WW and SAGE Family Newsletter
March 2023
Thank you to all the families that came to WestWood for conferences. We truly enjoyed seeing you and appreciate your time to partner in education to support your student.
Thank you to our PTC for the support of the author visit in February. The students thoroughly enjoyed learning about the author and how he started drawing and writing books. We are wrapping up the Kindness food drive on March 3rd as a school wide support for our local CAP agency. Thank you to all the families that donated food.
As part of kindness month some students shared their artistic talents and created kindness quotes to display around WestWood.
Please take a look at this newsletter for upcoming events and details.
Thank you for sharing your students with us.
Dr. Karoline Warner
Principal WestWood Elementary/ SAGE Academy
Included in this SMORE
Picture Day
Kindness Food Drive
Yearbook Info
Attendance Note
Kudos
Town Hall on Finance meeting
Teachers On Call Hiring Event
Free & Reduced Lunch
PTC News
Upcoming Events
Picture Day:
Strawbridge Photographers will be at WestWood on Friday, March 17th for our Spring picture day and Kindergarten Graduation photos.
Only students that preorder or have a paper order form will be photographed for Spring photos.
All kindergarten students will be photographed in cap and gown.
Kindness Food Drive:
Yearbook Info
The 2022-2023 WestWood/SAGE yearbook is on sale January 24-March 24. Cost is $15 (online orders only). Please reach out to Tom Deris (3rd grade teacher and yearbook advisor) at tderis@plsas.org if you have any questions. Yearbooks will be delivered in June prior to the end of school year.
Website: www.strawbridge.net
WW code: YB25587
Attendance Note
Attendance matters at Prior Lake Schools and collaborating and communicating with families to help get students to school each and every day is a top priority. Chronic absenteeism is prevalent across the country and its impact on student learning is impacted at all grade levels.
Regular attendance fosters a classroom community between teachers and children. Students who attend school are more likely to succeed academically, gain background knowledge from discussions, and also provide time for social interactions with their peers.
Please take a minute to watch Magic Johnson’s message, along with your child(ren) on how important being at school is.
Attendance Matters - Magic Johnson
Kudos!
A team of PLSAS students competed in February at the MN state champions for First Lego League. Out of 445 MN teams that started the season, 66 competed in the state championship. They placed 3rd for MN and will be going on to represent MN in one of the 3 national FIRST Science and Engineering events in April and May in Texas, California or Arkansas.
On the team are Maraike Fortin (7th grade HOMS, former SAGE student), Annika Harvey (7th grade at TOMS), Dominik Fortin (5th grade SAGE), Alek Kokotovich (5th grade SAGE) and George Harvey (5th grade SAGE).
Town Hall on Finance Meeting
Teachers On Call Hiring Event
“NOW HIRING exceptional substitute teachers! Are you wondering what being a substitute teacher all entails? Come join our virtual event to learn more about the process!”
Teachers on Call is hosting a hiring event to welcome anyone interested in becoming a substitute teacher in districts throughout MN, WI, IA, and WA! This event is a virtual event, it is free and open to everyone.
WHERE: Virtual - Click this link to sign up - https://calendly.com/jilr608/want-to-be-a-substitute-teacher
WHEN: Wednesday, March 8th, 2023
TIME: 10:00 am - 11:00 am
WHAT: An informal event to meet with our recruiting staff and learn more about Teachers On Call and the positions we offer!
REQUIREMENTS: Licensed through the state of Minnesota (requires bachelor’s degree or higher) Wisconsin (requires associates degree or higher) Iowa (Associates Degree or higher) or Washington (Bachelor’s Degree or higher) – if you are not licensed yet still join! We can briefly go over the requirements to become a substitute in your state and send out some information for you to get started.
PLAY Spring Sports Info
Free and Reduced Lunch:
You may not think of applying for Free or Reduced-Price Meals, but we need to ask a favor: please do! Many families are eligible for educational benefits, including free or reduced-price meals, waivers and instructional support. Qualifying applications generate much needed educational funds for all of our schools.
Families must complete the Application for Educational Benefits each year.
Applications are available:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Upcoming Events
March
1 5th Grade Hyland Hills Ski Trip
3 WestWood Market shopping for 4th/3rd/K
7 PTC meeting 6pm
15 ButterBraid Fundraiser pickup at 4pm
16 Early Release at 1:50pm
17 Spring Pictures/Kindergarten Grad pictures
WestWood Marking shopping for 5th/2nd/1st
23 3rd grade music program
24 Blue & Gold Day
DOGS @ Recess
28 2nd Grade field trip
30 End of 3rd Quarter
March 31-April 7 - No School
WestWood Pride
Resources
District Calendar
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 952-226-0062
Recruitment Video: Check out the PLSAS recruitment video:
Visit our webpage to view current employment openings: www.priorlake-savage.k12.mn.us/employment
PTC and D.O.G.S.
PTC Newsletter:
PTC & D.O.G.S.
Contact Info: ptcWestWood@gmail.com
Upcoming PTC meetings - held at WestWood in the Media Center at 6pm - All are welcome!
March 7, April 11, May 2, June 6
PTC Newsletter: Click here to view the PTC Newsletter
Restaurant Fundraiser Nights:
Charlie’s on Prior on March 6th from 5pm-close. 10% of all sales will be donated.
DOGS Lunch/Recess Days
The DOGS would like to invite you to join your student(s) for outdoor recess and indoor lunch on the last Friday of each month. This is open to family members and related caretakers of all WestWood/SAGE students, not just dads. It is a great opportunity to interact with your children and their friends at recess and have lunch with them at school. Simply check in at the main office to receive a visitors badge and head out to the playground. Head inside at their designated lunch time with your bag lunch or purchase with cash a school hot lunch. Afterward, say your goodbye’s as they head back to class and then check out at the main office. Keep an eye open for any monthly updates from westwooddogs@gmail.com or on the DOGS Facebook page.
WestWood Market:
WestWood Market is operated by an outstanding group of 5th grade employees and parent volunteers. Any interested student shoppers can bring their money to school. Here's a sneak peak at some of the items in store, see link below.
STORE ORDER FORM (for Kindergarten & 1st grade)
Upcoming shopping dates:
March 3 4th & 3rd & shopping and Kindergarten order form
March 17 5th & 2nd shopping and 1st grade order form