October 2020
Newsletter
A Note From the Principal
Hello Wabash Community!
Here comes October! Fall is here, ready or not! We do continue to go outside for recess during the colder months. Please be sure to send your child with a jacket to stay warm on these cooler fall days. As we approach the winter months, if you need assistance with acquiring a winter coat, please contact Mrs. Pousson at extension 50241. We are happy to assist with the winter coats! We want all students to be warm, safe, and comfortable!
Our 1st Quarter comes to an official end on October 20. Our Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on October 28 from 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm and also on October 29th from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm. All report cards will be emailed home on October 28th. The teachers will be reaching out to families very soon to set a specific meeting date and time for your conference. All Parent/Teacher conferences will be done virtually.
Please be aware that students may not be dropped off for school before 8:20 am in the morning, unless they are in the Chautauqua Program. Staff are not on duty prior to 8:20 am in the morning. Please do not release your car riders from the vehicles until the morning front staff come outside at 8:20 am. Thank you for your help with this! Safety first!
I wanted to also remind you that Wabash continues to implement the Choose Love Program to support the development of our students' social and emotional developmental needs. The Choose Love Program places added focus on four key life lessons/skills: Courage, Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Compassion in Action. During this 1st quarter of school we have been focusing on Courage. As we approach the 2nd quarter of school, we will be transitioning into our focus on Gratitude. We have much to be thankful for here at Wabash!
This link below will take you to the Choose Love Home Program, which has a free parent tool kit. You have to create an account to access the Home Program Resources and Parent Toolkit. On my end, I have an account. I have found that I get a monthly newsletter emailed my way, but beyond that I am not bombarded with spam or junk mail as a result of having a Choose Love account. https://www.jesselewischooselove.org/choose-love-home/
Lastly, thank you for support the iReady testing at home. I know this was not always an easy task to navigate at home as a parent. Our hope across the WSD was that we were able to save the in-person time here at school for much needed instruction and learning, rather than this diagnostic assessment. Please know that we appreciate your efforts! The iReady assessment is diagnostic in nature. This test provides the teachers with specific strengths and weaknesses for your child. Please know that we do not rely on this iReady data as the only indicator for guiding our instruction. We look at all sources of data and information to help guide our instruction.
Please also keep in mind that the iReady test is an adaptive test, meaning it will get harder as the students get questions correct. In some cases, this can create discomfort for the students as they begin to struggle. I am sorry if your child experienced this struggle and it put you in an uncomfortable or unsure situation. As a parent myself, it is not easy to see my children struggle. The natural parental instinct is to jump in to support, especially when we can see that the work or problem is tricky or more advanced than normal. What I have learned over the years as a teacher, principal, and parent is that this is our opportunity to coach a growth mindset. This is our chance to share with them that we do not expect perfection, we just want to see them give an honest try. In some cases, we even have to coach our children on how we as adults calm and focus ourselves when facing a problem. I often find myself sharing my inner thinking and problem solving with my own children to help them develop the needed skills to work through new challenges. As you know, life is always sending us new challenges to overcome. :)
In closing, our Wabash parents have really stepped up during these challenging and unprecedented times. I am impressed daily with your parental grit, problem solving skills, and willingness to help out neighbors. Our children are watching us adults closely as we move forward each day. Please know that I appreciate your efforts and partnership in supporting our kids!
Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts!
Mr. Schulte
TIPS FOR VIRTUAL LEARNING
We know that this is a VERY difficult time for everyone! Most of us have never done anything remotely close to what we are doing now with a hybrid model of school or engaging in complete virtual learning. Anytime we do something new, whether by our own choice or not, there is a learning curve and an expected amount of anxiety, difficulty, and/or even frustration! We have put together some tips to help navigate this new learning experience!
Make sure to have a comfortable chair and a sturdy desk in a space away from other distractions. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but you can get creative with this as well!
~Have a set wake up time, do personal hygiene, eat breakfast, get dressed (see below), etc.
~It can also help to put on comfortable day clothes that are different from pajama clothes, again it allows the brain to shift to the idea that this is time to get going!
Share your behavioral expectations with your child. They should be the same/very similar to in person learning.
Have a routine and schedule. This can include times that your child will be virtually learning with their teacher, as well as non-teacher guided tasks/assignments, include breaks and lunch, etc.
Make the schedule with your child, that way they participate in reviewing the schedule and you are making a visual for them to see. Hang in up for him/her to see throughout their day.
Help your child organize specific assignments by due date, and date/time in their schedule they should be completing it.
Again, make it a visual in a planner or on a calendar for them to see.
Help your child connect with peers.
Schedule Google Meets, play age-appropriate multiplayer online games, etc.
Get active during breaks! You can get creative with being active at home.
https://wideopenschool.org/student-activities/get-moving/grades-k-2/ This website has age appropriate, creative activities that can be done at home to get your child moving!
Be positive about virtual learning! We understand that this can get difficult or frustrating, but your child is watching and listening to you. They will feed off your energy. Use this as an opportunity to teach your child to learn patience and flexibility when things are outside of our control!
Do self-care as a family as much as you can! Another great opportunity to teach your child how to take good care of yourself during difficult times to manage stress!
