The WES Parent Wildcat Weekly
Home of the Wildcats!
Weeks of November 16-27, 2020
Hello from Principal Holmes!
Dear Wildcat Parents,
Wow! Fall break is just around the corner. Our parents have been very supportive and I know you all probably need the break as well as our students as staff. We hope that everyone will be able to spend some time relaxing and enjoy some family time.
A few reminders before fall break. November 23rd and November 24th will be asynchronous for all students. All of our students will have a class meeting on both days from 9:00-10:00. Attendance will be taken so we do expect our learners to be online.
Thank you again for your support of all of our learners and their teachers. The collaboration and support from our families have been nothing short of amazing. We appreciate all of you as we continue our journey of education in 2020.
With wildcat pride and spirit,
Dianne Holmes
Principal
Message from our Superintendent Dr. Baker
Thank you for your support and patience this week as we experienced unusual inclement weather challenges. We also apologize for the last minute postponement of Thursday’s Family Connection webinar due to technical difficulties.
As we move into week 6 of the hybrid learning model, I want to thank all of our community stakeholders for continuing an on-going conversation in real time regarding what is working and what needs adjustment or improvement moving forward. Please know that we value and utilize the feedback on a daily and weekly basis.
On Friday, Governor Northam announced updated guidance for mitigating increasing cases of COVID-19 throughout the state. At this moment, we believe that there is minimal impact on our current model of hybrid in-person learning. Our current health plan includes the mask requirement, and we do not believe that the updated public gathering restrictions will impact us at this time. However, we will be continuing to gain clarification from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) early this week. Should any adjustments need to be made in alignment or compliance with the recent orders, we will communicate those right away.
Below are a few additional reminders:
Announcements & Reminders
Last Monday, November 9th, staff provided an update regarding the Return to Learn Hybrid In-Person Instructional model. Please see the attached presentation that was shared with the Board and community.
November 16th marks the beginning of the 2021-2022 (FY22) budgeting process with a Pre-Budget Work Session that starts at 5:00. This meeting is available to view electronically and with limited seating at the School Board Office. The school board will also discuss and ultimately approve the use of FY2020 carryover funding.
Student devices have started to arrive! We have received a little over 1,200 chromebooks, which were delivered to 8 of our elementary schools. Instructional technology technicians are preparing the devices to provide to students. We also anticipate receiving another shipment next week bringing us closer to the 8,500 ordered in July.
We emailed information about the annual Impact Aid Form to all parents. If you have not already done so, please complete the docusign form that you received by email. The School Division receives funding for students who have parents that are in the military or work on a federal government property based on the Impact Aid forms that are completed. Thank you for your assistance.
Spotsylvania County continues to fall in moderate ranges (per VDH) in the 14 day averages in two key indicator areas: Percent Positivity and Cases per 100,000. Along with cases identified in our own school division, we monitor this data in cooperation with the local VDH. Though we are implementing the mitigation strategies, we continue to monitor this data closely given the increases in these and other indicators, not only locally, but throughout the state. As a reminder, our COVID-19 Dashboard is updated weekly and can be viewed in the Return to Learn section on each school’s website or by clicking this link: SCPS COVID-19 Dashboard. We have added to our webpage the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Dashboard link. This site provides data and statistics regarding COVID-19 positivity rates and cases per 100,000 by locality, region, and state. We continue to remain in moderate ranges according to the 14 day averages.
Have a great week!
Dr. S. Scott Baker
Virtual Field Trip Opportunity
Come learn about the FBI's Hostage and Rescue Team and their K9s 11/18 at 10:00 a.m. using the Google Meet link below. You must use a student or staff Spotsylvania email account to attend. https://meet.google.com/bkm-ndgu-qfa
What's happening at WES!!
WES Staff Shout Out!
Mental Health Support Team
For more information about the Mental Health Support Team contact Crystal Burton, School Social Worker, via phone at 540-786-9817 or via email at cburton@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Counselor Corner
First Grade students have been working on bucket filling in classroom lessons. Being a bucket filler is someone who spreads kindness to others without being asked. Ask your child “Have you filled a bucket today?” Bucket fillers make WES the best place to be!
The holidays are here! Our Wilderness Angel Tree will be up by this week. If you would like to help a family this year, send Mrs. Elliott an email!
This year with the help of Spotswood Baptist Church, Lifepoint Church, Weis, and some Wilderness parents, we’re supporting 20 families for Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for these partnerships and to be able to do this for some of our families.
Interested in food support? At Wilderness on Thursday’s from 12:30 pm - 2 pm our food pantry is available for you. You can also schedule an appointment with Mrs. Elliott or Mrs. Burton (school social worker). To learn more: Food Distribution
Stop by our Wilderness counseling site for resources:
Wilderness School Counseling Website
If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me. I am happy to help!
Tori Elliott
School Counselor
Social Worker Spotlight
School social workers serve as liaisons between the school, home, and community. In addition to assisting families with meeting basic needs, school social workers also provide critical mental health support to students and their families.
Crystal Burton, MSW
Supervisee in Clinical Social Work
School Social Worker
Wilderness Elementary School
540-786-9817 x8667
The Wildcat Yearbook
- Please put "baby picture" in the subject line and include the student's name in the body of the email. All photos must be emailed by December 20th! Thank you.
And for the virtual/asynchronous learners...
- Even though we are not all in the classroom together, we are still learning together! We are a Wildcat family and would like to capture these moments of strength and unity! Please email any pictures you may have of your little Wildcat to lmoreyra@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
- The pictures will be added to our yearbook collection. Also, please be mindful of the backgrounds of any pictures sent in. Thank you!
Update from Food Service
- On the week of Thanksgiving, food distribution will take place on Tuesday, November 24th (since Wednesday November 25th is a holiday). Please note that distribution will take place only at the current high school and middle school distribution sites from 3:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. (Chancellor High, Courtland High, Massaponax High, Riverbend High, Battlefield Middle, Post Oak Middle and Spotsylvania Middle).
- Breakfast and Lunch are free for ALL SCPS students!
- Students can order breakfast and lunch on their in-person learning days.
- Snacks and extras are available for purchase.
- Families can pick up FREE Meal bags for ALL SCPS Students and Children 18 and Under is on WEDNESDAYS from 8am-4pm at the 13 elementary and middle schools sites and 8am-7pm at the 4 high schools and Post Oak MS. For additional information, please view the attached fliers: English flier & Spanish flier.
Extra Care for Student Devices
Extra Care of Student Take Home Computers
As students head off to school, many days they need to add their school-issued computer to their backpack. Parents are asked to remind their students to handle the backpack with extra special care. It may take several reminders to get the students used to the responsibility of handling a delicate device in the backpack/carrying case. Please remind the student of the following:
(1) Do not sit on, stand on, toss, or drop the backpack/carrying case as these actions and others may cause damage to the computer inside.
(2) Gently place the computer in the backpack/carrying case.
(3) Place the device in a separate pocket that provides cushion from the heavy items such as books and notebooks, and away from items that might leak such as lunch box items.
Parents, please read the attached list of Basic Care – Student Take Home Technology to your student. Under the signed Technology Take Home Agreement, repairs and replacement costs due to lost or damaged equipment is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
Unfortunately, we have had some devices damaged and parents have been held accountable for the cost of repairs. Thank you for your support.
Contact Us!
Daniella Smith, Assistant Principal
Tori Elliott, School Counselor
Crystal Burton, School Social Worker
Email: dholmes@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Website: https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/Domain/23
Location: 11600 Catharpin Road, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA, USA
Phone: 540-786-9817
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildernessWildcats
Twitter: @WESPrincipal