The Puma Pride
Willow Dale's FEBRUARY Newsletter
From the Principal
Dear Willow Dale Families:
I hesitate in speaking too soon, but compared to previous years, this winter has been easy! Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the weather cooperates for the remaining weeks of the season so that we can have an on-time dismissal in June (currently scheduled with a last day for students on June 9th)!
While February may earn the title of "the shortest month of the year", we are still finding ways to fill our days with lots of great stuff happening here at Willow Dale. Be on the lookout for many exciting activities: Family Passport Project II is due, Report Card distribution, Spelling Bee (5th grade), 100th day of school celebration (Kindergarten), Valentine’s Day classroom parties (thanks, Home and School!), Parent/Teacher Conferences, a three-day weekend, a Home and School family night event, and a continued focus on doing our best each and every day!
As we continue to encourage our boys and girls to make good choices and to be of great character here at school, we appreciate your ongoing support and partnership at home. When our boys and girls hear the same language and expectations in the classroom as well as on the home front, we can proactively provide the supports needed so that they are set up to be successful. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. Together, we can continue to have a positive impact on the growth and development of the boys and girls of Willow Dale Elementary School.
“When we feel love and kindness toward others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us to develop inner happiness and peace.” Dalai Lama
Best to you and yours,
Dr. Donnelly
Principal
Willow Dale Elementary School
What Does It Mean To Have Puma Pride?
Jack I. - Grade 3 - Mrs. Locovare's Class
Our school counselor, Mrs. LaRose, taught us about the idea of Puma Pride. Since we are students of Willow Dale, we are to show Puma Pride and show the six pillars of character always. When I was in kindergarten, I didn't understand this too well, but in first grade, I learned it from my teacher and my parents. I can show Puma Pride by being a positive role model to the younger grades and setting a good example.
The main aspects of Puma Pride are caring, fairness, respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, and citizenship. I show these pillars by helping others, respecting adults, caring for relatives, and generally being nice. My teacher tells us to show Puma Pride everywhere and all of the time. In fact, you don't even have to be in the school to know what Puma Pride is. I mean, if you're supposed to show it everywhere, then you should do so!
A few more examples of Puma Pride are...helping a friend or respecting your teacher, even wearing your Puma Pride tee-shirt shows Puma Pride! Signing the "Character Counts" or "Willow Dale Song" also shows Puma Pride. Examples of showing Puma Pride at home are helping a parent/guardian and doing chores. You can help your parents by being a good listener and showing respect.
This is what Puma Pride means to me using my own words and this is how I show Puma Pride at school, at home and everywhere I go.
Tessa P. - Grade 4 - Mr. Martin's Class
It also means you are not afraid to do what you want. No matter how you grow, it's always family first. Never abandon the people you love. You don't throw the important people in your life under the bus. You need to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. If you don't believe in yourself to be able to achieve, then you don't have puma pride. When you make a mistake, and believe you can fix it, then you have puma pride. If you don't, then you don't have puma pride.
To have puma pride, it means you don't want to be anyone else. You want to be yourself. You also treat people how you would want to be treated. Puma pride is an important thing in life. You should always try to have puma pride inside you every single day. LOVE PUMA PRIDE!
Ava P. - Grade 5 - Ms. Stecklein's Class
I can show Puma Pride by paying attention in class and showing all the pillars of character. I must do this to make our school and community a better place for everyone out there. That means I need to be kind and respectful to all so maybe they will be kind and respectful to others.
I can show fairness by playing games by the rules and making sure that no one cheats. I can show citizenship by cleaning up trash on the school grounds and being a positive role model to fellow students. I can show trustworthiness by keeping things to myself that anyone doesn't want me to share, unless it is urgent enough that it needs to be shared. I can show responsibility by doing my homework, working hard in school and writing down all of my assignments. I can show I'm caring by helping someone with a problem and always being there for them. Finally, I can show respect by listening to what my teachers and parents have to say and use that knowledge in my everyday life. I hope to do even more things to show the six pillars of character and express Puma Pride.
Winter Parent/Teacher Conferences
Report cards will be distributed to the students on Wednesday, February 8th. This is an excellent time to discuss with your child any future goals he or she might have for the second half of the school year. Conferences have been scheduled for the afternoon of Friday, February 17th. Your child’s teacher will be in communication with you regarding times for conferences, if one is to be scheduled. There is an early dismissal (11:45) for students on February 17th (conferences) and no school on February 20th (Presidents’ Day).
Friday, Feb 17, 2017, 12:30 PM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, United States
Centennial Education Foundation Gala
For more information, visit here: http://www.centennialef.org/20th-anniversary-gala.html
Saturday, Apr 29, 2017, 07:00 PM
Ann's Choice Way, Warminster, PA, United States
Congrats to our most recent Silver Spoon Award winners, Mrs. Piazza's first grade class!
