WDES School to Home Connection
September 2021
What's Going on at WD?
In effort to support our students and their families, all teachers have created a Class DOJO. Class DOJO is a great way to communicate frequently and easily with your child's teacher. If you are not yet signed up for Class DOJO, please contact your child's teacher.
The WDES School to Home Connection will be shared with students, their parents, and the community the first of each month through Class DOJO and on the School's webpage. Please be sure to read these newsletters carefully as they will contain important information for your child. If you have not yet done so, please read the Back to School Letter that was given out to all parents at the start of school. This letter provides detailed information in regards to school procedures. Please click the file below to access this letter.
WDES: Important Events
8/31-9/2: First Grade Students PALS Literacy Assessment
8/31-9/2: Grades 3-5 Growth Assessments in Reading & Math9/3-9/6: Labor Day No School for Students
9/7: Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Assessments (VKRP, Nemours, & PALS begin)
9/9: Interim Report Cards sent home with students
School Hours
*If your child arrives after 8:05 AM, you will need to park your car in the main lot and walk them into the building. Students who enter the building after announcements are over will be considered tardy.
Announcements: 8:05 AM
School Day Begins: 8:10 AM
School Day Ends: 3:10 PM
Dismissal Begins: 3:10 PM
Buses Leave WDES: 3:15 PM (Approximately)
Students who are picked up before 3:10 PM will be considered an early release.
Bus Riders: Someone must be present to receive your child from the bus. If you would like to have your child dropped off at your home without someone receiving them, you may complete a Bus Waiver Form. This requires approval from Central Office Administration. Please ask your child's teacher if you would like a bus waiver form.
Car Riders: Our car rider dismissal takes place in the car rider loops. Please remain in your vehicle at all times. A staff member will bring your child to your car. The safety of our students is our first priority. Please note, the posted speed limit in the WD Parking lot is 15 MPH. Thank you for your cooperation.
*All transportation changes must be made by 2:00 PM. This must be done by parent note sent to school or a phone call to the main office (804) 224-9100. Transportation changes after 2:00 PM will not be possible. Thank you!
Are you an EAGLE?
Excellent attitude
Always responsible
Good friend
Leader
Exceptional attendance
Our staff is SO PROUD of all of our soaring Eagles! Keep up the good work!
No School Friday 9/3 & Monday 9/6
Mitigation Strategies
Morning Temperature Screenings: All car riders and bus riders have their temperature taken upon arrival at school. Any student who has a temperature of 100.4+ will not be permitted to attend school that day. Please screen your child for Covid-like symptoms before sending them to school each day. Thank you for your cooperation!
Face Masks: Should be worn properly by all staff and students inside the building and on school transportation buses/cars. No exceptions. Masks do not need to be worn outdoors at this time. Masks should be work over nose and mouth while inside the building unless they are eating/ drinking. Teachers have built outdoor mask breaks into their schedule throughout the day. Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions.
3 Ft Distancing: Our classrooms are set up to keep our students three feet apart from one another as much as possible. Certain grade levels who eat lunch in the cafeteria (kindergarten-first) are spaced 6 feet apart while eating. At this time, visitors are not allowed during lunch. Thank you for your understanding.
Cleaning: Teachers provide students with frequent opportunities to wash hands, use hand sanitizer, and use the lysol spray to clean frequently used areas after student use. Our custodial staff completes a detailed cleaning regimen at the end of every school day after staff and students have left.
Please click the Dashboard Button below to see current Covid-19 information for all Westmoreland Schools.
What's Cooking at WDES?
Please view the September Breakfast and Lunch Calendar below. Our wonderful "Lunch Ladies" are excited about the new smoothies that will be served during breakfast tomorrow, Thursday, September 2nd. These will be a menu option on other days as well.
Student Attendance Expectations
-Provide the Child's Name
-The date(s) of the absence(s)
-Excuse for why they are absent (see list of possible excused absences below)
Possible reasons for absence to be considered excused:
-Note from parent that the child is sick
-Doctor's (Medical/ Mental Health) or Dental note
-Note from an Officer of the Court
Parent written excuses can only be accepted for the first 5 consecutive absences or 10 total absences. Once a student has reached 10 total absences, only a note from a doctor/ dentist or from an officer of the court can be accepted per attendance policy.
Notes must be received within 5 days of the absence.
Please review the following actions that will occur upon the following absences:
3 Unexcused Absences: Class DOJO note and/or phone call reminder from school.
5 Unexcused Absences: Phone call, 5 Day Attendance letter, and attendance plan & meeting.
10 Total absences: Phone call, 10 Day Attendance letter, and attendance plan & meeting.
Your child's attendance is recorded daily in Power School. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child's attendance, please call the WDES Main Office.
Absences Due to Covid/ Need to Quarantine
Students who need to quarantine and communicate that with the school (proper documentation provided) will be given the opportunity to be counted as present for the days they need to quarantine if the following measures have been taken:
- Parent/ Guardian notifies school of quarantine and provides documentation
- Parent and teacher arrange for the student to complete assignments daily (packet-pick up, Canvas assignments, etc)
- Parent and teacher have daily "meaningful interactions" for each day the child is not at school (Example: Email, phone call, assignment submission, Class DOJO messages)
- Student completes expected assignments and returns them to school in a timely manner.
To better assist our families with receiving work during quarantine, we have a filing cabinet (organized by grade level) located under the side entrance awning. Teachers can place work in the filing cabinet (upon parent request) in which the parent can pick up at any time.
School Meals During Quarantine: If your child needs to quarantine and you would like to receive school breakfast and lunch meal delivery, please call the WDES Main Office at (804) 224-9100 to arrange for meal deliveries by school bus.
Students in Quarantine
-Tests positive for Covid-19
Resides with someone with Covid-19
-Is identified as a "close contact" with someone who has tested positive for Covid-19
will need to quarantine.
Contacts of contacts do not need to quarantine.
Parents and guardians, please contact the WDES Main Office at (804) 224-9100 if you have been notified that your child has to quarantine or has tested positive for Covid-19. Please view the Home Quarantine Information Flyer below from the Virginia Department of Education to better understanding the quarantine process.
WDES August Staff Members of the Month
Student Centered
Willing to Help
Amazing Attitude
Growth Mindset
Congratulations to: Mrs. Sullivan, Mrs. Gould, Mrs. Ashton, Ms. Fisher, Mrs. Conley, Mrs. Campbell, Mr. Fontana, Mrs. Bruno, and Mrs. Perrigan (not pictured). Thank you for going above and beyond to support our amazing students!
Happy Birthday to our August & September Babies
Christie Douglas, WDES Principal
Email: douglascc@wmlcps.org
Website: http://wd.wmlcps.org/
Location: 454 Oak Grove Road, Colonial Beach, VA, USA
Phone: (804) 224-9100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wdpto