Wrightstown Ravens' News
October 3, 2020
Seeing the students who returned to school on site last week was absolutely wonderful! We know it's been a long time since we were last together but finally being in the same space ignited a sense of familiarity and comfort. Students quickly noted the physical modifications made to their school. They complied and demonstrated their responsibility to adhere to the safety protocols in place. Our students continue to make us so proud! Moving through the first week with new systems for arrival and dismissal in place, we will continue to evaluate these procedures. Adjustments will be made if necessary.
The staff and I appreciate your continued support and patience as we move into the second week of the hybrid platform. The partnership between home and school has never been more important! I would like to give a BIG thank you to Mrs. Halderman for decorating our school sign and pots with beautiful plants and flowers. We are ready for fall!
Stay well!
Beth
Half Day - Wednesday, October 14th
Please note:
Wednesday, October 14th
12:15pm "dismissal" with K AM attending
Teachers will have Professional Development in afternoon
Hybrid Learning Continues...
Monday, October 5th = Cohort A
Tuesday, October 6th = Cohort A
Thursday, October 8th = Cohort B
Friday, October 9th = Cohort B
If you are participating in the 100% Virtual model you will be following the schedule that your homeroom teachers provide.
All students will be virtual on Wednesday, October 7th.
On Wednesdays students should follow the VIRTUAL schedule only. This is the schedule students followed for the first three weeks of school. This schedule is a combination of Synchronous, LIVE instruction and asynchronous learning.
WES Orientation Video
In order to help families prepare their children for the return to school, we invite you to view the video below that outlines safety measures such as social distancing, face coverings, and procedural information.
WES Frequently Asked Questions
This FAQ is a LIVE document that is continuously updated as questions arise.
From The WES PTO
COVID-19 Daily Screening Tools for Parents
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a disease capable of rapidly spreading to other persons with whom you come in contact. If you have been infected, you are capable of exposing other people to COVID-19, even if your symptoms are mild, such as a cough. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Early symptoms may also include chills, body aches, sore throat, headache, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and runny nose. Given that COVID-19 is a threat to the public’s health, staff members are asked to perform the following self-symptom assessment prior to entering school. Similarly, guardians are asked to conduct symptom assessment of children each morning prior to the students entering school.
Symptom assessment:
Does your child (student) have any of the following?
· Fever (body temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or 38.0 degrees Celsius)
· Cough
· Shortness of breath
· New loss of/altered taste or smell
· Fatigue
· Chills
· Body aches
· Sore throat
· Headache
· Diarrhea
· Nausea/vomiting
· Runny nose
If you answered yes and do not have another explanation for that symptom (e.g., allergies), please remain home until symptoms improve or medical documentation for alternative diagnosis is provided and notify the school nurse of the reason for remaining at home. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your primary care physician and/or school nurse.
Thank you for helping to keep our entire Council Rock community healthy and safe!
From the Nurse's Office
Welcome back from your school nurses.
Just a reminder that per PA State Requirements, the health office needs the following reports if not sent to us in the past year:
Kindergarten and students new to WES - physical and dental exam
3rd grade - dental exam
6thgrade - physical exam
Forms can be found on our webpage https://www.crsd.org/Page/20077
Please call with any questions or concerns.
Health Office: 215.944.2309
Fax: 215.944.2397
Thank you and stay safe!
Mrs. Mallee, CSN
Mrs. Mullin, RN
Counselor's Corner by Ms. Allison Gulnac
As we welcome students back into the building, we hope a sense of normalcy is waiting for them within our walls. However, we would be remiss if we didn’t recognize that students are returning to a school that is different from the one they left in March. The smiling faces of their teachers are covered by masks, their classrooms and lunchtimes are missing many of their friends, and there are new rules for them to remember and follow. These changes, and the ever-present reason behind these changes, can cause students to feel intrusive and overwhelming emotions. Rather than repress these emotions, we want to prioritize working with our students both at home and school, to cope with them. Below, I have listed points to keep in mind when addressing your child’s COVID and return-to-school related fears, as well as some resources for more in-depth information.
· Communicate – Avoiding discussions can actually lead to more persistent feelings of anxiety in children. Keep the dialogue rolling and have honest, factual and open conversations with your kids about COVID-19. Tailor these conversations to your child and take into account their age and maturity level.
· Ask Questions– Ask your child how school is going. What’s different? How do they feel about these new changes? What makes them nervous? Uncomfortable? Then listen, validate and problem-solve. Give them your undivided attention and state that you understand their feelings and why they feel that way. Then promote problem-solving by discussing ways to cope and deal with their concerns.
· Control – Emphasize what your child can control and use coping-focused language. For example, focusing on hand washing, using hand sanitizer, social distancing, wearing a mask and following instructions, emphasizes that your child plays an active role in making sure things run smoothly at school.
· Positives – Focus on the things that are going well! Acknowledge the fears and worries of your child, but motivate them to focus on the things they’re looking forward to, the positives or even the aspects of school and life that are still “normal”!
· Structure – As much as possible, provide structure and a predictable routine at home. Predictability helps make us feel safe. Consider building time before or after school for shared activities with your kids into your routine.
· Modeling – Model calm behavior and healthy coping skills for your children. As best you can, model calm and confident attitudes about returning to school, and use cheerful, positive messaging when saying your goodbyes for the day. Share stories of times when you’ve felt nervous or anxious, how you coped and how things got better! Finally, don’t forget to make self-care and your own mental health a priority! Our kids notice how we feel and rarely miss even the most subtle cues.
