Morris Memo
February 10, 2020 LWE Newsletter
Principal's Letter
Greetings Lake Windward Elementary Families,
Wow! What a weekend! I loved our surprise winter snow event. It was a great day of sledding, snowball fights and warming up with hot chocolate. I also loved that it was perfectly timed on a Saturday and gone by Sunday afternoon, as to not disrupt our time at school! :)
Our PTO's Bingo and Baskets event was so much fun! Thank you for coming out to support our school. It was a very well attended event, and the money raised will certainly be put to good use supporting the needs of our students and teachers. Thanks again to our PTO volunteers for their hard work making the event possible!
We recently conducted our Teacher of the Year observations and interviews as well as our Professional Employee of the Year interviews. I'd like to congratulate 4th grade Humanities teacher, Mrs. Erin Bridges, for being chosen as our 2020 Teacher of the Year. In addition, congratulations to Ms. Anne McKown, Curriculum Support Teacher, for being chosen as our 2020 Professional Employee of the Year. These two educators are exemplary at their work, and I am so proud they are representing LWE this year!
Warm regards,
Julie Morris
Teacher of the Year Finalists
Professional Employee of the Year Finalists
TOTY & PEOTY!
Ms. Anne McKown (right) Professional Employee of the Year!
Please Respond to the Parent Survey
It is time for your help in responding to our school's climate survey for parents. LWE is proud to currently have a 5 Star Climate Rating. This rating is in part due to the positive responses from our staff, students and parents from last year's surveys. We ask that you take a few minutes to fill out this survey before Friday, March 6th. Your feedback means a lot to us!
School Governance Council Declaration Window is OPEN!
It's SGC election season again. SGC members have a role in the vision and direction of the school. This year our theme is #jointhejourney. It all starts with elections!
Lake Windward will be electing: (1) parent/guardian AND (1) teacher
The Candidate Declaration Window is February 3rd – February 26th.
Interested candidates can check out the governance and flexibility website for more information.
Ready to declare your candidacy? Fill out the candidate declaration form here!
Elections for the parent/guardian and teacher positions on the School Governance Council will be held March 17th – March 24th.
For specific information regarding the Lake Windward SGC and Strategic Plan click here. If you have any questions about what it means to be on the SGC here at Lake Windward feel free to reach out to Christa Vogt, Anne Pugh, or Bethany Chapple.
Bethany Chapple
LWE SGC Chair
Congratulations to Our Geography Bee Winners, Channing & Montego!
From the PE Department
Students in grades 1-5 will participate in this state mandated fitness assessment. Per Georgia law, students in grades 1-3 are required to have their height and weight recorded annually and students in grades 4-5 are required to have their height and weight recorded biannually, and submitted to the state; along with their results from the other four components of the FitnessGram test. The following are the five components that all students in grades 4-5 will participate in: 1. PACER test (aerobic capacity) For more information, please go to my website at: http://lakewindwardpe.weebly.com/fitness-testing.html THANK YOU 😊 Ann Van Loo
2. 90 degree Push-Ups (upper body strength & endurance)
3. Curl-Ups (abdominal strength & endurance)
4. Sit & Reach (flexibility)
5. Height & Weight (body composition)
Character Awards for Perseverance
Notes from the KSU iTeach Coach
Classroom Highlights!
- Preparing students for the future requires an emphasis on teamwork!
- Promoting collaboration through technology requires a change in mindset.
- Teachers are challenging themselves and their students to participate in more project-based and hands-on learning experiences.
How can you help?
- Read more about Technology Collaboration here - https://www.commonsense.org/education/articles/how-technology-can-encourage-student-collaboration
- Consider ways that you can encourage students to show respect and patience as they collaborate with others.
LWE Students Learning & Growing!
Procedure for Absence Approval in Extenuating Circumstances
Students should be present in school every day unless illness or other extenuating circumstances exist. The Georgia Board of Education lawfully excuses students for the following reasons: personal illness, death in the immediate family, religious holidays, and other educational days as pre-approved by the school principal. The principal has at his/her discretion according to Board Policy the option to approve a maximum of six (6) days per student per school year in extenuating circumstances. Parents/guardians must notify the principal of their request by completing the request form located on the school website at least two weeks prior to the absence. Submission of parental/guardian request does not grant automatic approval. A school administrator or designee will contact the parents/guardian upon the final decision. As in the past, absences for illness, death in the family or religious holidays can be approved by your child's teacher by sending in a signed note from you.
1. The principal approval form is to be used for extenuating circumstances only, as stated in the information above.
2. Two weeks ahead of the planned absence, print and complete the request form located on the Lake Windward website.
3. One form is required per student.
4. Submit the completed, signed, and dated form to the Lake Windward front office.
5. Your student’s attendance record will be taken into consideration when reviewing your request.
6. A copy of the decision to accept, decline or amend your request, will be sent to you and your child’s homeroom teacher.
Email requests will not be accepted
LWE Calendar- What's coming up?
Feb. 14 – Happy Valentine’s Day!
Feb. 17 – President’s Day – School Closed
Feb. 27 – Spring Pictures taken
Please take a moment to read our LWE Student & Family Handbook
Community News
INTERNATIONAL NIGHT HOSTED BY LWE PTO
We need the participation of our LWE families to make the night a success. This includes displays (posters, flags, ethnic foods, dress, artifacts, pictures, music, games, activities etc.) and basic arts and crafts from around the world (e.g., henna, origami etc.). All children are encouraged to participate in the fashion show and parade of nations.
Please fill out the form below if you'd like to participate in the event.
Stay in contact!
Email: morrisja@fultonschools.org
Website: http://school.fultonschools.org/es/lakewindward/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 11770 East Fox Court, Alpharetta, GA, USA
Phone: 470-254-7050
Twitter: @lwesprincipal