Tiger Tales
November 2019
Principal's Principles
Education is so much more than reading, writing, and mathematics. Educations is more than filling a pail, but is more of lighting a fire. Each one of our students has something great to offer the world and I cannot wait to see where they go with their talents! I encourage you to help build value in education and connect with your child's teacher, secretary, specialist, and principal in order to support and make the most of their journey through school. At Webster Elementary we help every child, every day, succeed in every way. This means that we educate the whole-child. Social-emotional learning is very important part of building character in students and helps them learn ways to cope, how to win and lose gracefully, how to persevere through upsets they may (and will inevitable from time to time) encounter, become trustworthy, grow to be dependable, and find their passions. At our elementary, students are participating daily in a curriculum called Sanford Harmony which helps grow peer relationships and problem solving skills while teaching students how to be a good learner. It helps students learn how to take responsibility for their learning and to own their choices. Sanford Harmony has been a fun and excited new add to our daily routines and is used K4-4th grade! Ask your student about their "Meet Up" circles or their "Buddy Up" activities throughout the week. These topics align with the units Mrs. Billings is teaching in bi-weekly lessons in Connections Classes and is our Universal support for character building.
What can I do to help my child build character?
- When talking through mistakes, ask them to share "what happened" and keep an open mind.
- Help them "make things right" in a way that they feel will help whomever was effected.
- Role-model healthy coping strategies: taking a breath, taking a break from those you are upset with, be dependable.
- Keep a routine at home.
- Ask about their day at school. How was school today? What was your favorite part of today?
- Read with them at home.
- Teach the difference between empathy & sympathy.
- Balanced nutrition.
- Proper sleep each night.
Mrs. Nagel
Health Hub
On November 13th we will be doing vision and hearing screenings for 5K, 1st and 3rd grade, with the help from the Webster Lions Club. Please remember these are screenings only and do not take the place of an exam by an ENT or optometrist.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child and they are not in the grades listed, please feel free to contact me at jsteiner@webster.k12.wi.us
Thank you and Happy November!
Counselor's Corner
Did you know October was Bullying Prevention Month? Last month, during our Connections classes we focused on Recognizing and Reporting Bullying.
During class, we define bullying as:
- when someone says or does something to hurt you or your feelings
- it's on purpose
- it's happening over and over again
- it's one-sided
You can help your child recognize the difference between a bullying situation and a conflict by asking:
- Was someone being mean on purpose? If yes, ask the next question. If no, then it probably wasn’t bullying.
- Did it happen again and again? If yes, ask the next question. If no, then it probably wasn’t bullying.
- Was the person being bullied able to get it to stop? If yes, ask: What did you or someone else do to get it to stop? Did they ignore it, did they walk away, did they ask the person to stop?
- If the mean words or actions continued, did you report it to an adult at school?
Throughout the year we will also be focusing our Connections lessons on: diversity, inclusion, empathy, critical thinking, communication, problem solving & peer relationships.
Mrs. Billings - Webster Elementary School Counselor
Food & Nutrition News
As many of you know, Webster Elementary School was awarded a grant, through the Department of Instruction’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, for the 2019-2020 school year. This award allows the district to provide a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables as a snack for our elementary students. Studies have shown that introducing a wide variety of fresh produce at a young age, sets the stage for making healthier food choices as children grow. We encourage our elementary students to try new foods whenever we can, and as they transfer over to the Middle School, we are noticing that more students are choosing items from the salad bar and fresh fruit options, which is a good sign that early exposure works. We also encourage parents to provide a wide variety of fresh foods at home, whenever possible. Also, discussing what the fresh produce snack option was for the day, and how your child liked (or didn’t) like it, and why, opens up a whole new conversation topic over dinner. With both school and home providing healthy and fresh options, we have a greater chance of eliminating childhood obesity, and our children being healthier in general.
Reading at Home Helps!
Let’s talk about phonemic awareness! The National Reading Panel has identified phonemic awareness as one of five basic reading skills children need in order to be a successful reader. Phonemic awareness is the ability to focus on and manipulate individual sounds (phonemes) in spoken words. Phonemes combine to form syllables and words. For example, the word dog has 3 phonemes: /d/ /o/ /g/. Phonemic awareness is important because it is the foundation of spelling and word recognition. It is one of the best predictors of how well children will learn to read during the first two years of school. Children with strong phonemic awareness skills can rhyme words, manipulate parts of words (like changing mat to rat), and identify the number of syllables in a word. Students at risk for reading difficulty often have lower levels of phonemic awareness. The good news is phonemic awareness can be developed through a variety of activities. Here are just a few things you can do to help your child hone his or her phonemic awareness skills:
Help your child think of words that start with the same sound.