~Cook meals and eat together as a family. Eat outside if weather permits!
~Take family walks/bike rides after school and work.
~Play good ‘old school’ board or card games.
~Talk to your child about their experience and feelings. Normalize and validate their feelings. ~Correct inaccuracies in their thoughts if they express them (ex. “I will never get through this school year.” The likelihood of them not getting through the year is very small, as there they have a team around them to get them through (including you as parents, and us at school!) so you can validate that thought, but correct it into “this year is very stressful on you, and it seems impossible to finish the year. I and your teachers and counselors will help you with whatever you need to be successful.”) Continue to encourage them to express their feelings.
Practice mindfulness and other relaxation activities.
~https://www.smilingmind.com.au/ - You can access this as an app, and it offers completely free guided meditations for any age, from child to adult!
~Get out of the house for socially distant activities as much as possible!
~Get in touch with your teacher or counselors ANYTIME you need any additional support!
Coffee with the counselors:
We would like to present Coffee with the Counselors! This will be an opportunity to not only virtually connect with the counselors at Wabash so we can offer support, but offer a group setting where you can talk with other parents to share experiences and ideas! We will provide insight and clinical guidance on common challenges you may be facing during this time. Our first meeting will be on October 14, 2020, at 9:00 am, where we will start with an open discussion on how things are going for your child and yourself so far this school year. This will also help us get an idea of what topics we can bring you more guidance on as the year progresses. This is a safe place to express yourself and concerns if you have them, but please remain positive as we are all doing our best to get through this challenging time! Bring your own coffee! If you would like to join us, please RSVP to elizabethprewitt@wsdr.org.
Kathy Pousson - K-2 Counselor
As we start this school year off a bit differently than in years past, I am reminded of the excitement that children find in the start of the school year regardless of the outside influences. I am also an optimistic person and I like to believe that although this pandemic has created some negative situations and hurdles to jump, there are many great lessons to come from this.
This is a great time to really connect deeply with children. We can slow down and enjoy each other.
Children are very resilient and this is a great time to model additional coping skills. These tough times will teach our young people to bounce back and be strong problem solvers.
Helping our children to accept some discomfort and disappointment will help them later in life to become a positively-adjusted adult.
I am proud to be not only a part of Wabash but I also have the honor of being a part of the Counseling Team at Wabash Elementary! We are all here to provide your child(ren) with academic and social and emotional support. We are also available to support parents and families during difficult times or to locate outside resources.
Who am I?
I have been married to my husband, Tim for 30 years
I am a Mom of a 29 year old daughter who is married with two children
I am a Mom of a 28 year old son who is married with one child
I am the proud Grandma of my three grandchildren
I enjoy travel, swimming, and working on projects around my home
I have worked for WSD for 17 years
Contact Information:
636-887-3884 ext 50241
Counselor Caboose: https://sites.google.com/wsdr4.org/wabash-counselors/home
Kristy VanRonzelen - 3-6 Counselor
Many students find they need reminders on how to effectively complete their homework in a timely manner:
Plan your homework and make a list of what has to get done. Cross assignments off as you complete them.
Get out all the books and supplies you need.
Find a quiet place to work without distractions.
Turn off your phone.
Listen to quiet music if you like a little background noise.
Take short breaks between homework tasks or subjects. Eat a quick snack and drink some water.
If you have to turn in a worksheet or assignment, put it in the correct folder when it’s completed. That way you will easily be able to find it when you’re at school.
Celebrate when you finish! Be proud of your hard work!
I am excited to work with Wabash students in grades 3-6 again this year! There are three parts to my job at Wabash. I teach lessons to classrooms to cover many different curricular objectives to support students’ academic, career and social emotional well being. I also meet with students who need individual support about home, school or friendship concerns. Small counseling groups are also offered to students who have common goals they are working on.
Who am I?
I am a mom of three wonderful kids and a wife to a great husband.
My oldest daughter is a freshman at Mizzou
My son is a freshman at Holt
My youngest daughter is in 4th grade at Wabash
I enjoy traveling, warm weather, reading and watching my son play sports.
I have been in the field of education for 20 years.
Contact Information:
636-887-3884 ext 50240
Counselor Caboose: https://sites.google.com/wsdr4.org/wabash-counselors/home
Liz Prewitt - Education Support Counselor (ESC)
My name is Liz Prewitt and I am the Educational Support Counselor (ESC) at Wabash Elementary. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor here to support students with their social emotional needs, with the goal of removing barriers to learning and improving wellbeing. There are many different ways I can support students based on their individual needs, ranging from providing a quick check in when someone is having a difficult moment during the school day all the way to providing short term interventions on a more consistent basis to help improve overall wellbeing. This also allows me the opportunity to get to know students and offer resources and referrals for more intensive support services, as needed. I am also available for consultation with parents if you feel there is something I can help you with as you help your child through the school year! Please email or call me if you are interested in talking more about how I can help your child!
We are very lucky here at Wentzville School District to have an ESC in each and every school to support students and their families.
Please view my website for various regulation and expression activities and resource information!
Who am I?
