Washington Post
Family Newsletter for Washington Elementary
A Word from Mrs. Wolf
GWES families,
I was reading the other day and found this quote, "Skill, will, and thrill, the 3 inputs students all have, sometimes work in harmony, but even when that doesn't happen, each aspect of a student is worth developing." It struck me because it aligned so closely to what we hope we are achieving at GWES. You may have heard us talk about teaching the whole child. This includes our desire to build their skills and knowledge, their life skills, and their love of learning. Today, we held field day. A new staff member asked why we do it in the fall instead of spring. The answer ties in to this idea, we want children to feel as though they belong and shared experiences as a team early in the year allow for that. It would seem sensible to plan just the curriculum or skills and knowledge our children need, but fundamentally, it's not that simple. We work to reach their hearts, tap into their talents, and have high expectations for learning. It makes our work complicated. It is hard work to keep up with all three, but it's who we hope to become. We love our jobs and our students and even when there isn't perfect harmony, we will keep trying, because our children are worth it.
WAY TO GO GWES!
Your school has been selected by The Tennessee Department of Education and the Tennessee Behavior Supports Project (TBSP) as a Model of Demonstration School for Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior (RTI2-B) for the 2018-2019 school year! We appreciate your school’s hard work and dedication in improving learning and positive behavior at your school. Your students, faculty, staff, and community certainly benefit from your efforts. The purpose of this identification is to promote model schools to share their practices, examples, and celebrate each school’s effort and dedication to meeting the needs of all students. We look forward to recognizing your efforts at the TDOE Partners in Education Conference in January 2019.
Upcoming events:
- Field Day-October 4, 2018
- No school -October 5th-teacher inservice
- LCD Celebration of Learning Informance "Mexico" Tuesday, October 9 6:00 pm
- Scholastic Book Fair-Mon-Friday 7:45-3:30 with family night on Tuesday, October 9(5-6 and 6:45-7:00-closed during Informance)
- Dress like a woodland creature Wed, Oct 10 (fairy, gnome, woodsman)
- Club week! We will surprise you as to which day!
- Fall Break Oct 15-19
- McTeacher's Night at Allendale McDonalds October 29 5-8pm
- Run/Walk-a-thon PTA Fundraiser, Friday, Nov 2 during related arts classes (spirit week dress up days Oct 29-Nov 2)
Connect with US
Please click here to sign up for email notifications from PTA and add your name to their list and be made aware of volunteer opportunities. CLICK HERE
We also communicate school news through Twitter @KCS_Washington follow us!
Also, we run a daily newscast written, directed and anchored by students. It will start soon! Check this out on You Tube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE_G-pvigFZFdC_YONZ3AWA
Safety Update:
- At morning arrival time, please pull all the way down to bay 1. After 7:30, we have adults outside to ensure your child enters the building, it is not necessary to only stop in front of the doors. We would appreciate the gesture of pulling forward so all parents in line can leave in a timely manner and be on time to work,etc.
- Please maintain a low speed-remember we are in a parking lot-where there are many pedestrians and most of them little! According to the National Motorists Association, parking lot maximum speed is 15 mph
- Please do not pass other cars prior to the crosswalk
- Please look into the crosswalk before removing your foot from the brake. Some parents are still watching their child walk in as they remove their foot from the break and are unaware there is a person crossing in front of them.
- When we call a number in the afternoon, we are calling the number for students more than for cars. If we get off in our numbering, simply move forward and do not leave gaps, we will make sure your child moves accordingly
- We do have students who walk home and must cross the carline down on Bellingham and Harvey Brooks. Please assume you should always stop at the crosswalk to look for children
- If you are coming to school from the University Blvd direction, the CIty of Kingsport traffic signs state that you cannot enter until 3:30. This prevents you from having to travel down to Lewis Lane to get in line. Please obey this traffic signage.
- Many of you have requested that I comment to parents about respectful behavior in the line. If you are passing other cars, cutting in line after people have been waiting their turn, it creates a tense environment. Please be respectful of all other drivers
Family Story Time
f there was anything in the world better than playing baseball, Marcenia Lyle didn't know what it was. As a young girl in the 1930s, she chased down fly balls and stole bases, and dreamed of one day playing professional ball. With spirit, spunk, and a great passion for the sport, Marcenia struggled to overcome the objections of family, friends, and coaches, who felt a girl had no place in the field. When she finally won a position in a baseball summer camp sponsored by the St. Louis Cardinals, Marcenia was on her way to catching her dream. Full of warmth and youthful energy, Catching the Moon is the story of the girl who grew up to become the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team. Readers everywhere will be inspired by her courage to dream and determination to succeed. https://www.storylineonline.net/books/catching-the-moon-the-story-of-a-young-girls-baseball-dream/