we reach certain dollar amount milestones. The goal is to raise $12,000 to support field trips, special activities and projects to support students. See graphic below.
Walkathon Schedule:
-1:20-1:40 pm Grades 1 and 4
-1:40-2:00 Grades K and 3
-2:00-2:20 Grades 2 and 5
Because this walkathon is outside activity, parents are welcome to attend the Walkathon/Run. Please remain along the curb on McConnell St. and Emerson Lane for the walking route and along the west end of Emerson Lane for the run route. The Walkathon celebration day at school October 7th is followed up with a family picnic and Open from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm that evening.
Fall Festival Week:
The culminating activities are the Walkathon/Run held from 1:20-2:20 pm on Thursday, October 7th, a family picnic on the Washington Playground from 5:30-7:00 pm that evening and an Open House. Because the Open House/Meet the Teacher will take place indoors, a mask will be required.
Open House Schedule:
- Grades K-2-4 parents can visit teachers from 6-6:30 pm and
- Grades 1-3-5 parents can visit teacher classrooms from 6:30-7 pm. The staggered schedule will reduce the number of people in the school at one time.
We are excited to celebrate the start of the 2021-22 school year. Please consider joining us for this important event! See flyer below for details.
Bike and Walk to School Day- Wednesday, October 6th
Wellness week will work along side our walkathon week. Teachers will emphasize a wellness tip each day. Additionally, we will celebrate Walk and Bike to School Day on Wednesday, October 6th. We will have tickets for students pick up throughout the day on Wednesday, Oct. 6th if they walk, bike or are active on the playground throughout the AM recess and the extra recess time. The drawing for bike related prizes will take on Thursday morning. Tickets will need to be brought to the office by a teacher by the end of the day on Wednesday, October 6th
Mayo Clinic Health System is excited to partner with Mankato Area Public schools to bring Wellness Week to all elementary schools in the district October 4-8! Thank you for your willingness to participate. We hope Wellness Week helps to enhance what the school is already doing with Bike and Walk to school day on Wednesday, October 6. The goal of Wellness Week is to reinforce and build on the health and wellness information that students are receiving at school and home.
Parent-Teacher Organization; A strong Parntership for Washington Elementary
You can follow us on Facebook for update at www.facebook.com/washingtonptomankato. We will also be sending flyers and posting information soon about our Washington Walkathon and fall picnic on October 7. The Walkathon is the PTO's biggest fundraiser and a fun event for the students during the school day. The evening picnic is a great opportunity to have fun with your family and get to know other Washington Families and will be incorporated with Open House this year. Looking forward to another great year at Washington!
Becca Peterson and Cynthia Ballman - Co-Presidents
TBD - Vice President
Shane Drahota– Treasurer
TBD – Secretary
“Washington PTO is a group of parents, caregivers and school staff dedicated to supporting our kids through learning and enrichment.”
COVID Preparedness Plan
~ Masks: You might want to add "masks" to the school supply list this year. While we will certainly give out masks to students who do not bring one, this is not something that we can do every single day. We simply do not have an unlimited supply of masks. Your help in making sure that students come to school with a mask is needed. If you'd like to donate masks to the office and/or your child's classroom, please know we would welcome any/all donations.
Current District 77 Health Guidance (Click Here) are from the Minnesota Department of Health Best Practices for COVID-19 Prevention in Schools and the Centers for Disease Control - Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools. As we prepare for a return to school this fall, I have been getting a few questions about online school options. While there are still many logistics to work out, families will have an option through the service coop (SCSC) to join an asynchronous online school experience. At the elementary level this model will require parent oversight for their students. As a district we will provide technology for our students who enroll (device and internet if needed).
Masks, Masks and More Masks
Thank you,
Shane Baier
Principal
We Need You! Anyone interested in earning extra money?
~ Substitute Teaching: Have you ever thought about being a substitute teacher? Our sub pool is quite limited this year, and we are on the hunt for interested individuals to consider this opportunity. A 4-year Bachelor's Degree is required, and you would need to obtain a substitute license, but we can help with that process. AND...if you only wanted to sub here at Washington, and nowhere else, we could help to support this. If you have any inkling that you might want to do this, please reach out to me!!!
~ ACES: If you know anyone, age 16+, who might be on the hunt for a GREAT job opportunity, please have them consider joining the ACES staff. Here's the link to the application process, or you can call the ACES office at 387-5501 to get more information.
Events Calendar
Oct. 4 BLT, 2:40-3:20 pm
Oct. 4- PTO Mtg., 6:30 pm
Oct. 6 Walk and Bike to School Day (be active at recess for those who aren’t able to walk or bike)
Oct. 7 Walkathon- 1:20 pm
Oct. 7 Open House /Welcome back family picnic 5:30-7:00 pm
Oct. 11- No School- Professional Development Day
Oct. 11- Leader in Me Coaching DayOct. 21 & 22- No School MEA
Oct. 28- Math Night and Book Fair, 5:30-7 pm
Nov. 5- Vision & Hearing Screening
Nov. 5- General Election- School Board
Nov. 9-PLC 2 hr. Late Start Day
Nov. 8- PTO Mtg. 6:30 pm
Nov. 12- Teacher Workshop Day (No School)
Nov. 16, 18 & 22- Parent/Teacher Conferences
Nov. 23, 24, 25 & 26 No School, Thanksgiving Break
Procedures for Arrival, Dismissal; What we need from Students and Parents to Create Safe Transitions to and From School
School Drop Off and Pick up:
Each grade level and classroom will have a designated drop off and pick up loction along the curb on the designated street found by clicking here. Families will multiple students may coordinate for drop off and pick up at the youngest child's location.
School Arrival:
Students in grade K-2 will entered the building through assigned doors and go to classrooms immediately upon arrival beginning at 7:35 am. Breakfast will be available in the classroom for those interested. Students in grades 3-5 will go to the cafeteria for breakfast upon arrival or walk to the playground using the sidewalks around the school. Students on the playground will remain on the playground until the first bell at 7:50 am. Students in grades 3-5 have been assigned to a playground zone for the time outside before school; 3rd grade- Zone 1, 4th grade- Zone 2, 5th grade- Zone 3. Click Here to view Playground Zones.
Staggered Dismissal Schedule:
To ensure a safe transition at the end of the day, students will be be excused by grade level beginning with kindergarten and first grade and working our way up to 4th and 5th grade.
- Kindergarten and 1st Grade release time: 2:28 pm
- 2nd and 3rd Grade release time: 2:29 pm
- 4th and 5th Grade release time: 2:30 pm
Late Arrival:
Students arriving after 8 am, will need to enter through the main office doors and check in at the office prior to going to class.
Thank you,
Shane Baier
Principal