The Puma Pride
September 9, 2019
Principal's Message
Hello, Willow Dale Families!
On behalf of our faculty and staff, welcome back to the 2019-20 school year!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new and returning families at Willow Dale. School is off to a great start. The staff is thrilled that you have entrusted your child’s education to us. It is our goal this year to increase effective interventions and enrichments to support and engage each child. Willow Dale Elementary has an excellent faculty and support staff with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for ensuring that every student is successful.
As a reminder, school begins at 8:45 AM daily. In the morning, doors open at 8:25 AM. Students are dismissed in the afternoon, starting at 3:30 PM. As you may have witnessed traffic during these times is very heavy. Please be courteous of other drivers and be very careful of our students and staff as they move from the building to the loading and unloading areas. Thank you for your patience with bus routines and schedules.
During the first week of school, the classroom teachers established classroom expectations, began building relationships and classroom culture, and re-introduced the School-wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (SWPBIS) program. All students in grades K-5 participated in classroom lessons reinforcing expected behavior in the classroom, hallways, cafeteria, recess yard, and on the bus. Mr. Julius held the bus lesson outside on Thursday with two of our bus drivers. It was exciting to see students participating in classroom activities and showing their Puma Pride throughout the school.
We are looking forward to another sensational week for our second week of school. This week, we will have our SWPBIS rollout assembly on Wednesday afternoon. Students will learn how positive behaviors will be rewarded throughout the school.
Please review the contents of this newsletter to become familiar with the happenings and operation of the school. The Puma Pride Newsletter will be distributed via an e-alert every other week on Sunday afternoon. A “Calendar Update” will be sent in between newsletter weeks to keep our families informed of the various events taking place at Willow Dale. The newsletter and updates are also posted on the school website. We encourage you to visit the site often as it is a great resource. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
On Thursday, September 12, 2019, Willow Dale teachers and staff will welcome our parents and guardians to Back to School Night. Please see the information below with the details for your child’s grade-level time.
Our school theme this year is “Teamwork makes the dream work.” Many of the events we planned this year will incorporate team theme-based activities. We look forward to partnering with our families to ensure that our students are successful.
Thank you for your support in getting this year off to a great start. Both Mr. Julius and I are looking forward to working with you this year. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
All the best for a fantastic school year! We are looking forward to seeing you on Back to School Night.
Sincerely,
Catherine Perkins & Dan Julius
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Education/Willow-Dale-Elementary-School-331460017756772/
Twitter: @Willow_Dale_ES
New Faces at Willow Dale
Mr. Nicholas Aninsman- Per Diem Substitute Grade 5
Mr. Aninsman graduated from Temple University with a degree in Elementary Education and has served as a long term substitute in the Bensalem School School District.
Mrs. Patricia Fazzio- Kindergarten
Mrs. Fazzio is not new to Willow Dale as she served as the long term substitute in third grade last year. This year, she is excited to be a member of the Kindergarten team. She is entering her tenth year of teaching having taught previously in the Norristown School District.
Mrs. Fazzio graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Elementary Education.
Mrs. Mary Beth Crawford- Learning Support Teacher Grade 5
Mrs. Cradwford comes to Willow Dale from the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District where she worked for the past ten years. As special education teacher in the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District, she has experience with students in grades Kindergarten through eight. This year, she will be teaching and supporting fifth-grade students requiring learning support.
Mrs. Crawford holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s University in Special and Elementary Education and a Master of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Scranton.
Back to School Picture Show
Mr. Regosch, our Instrumental Music Teacher, spent the week visiting 3rd, 4th and 5th-grade classrooms to talk about our Band and Orchestra programs. Third and Fourth Graders received papers that went home. Participating Fifth Graders received their lesson schedules and will begin next week. If you are the parent of a 3rd/4th/5th grader interested in learning an instrument, please click this link to Mr. Regosch's website to find information and sign up for your grade level's program. https://www.centennialsd.org/Page/4265
P-A-W-S: Willow Dale School-wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Support Program
Administration, teachers, and staff recognize that a positive school climate is necessary to help students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. An environment in which the behavioral expectations are well established, consistent, and reinforced in all educational settings is important to the educational process.
Willow Dale Elementary School will kick-off year two of our School-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention & Support Program (SWPBIS) with a student assembly on September 11. The goal is to facilitate pro-social behaviors throughout the building. The SWPBIS Framework is designed to encourage School Pride by positively reinforcing desirable behaviors in all school environments. Thus, students are recognized by all school staff for demonstrating behaviors leading to a positive learning environment for everyone. Students are recognized or “caught” for positive behavior with both verbal and tangible reinforcements. Students receive verbal praise, public acknowledgment, and/or parent notification of positive behavior. Be on the lookout for a PAWSome sticker!
