Weekly Update
1/22/21
Tired Brains
Families,
The title above is meant to make everyone smile, but it is also a pretty accurate description of many brains this week. Snow days are wonderful, and I truly believe that all children should cherish fun snow day memories.
However, there is a special kind of busy that occurs at a school after a snow day Friday followed by a short week during the middle of a benchmark testing window. For some students, it mean a LOT of assessments.
Even though I never want a student (or teacher) to leave here with a "fried" brain, I think that tired brains are important. To be tired....one must first put forth effort and really work. That DEFINITELY happened this week.
Benchmark testing is nearly over, and now teachers will begin to have conversations about the data and next steps to improve instruction and promote learning.
Together we can.
Together we will.
Mrs. Brittany Sidders
West Dodge Station Principal
Valentines Parties
*Students will be able to bring in Valentines (please make enough for both remote and in-person learners).
*Students will not need to create and decorate boxes to bring to school. Students will be decorating bags at school as one of the party activities.
All students will be able to bring Valentines and bags home on Monday, February 15th - after everything has been able to sit untouched for the weekend.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
*School will dismiss on both the 17th and 18th at 2:06.
*Conferences will once again be held through Zoom and scheduled using our Pick-A-Time scheduling system that will open up at 9:00 on February 1st and close at 11:59 on February 14th.
Please click on the link below to get more directions on how to schedule conferences.
Birthday Treats
Students are allowed to bring birthday treats to school following these guidelines:
*treats must be peanut free
*treats must be individually packaged
*treats must have ingredient information
*treats must be delivered to school at least 24 hours before birthday
Students may be having these treats at school, or teachers may choose to send the treats home with students.
Exposures and Quarantines
Screening Children
School Breakfast Hours
Water bottles
Please remember to send your students with water bottles that can be refilled at school. The water fountains remain closed at WDS for student and staff safety. But, we do have bottle fillers a way students can get water throughout the day.
Kindergarten Registration and Round-Up
Kindergarten Registration will open up on Monday, January 25th at 9:00. Please go to www.elkhornweb.org and complete the registration for the 21-22 school year. This registration will be open at that site January 25th-29th.
**Go to Parents - - New Students - - and then find the registration for 2021-2022.
*This is for children who will be 5 before July 31, 2021 and attending kindergarten beginning in August 2021.
*All incoming kindergarten students will need to be registered-even those that are currently enrolled in one of the Elkhorn Public Schools preschools.
*By completing this registration, parents/guardians will be added to the contact list to receive an incoming-kindergarten student information email in March 2021, which will include details for the parent meeting and kindergarten round-up.
*The parent meeting will be held virtually on Monday, April 5, at 7:00 PM. Kindergarten round up is scheduled for Friday April 9, with the format yet to be determined. Additional details will be provided in the March 2021 communication.
Pick-Up, Drop-Off, and Traffic Tips
**Please pull your car forward if you are able.
**Do not skip the line and go around cars that are stopped. Staff will try to help cars move and continue the line.
**Please do not get out of your car to help your child. Staff members will help children get into and out of cars. The preschool pick-up and drop-off are a different system. Those families get out of cars to wait with younger children.
*If you are getting into the 2nd moving lane, please make sure to only be in the pick-up lane or the 2nd late--not both.
Important Dates
January 25th-29th - 2021-2022 Kindergarten Registration Week
Monday, February 1st
*NO SCHOOL - Teacher Inservice
*Parent-Teacher Conference Pick-A-Time Scheduler opens up
Tuesday, February 4th - C Day
100th Day of School
*students can wear a shirt with a number on it
Friday, February 5th - E Day
Remote Learner Pick-Up 9:00-11:00
Thursday, February 11th OR Friday February 12th
Valentine's Parties -- Watch for final scheduled date from your classroom teacher
Sunday, February 14th
Parent-Teacher Conference Pick-A-Time Scheduler closes
Monday, February 15th - E Day
Student bring home Valentines bags
Wednesday, February 17th - B Day
**Remote Learner Pick-Up of Mid-Quarter for Conferences 9:00-11:00
Early Dismissal 2:06
Parent-Teacher Conferences (Zoom) 3:00-7:00
Thursday, February 18th - C Day
Early Dismissal 2:06
Parent-Teacher Conferences (Zoom) 3:00-7:00
Friday, February 19th NO SCHOOL
100th Day of School
Thursday, Feb 4, 2021, 08:00 AM
18480 California Street, Elkhorn, NE, USA
Counselor Corner
I wanted to share a couple of free resources for families. The first is called “More Big Bad News” and is a short article written by Marison Munoz-Kiehne, PhD on supporting children during “Big bad news with big bad names: pandemics, disasters, wars, terrorism and shootings.” It offers the perspective of a child during these events, a drawing activity and how to respond to and support our children. The link for the free material is from The Centering Corporation.
https://centering.org/more-big-bad-news/
Also as a reminder, Elkhorn Public Schools partners with Arbor Family Counseling to supply two free visits with a professional counselor. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about this process and share the names of the counselors with whom I have worked. You can find more information at https://www.arborfamilycounseling.com/
Thank you to all of the families who encouraged your children to participate in my Zoom guidance lessons. It’s been especially great to see our students in person again!
Mrs. Jean Herold
402-289-2773
District Information
Preschool Information
DCHD Update Regarding Travel
The Elkhorn Public Schools Director of Student Services sent this out in order to assist families-especially as Spring Break approaches. Please let me know if you have any questions.
From DCHD:
Another update regarding travel: Starting on Jan 26, the CDC will be REQUIRING all international travelers to provide documentation of having received a negative COVID test no more than three days before their flight to the United States. If they have had the virus and recovered, they will also be required to provide documentation from a healthcare provider stating this.
This will be an issue for any families who are on international vacations, or who are planning on such trips after Jan 26th. They will have to follow these steps, or they will not be allowed to board the plane. This applies to both citizens and non-citizens, and having had the vaccine will not change whether a person is required to follow these requirements.
Here is an FAQ for this new requirement, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html
Here is the CDC website for travel updates https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-air-travel.html
PTO News
Yearbook Lovelines
Dear Parent(s):
Looking for a creative way to tell your student, “I love you and I’m proud of you”?
Place a WDS “Express”ion (Love line) in the yearbook!
Whether your son or daughter is in PreK, Kindergarten or 5th grade, a WDS Expression is always a great idea. In the future, seeing your message will bring a smile as they remember your love and support during these important years. Just purchase the loveline and/or yearbook online* at www.Jostens.com
And send us a message and/or a copy of your favorite photo to yearbookwds@gmail.com .
It is only $5 for each expression! $25 for yearbook. Due February 19th!
PTO Zoom Meeting - Monday, January 8th @ 6:30
Purchase Your WDS Yearbook:
Yearbook Prices:
$25- Purchases made 11/2/2020 - 2/226/2021
Place Your Order Here: http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01122087.
Contact Information
Please feel free to contact me any time if you have questions, concerns, feedback, or want to share your great news. ~Mrs. Sidders
Email: bsidders@epsne.org
Website: https://www.elkhornweb.org/westdodgestation/
Location: 18480 California Street, Elkhorn, NE, USA
Phone: 402-289-2773
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElkhornPSWD
Twitter: @ElkhornPS_WD