We collected needed footwear to donate.
Thank you to Mrs. Kerber and all of our team for making the day a success!
And we had boxes and boxes of goods to donate!
Cradles to Crayons was a huge success! Thank you to our volunteers!
From our Reading Specialists...
We are excited to be working in the third marking period! Let's keep up the great focus and dedication to our learning!
From the Counselors...
Do you need a teacher to complete a form from a doctor or other agency?
If you are working with an agency outside of school (pediatrician, psychologist, therapist, behavior specialist, etc.) and they would like to have any information from teachers or other school staff, we would need your written permission in order to communicate with said agency. First, please request a “consent to release” form from your child’s teacher or school counselor (Ms. Hopkins – Grades K, 2, 4; Mrs. LaRose – Grades 1, 3, 5). Once that form is completed, the teacher would have one week to complete the form and it would be sent directly to the requesting agency via mail or fax that you provide. For example, if you provide a form to be completed by a teacher along with a signed consent form on Tuesday, it would be completed and sent to the agency by the following Tuesday. The consent form is required even if you already signed consent with the agency. If you have any questions about this procedure, please contact your child’s school counselor.
Students love working on Khan Academy!
Family Math Night - Success!
Mr. Corey, Mr. D'Andrea, Ms. Stecklein and Mrs. Walton are all to be thanked for the time and dedication to making the presentations a success!
If you have any questions about how your child is progressing, or you simply want to learn more about Khan Academy, please reach out to Mr. Corey (Math specialist/IST teacher) directly. His e-mail address is: coreco@centennialsd.org.
Grownups learn about Khan Academy
Students show what they do on-line!
WD friends teach their grownups about learning math on-line!
No School!
Also, there is a half day of school on Friday, February 17, 2017 for winter/spring conferences. There is NO AM Kindergarten. PM Kindergarten will be in attendance.
Home and School Connection
Visitors to Willow Dale
Inclement Weather - Be Prepared!
December is upon us, which means winter weather is right around the corner. Please be sure to have a family plan in place for early dismissals or cancellations of school. Announcements of school closings will be made on KYW (1060 AM). The radio stations identify school districts by name and/or by specific numbers. Centennial’s school closing number is 753. When schools open late, 753 will be announced, along with details of the delayed opening. Additional channels (3, 6, and 10), as well as the local Comcast cable channel, 28, and Verizon cable channel, 36, will post information. As always, the district website, www.centennialsd.org, will be updated with up-to-the-minute information. Don’t forget that this information will be provided to you via a phone call, making use of our School Messenger system. When possible, we will also update our Twitter account. Don’t forget to follow us, @Willow_Dale_ES! Visit the district website for further information.
Student Dress
As the daylight becomes less and the temperatures become cooler, it is important to remember to dress according to the weather. We will continue to have outdoor recess for as long as we can, as it is important to take a healthy break each day. To that end, it is essential that students are coming to school prepared for the various weather conditions we will experience. Also, please remember that our students should feel comfortable at school, but are not permitted to wear hats during the day and make-up, if any at all, should be limited.
Attendance
When a child is absent, you must send in an excuse note. You can either write a note and send it in or send it in electronically (WDattendance@centennialsd.org). This note must be received within three days of returning from an absence in order to be considered excused. Students who do not turn in notes within this period of time, per policy, will receive an unexcused absence on his/her record. Let's work together to ensure our students are healthy, safe, and accountable.
GIANT Donations!
Don’t forget to register your GIANT grocery store card! You can enter your store card number online (23591) at this website: http://giantfood.com/savings-and-rewards/rewards-program/aplus/. If you have already been registered, you do not need to register again. Be certain, though, to reach out to neighbors, friends and relatives and ask that they, too, designate Willow Dale as their school! (Each card can support two schools.)
With as many cards registered as possible, Willow Dale will receive a percentage of total sales via a donation check next summer! Let’s see how much money we can raise to support our programs and services. In advance, all of us here at Willow Dale give to you a GIANT thank you!
Save-the-Dates: PSSA 2017
-Mark Your Calendar-
PSSA Testing WINDOW*
April 4-7: English/Language Arts (Grades 3, 4, 5)
April 25-27: Mathematics (Grade 3, 4, 5)
May 2-3: Science (Grade 4)
The PSSA is a state-mandated test, which means all students must take the test. Please do not schedule vacations or appointments during these testing days.
Thank you!
Our 2nd grade friends write narratives about missing mittens!
Willow Dale Elementary School
Email: donnmi@centennialsd.org
Website: http://www.centennialsd.org/Domain/692
Location: 720 North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, United States
Phone: 215.441.6093
Twitter: @Willow_Dale_ES