Wildcat Newsletter
December 2015/January 2016
Note from Principal
Dear Parents,
I read a recent article about the amount of time kids spend reading each night. The article confirms research that has been around for a while: "20 minutes of reading a night can make a big difference."
The article was a study on students who were reading below grade level. Students who read 14 minutes a night continued to stay below level, but students who read 20 minutes a night were able to catch up by the end of the school year. The students that read books on or above their level of reading was key.
I encourage you to continue with nightly reading (at least 20 minutes) and challenge you to begin if you have not already. A new habit can be started at anytime, and starting now will have an impact on your child this school year. One of the best memories you can make with your child is reading at night– read to them, have them read to you– but make it a regular habit, and make it an enjoyable, bonding time for you and your child. This will connect them to reading and hopefully light the spark of loving to read!
Great resources for at-home reading are online books such as Starfall.com, Tumblebooks.com, Newsela.com, and our WSE website under parent/student resources (Student Site). In addition, students have library books and we have a Lending Library (Give one, get one) in front of the school–books are free for the taking! Please contact the school if you need more books or other resources.
Happy Reading,
Mrs. Webster
Thank you to our Veterans!
35 new mini Ipads-Thank you PTA!!!
What a wonderful Thanksgiving Day Lunch!
Changes to the end of the school day for Elementary in LISD
Beginning Monday, Jan. 4, 2016, Leander ISD will be adding five minutes to the school day. Elementary campuses will end five minutes later, and high schools will start five minutes earlier, with the exception of Cedar Park High School, which will remain on the same schedule. The new school hours for LISD elementary campuses will be 7:45 a.m. – 2:50 p.m. and high schools will be 8:40 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. Middle school hours will not change.
House Bill 2610, which was passed this last legislative session, requires that public school students receive 75,600 minutes of instruction, instead of 180 days. As a result, LISD is lengthening the school day by five minutes at the elementary and high school campuses. CPHS and LISD middle schools are not impacted by the new law, as their school day already meets the requirements of the law.
If your student rides the bus and his or her route is impacted by this change, LISD Transportation services will notify you of your child’s new pick-up/drop-off time.
Watch Dog Dads Needed
Calling all Watch D.O.G.S.
You can sign up (online) to come to our school for a day to be a positive male role model, enhance school security and smile and have fun with the kids. For more information on this program AND for step-by-step instructions on how to become a Watch D.O.G.S. volunteer (new and returning dads) http://whitestone.my-pta.org/content.asp?PageID=7 to visit our PTA website, then click on Watch D.O.G.S. to sign up.
Counselor Corner-December Toy Drive
The holidays are an exciting time of year, but for some they are a difficult and stressful. We love our WSE families and are collecting toys to benefit those in need here at Whitestone. Our toy drive will be held Thursday, December 3rd - Wednesday, December 16th. Please pick an ornament off the tree in the main hall with an age and gender specification to buy an appropriate toy. Return the toy to the office and receive a green ornament to write your name on and hang it on the tree. Questions, please contact WSE Counselor, Mrs. Greenlee @ 570-7416.
Upcoming Events
Dec. 3rd - Dual Language Parent Night from 6-8pm at WSE
Dec. 4th - Picture Re-takes
Dec. 7th-11th SRO Recognition Week
Dec. 7th -11th Bookfair
Dec. 16th - LMS Choir Performs from 8:15am-8:45am in the MPR
Dec. 21st - Jan. 1st Winter Break
January is National School Board Recognition Month
Jan. 7th - Spelling Bee 8:00am in the MPR/1st Day of Math Pentathlon in the Library for students
Jan. 14th - Green Apple Deposit Day
Jan. 18th - Student Holiday
Jan. 20th - Report Cards go home
Whitestone Elementary
New Dismissal Time starting Jan. 4th at 2:50pm at Whitestone Elementary
Happy Monday-C2 T-shirts
Wildcat Wednesday-Wildcat T-shirts
College Friday-College T-shirts
Email: beckie.webster@leanderisd.org
Website: http://whitestone.leanderisd.org/
Location: 2000 Crystal Falls Parkway, Leander, TX, United States
Phone: 512-570-7400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/whitestoneElementary
Twitter: @whitestone_elem