Dragon Blast
Mary C. Howse Elementary School
From the Principal
Dear MCH Parents:
I hope you all have entered 2019 with optimism and eagerness to have another great year! We continue to see great strides with our students here each and every day. As I shared, my goal is to try to complete more short videos (such as below) to allow parents a glimpse into our daily occurrences here at MCH - every video I have done is always impromptu (no editing!).
As we move forward, please remember to reach out to your child's teacher with any questions or concerns. Also, feel free to communicate any positives as well! We enjoy hearing it all!
Keep in mind that elementary children all grow at very different rates - often, we look at growth at the same time we look at benchmarks or milestones. We become anxious if children are not where "they are supposed to be" when it comes to these marks. Remember, sometimes they fall behind, sometimes they make double the progress...it takes time and collaborative efforts among all of us. I am sure you have noticed that I am sending out articles and links to parenting nowadays and how are children are developing - this is critical for us all to keep in mind. When we add any stress to one's lives, learning and growth can be inhibited.
Let's keep the happiness and worry free days as long as possible!!! To remember some of the earliest times in our children's lives when they grow the most, enjoy two photos at the end of this newsletter - our newest addition to our MCH family - Nicholas Hoban (Dorazo) son born to Amanda Dorazo (Hoban), our second grade teacher, and her husband Nick - 12/28/18.
Dr. Cat
Announcements and Reminders
- Car line will end at 8:55 AM this year. Please make every effort to get your child to school before then. We have seen such an improvement thus far.
Half day Friday, January 18th. Dismissal is at 12:10
No school Monday, January 21st for Martin Luther King Holiday
Applebee's Flapjack breakfast, Saturday, January 26th
OUTDOOR RECESS
Hello MCH Parents,
Outdoor Recess in Cold Weather:
The WCASD follows recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Association of School Nurses for outdoor recess during the cold weather. Barring extreme temperatures, children will play outside for at least part of their recess time. Please plan for this and make sure that your child is dressed appropriately.
Math Club Members
What is District Math Competition?
Math Competition includes three events and be held on Thursday, 5/22 @ the new Spellman:
- Coding using Dash/Dot robots
- Logical/Reasoning problems
- “24” competition
February Schedule
February 1-
Try out focus: Logical Reasoning Puzzles. These puzzles will be completed individually and starting promptly at 8:20 in Mrs. Giuliano’s room. Please bring a pencil.
February 8-
Try out Focus: 24 Game. We will play two rounds and calculate points.
4th graders please arrive at 8:15 and go to Mrs. Giuliano’s room. We will start promptly at 8:20.
5th graders- your try out will be held during recess this day. Please arrive to Mrs. Giuliano’s room promptly at 1:25.
**must be at both to be considered for competition. We start promptly at 8:20am.
Student scores will then be calculated together from the three weeks and the six 4th graders and the six 5th graders going to competition will be announced on the announcements on February 13th.
February-May
Friday practices will consist of the 12 competitors and we will be preparing for District Competition. All practices will be held in Mrs. Giuliano’s room while preparing for competition. Those going to competition will be taught how to code and will practice with CUE and DASH robots for competition.
AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY
After School Sports will meet the following dates.
5th Grade Boys
Jan. 10
Jan. 22
Jan. 31
Feb. 12
4th Grade Boys
Jan. 15
Jan. 24
Feb. 5
Feb. 14
4th and 5th Grade Girls
Jan. 17
Jan. 29
Feb. 7
Feb. 19
Becki Monte
Health and Physical Education
Mary C. Howse Elementary School
FROM THE NURSE'S OFFICE
Since cold and flu season is upon us. Here is a reminder about when to keep your child home from school:
Students who are sick are unable to learn and, in addition, may inadvertently spread sickness among others. Due to the close proximity of both students and staff in school buildings, the potential for the rapid spread of infection represents an overriding public health concern.
Occasions when students need to be excluded from school include the following:
§ *Students with temperatures of 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit or above should stay home until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without medication.
§ *Students with persistent vomiting and/or diarrhea should stay home and should return to school only after being symptom‐free for 24 hours.
The following is a list of some common conditions we see in schools and the period of time your child should remain at home:
§ *Strep Throat or Tonsillitis: 24 hours from the initiation of appropriate therapy.
