WestWood/ SAGE Family Newsletter
March
Thank you to our amazing PTC and all the volunteers to help with I love to read month. The students had so much fun this February with the dress up day, book swap, and school- wide reading event. Thank you also to the PTC for all of the time and efforts with the read a thon! We thank you for all of your generous donations to support the students at WestWood and SAGE.
We truly enjoyed connecting with families for another time this year at conferences. Thank you to everyone for taking time to talk with staff about your child's learning and growth this year. Thank you also to everyone who donated food for the staff during the conference nights. It is such a wonderful treat to have such good food during the conference evenings.
Please take a look at the resources and updates included in this newsletter to stay connected with what is happening at WestWood Elementary and SAGE Academy.
Dr. Karoline Warner
Included in this newsletter
Early Release and No School Days
MCA Testing - grades 3-5
Yearbook
Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey
Mobile Food Shelf
Spring Picture day
Community Education Newsletter/Kids Company Spotlight
Upcoming Events
PTC/D.O.G.S. News
Early Release and No School Days:
Early release day will be on March 6th. Students will be released at 1:50pm. There is no school on Friday March 29-April 5th.
MCA Testing - grades 3-5:
Yearbook
WestWood Yearbooks are NOW on Sale:
WestWood yearbooks are now on sale through March 15, 2024. Sales are online ONLY. The price is $18. Extras features can be added for additional costs including: personalized yearbook covers with student name (no photos) $5, year in review (news) $3, autograph inserts $2 and stickers $2. Yearbooks will be handed out at the end of the school year. If you have any yearbook related questions, please feel free to email Tom Deris (3rd grade teacher and yearbook advisor) tderis@plsas.org
Link: ybpay.com
Yearbook ID Code: 15176124
School Name: WestWood Elementary School
Due Date: March 15, 2024
Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey
PLSAS Families,
PLSAS is committed to listening and responding to your experiences with our district to continuously improve our services to you. Our partners at Studer Education are providing an opportunity for you to give feedback anonymously, at the link below.
Please take a few minutes to complete the Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey at this link:
PLSAS – Spring 2024 Parent/Caregiver Experience Survey
Additionally, this QR code links to the survey:
(On some phones, the survey appears best if you switch to “desktop site” in your mobile browser.)
The survey will remain open until Friday, March 15.
Your feedback will be used to celebrate our successes and to create action plans for improvement. Your input is valuable; please take a few minutes to complete the survey.
Thank you for your commitment to our success!
Mobile Food Shelf:
CAP Agency (Community Action Partnership) is introducing a new service! Starting in February there will be a mobile food shelf delivery made to Edgewood & WestWood Schools. Each month there is a shopping list that needs to be completed with your family needs. Look for flyers that will come home monthly regarding the due date for shopping orders and the delivery date. Reach out to Dallas Giles, School Social Worker, with any questions at dgiles@plsas.org or 952-226-0602.
Lifetouch will be at WestWood on Thursday, March 14th.
Kindergarten-5th grade: if you would like to have your student photographed with the spring background please prepay for pictures online or return the photo envelope order form on picture day. ONLY those students that want to purchase the spring pictures will get their picture taken. SPRING picture day ID: EVTHSN4CT
Kindergarten only: ALL kindergarten students will be photographed in a cap and gown. If you would like to purchase the cap and gown picture, you can do so online or by returning the photo envelope order form on picture day. KINDERGARTEN cap and gown picture ID: EVTVG9778
Kindergarten Enrollment
Now open! Enroll your child in kindergarten for 2024-25
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools' kindergarten enrollment for the 2024-25 school year is now open. Visit our website to enroll your child: click here.
The following are some resources you may find helpful as you prepare for your child's entrance into kindergarten at PLSAS.
View our Kindergarten Information Night December 12 recording.
Click here for ideas to help prepare your student for kindergarten.
Check out our kindergarten brochure with helpful information.
Sit down with your soon-to-be kindergartner and watch our new video that highlights the fun learning that lies ahead at PLSAS!
We can't wait to welcome your student as a Laker!
Parent's Night Out
Cultural Fair
Cheerleading
Now Hiring
Strategic Planning
We need your input! Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools has begun a strategic plan review and is seeking input to help establish a shared vision among community members.
To participate, families, staff, students and community members will have an opportunity to provide feedback during community meetings being held February - April. Input gathered from these meetings will be reviewed by a Strategic Plan Core Team of diverse community members who are working together to form a draft that identifies key priorities and defines the roadmap for learner success in PLSAS. The draft plan will then be reviewed by the School Board in May.
Please consider attending one of the community meetings outlined below.
