The Puma Pride
December 7, 2020
Principal's Message
Hello, Willow Dale Families,
I hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday. As principal, I could not be prouder of our teachers and students. Mr. Julius and I continue to visit classrooms where teachers deliver virtual lessons that engage students in learning through discussion, critical thinking, and inquiry. Student creativity and energy are evident throughout the special's classes, as well. In November, our teachers participated in various professional development sessions geared towards math and literacy to enhance teaching and learning, especially in the virtual classroom. It is exciting to see how teachers incorporate the best practices emphasized in their training and the students' positive response. Each week, we will highlight the great learning occurring in classrooms throughout the building.
Online learning can present some challenges in motivating students. Included in this newsletter is an article to help parents keep their students encouraged while learning at home. Additionally, we included a resource provided by the PA Department of Education that lists a variety of services, programs, and information to help families during these difficult times. Please do not hesitate to reach out to our School Counselors, Mrs. LaRose and Mrs. Zemitis, or our Social Worker, Mr. James, to provide additional support and guidance.
Beginning this week, NOVA will be visiting our grades 3-5 classrooms to deliver grade appropriate lessons to our students about personal safety, technology safety, cyberbullying, and bullying prevention. More information can be found on the NOVA website. Please reach out to your child's teacher or one of the counselors if you have any questions.
Thank you to our families who participated in the Giving Tree project. If you plan to join in, the last day to send gift cards is Thursday, December 11.
Monday, December 7, is an early dismissal day. All Students whether in-person or learning at home will be dismissed at 11:45 am.
Please note that FREE meals are available for pick-up at Willow Dale Elementary School for students up to age 18 who are learning from home. See the details in the newsletter.
Happy Hannukah to our families celebrating the holiday this week.
Thank you for your continued support.
Have a Pawsome week!
~Dr. Perkins & Mr. Julius
Phone: 215-441-6093
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillowDaleEl
Twitter: @Willow_Dale_ES
How Can I Keep My Kids Motivated and On-Task While They’re Distance Learning?
Resources for Families
https://www.education.pa.gov/about/Resources/ResourcesFamilies/Pages/default.aspx
Weekly Virtual Schedules
What's Happening in Physical Education Classes?
Hello everyone. Physical education class is going in full force, whether at home or in the gym. When your kids are in school and in the gym, hope to give them some sort of normalcy within the health and safety guidelines. Trying to be creative while trying to keep fitness fun while they are at home…Who would have thought that PE would be resorting to videos, sock balls, grocery store bags, and paper balls? They are doing a fantastic job at home and in school. Thank you all for being flexible and patient while navigating through this at home.
Kindergarten-2nd grade: We work on fitness, spatial awareness, following/copying movements as well as basic gross motor skills. We also stress mindfulness through Yoga stories. Sportsmanship is introduced.
Third-Fifth grade: We work on the components of fitness (strength, agility, flexibility, endurance, coordination) and putting these complex motor skill movements together. We also dive into teamwork, offensive, and defensive strategies as well as a large influence on sportsmanship through various individual, partner and large group games.
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HEALTH CLASS?
Our first set of classes did a fantastic job in Health with Mr. Krasna this fall! Students recently switched specials so have just begun with a new set of classes. Below you will find a short preview of what each grade is learning about as we begin our Health journey...
Kindergarten will start off by taking a deep look into each of the five senses. We will explore how our sense of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste help us perceive the world around us.
First and Second Grades will be learning about germs, washing hands, and dental health. We will place an emphasis on the importance of good hygiene for our own health and to protect those around us.
Third Grade will explore the five food groups and see how they fit into My Plate. We will discuss foods that belong to each group and explain why it is important to eat a balanced diet.
Fourth and Fifth Grade will be diving into stress management, peer pressure, and the importance of staying drug-free. We will give students strategies to relieve stress and ways to say no to drugs and negative peer pressure.
Fourth Grade is Awesome!
Our fabulous 4th graders are rocking hybrid and virtual learning! The students are making tremendous strides even in the face of a changing learning environment.
This past week we celebrated Thanksgiving by writing about our favorite food using our five senses:
"My favorite Thanksgiving food is macaroni and cheese because it is very creamy and delicious. On Thanksgiving, I serve it with bacon and turkey but on any other day I serve it with chicken or hot dogs."~4th Grade Author
"My favorite Thanksgiving food is pumpkin pie. It tastes amazing! It has a unique flavor and it is made from pumpkins! Its texture is soft, cold, and smooth."~4th Grade Author
We also took a virtual field trip to the Macy's Day Parade, and used our math knowledge to help a turkey get out of trouble! The teachers love to hear our students share all they are thankful for, seems to mean more now than ever!
Counselors' Corner
With the holidays right around the corner, here are some ways to reduce holiday stress.
