Washington Weekly
Updates from Washington Elementary - Friday, September 21st
CONTACT US
Mr. Russell, Principal - 414.773.1805
Mrs. Schram, Administrative Assistant - 414.773.1805
Mrs. Hill-Gordon - Educational Assistant - 414.773.1806
Attendance Line - 414.773.1802
Email: schramga@wauwatosa.k12.wi.us
Website: http://www.edlinesites.net/pages/1002339300888431714
Location: 2166 North 68th Street, Wauwatosa, WI, United States
Phone: 414-773-1800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonElemTosa/
Twitter: @WashTimbyTosa
Principals Message - Soft Landing Change
All parents and visitors - starting on Tuesday morning, any adults who wish to walk their child into school during Soft Landing (8:00-8:15am), MUST enter at 68th street doors, check into our Raptor System and get a visitors badge. Given that our office is the only place to get visitor badges, NO parents will be allowed to enter through any other door at Washington. In addition, any visitor who gets a visitor badge MUST check out at the office and exit at the 68th street doors.
Although we have greeters at the Garfield entrance, 67th street entrance and South Playground entrance, parents will NOT be able to enter the building through these doors - ONLY children will be able to enter through these doors. We have been directed by law enforcement to make sure that anyone entering the building be signed in and logged in case of an emergency. Therefore, all visitors MUST enter and exit through 68th street doors even during Soft Landing.
Please note that we will still have greeters at the exterior doors and supervisors in all hallways during SOFT LANDING to help all students get to their classroom safely. In addition, we will have some 5th grade students helping chaperone any JK and SK students to class, if needed. Hopefully, by this point in the year our students (and parents) will be able to say goodbye at an exterior door vs a classroom door.
Safety & Security Improvements
We practiced our first lock down drill today. I wanted to inform you in case your child comes home and talks about it. We are required to do several drill throughout the year, including monthly fire drills, two severe weather and lockdown drills and an off-site evacuation drill. We will inform parents about these drills as we practice them.
---As we continue to find ways to increase the safety and security for our schools, I wanted to make sure you took some time to read the recent email sent from Dr. Ertl to all families about Safety & Security Improvements. ---
As part of this work, trained law enforcement will train district staff on the updated emergency and crisis response plans. The training is based on the most current research on this topic.
As staff are trained, teachers will then share the procedures with their classes. We will then practice the emergency/crisis Standard Response Protocols (SRP) with our students, beginning this month. Teachers will use discretion and be age appropriate when discussing topics and practicing drills with your child.
Below are the keywords we will be using. It is important as a parent to familiarize yourself with these words and what they mean as we will use them to communicate in the event of an emergency.
Lockout = Threat outside the building
Lockdown = Threat inside the building, which could include a weapon
Evacuate or Shelter = Bomb or Tornado drill
Hold in Classroom = Medical Emergency or Disturbance in the Hall
Additional information and further explanation of each drill is attached to this letter. It is critically important we practice these procedures to ensure students and staff are prepared in the event of a real emergency. Parents/guardians will receive notification from their school about each monthly drill.
Here are a few links to view if you are interested in learning more about SRP training and furthering the conversation at home about this topic:
http://iloveuguys.org/srp.html - Website
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HO_IVkiaE08 – Video
In addition to our updated Standard Response Protocol, the District is in the midst of additional building security updates including:
• Implementation of new locks, shatterproof glass, and replacement of some doors, funded by the state’s School Security Grants. Read More Here.
• All doors of school buildings are now required to be locked directly before and directly after school, in addition to during the school day.
• Stricter enforcement of locking procedures during the school day for classrooms.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly.
Important Dates
Wednesday, September 26 - Early Release 2:20 dismissal
Friday, September 28 - Game Night
Tuesday, October 16 - Picture Make-up Day/Class Group Photos
Wednesday, October 31 - Washington Parade @ 1:30pm
PTA Update...
Hello, technology! We can now use square to:
*Pay your $10 PTA dues or make a donation
*Register and pay for Game Night, 9/28
https://squareup.com/store/washington-elementary-pta-4
Please consider volunteering and/or donating food for game night.
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/9040549aaad28a46-washington1
Washington can now make money from your everyday lives. We have signed up with Scrip a gift card program that gives us money back for gift card purchases. Do you love target? You can purchase a gift card for your Target shopping and a % will come back to us. Sounds Easy Right? Read more in the attached flyer and sign up to start shopping.
Thank you to everyone who came and participated in our first PTA meeting last night. We learned a lot about the Wauwatosa Schools referendum. Check your mailbox for a fact sheet sent out by the district. (Pic)
Breakfast/lunch menus, meal application, account payments
The free and reduced meal program application is available by clicking this link: app (you will need to print the application and turn it into the school office.
There is also an option to complete the application online by clicking this link: https://frapps.horizonsolana.com/WAUS01
Did you know that you can make meal account payments and check balances by signing up at https://www2.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome
If you prefer, you can also submit cash or check payments in the school office and we will put them in the meal programs drop box to be added to the account on the same day. Checks should be made payable to Wauwatosa School FSD.
Drop off and Pick Up Routines
Please take note:
- 67th Street is ONE way SOUTHBOUND during drop-off and pick-up. Between 7:00-8:30am and 2:00-3:30pm traffic is only allowed to move southbound.
- Thank you ahead of time for being considerate to our neighbors on 67th and all around our building by NOT blocking driveways nor turning around in driveways. 67th street is extremely busy in the morning and at dismissal so your continued efforts at being patient and follow the posted rules help keep everyone safe.
- There is a handicap parking sign posted on the north end of the cutout on 67th Street. Cars, buses and daycare vans should avoid this area at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.
Please review the link, Safe Routes to School: School Map, for some important reminders to help improve the safety of students and others around Washington School.
Thanks for your cooperation!
Are you ready to join Girl Scouts?
Destination Imagination (DI)
Thank you to those families who came to the DI Parent Information Night on Wedensday.
If you need the DI application, please find it by clicking here.
The deadline for submitting completed applications and payment is next Friday, Sept. 28th.
For more information about DI visit www.destinationimagination.org. If you have any questions, please contact Julia Burns, Washington DI Coordinator, at juliaLburns5@gmail.com
Community Flyers
Way to Go Timberwolves!
PAWS Winners for September 21st are available here. Congratulations students and keep up the good work!