I am a mom to twin, 16-month-old girls and a stepmom to an 18-year-old young man
My stepson just completed boot camp with the US Army
I enjoy running and being active, spending time outside and any activity with my family!
I have been in the mental health field for 12 years and in an educational setting for eight.
Contact Information:
636-887-3884 ext 50630
George Anagnos - School Support Interventionist (SSI)
Hello Wabash friends and families! My name is George Anagnos and I’m excited to continue as the School Support Interventionist for Wabash Elementary. I have over a decade of experience working within the Wentzville School District and had begun filling the role of School Support Interventionist (SSI) at Wabash last year. In this position, I partner with staff, parents and students to assist them with plans, supports and interventions relating to social-emotional and behavioral interventions. l engage in coaching, modeling and partnering with staff and families, coordinating on-the-spot interventions with students as well as working to create longer-term plans for success in classes, at specials, during recess, etc. I will be in your student’s classes throughout the school day helping and assisting with these successes and celebrations. Please reach out to me with any questions you have about my role at your student’s school!
Who am I?
I am a dad to a 4-year-old son
My wife is a Speech/Language Pathologist in the Parkway School District
I enjoy practicing martial arts, bicycling and all sorts of activities with the family
I have been employed by the Wentzville School District for 15 years, with nine of those years working in the area of special education/social-emotional case management
Contact Information:
636-887-3884 ext 50245
We are hosting a VIRTUAL Scholastic Book Fair this fall! Shop directly from our Book Fair Homepage October 5-18 https://www.scholastic.com/bf/wabashelementaryschool1
- All orders are shipped directly to your home.
- "Book only" purchases over $25 ship for FREE!
- Look for the book fair flyer that will be sent home with your student and get ready to start shopping on October 5!
While we are at Level 2, your student has library every two weeks. Please help your student get their library books returned on time. Also, please work with your student to help them keep library books away from water bottles.
All 3rd-6th grade students may place holds for the books they want from the Wabash Library. Watch this video to learn how to place a hold! Students may have up to three books checked out at a time.
PebbleGo is a great resource for all K-6 students. Log in during At Home Learning Days to learn facts and read ebooks! Username: wabashes Password: school. Watch this video to help you get started.
REMINDER: Remember to check your child's temperature each morning prior to coming to school.
Please monitor your children at home, before coming to school. If your child has any one or more of the following symptoms, please keep your child at home.
-Fever 100.0 or above
-new onset cough
-difficulty breathing
-headache
-loss of taste or smell
-sore throat
-diarrhea
-nausea/vomiting
-fatigue
-runny nose/congestion
If any of these scenarios occur during a weekend, you can email the nurse at: sherrynutt@wsdr4.org
Below you will find links to the Reading Connections Newsletter
PK and KINDERGARTEN BUS PARENTS
Cell Phone Rules at Wabash
Our school rules around cell phones and electronic devices are as follows:
1. Phones/devices stay turned off during school day.
2. Phones/devices remain in backpack during school.
3. Students may not carry phones/devices on them.
4. Teacher may give permission for it to be out, but all other rules apply when permission is not granted.
Students who fail to follow these guidelines will be sent to the office. Phones/devices will be kept in one of our Administrators' offices for the remainder of the school day.
Please review these guidelines with your child/children.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES UPDATES
As a school of 900 students, managing the dismissal of students is a detailed process. At the end of each day, our staff is responsible to make sure our students get to the correct assigned locations, including: buses, walkers/bike riders, car riders, daycare van riders, and Chautauqua. Last minute changes create situations where students are not where they need to be. This results in lost time and added stress for students, parents, and staff.
Please keep the following in mind:
1.) We need to know in advance, by 3:00 pm, if your child’s transportation is changing. This will provide adequate time to notify your child’s teacher and to make sure everyone is on the same page prior to the beginning of the dismissal process.
2.) Students will not be dismissed between 3:15 pm and 3:35 pm in order to maintain a secure and orderly environment for the dismissal of our 900 students. We understand doctor appointments and emergencies come up from time to time. Please try and limit early dismissals for these reasons if possible.
BIRTHDAY TREAT UPDATE
For the upcoming school year, Wabash will be using the following guidelines for student birthday treats.
We are no longer allowing students to bring in any food items or non-food items. This includes goodie bags with non-food items such as candy/gum, trinkets, pencils, stickers etc. Please know that any food, drink, goodie bags, etc. not from our café will not be served or delivered to the classroom.
Our café does provide food and non-food items as an alternative. Click here for the WSD approved Healthy Birthday Treat form for ordering birthday goodies. Birthday items are for your child’s classroom only and sharing around the school (classrooms, friends, teachers, staff, etc.) is not permitted. Orders need to be submitted at least five days prior to the date needed. Payments are check only. Please keep in mind when making purchases that you get enough items for all the students in your child’s classroom.
Our goal is to continue to provide a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for all.
Wabash Elementary
Email: jillmitchell@wsdr4.org
Website: www.wentzville.k12.mo.us
Location: 100 Golden Gate Parkway, Wentzville, MO, United States
Phone: 636-887-3884
Twitter: @WabashStation