§ *Bacterial Infections: 24 hours from the institution of appropriate antimicrobial therapy and/or judged non-infectious by the School Nurse or the student’s Health Care Provider.
§ *Contagious Conjunctivitis “Pink eye”: 24 hours from the institution of appropriate therapy and/or judged non-infectious by the School Nurse or student’s Health Care Provider.
§ *Impetigo: 24 hours from the institution of appropriate therapy and/or judged non-infectious by the School Nurse or Health Care Provider.
§ *Ringworm: Until judged non-infectious by the School Nurse or student’s Health Care Provider.
§ *Lice: Until after treatment. Student see the School Nurse upon return to school.
§ *Respiratory illnesses must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. If your child has a history of asthma, your Health Care Provider should advise you about treatment. Even children without asthma have difficulty focusing on learning when they have a persistent cough.
§ *In case of contagious illnesses (e.g. chicken pox, flu, pertussis, impetigo, conjunctivitis, lice) please contact the school nurse so that we can monitor for other cases and advise about the student's return to school.
For more information, check out the MCH Nursing Office Website:
https://sites.google.com/wcasd.net/nursing-office-news/when-to-stay-home?authuser=0
Thank you for helping our MCH family stay in the best possible health!
SECOND STEP
WCASD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Parent Second Step Letter
Dear Parents,
Over the past three school years the WCASD has been implementing the Second Step program in our elementary schools. We are excited that the program now encompasses all elementary grades K-5. This program was selected as a way to introduce our children to the critical skills needed to get along with others.
Each grade using Second Step will have four main concepts or units that will be covered with individual lessons for each unit. There are approximately 26 lessons depending on the grade level.
The four main units covered in each grade level are:
SKILLS FOR LEARNING- Students gain the skills to help them learn including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, learn to be assertive and learn to ask for help.
EMPATHY-students will learn to identify their own and other’s feelings
EMOTION MANGEMENT- students learn specific skills for calming down when experiencing strong feelings
PROBLEM SOLVING-student will learn a process for solving problems with others in a positive way
Each unit has lessons that teach the skills related to that main topic. The younger grades learn many of the skills through singing and puppets and the older grades learn skills through role playing and videos showing actual situations they could encounter during the school day. Your child’s teacher will be able to tell you which unit the class has completed or what skill the class is working on as the year progresses.
Throughout the school year your child will be listening and learning about the skills necessary to get along with others. Please ask your child to share what they are learning and help them to use the skills they have been taught as they learn and grow.
www.secondstep.org Kindergarten enter: SSPK FAMI LY70
First grade enter: SSP1 EQAY 99EJ
Second grade enter: SSP2 BX9m 6DZM
Third grade enter: SSP3 CYA7 7EHU
Fourth grade enter: SSP4 B6G8 7LPV
Fifth grade enter: SSP5 CBGD 8RQ2
Thank you
WCASD School Counselors
POSTIVE PRAISE
Parent Portal
Use the link below to access the parent portal page:
http://home.wcasd.net/pages/West_Chester_Area_SD/ForParents/Parent_Portal
On the page, there is written documentation (English and Spanish,) as well as videos (English only) that walk parents through how to set up your parent portal account, how to access grades and set alerts, how to view the online report card, how to check attendance, etc. There is even an app for your phone if you prefer.
Please call the office for your child’s user name and password if you do not have the information that was provided to you at the beginning of the school year.
Parent Resources
Community Bulletin Board:
For activities offered around West Chester, see:
http://home.wcasd.net/pages/West_Chester_Area_SD/Community_Bulletin_Board/Other
Articles to consider:
Should we still give grades?
Are letter grades failing our students?
- http://neatoday.org/2015/08/19/are-letter-grades-failing-our-students/
Allowing students redos and retakes: http://wp.vcu.edu/hhughesdecatur/files/2012/08/Wormeli_Redos-and-Retakes-.pdf
Our Mary C. Howse School Pledge
I pledge
To be the best that I can be
Respect myself and others
Make safe choices
And take responsibility
For my learning and behavior
Contact and Additional Information
Email: scatrambone@wcasd.net
Website: http://www.edline.net/pages/mary_c__howse_elementary_schoo
Location: 641 West Boot Road, West Chester, PA, United States
Phone: 484-266-1302
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mchpto/
Twitter: @SteveCat19