Weekend Wire
March 8, 2020
WESTWOOD ROADRUNNERS
SUPER HEROES SHOW CHARACTER
MARCH IS FOR CITIZENSHIP
DATES TO NOTE:
03/09--XPloration
03/10--Last day to buy yearbooks
03/13--Professional Growth Day--Dismissal 11:20
03/20--Friday Flag
03/27--Multi-Cultural Fair
Spirit Day--Rainbow Day
04/01-04/30--Continuing Student Online Registration
04/10--Paper Picnic
04/24--Family Spring Dance
05/15--Art Show
COUNSELING CORNER
One of the greatest gifts we can give children is to help them learn how to regulate their emotions. Understanding and accepting emotions is the first step in learning to regulate them.
Would you be surprised to hear that there are fifty different emotions we could be feeling at any one time? If you're curious to learn more about this you can google the Feelings Wheel, invented by Dr. Gloria Willcox, which colorfully illustrates the wealth of emotions available to us.
To begin teaching kids about emotions it is helpful to simplify things by talking about just four basic emotions, going deeper as your child is ready. The four basic emotions are:
Happiness, which includes love, joy, and peace. This is our natural state, when we’re in flow.
Fear, which is a reaction to threat and includes terror, anxiety (fear of an unspecified threat), worry (fear of a specific threat) and the feeling of being powerless or defenseless.
Sadness, which is a reaction to loss and disappointment, and includes grief, depression and loneliness.
Anger, which is a reaction to threat from within or without and includes irritation, frustration and rage.
Simply observing what your child and other people are feeling, and commenting on it in a nonjudgmental, accepting way, teaches children to identify emotions in themselves and others. As you go through your day, look for opportunities to acknowledge your child's feelings:
"You look frustrated.”
“You're jumping up and down! You must be excited!”
“I hear you. You feel safer when you know exactly what's going to happen. Me too.”
When you talk with your child about emotions, try to resist lecturing. Instead, ask questions to help your child learn through reflection. For instance, you might ask questions like:
"If you felt angry that your block tower fell down, what could you do?"
"Do you make a better decision when you feel angry, or when you feel calm?"
"What helps you calm down when you’re angry?"
If you and your child observe another child crying, you might ask questions like:
“That child looks so unhappy. I wonder why he’s upset?”
“What do you think he wants/needs?”
“Is there anything we can do to help?”
Questions like these help develop empathy. For instance, when parents wonder aloud to their young child about what their baby sibling thinks, feel and wants, the child develops more empathy for their sibling and the relationship between the two siblings is more positive.
Reading books about children feeling and expressing emotions is another way to teach emotional literacy. Research shows that when adults read books and talk to kids about how other children feel, their prosocial (positive) actions toward their peers increase, and their aggression toward their peers decreases.
So the good news is that when parents consider emotion part of a rich human life, and talk about emotions in positive ways, even young children can learn to recognize and articulate a wide range of emotions. The even better news is that when your child begins talking about their emotions, they're taking the first step in learning to manage their behavior.
2020 Wolverine Math Tournament
Dear coaches, teachers, and parents,
We would like to inform you all of our annual Wolverine Math Tournament!
This tournament will be held on Saturday, April 11th, at Westview High School, from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM. This year, there will be 4 rounds - individual, team, lightning, and buzzer - which all students ranging from Mathcounts, AMC, and Math Olympiad competitors to those with no prior experience will find to be a challenging and fun way to test out their problems solving skills.
Please view the attached information flyer and sample questions for information about the tournament. To register for the tournament, please fill out our registration form below. If you have any questions feel free to send us an email.
We hope to see you all there!
Westview Math Club
2020 Wolverine Math Tournament Registration Form
2020 Wolverine Math Tournament Rounds and Sampl...
CAASP Testing
Dear Parents/Guardians,
An important part of your student’s academic program is measuring progress through the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) assessments.
Smarter Balanced English Language Arts and Mathematics Assessments – grades 3, 4 and 5
Students across California will take assessments each spring to gauge each student’s performance in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. This year your child will take the following test(s), depending on his or her grade level:
- Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment in English language arts/literacy and mathematics in grades three, four and five.
These tests measure the skills called for by the California academic standards, which focus on a student’s ability to write clearly, think critically, and solve problems.
Because CAASPP tests are given statewide, they provide an opportunity to measure the skills of all students against the same academic standards. Given online, the tests are computer-adaptive, allowing more precise measurement of individual skills. Parents can use their student’s ELA or mathematics results as one of many indicators of their child’s performance. Our teachers and principals also use these results to compare their schools’ performance toward achieving our state standards.
California Science Test (CAST) – grade 5
California’s state standards for science call for students to think and work like scientists and engineers—asking questions and learning through hands-on investigation and discovery. Working with science teachers, California has developed an assessment that emphasizes scientific thinking and reasoning. Students in grade 5 will take the CAST assessment. This test is designed to measure how students are performing in relationship to the California science standards.
California Alternate Assessments – grades 3, 4 and 5
California Alternate Assessments in Science - grade 5
The goal of the California Alternate Assessments (CAAs) is to ensure that students with the most significant needs in special education can attain increasingly higher achievement levels and leave high school ready for academic or career options. Students in grades three through five are eligible to take the CAAs in ELA and mathematics as determined in their annual Individual Education Plan (IEP) meeting. In grade 5, special education students will have the opportunity to take the science alternate assessment.
Participation
Pursuant to California Education Code Section 60615, parents have the right to opt out of any state assessment. It is recommended parents meet with their child’s school principal if they are considering this option. Our teachers and principals have found many benefits in having our students participate in this assessment, and we want to assure parents that student results from any assessment will not be shared beyond the use of school staff directly involved in your child’s education. Section 852 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations further provides that parents or guardians may annually submit a written request to the school to excuse their child from any or all parts of the CAASPP for the school year. Therefore, if you wish to exempt your student from testing, notification in writing to your school’s principal is required.
