Mable Woolsey Weekly Update
Week Of January 22nd, 2023
Mable Woolsey Elementary School
Email: jkeever@bluebullets.org
Website: www.bluebullets.org
Location: 106 Pleasant Ave, Knoxville, IL, USA
Phone: 309-289-4134
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MableWoolseyElementary/
Principal: Mrs. Jodi Keever
Mission and Vision
Mable Woolsey Vision Statement: We will build a nurturing community of life long learners while fostering opportunities for social, emotional, and academic growth to ensure that we help create productive members of society.
Mable Woolsey Mission Statement: We will provide a safe and stimulating environment. We will nurture a rigorous and adaptive learning community. We will support a child's natural desire to learn. We will inspire students to discover their fullest potential.
A Note From the Principal
Well we made it through three successful days of school! I am excited for a full week next week. We go outside for recess at feels like 15 unless the blacktop is too icy, so please make sure to send your child with winter gear as needed. If you need help with this, please let your child's teacher know. We have winter gear available at school as needed.
February is approaching, and that means it will be time for Valentine's Day! Again this year all students will decorate a large white bag to collect their valentines in at school during our Kindergarten through fourth grade Valentine's Day parties on Friday February 16th. Pre-K will have their Valentine's Day parties on Wednesday February 14th.
The bags will be designed during art class for grades K-4 and in the regular classroom for Pre-K. Teachers will send home lists for students to start writing out valentines soon if they have not yet done so. We are excited to make decorating valentine bags a fun school experience to promote creativity for all of our students!
Our benchmark testing for winter will continue this week. Students are taking all of our beginning of the year assessments again so that we can see growth and plan for instruction. Again, our next data day is January 31. On this day teams of teachers will meet to discuss student scores, student needs, and to plan for instruction and interventions. You will receive notice of interventions that your child is receiving from your child's teacher. Interventions can be for students who are not meeting grade level expectations, but they are also enrichment for students who need acceleration.
Our "Book Blast" coming up will ensure that each student gets at least one free book in March. This is a fun way to promote literacy and get free books! This program is for students in Kindergarten through fourth grade. This will start on Monday January 22nd. Please check your child's backpack on Monday for directions! The form will also be sent on SeeSaw and posted on Facebook. The first students to enter ten emails next week will be eligible for prizes. The first 75 to enter 10 emails will get prizes next week. Anyone who enters 10 emails will get prizes, but the rest will receive prizes with books in March.
Thank you,
Mrs. Keever
Book Blast: Kindergarten through 4th Grade Students
On January 22, we will start a "Book Blast" with the Books Are Fun company. Your child will receive a treasure map to complete on Monday January 22nd. This is a way to have fun, earn free books, and promote literacy for all students! Students will have a week to complete the treasure map with your help. In March, each child at the school will get to take home at least one free book for participating!
"One School, One Book" Program
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Our school will take part in a special, community wide shared reading event. Every family will receive a copy of the same book and will be asked to read it together at home from February 20 through March 18. Books will go home on February 15th. I am personally asking you to make the time so that your family can participate in this special activity.
Reading aloud at home is valuable because it better prepares your child to be an effective reader, and it is also a fun, worthwhile family activity. With this program, we aim to build a Community of Readers at our school. Everyone – students, parents, teachers, even administrative staff – will all be following along together.
Your child will receive a copy of our book at a special school wide assembly introducing the program and the book. Along with the book, you will receive a reading schedule so that you can keep up at home. Generally, you will be asked to read about 15 minutes each night. The chapters will be available to listen to on Youtube as well for those families that need help reading at home.
In school, your child will be invited to answer daily trivia questions to encourage and reward attentive listening. You will soon find that your child will take pride in knowing and anticipating the details of the story. In class, students will explore the book through activities and discussion. You will want to make sure your family keeps up so that your child can be included.
This is a novel program in that children of all grade levels will all be listening to the same book. Strange or daring as that may seem, it makes sound educational sense. Reading professionals recommend reading material out loud that is beyond a child’s own reading level. We also believe that you can and should continue reading chapter books with your older children, even when they are able to read by themselves. We have selected a title that can be followed and understood and enjoyed by younger students, but will still captivate and stimulate older children.
I know that you’ll enjoy this special reading time with your children. I hope to talk with both you and your student sometime in the days to come about this special book. When a whole school reads a book, there’s a lot to talk about. With your help, we can build a Community of Readers at our school.
– Mrs. Keever
This "One School, One Book" program is created by the "Read to Them" Organization
Read to Them programs show schools and families the wide array of benefits that come from reading aloud together. A child’s positive relationship with literacy provides the basis for a lifetime of learning. Our school-wide reading programs support reading together at home and learning together at school by providing schools with the necessary tools, resources, and guidance to create a culture of literacy in their community.
Reading and Math Resources for Home
Please click the link below to see all of the reading and math resources that have been shared. I will add to this throughout the rest of the school year.
Character Strong Focus for January: Perseverance
Weather Related Closings and Snow and Emergency Bus Routes
As we begin the new year and new semester we want to remind families about how to stay informed of emergency/winter related delays, closings, and bus route changes. Such changes will be announced through the district all call system, the district website, local radio stations and social media platforms. Be sure to download the district app: Knoxville CUSD 202 Illinois. Push notifications of important announcements are available through the district app. The app is available for both Apple and Android users.
While the weather has been mild so far this school year, we would advise rural families to please review the Snow and Emergency Bus Route document (found below) prior to the onset of winter weather. If the Knoxville School District must use the Snow and Emergency Bus Routes you will be notified as soon as possible. Snow and Emergency Bus Routes will not be used with each snow or weather related event, just on an as needed basis. As our partner in safety, we ask that you transport your children to the designated area at your own discretion.
Please take a look at the Tumble Book Library Below for Reading Options at Home
Knox Community Health Center
In May 2023, the State of Illinois began the process of Medicaid renewal after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The state is finding that many are losing their healthcare coverage because the policy holders have not done the renewal process or they no longer qualify. In the three years since the last renewal process people have moved, changed phone numbers, forgot about the renewal process or are new to the program and don’t understand what the renewal process is.
The Knox Community Heath Center has been asked to assist with getting the word out about the renewal process.
Get ready to renew your Medicaid! Medicaid customers have not had to renew their Medicaid coverage since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Medicaid pays for healthcare, like doctor visits, prescription medicine, and urgent emergency services.
Now Illinois is starting renewals again to see if people are still eligible. Everybody's renewal date is different, so it is critical that you get ready to renew.
Don't risk losing your Medicaid! Here is what you need to do:
Click Manage My Case at abe.illinois.gov to:
- Verify your mailing address under "contact us."
- Find your due date (also called redetermination date) in your "benefit details".
Western Illinois University Autism Clinic
Art Supply Wish List
Blessings in a Backpack
We still are raising money so that we can continue the program for many years to come!
If you would still like to donate money check out the link below! After clicking the link make sure to enter our school name, Mable Woolsey Elementary, and the money will go to our school.
Here is the address to mail donations to-
Please make out all checks to “Blessings in a Backpack” and send to the following address:
Blessings in a Backpack Lockbox
P.O. Box 950291
Louisville, KY 40295
*If you’d like to designate your support to help feed children at a current program site, please include the program’s name on the check’s memo line.