The Cub Corner
Expect Excellence In Everything
December 18, 2020
A Note from Mr. Bender
Dear Families,
As an eventful 2020 comes to a close, I want to thank you for all you have done to support your child’s education and our school this year. Whether your child has been learning in-person or digitally; thank you for your patience, flexibility, and encouragement as we worked together to navigate our new normal. I am so proud of our school community.
I hope you have a wonderful winter break. We look forward to students returning for the second semester on Thursday, January 7.
Wishing you and your family all the best in the new year!
Mike Bender
Principal
Important Dates
12/18: End of First Semester
12/21-1/6: Winter Break (No School!)
1/7: Second Semester Begins
1/8: Picture Retake Day
1/18: MLK Day (No School!)
1/19: Report Cards Mailed Home
1/26: Digital Learning Day for ALL Students
Lunch Menu: Jan. 7-8, 2021
Thursday: Bosco (hot cheese stick)
Friday: Drumstick
Picture retakes will take place on Friday, January 8 for both in-person and digital students that missed the original picture day and for families that would like a picture retake.
Digital students can come up to the school to have their picture retaken any time between 8:30-10:00 am. Please pull up in the bus lane in front of the school. Staff will be available to assist digital students with getting in and out of cars. Parents are asked to remain in their car. Students must wear a mask to enter the building.
You are an important partner with your child’s teacher, whether your child is learning at home or at school. To help you support your child’s learning, GCPS is launching a new initiative called AKS at Home. With this project, families will learn ways to help their child practice skills they are learning in class as part of the district’s Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) curriculum. Parents have access to a library of recorded sessions and tipsheets. Find more information on the AKS at Home web page.
Remember to read over Winter Break!
Clothing Donation for the Clinic
Planning to clean out your child’s closet over winter break? Please consider donating new or gently used clothes to the WMES clinic.
Clothing items needed in elementary aged sizes:
- Elastic waisted pants
- Leggings
- Joggers for boys or girls
- NEW boy or girl undergarments
Personal Safety Lessons
Character Word of the Month: Citizenship
The character word for the month is citizenship. Showing citizenship means trying to make your community and world a better place. For our students, that can mean something as simple as picking up trash left on the ground or being kind to a new student. Teachers will be on the lookout for students exhibiting citizenship to be chosen for the Cub of the Month!
Coats & Supplies
Holiday Breaks
When school is out of session, it can be both a fun and challenging time for families. This year, holiday breaks may look even more different and come with unique challenges and uncertainty. Follow the link for some tips for navigating the breaks and making the most of this time with your family from our partners at Strong4Life:
https://www.strong4life.com/en/seasonal/navigating-holiday-breaks
Curbside Book Checkout
Digital families, be sure to use the Destiny Discover catalog to place your media center holds. Once your book request is ready for pickup, you will receive an email notification. Please wait for the email notification before coming to the school. Email notifications are sent on Mondays and Wednesdays of each week.
Curbside service is offered on Tuesdays of each week. Our Tuesday hours are from 11:00-1:00. Please place your sign, with your child’s name and teacher name, in a visible place when you drive up to the front of the school.
If you can not make the curbside hours on Tuesday, you are welcome to come to the school and pick up the books anytime during school hours. We will bring the books to you in the front lobby. Use the following link to get you started with reserving media center books.
Book returns can be made at any time during the school day. Please return your media books to the basket by the front door of the school.
How to Place Media Center Holds for Digital Students
Contact Jennifer.Alden@gcpsk12.org if you have any questions.
Reading Rewards
I hope your child will read and log their December minutes over the winter holiday! Reading Rewards logs for December will be due by Friday, January 8. Please be sure that your December reading log ONLY reflects dates in December (not January).
Reading Rewards logs for the month of January will go home with the students in the Friday, Jan. 8 weekly folders. Any reading minutes between Jan. 1 and Jan. 7 can be recorded on notebook paper at home and then transferred to the official reading log when you receive it on Friday, Jan. 8.
The monthly requirement is to read, outside of school hours, at least 20 minutes a day for at least 20 days of the month. Students are expected to list book titles and minutes read on each of the 20 dates that are logged on the form. Parents must initial each of the entry dates. For students to be recognized, the reading log must be turned in on time and considered complete.
Paper logs can be submitted to the homeroom teacher as soon as the logging requirements are complete. Digital logs can be uploaded and submitted to the assignment link provided in the Reading Rewards eCLASS widget. Students submitting their logs as an assignment will receive feedback verifying that the log was received. There should be no paper or digital logs received before the 21st of each month.
If you have any questions about the Reading Rewards program, please email Jennifer.Alden@gcpsk12.org.
Gwinnett Stripers' Power of Reading Program
From now through December 31st of this year, any student that reads four books and submits everything online using the link below will be eligible to receive a free ticket to a 2021 Gwinnett Stripers game. These books can be any books that the students are required to read for school or separate from their required reading at school. Once the student has completed the reading they just simply need their parents to fill out the online submission form using the link below.
Once those requirements are met, the student will be eligible to receive the ticket to a 2021 Stripers game. Plus, the Stripers and Georgia Power will be honoring a Power Reader of the Month on our social media platforms that students could be eligible for as well.
Georgia Picture Book Nominee Spotlight: "Bear Came Along"
Bear Came Along
Written by Richard T. Morris and illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Once there was a river flowing through a forest. The river did not know it was capable of adventure….. until a big bear came along! As the water rushes on, Bear floats away on a log. Along his journey, Bear makes a number of new friends. This hilarious 2019 Caldecott Honor Book sends a heartfelt message that celebrates the joy and fun of embarking together on a ride of a lifetime.
After reading at least ten of the twenty nominees, students will vote for their favorite book. All votes will be submitted to the University of Georgia in late February. The Georgia Picture Book Award Winner will be announced in March. The purpose of this annual program is to foster a love of reading in the children of Georgia and to introduce students to books of literary excellence.
WMES Facemasks
Teacher Spotlight
This week's PTA Teacher Spotlight is...
What the parents are saying:
Don’t forget to read and fill up your December Reading Rewards log over the break! Need something to read? Check out the eBooks through the Online Research Library. Watch the video below to learn how to access eBooks.
"The Promise of Gwinnett” campaign is a means of focusing attention on the importance of public education, the role it plays in our nation, and the outstanding schools found right here in Gwinnett County. In addition, the campaign focuses on the accomplishments of our students and the promise they hold for a bright future. Click here to visit the Promise of Gwinnett.
In5ive is a fast-paced, fact-filled informative program that gives you a quick five-minute update on the latest good news in education from Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Help our school everytime you shop! Enroll in the Publix Partners program to earn money for Woodward Mill every time you go grocery shopping.
Woodward Mill just received our quarterly check from the Publix Partners program for $122 dollars. Please help us raise more money for our school by registering for a Publix Partners account and entering your phone number every time you grocery shop at Publix. Every dollar counts!
Business Partners
Woodward Mill would like to take this opportunity to thank the numerous business partners that support the students and teachers at our school. Our business partners support our school in various ways such as sponsoring after-school clubs, providing teacher appreciation gifts, donating supplies, and mentoring students. Please check out our wonderful business partners below:
Woodward Mill proudly thanks our business partners! Please support these businesses that support our school!
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About Us
Website: http://www.woodwardmilles.com
Location: 2020 Buford Drive Northeast, Lawrenceville, GA, United States
Phone: 678-407-7590