Feb. 3, 9-11:00 a.m. @ McColl Pond ELC, 13550 Dakota Ave S, Savage
Feb. 7, 6-9:00 p.m. @ Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St. West, Savage (RSVP for dinner to mwalz@plsas.org)
Feb. 20, 1-3:00 p.m. @ Spring Lake Twp Town Hall, 20381 Fairlawn Ave, Prior Lake
March 23, 9-11:00 a.m. @ McColl Pond ELC, 13550 Dakota Ave S, Savage
March 26, 9-11:00 a.m. @ Club Prior, 16210 Eagle Creek Ave SE, Prior Lake
April 9, 6-9:00 p.m. @ Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St. West, Savage (RSVP for dinner to mwalz@plsas.org)
Community Education
Community Education Classes
Check out all of the amazing classes, activities and events available by browsing our digital catalogs. The summer catalog is now live online! Summer swim registration opens March 1st. Click on the class below for more information or to register.
Youth Classes
Adult Classes
Upcoming Events
Dance with Me Ball - Saturday, February 24 from 6:30-9pm
Duck Cup Memorial: Stories Over Stigma (Free Event) - Wednesday, March 13 from 7-8pm
3.21 Fun! (Free Event) - Thursday, March 21 from 4-7pm
Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) offers a variety of classes for families with young children, including evening and Saturday classes. ECFE is for everyone and the classes are designed to strengthen families and support children’s healthy growth and development. Meeting other families and spending time with your child are other benefits!
Our Semester 2 classes are starting this week. There is still room left in our Time with Baby, ESTEM Learners, Preschool Discovery (evening class), and Art Party Classes. There are some evening classes that are one-time events such as Mindful Mondays, ESTEM Events and our Cultural Music Events. Check them out here- ECFE Registration
Always feel free to email me with questions about ECFE-
vspieler@plsas.org (Vicki Spieler, Early Learning Assistant Coordinator)
Early Childhood Screening is FREE and includes growth, development, and
immunization checks. Children are assessed in preschool concepts, communication skills, motor skills and social-emotional skills. The screening is most valuable soon after children turn three and gives families an early connection to PLSAS. If you know families who would like information about screening, please share our phone number 952-226-0975 or signup online
https://priorlake-savage.ce.eleyo.com/courses/category/ecfe/230/early-childhood-screening
Circle of Friends Preschool Registration is open for everyone on February 1st. There will be a Tour and Talk on Thursday, February 15th at 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm. RSVP is required. Come see Edgewood and hear about our great early learning programming. Our Nature Preschool will have an Open House on February 13th from 4:30-6:00 pm. Stop by Jeffers Pond that evening to get all your questions answered by our expert nature teachers.
Community Education Advisory Council
Make a difference in your schools and community, join the PLSAS Community Education Advisory Council. For more information visit our website.
Questions
For questions about our programs, please call 952.226.0310 or email communityed@plsas.org.
Kids Company
WestWood Pride
PTC and DOGS Updates
PTC & D.O.G.S.
Contact Info: ptcWestWood@gmail.com
WestWood Market School Store
WestWood Market, a school store run by 5th grade student employees, led by Mrs.Jaeb & parent volunteers, will now be open to 2nd - 5th grader shoppers. Kindergarten and first grade are welcome to shop through an order form. Online Catalog and order form can be located here
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u6JEgcUFY96YKQOqsIhqRmyNqYbYnUZt3FwLLmt0tWQ/edit?usp=drive_link
The store will be open to the 1st,* 3rd & 5th grade shoppers on:
3/1/24 Friday
4/12/24 Friday
5/10/24 Friday
The store will be open to the kindergarten,*, 2nd & 4th grade shoppers on:
3/15/24 Friday
4/26/14 Friday
5/17/24 Friday
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events:
March
1 WestWood Market 5/3/1st grade
5 PTC meeting 6pm
6 Early Release
14 Spring picture day & Kindergarten Cap and Gown pictures
15 WestWood Market 4/2/K grades
19 2nd grade and 1st grade music programs
20 3rd grade field trip
22 Blue & Gold Day
26 2nd grade field trip
28 End of 3rd quarter
29-April 5th No SchoolResources
Math Resources:
The district has added a Math Resource page to the district website.
This Math Page includes the following information for families:
-the link to the Bridges Family Support website
-the Mathematical Practices by Grade Level
-an article from the National PTA titled "Helping Your Child with Today's Math"
-the link to the Math Information Night presentation
-an explanation of conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, and contextual application
Technology Help
For help logging into any of our online systems contact our IT department by doing one of the following:
Email the helpdesk at ithelpdesk@plsas.org
Call IT at 952-226-0810
WestWood Elementary & SAGE Academy
Website: https://ww.plsas.org/
Phone: 952-226-0400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WWSAGE/
Twitter: @WestWoodPLS