Washington Elementary
October 18, 2020
Principal´s Message
Dear Washington Families:
Thankful that we have been able to provide the school options families have chosen through the MEA break. It has been a blessing to have students in the building for face to face learning the past 6 weeks. And, at the same time, it has been rewarding to provide distance learning to families who have chosen this option. At this point we have been able to accommodate students moving back and forth between the models. Looking ahead, the movement from distance learning to the hybrid plan is the transition that may have to be delayed based on classroom numbers. In other words, don't expect a quick turn around if you are requesting to move from distance learning to the hybrid model. Several grade levels are at capacity. We will put people on a waiting list and monitor the numbers.
As we enter the cold and flu season, on top of the COVID factor, let's all be sure to do our part to support the Washington Elementary physical safety goal. Students and staff should stay home if they are showing any symptoms as defined in the COVID Preparedness Plan. Each of us need to continue to practice the 3 W's; 1) wash hands, 2) wear mask & 3) watch the 6ft of social distancing. Thank you for all you are doing as parents to help us manage the health and safety of our school community in this most unusual time. We appreciate you!
As we return from MEA break, our teachers will be moving forward with academic expectations for new learning. With the lost time from last spring, we are eager to close the learning gap by providing students expert coaching and establishing routines at school and home for reading practice. Be sure to support your child each day by setting aside a reading time and space of at least 30 minutes per night (2 steps) If your child has the stamina, more minutes is better!
The Title I math night scheduled for Thursday, October 22nd may need to get postponed until Thursday, October 29th if supplies on back order don't arrive. We will keep you posted. See details of math night later in this newsletter.
We will continue to work hard to create the best conditions for safety and social-emotional well-being and academic learning. Our three goals for the school year are as follows:
Establish systems and practices that support physical safety for all students, staff and families.
Establish systems and practices that support emotional safety for all students, staff and families.
Establish systems and practices that support intellectual safety for all students, and staff.
I look forward to seeing how the school year continues to take shape in an unfamiliar time. We are in this together. If you have any feedback on how we can improve, please call 345-3059 or email sbaier1@isd77.org.
Click the link below to access folder of information about the BackPack Program
Breakfast and Lunch at no cost for youth age 18 years and under
Beginning Monday, September 28, Mankato Area Public Schools (MAPS) will provide breakfast and lunch at no cost to all youth age 18 years and under. Youth do not need to be enrolled in MAPS nor do they need to qualify for free or reduced lunch. Provided service will be available on school days following MAPS’ school calendar through December 31, 2020, or when funding is no longer available.
Participants must pre-order meals online for pickup at:
- East High School, 2600 Hoffman Road
- West High School, 1351 South Riverfront Drive
Meals consist of lunch for the day and breakfast for the following day. Orders must be received by 8 a.m. the day of pickup.
The service is part of the extended Summer Food Service Program approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
For more information contact food services staff at 507-388-7442.
If you foresee a need for winter gear (winter coats, snow pants, mittens, hats, etc.) for your child(ren) please let the office know as soon as possible so appropriate gear and sizes can be found for your child. The school has a supply of gently used donated items that can be given to students in need. The school’s phone number is 507-345-3059. See Link above for more winter gear options.
Ways to raise funds for students!
Students can bring HyVee receipts in clear plastic bags. Teachers will collect the bags and turn them in to the office.
The Box Tops for Education program is changing the way we can earn cash for our school. Instead of clipping from packages and checking expiration dates, all Box Tops will be earned digitally by scanning your receipt. The new BTFE app features allow you to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to our school's earnings online.
***If you still have traditional Box Tops clips at home, make sure to send them to school. We will still earn cash for all clipped Box Tops until they expire. Better yet, you can “double dip” during the packaging transition by clipping traditional Box Tops AND scanning your store receipt containing participating products. LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE CHANGES AT https://www.boxtops4education.com/
With Coca-Cola Give, every purchase of your favorite Coca-Cola beverages is an opportunity to make a difference to Washington Elementary. To donate, simply visit https://us.coca-cola.com/give/schools/, select Washington Elementary and scan or enter product codes from participating Coca-Cola products. Each product code scanned or entered has a unique donation value.
Save your Hy-Vee receipts from both Mankato locations and they will donate $1 for every $150 spent through the Hy-Vee Kash 4 Kids program. The receipts must be dated during the current school year (Sept. 2020 - June 2021) to qualify. Every little bit will add-up!
We have set up our PTO as an organization you can support through AmazonSmile. Once you select us as an organization to support, we will receive 0.5% of the price of your eligible smile.amazon.com purchases.
Our unique link is: https://smile.amazon.com/ch/90-0542342Coming Events:
Oct. 19- BLT Meeting, 2:45 pm
Oct. 22- PST, 2:30 pm
Oct. 22 - Title I Math Night (math activities to be completed at home)
Oct. 22- Parent Circle Meeting- to be part of the Math Night
Oct. 29- PST, 2:30 pm
Nov. 2- BLT, 2:45 pm
Nov. 4- PD Wednesday/Student Learning from Home Day
Nov. 9- PTO Meeting, 6:30 pm
Nov. 11- PRIDE Time
Nov. 12- PST, 2:30 pm
Nov. 13- No School- Teacher Prep Day
Nov. 16- BLT Meeting- 2:40 pm
Nov. 17, 19 & 23- Parent Teacher Conferences- K-5 virtual via Google Meets
Nov. 24-27- No School