Willow Dale P-A-W-S
P- Positive Attitude
A- Act Respectfully
W- Work Responsibly
S-Safe Choices
SAFETY & SECURITY
Visitors to the school must enter the school’s front foyer (white doors) and ring the bell, located next to the door that leads to the main office. Once buzzed in, our fantastic staff will be happy to serve you!
- Visitors must obtain a visitor’s pass from the main office.
- All visitors to the building will have his/her photo identification card scanned through the Raptor system to ensure everyone’s safety. Please make sure you have your driver's license or state photo ID card available upon entrance. The system was upgraded this year, therefore ALL visitors must present their driver's license when they enter the building.
- Visitors or parents may be escorted to their room where their business or volunteer work is being conducted.
- Students are requested not to bring guests to school unless permission is granted in advance by the principal.
- Forgotten books, lunch money, lunches, etc. should be left in the office. We will see that they are delivered to the student.
- If a parent or designated adult is picking a student up from school early, photo identification is required to release the student.
Thank you very much for helping us maintain a safe school for our students and staff!
Attendance
Children who attend school regularly make the best academic progress, graduate, and go on to successful post-secondary education and/or careers.
Students, who arrive late (after 8:45 am), must report to the office for a late slip. Parents should accompany tardy students to the office to sign in the student.
If your child is going to be absent, please notify the school to let us know.
Reporting Absences
SUBMITTING ABSENCE NOTES
Attendance Notes can be Submitted Electronically via email at WDAttendance@centennialsd.org. Please know you will still receive automated phone calls (to the primary phone listed in Skyward) if you have not submitted an absence note via email on the days your child is absent from school.
**Absence notes must be submitted within 3 days of the student's absence, otherwise, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.
E-Mailing Attendance Notes
- Parents with children in Willow Dale may e-mail attendance notifications/notes to the following address: WDAttendance@centennialsd.org
- E-mail notifications are encouraged on the morning of the absence day. However, e-mailed absence notes may be sent on the day following the absence.
- When sending an absence notification please include the following information:
- Child's Name
- Child's Grade
- Child's Homeroom Teacher
- Date(s) of Absence
- Reason for Absence
- Contact Phone # for Parent/Guardian
- Other Pertinent Information
- While you may still continue to call the school on the day of absence, a follow-up e-mail or a written note is still required for the absence to be excused.
Email: WDAttendance@centennialsd.org
Phone: 215-441-6093
SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS
We will practice fire, lock-in, lock-out, and weather emergency drills. These drills may or may not be announced. Unannounced drills more accurately indicate the preparedness of the school and the effectiveness of safety procedures. Your child's teacher will review the exercises and procedures with their classes. Please make the teacher aware of any concerns regarding your child's participation in the safety drills.
The Warminster Director of Emergency Management Services and the Warminster Police Department will be invited to observe our drills and provided feedback for improvement.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Perkins or Mr. Julius.
Family Trips Scheduled During the School Year
Dear Centennial Families;
The Centennial School District Board of School Directors approved Policy 204.1, Family Trips Scheduled During School Year.
Although the scheduling of family trips during the instructional year is not encouraged, the Centennial School Board recognizes that students may benefit educationally by accompanying their parent(s)/guardian(s) on trips. The revision to the policy will allow the schools to approve up to five (5) days instead of three (3). Any trip beyond five (5) days will need the approval of the Superintendent.
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) who are requesting approval for a family trip need to complete and submit the attached form to their building principal at least two (2) weeks before the trip.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Perkins or Mr. Julius.
Back to School Night
6:30-7:00 PM- Parents of students in grades K-2
7:30-8:00 PM- Parents of students in grades 3-5
Thursday, Sep 12, 2019, 06:30 PM
720 North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Home and School Meeting
Contact the WDH&SA mailto:willowdalehsa@gmail.com
Monday, Sep 16, 2019, 06:15 PM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Back to School Family Movie & Ice Cream Night
Friday, Sep 20, 2019, 06:30 PM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
No School on the following Days in September
- September 30- Holiday: Rosh Hashana
Happy Holidays to our families celebrating!
Willow Dale Elementary School
Email: perkca@centennialsd.org
Website: www.centennialsd.org/Domain/692
Location: 720 North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: 215-441-6093
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Education/Willow-Dale-Elementary-School-331460017756772/
Twitter: @Willow_Dale_ES