The Puma Pride
November 25, 2019
Principal's Message
Hello, Willow Dale Families!
During this Thanksgiving season, our students have been reflecting on what they are thankful for. I want to take this opportunity to share the many things I am thankful for as the principal of Willow Dale Elementary. I am grateful for our wonderful students who come to school every day, ready to learn. I am thankful for the support of the parents in creating an outstanding partnership for our students. I am thankful for the teachers, Instructional and Personal Care Aides, bus drivers, secretaries, nurses, lunchroom/cafeteria monitors, building custodians, support staff, counselors, psychologists, and administrators who are dedicated to increasing student achievement and have the best interests of our students at heart. I am thankful for our Home & School parents who selflessly give up their time to provide outstanding opportunities for our students. I am also thankful for our volunteers who enthusiastically contribute so much to our school. We are fortunate to have a cohesive team that is dedicated to our students, families, and the entire Willow Dale community.
On behalf of myself, Mr. Julius and the entire Willow Dale staff, we would like to wish all of you and your families a happy, healthy and relaxing Thanksgiving break!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
Dr. Perkins & Mr. Julius
**Next Newsletter- December 8**
In Music Class News.....
The 4th and 5th grade students are hard at work preparing for the Winter Concert. The concert date is Wednesday, December 18th so mark your calendars now. In addition to the Willow Dale Chorus, the 4th and 5th graders are auditioning for the Honors Chorus group. This is a select group of 45 students from 4th and 5th grade. Rehearsals start in January and run every Wednesday at McDonald Elementary. It ends in April when we will perform during the Fine Arts Festival. An announcement will be made sometime after Thanksgiving letting the students know who made the group. So give your music student a lot of encouragement and wish them luck. Thank you!
Mr. Frank C. Bauerle
Vocal Music Specialist, Room 15
Willow Dale Elementary School
720 Norristown Road
Warminster, PA 18974
215-441-6093 ext 11205
Sportsmanship Club (4th and 5th Grade Students)
This club is open to all fourth and fifth-grade boys and girls. The group is titled Sportsmanship Club and is designed to raise student’s self-awareness on working as a team on and off the field/court. Due to the weather conditions, we will start with football (5 sessions) and finish with basketball (5 sessions). Mr. Aninsman will be organizing this after-school group along with some special guests along the way. The Sportsmanship Club meets on Mondays from 3:45 – 4:45 p.m. (11/25/2019- 3/9/2020; no session on 1/6/2020, 1/20/2020, 2/3/2020, and 2/17/2020).
If you have any questions please feel free to contact Mr. Aninsman at Aninni@centennialsd.org
Counselors Corner
With the holidays right around the corner, here are some ways to reduce holiday stress.
The holidays are a time of great joy and excitement for children and their families. But they can also sometimes bring with them the added stress of trying to deliver the best holiday celebration ever. Children's Hospital Boston psychiatrist Stuart Goldman, MD, offers the following tips and advice to help children and parents enjoy healthy, happy holidays.
School Vacation
Add a little structure to your child's school vacation. Plan activities, such as playing board games, going to the movies or sledding outside. Consider scheduling activities the whole family can participate in together.
Get Outdoors
Keep children active. The winter brings less daylight, which can lead to more inside time and less physical
activity. Try to get outdoors, even if only for a little while.
Bedtime
Make sure children get plenty of sleep. Holiday time often begets later bedtimes. Make sure you get your child gets back on his regular sleep schedule before going back to school.
Talk
Be mindful of past events, like the death of a loved one or a divorce in the family, that may resurface around the holidays. Address these changes in advance, explaining that the holidays will be different and that it's okay to express feelings about it.
Information taken from: http://www.childrenshospital.org/patientsfamilies
December Rotation Calendar
Secret Shop
- Check with your child's teacher for the schedule.
- Holiday Shop will be open in the evening on December 4 from 5 pm- 7 pm.
Monday, Dec 2, 2019, 09:00 AM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Secret Shop- Evening Hours
Wednesday, Dec 4, 2019, 05:00 PM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Art Goes to School
- Check with your child's teacher for the schedule.
Monday, Dec 9, 2019, 09:00 AM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Chick Fil-A Night @ Warrington Location
Tuesday, Dec 10, 2019, 04:00 PM
160 Easton Rd, Warrington, PA 18976, USA
Elementary Report Card Distribution
Wednesday, Dec 11, 2019, 03:00 PM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Winter Concert School Performance
Wednesday, Dec 18, 2019, 09:30 AM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Winter Concert Evening Performance
Wednesday, Dec 18, 2019, 07:00 PM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Sing-a-long and Pajama Day/ Early Dismissal
All Schools Closed
Monday, Dec 23, 2019, 09:00 AM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
ALL SCHOOLS OPEN - CYCLE DAY 1
Thursday, Jan 2, 2020, 08:45 AM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
FEAST (Feeding Everyone at Special Times) program for the holidays
Cold Weather Guidelines for Recess
Cold Weather Guidelines for Recess
Below 60 degrees—Jacket or long sleeves
Below 50 degrees—Coat and long pants
Below 32 degrees—Gloves and hats to go outside
Below 20 degrees—Shortened recess (5-10 minutes)
Below 10 degrees—Indoor recess
All temperatures represent the “feels like” number. Sometimes the windchill or windspeed may necessitate an indoor recess.