How can I help my child get ready for the CAASPP?
You are an important part of your child’s education. Some things you can do to help your child are:
- Talk about the test with your child. Make sure they are not scared or anxious.
- Tell your child that you and his or her teacher have high expectations and that you are both there to help, every step of the way.
- Take a practice test with your child which can be found at www.caaspp.org
- Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast before testing.
FOUNDATION
Support Westwood Foundation
Unfortunately, due to low ticket sales the WWES Foundation Gala had to be cancelled for 2020.
Without the Gala, we are at risk of losing funding to support the Reading Impact Teacher for the 2020/21 school year. Please consider making a donation today. As always, we thank you for your support!
Volunteer for one of the open board positions on the Westwood Elementary Foundation.
Board Positions: President, Secretary, Director of Special Events, Director of Community Programs (Boxtops, Shoparoo, Dining for Dollars)
Event Coordinators: Golf Tournament Coordinator, Carnival Coordinator, Gala Coordinator
Email wwefpresident@gmail.com if you are interested and to get more information.
PTA
Science Field Day
Calling all parents of 4th and 5th grade scientists at WWE! Science Field Day is a super fun competition that will be held on Saturday, May 16, in Lakeside. This year, we get to bring twice as many students (32) as in years past! Pink signup sheets were sent home last week and need to be turned in to the front office THIS MONDAY (March 9).
To pull this off, we need 15 volunteers to coach the different events for 1 hour per week for 8 weeks this spring after school. So whether your interest is anatomy or geology, astronomy or engineering (or many others), we need your help! Visit the link to learn more, and email wwessfd@gmail.com if you can help. Go Roadrunners!!
https://www.sdcoe.net/lls/ccr/Pages/elementary-science-field-day.aspx
Yearbooks
MULTICULTURAL FAIR
WESTWOOD ELEMENTARY PTA MEMBERS
We need you!
Come support our amazing school!
Nominations & Elections for 2020-2021
-I want all the students at Westwood Elementary to be successful.
-I want my child to have a great school year – to learn and to have fun!
-I want to help decide how PTA fundraising monies are spent.
If the above statements are true, then help us help the school. Parent involvement is critical for a successful school, so volunteer or nominate someone you feel would be great as a PTA officer or a committee chair for 2020-2021. There are jobs that take no more than a of couple hours a month, some that are seasonal, and a few that require a routine commitment.
Duties of Officers
President:
- Coordinates officers and committees, presides at PTA meetings, attends PTA District and Council meetings, and works closely with the Principal, Administration & Staff.
- Time: Presides at monthly evening PTA board meetings.
- Year-long commitment including work over summer.
Executive Vice President:
- Serves as primary aid to the president. Perform duties of president in the absence or disability of that officer. Perform other duties that may be prescribed.
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings in addition to a workload that varies.
1st VP (Membership):
- Runs the annual membership campaign.
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings.
- Workload is heaviest at the beginning of the school year.
2nd VP (Programs):
- Responsible for implementing the PTA goal of parent education including but not limited to articles, flyers, and workshops.
- Serves as a liaison to the PTA program chairs including: Math Olympiad Science Field Day, Reflections, Red Ribbon Week, Garden, Running Club, STEM Lab with Prof RR, etc.
- Plans 1-2 meaningful assemblies per year that align with school goals (works with Principal on this)
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings.
- Workload varies throughout the year depending on choice of educational initiative.
3rd VP (Volunteers):
- Coordinates the Parent Volunteer Program sign-ups during different events
- Liaison to Teachers and Parents regarding volunteer opportunities throughout the school year.
- Oversees Room Parents Communications
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings.
- Workload varies and is heaviest during various events/fundraisers.
4th VP (Art Education):
- Oversees the Art Education committee chairs
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings.
- Workload is heaviest at the beginning and end of the school year.
Secretary:
- Attends and records Minutes of all PTA Board meetings and PTA General Association Meetings.
- Sends meeting minutes out via email following each meeting
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings and PTA General Association Meetings.
- Variable workload.
Treasurer:
- Keeps permanent books of all monetary transactions and performs all duties expected of a Treasurer.
- Monthly reporting of financial activity at each meeting
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings in addition to a workload that varies.
Financial Secretary:
- Assists Treasurer with monetary transactions and recording duties.
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings to report deposits made
- Variable workload.
Auditor:
- Audits books of the Treasurer, gives semi-annual written reports; and reconciles bank accounts monthly.
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings.
- Variable workload.
Historian:
- Records activities and achievements of the PTA and assists the President with preparation of the annual report.
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings.
- Workload varies.
Parliamentarian:
- Ensures that all officers are familiar with the PTA bylaws.
- Ensures that the bylaws are up-to-date. Assists with the components of the election of officers each year.
- Keeps PTA Board Meetings on task and moving forward.
- Time: Attends monthly evening PTA Board meetings and PTA General Association Meetings.
- Variable workload.
Please help us continue our traditions by volunteering for one of the open positions on
the Westwood Elementary PTA
Information and job descriptions on available chair positions can be obtained by contacting any
of the below. All nominations must be received no later than March 20, 2020
Westwood Elementary PTA Nomination Committee Contact Information:
Noreen Olmsted (noreenie1@mac.com)
Pauline Tetlow (pauline.tetlow@gmail.com)
Kelly Young (klcy1782@gmail.com)
Randi McCray (rmccray@powayusd.com)
About Us
Principal
Email: kholmes@powayusd.com
Website: https://powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/ES/WWES/Home
Location: 17449 Matinal Road, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: 858-487-2026