The holidays are a time of great joy and excitement for children and their families. But they can also sometimes bring with them the added stress of trying to deliver the best holiday celebration ever. Children's Hospital Boston psychiatrist Stuart Goldman, MD, offers the following tips and advice to help children and parents enjoy healthy, happy holidays.
School Vacation
Add a little structure to your child's school vacation. Plan activities, such as playing board games, going to the movies or sledding outside. Consider scheduling activities the whole family can participate in together.
Get Outdoors
Keep children active. The winter brings less daylight, which can lead to more inside time and less physical activity. Try to get outdoors, even if only for a little while.
Bedtime
Make sure children get plenty of sleep. Holiday time often begets later bedtimes. Make sure you get your child gets back on his regular sleep schedule before going back to school.
Talk
Be mindful of past events, like the death of a loved one or a divorce in the family, that may resurface around the holidays. Address these changes in advance, explaining that the holidays will be different and that it's okay to express feelings about it.
Information is taken from: http://www.childrenshospital.org/patientsfamilies
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact your child’s counselor.
- Mrs. LaRose - Grades 1, 3, 5
- laroka@centennialsd.org
- X 17031
- Mrs. Zemitis - Grades K, 2, 4
- zemile@centennialsd.org
- X 17030
Willow Dale Home & School Annual Holiday Giving Project
Tech Support for Families
- Featured Videos -CSD Online Learning Resources - CSD STUDENT & FAMILY VIDEO TUTORIALS site.
- CSD Online Learning Resources
- Site contains videos and tutorials for students and families
- 1:1 Initiative Resource Center
If you have a technology issue, please submit a help desk ticket (link below) for the fastest response.
CSD Community Technology Support Desk Options for Support
- CSD Community Technology Help Desk: http://helpdesk.centennialsd.org/support/login (this option allows you to create an account, create and submit new tickets, view the status of your ticket, and leave comments on the ticket).
Willow Dale Elementary School's Technology Support Desk Contact
Please call Ms. Kwasniuk (215) 441-6000 and enter the extension 17020.
Important Message from the Nurse's Office
Parents, we need your help to keep our students safe and healthy.
Please remember to check your student for the COVID 5 every morning before they come to school.
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, please keep your student home.
- Do they have a temperature of greater than 100.3?
- Do they have an altered taste or smell?
- Have they been exposed to someone with a lab-confirmed case of COVID 19?
- Are they awaiting test results of a recent COVID 19 test?
- Do they have an unexplained cough or shortness of breath?
Thank you in advance for your support! We are all in this together!
- Mrs. Salita and Mrs. Kleinschmidt-Willow Dale Nurses
Attendance in Virtual Learning
Children who attend school regularly make the best academic progress, graduate, and go on to successful post-secondary education and/or careers. It is important, even on virtual days for students to join the classroom teacher for learning via Google Meet.
If your child is going to be absent, late, or leave early, please notify the homeroom teacher and the school to let us know. More details below.
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 by 10:00 AM 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
Email: WDAttendance@centennialsd.org
Phone: 215-441-6093
Nutrition Services Information
All Students are Eligible for a FREE Breakfast & Lunch Daily
The USDA has extended the waiver to continue feeding under the Summer Programs which entitles all children 18 and under to eat for free. These programs have been extended throughout the entire school year.
Parents, please continue to apply for free and reduced programs, as this helps fund other programs in the district which could benefit families. Now more than ever, we need families to complete the Free and Reduced meal application even though all meals are currently free. Please complete the application today.
Early Dismissal- Teacher In-Service Day
Monday, Dec 7, 2020, 11:45 AM
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School Board Reorganization Meeting
Monday, Dec 7, 2020, 07:00 PM
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School Board Meeting
Tuesday, Dec 8, 2020, 07:00 PM
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Elementary Report Cards posted to Skyward
Wednesday, Dec 9, 2020, 03:30 PM
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Pajama Day/Sing-a-long
Tuesday, Dec 22, 2020, 11:00 AM
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Early Dismissal
Tuesday, Dec 22, 2020, 08:45 AM
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Winter Break
Wednesday, Dec 23, 2020, 08:00 AM
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Schools Resume
Monday, Jan 4, 2021, 08:45 AM
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Home and School Meeting (No Meeting in December)
Monday, Jan 11, 2021, 06:15 PM
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Help the Home & School Raise Extra Funds!
Buses and Bus Schedule Information
CENTENNIAL 2020-2021 BUS SCHEDULE INFORMATION
***You can access your child's busing information in SKYWARD
Information can also be accessed by clicking on the below link.
- Type in your address to access your child's busing information.
- Addresses with east, west, north, or south use the abbreviation E, W, N, or S with no punctuation. If that does not work, omit using it in your address.
If you have any questions, please contact us at 215-441-6000.
Child Care Arrangement Form
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.
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