*If you are in need of coats, hats, gloves- Contact the School Counselors:
Ms. Zemitis: zemile@centennialsd.org
Ms. LaRose: laroka@centennialsd.org
From the Nurse's Office
The cold weather and the start of the flu season are upon us! Please consider having your child receive the flu vaccine. Check with his or her pediatrician regarding receiving a flu shot or flu mist. Your child’s physician will be able to guide you in making the best decision. Also, you may always contact the Bucks County Department of Health for more information on flu shot clinics throughout the year at (215) 345-3318.
Remember, GOOD HANDWASHING is key to preventing the spread of germs. Remind your children to wash their hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, washing the front and back of their hands, between their fingers, and under their fingernails, with a good amount of friction. Make it fun for them and sing songs to make sure they are doing a good job! Encourage them to try not to touch their faces, especially their eyes, nose, and mouth unless their hands are clean. Stress the importance of this to your children in order to keep them healthy and able to learn!
The Willow Dale Nurse’s office does not keep cold and cough medicine in stock. If your child requires over the counter medicine, we advise they take it prior to the school day. Please be careful when administering any medication that may make your child drowsy.
If your child is having any fever or vomiting, they should stay home until fever/symptom-free for 24 hours. We are trying to keep all of our students happy and healthy during this time of year!
Health screenings started in the nurse’s office last month. For elementary schools, this includes a vision exam assessing near and distance vision and height and weight checks for all grades, kindergarten through 5. Also, under the Pennsylvania state mandates, hearing screenings are performed for kindergarten through grade 3. Yearly hearing screenings are only performed for grades 4 and 5 under special circumstances or concerns regarding a child’s hearing expressed by a parent and/or teacher. If there is a concern with your child’s vision, hearing, or growth during the school health screening, a letter will be sent home to notify a parent of the concerns and to recommend follow-up with a doctor. If necessary, notification of a parent via a phone call will be made. More information about health screenings can be found at the PA Department of Health website.
Please do not hesitate to call the nurse’s office for questions or concerns.
Mrs. Salita, RN, BSN, CSN
Mrs. Kleinschmidt, RN, BSN
SAFETY & SECURITY
Visitors to the school must enter the school’s front foyer (white doors) and ring the bell, located next to the door that leads to the main office. Once buzzed in, our fantastic staff will be happy to serve you!
- Visitors must obtain a visitor’s pass from the main office.
- All visitors to the building will have his/her photo identification card scanned through the Raptor system to ensure everyone’s safety. Please make sure you have your driver's license or state photo ID card available upon entrance. The system was upgraded this year, therefore ALL visitors must present their driver's license when they enter the building.
- Visitors or parents may be escorted to their room where their business or volunteer work is being conducted.
- Students are requested not to bring guests to school unless permission is granted in advance by the principal.
- Forgotten books, lunch money, lunches, etc. should be left in the office. We will see that they are delivered to the student.
- If a parent or designated adult is picking a student up from school early, photo identification is required to release the student.
Thank you very much for helping us maintain a safe school for our students and staff!
Attendance
Children who attend school regularly make the best academic progress, graduate, and go on to successful post-secondary education and/or careers.
Students, who arrive late (after 8:45 am), must report to the office for a late slip. Parents should accompany tardy students to the office to sign in the student.
If your child is going to be absent, please notify the school to let us know.
Reporting Absences
SUBMITTING ABSENCE NOTES
Attendance Notes can be Submitted Electronically via email at WDAttendance@centennialsd.org. Please know you will still receive automated phone calls (to the primary phone listed in Skyward) if you have not submitted an absence note via email on the days your child is absent from school.
**Absence notes must be submitted within 3 days of the student's absence, otherwise, the absence will be recorded as unexcused.
E-Mailing Attendance Notes
- Parents with children in Willow Dale may e-mail attendance notifications/notes to the following address: WDAttendance@centennialsd.org
- E-mail notifications are encouraged on the morning of the absence day. However, e-mailed absence notes may be sent on the day following the absence.
- When sending an absence notification please include the following information:
- Child's Name
- Child's Grade
- Child's Homeroom Teacher
- Date(s) of Absence
- Reason for Absence
- Contact Phone # for Parent/Guardian
- Other Pertinent Information
- While you may still continue to call the school on the day of absence, a follow-up e-mail or a written note is still required for the absence to be excused.
Email: WDAttendance@centennialsd.org
Phone: 215-441-6093
SCHOOL SAFETY DRILLS
We will practice fire, lock-in, lock-out, and weather emergency drills. These drills may or may not be announced. Unannounced drills more accurately indicate the preparedness of the school and the effectiveness of safety procedures. Your child's teacher will review the exercises and procedures with their classes. Please make the teacher aware of any concerns regarding your child's participation in the safety drills.
The Warminster Director of Emergency Management Services and the Warminster Police Department will be invited to observe our drills and provided feedback for improvement.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Dr. Perkins or Mr. Julius.
Family Trips Scheduled During the School Year
Dear Centennial Families;
The Centennial School District Board of School Directors approved Policy 204.1, Family Trips Scheduled During School Year.
Although the scheduling of family trips during the instructional year is not encouraged, the Centennial School Board recognizes that students may benefit educationally by accompanying their parent(s)/guardian(s) on trips. The revision to the policy will allow the schools to approve up to five (5) days instead of three (3). Any trip beyond five (5) days will need the approval of the Superintendent.
Parent(s)/Guardian(s) who are requesting approval for a family trip need to complete and submit the attached form to their building principal at least two (2) weeks before the trip.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Perkins or Mr. Julius.
Willow Dale Elementary School
Email: perkca@centennialsd.org
Website: www.centennialsd.org/Domain/692
Location: 720 North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: 215-441-6093
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Education/Willow-Dale-Elementary-School-331460017756772/
Twitter: @Willow_Dale_ES