The following links will provide a more in-depth look at helping your child cope with COVID related changes and anxieties:
UNICEF - Supporting Your Child's Mental Health During COVID-19 School Return
Child Mind Institute - Talking to Kids About Coronavirus
NASP - Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting From COVID-19
CDC - COVID-19 Parent Resources
AACAP - Resources for Helping Kids and Parents Cope Amidst COVID-19
If you have any questions or concerns about your student, please feel free to contact me at any time! See my website for further resources, activities, and updates on what we’re doing to promote student’s social-emotional well-being.
Allison Gulnac, School Counselor
215-944-2344
Parent/Student Handbook 2020-21
New Car Rider Procedures for Dismissal
During the first week of school every car rider family will receive two (2) placards. Students will be given these placards to take home. Please note, these placards will be distributed per family, not students. We appreciate your patience as we transition to these new procedures. It will take some time for this new process to become routine.
- Two (2) placards will be provided per car rider family.
- Placards must be displayed in the car windshield in full view for staff to see when picking up students.
- Remember to remain in your car during this process. Staff members assigned to this area will assist your child to your vehicle.
- If you don’t have a placard displayed and the staff doesn’t recognize you, you will be asked to park and visit the main office in the front of the building to provide identification to sign your child out.
Here is how car rider dismissal procedures will work:
-Display your school issued placard in your car windshield so that it is visible.
-Upon entering the school site you will turn left (there is a sign on the right of the driveway indicating this) and drive through the front parking lot.
-Once you come to a stop sign you will cross over the bus lane into another parking lot and turn right.
-You will proceed down toward the gym entrance and pull your car up as far as you can go. Cones will be stationed at this area.
-Please remain in your car.
-A staff member will write down your child’s name and radio the office to call for your child/ren to be dismissed from their classroom to the gym doors.
-Depending on the time that it takes your child to exit the building, you may be asked to move your car out of the line and park in a parking space. Staff will direct you.
If your child is a car rider, you will no longer be permitted to park in the staff/visitor parking lot, walk up and receive your child. You must remain in the car line to pick up your child/ren. No child will be released to a parent/person outside of their car.
Car rider procedures for morning drop off remain the same.
-Once on site follow the signs for car rider drop off located on the gym side of the school.
-Parents pull their car up to the gym side of the school where you will remain in your car.
-Children exit the car from the passenger side only and enter the school through the gym doors.
A directional map is provided below for your reference.
Car Rider Drop off Time in the Morning
Students may be dropped off at Wrightstown
beginning at 8:50 AM.
Please note that supervision is not available before 8:50 AM.
During arrival ALL students should report directly to their homeroom. We will have staff on hand to help anyone who needs it during this time.
Reminder for All Car Riders at Dismissal
Lingohocken Fire Prevention Contest 2020
https://www.instagram.com/lingohockenfireco/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/lingohocken3595/
Please see the contest flyer posted below for all rules and information!
For Families of Bus Riders: What Can you do to Stay Informed and be Ready?
- Expect the unexpected, be patient, and flexible
- Make sure to sign up for Council Rock text and email alerts
- Download and use FirstView
- Have a backup plan if we cannot provide transportation
Read CRSD Transportation FAQ Click Here
Use the FirstView Finder App - The First View Mobile app helps you keep track of your child's school bus going to and from school. Click on the button below to learn how you can track your child's bu
Free Lunch Program Extended to ALL Students
Through a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, CRSD will be able to provide all students in the District with lunch on school days at no cost to families. The program waiver under which CRSD is operating was extended until December 31, 2020 (or until the federal government runs out of funding), which means that CRSD can provide free lunches during the school year. The free lunches are available to both hybrid and 100% virtual students.
A la carte items (e.g., snacks, ice cream and certain drinks) are NOT included as part of the free meal, and must be paid for the student’s lunch account. A la carte purchases will be deducted from the account after purchased.
To add funds to your child’s account for a la carte purchases, check their account balance or sign up for low balance notifications and auto-replenishment, please visit https://www2.mypaymentsplus.com/welcome
EMERGENCY DRILLS
Within the first 60 days of school, we must conduct emergency drills within our building. These drills help us practice what we should do in the event of an emergency. Fire Drills are practiced monthly. Over the next 2 weeks we will practice our first Fire Drill. This will look a little different than previous years. To ensure social distancing every homeroom will practice individually.
We also practice A.L.I.C.E. Drills for an inside & outside threat and Shelter-In-Place. A.L.I.C.E. Drills are designed to protect our children in the event an intruder enters the building (inside threat), dangerous incidents in the surrounding neighborhood or intruder on our school grounds (outside threat). Safe Shelter is designed to protect our children from weather related emergencies. Teachers will review these procedures with students within the next 2 weeks as well.
Voluntary Student Accident Insurance
Voluntary coverage is being made available to purchase. We advise parents to carefully consider the voluntary options available to them by clicking LINK
IT Support
WiFi Issues: Contact your provider (Comcast, Verizon, Xfinity, etc.)
Password Issues: Contact our Librarian Assistant, Kristi Marino at kristi.marino@crsd.org
Tech Issue: Contact chromesupport@crsd.org
If you are having issues with your Chromebook that was issued to you or if you are in need of a Chromebook, please email chromesupport@crsd.org
CR District Calendar
The Council Rock School Board recently approved the 2020-2021 district calendar, and you can find it at the following LINK
WRIGHTSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Email: bfox@crsd.org
Website: https://www.crsd.org/wrightstownes
Location: 729 Penns Park Road, Newtown, PA, USA
Phone: 215-944-2300
Twitter: @BethFox_WES