Make up silly sentences with words that begin with the same sound, such as “Max made a mess on Monday.”
Play simple rhyming or blending games, such as taking turns coming up with rhyming words (go-no, cat-hat, etc.), or blending simple words (you say /d/ /o/ /g/, your child says dog).
Read books with rhymes. Teach your child rhymes, short poems, and songs.
Practice the alphabet by pointing out letters wherever you see them. Read ABC books.
Consider some online sources or software, such as Starfall, ABC Mouse, or Lexia* that help teach phonemic awareness skills.
With the help of parents and teachers, children can learn strategies to develop strong phonemic awareness skills that will pay off in reading success for years to come.
*Lexia is available for free at home through Webster Elementary. Ask your child’s teacher for details!Connection Coordinator
Ms. Crystal’s Ojibwe News
Boozhoo (hello) Everyone,
I hope everyone had a fun halloween out trick-or-treating, I know I did. I just wanted to share some Native American events that will be coming up for the month of Gashkadino-Giizis (November). November is Native American Heritage Month. Here at Webster Elementary we do many different events during the schools Native American Week (Nov. 12-15). Some classrooms make medallions, hear stories, watch videos, or try a Native food. School wide, the students decorate paper Eagle feathers to hang on their lockers. Watch for other events to occur either that week or throughout the month.
On Friday, Nov. 15 is Rock Your Mocs Day. I encourage all students, who have them, to bring moccasins to school and wear them. I am also adding into that day, wearing ribbon shirts/skirts and/or regalia to show classmates so they can learn about the regalia and powwow dancing. That afternoon, the whole school will go over to the MS/HS and watch a Native dance performance by, Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company. This is instead of the pow-wow. I am very excited to see what they do! I am looking forward to all the fun the students will have learning about the culture that is right in our own backyards. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please contact me at the elementary school at extension 122 or email me at cbrady@webster.k12.wi.us.
Miigwech (thank you),
Crystal Brady-JOM NA Coordinator
Ojibwe words to learn:
November: Gashkadino-Giizis
Turkey: Mizise
Deer: Waawaashkeshi
Hunt: NoojitoonThanksgiving: Miigwechiwi-giizhigad
What is Happening in our Classrooms?
ELA
- K4: learning letters Ii, Mm, & Tt
- K: Beginning sounds of letters
- 1st: Sight word recognition
- 2nd: Folktales, Plurals, Texts and graphic features
- 3rd: Compare/Contrast, Cause/Effect, Literal meanings
- 4th: Reading strategies: Text connections & Context clues
Math
- K4: Intro to Numbers 0-10
- K: Writing numbers & 2-D Shapes
- 1st: Addition of 1-digit numbers & Counting on
- 2nd: Place Value & 2-digit addition
- 3rd: Multiplication (as repeated additions) & Division (as repeated subtraction)
- 4th: Multiplication & Division strategies
Other
- K4: Family Night Nov 18th @ 4-5:30
Special Friend Day Nov 21 at 2:15 -Ice Cream Social
- K: Harvest Feast - November 22nd
- 1st: Learning how to be a friend
- 2nd: Learning about Rocks!
- 3rd: Writing a personal narrative & Science begins
- 4th: WI map skills & The Rock Cycle/Erosion finished up
From the Office
- Reminder that calls for bus or pick-up changes need to be into the office by 2:00 pm.
- OUTDOOR CLOTHING REMINDER: As the weather turns colder, please send your child with appropriate clothing for outdoor recess. Under 50 degrees requires a sweatshirt or jacket. Under 40 degrees requires hat, gloves/mittens, and jacket. Students will be required to have snow-pants and boots on the playground when there is snow on the ground in order to go off of the blacktop area. If you are in need of outdoor clothing for your child, please contact the office or the School Counselor as things are sometimes donated.
- Report cards for Quarter 1 will be coming home with you after conferences.
Upcoming Dates:
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Nov 7, 2019, 04:00 PM
Webster Elementary School, East Alder Street, Webster, WI, USA
Veteran's Day Program
Monday, Nov 11, 2019, 09:30 AM
Webster High School, West Alder Street, Webster, WI, USA
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2019, 04:00 PM
Webster Elementary School, East Alder Street, Webster, WI, USA
Woodland Sky Native American Dance Performance
Friday, Nov 15, 2019, 01:30 PM
Webster High School, West Alder Street, Webster, WI, USA
YouTube Storytime with Principal Nagel
Ashley Nagel, Principal
Email: anagel@webster.k12.wi.us
Website: www.webster.k12.wi.us
Location: Webster, WI, USA
Phone: 715-866-8210