WILLOW GROVE WEEKLY UPDATE
GRIZZLY STRONG!
GRIZZLY STRONG NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF March 1st!
LITERACY DAY & PAJAMA DAY--FRIDAY, MARCH 6th
This Friday is Literacy Day!! Literacy Day is a day focused on raising awareness about the importance of reading and writing. You can even wear your favorite pajamas to school on this day! Grizzly TV will be featuring a Book Read by Mrs. Huff. Happy Literacy Day!!
THOUGHTEXCHANGE DISTRICT-WIDE SURVEY
The District has launched a district-wide survey through ThoughtExchange. We are excited about collecting your input on both a District and individual school level. Your responses will shape future budget decisions and program priorities.
It’s easy to participate, right from your smartphone, and you’ll not only be able to share your own thoughts, but also see and rate the thoughts of others. This is all done anonymously!
Click here to participate: my.thoughtexchange.com/445950426
The survey period is open from now until Friday, March 5th. If you do not have access to the internet, we are happy to provide you with a device to take the survey in our school office.
2021-22 TRANSFER INFORMATION
The PUSD transfer window is open! Transfer requests for students who live in the Poway Unified School District boundaries and who would like to attend a school other than their school of residence is open. This includes incoming siblings of current students. Transfer requests can be made on the Poway Unified School District website at www.powayusd.com. The transfer window closes on March 31 at 5 pm. If you have an incoming transitional kindergarten, kindergarten or new student, please submit a transfer during the open window, even if your child is not yet enrolled. However, when enrollment opens in May, parents need
to enroll their student in their school of residence before the district office will consider the transfer.
PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION
Do you or someone you know have a three or four year old student looking for a Preschool? Please see the registration and “about us” flyer for an opportunity to enroll in PUSD Preschool for the 2021-2022 school year. The registration window opens on March 15th!
ELEMENTARY HISTORY/SOCIAL STUDIES CURRICULUM PILOT IN PROCESS
Learning Support Services is excited to share with our community that we are currently going through a pilot process for adopting a new K- 5 History Social Studies curriculum for our elementary schools. PUSD is piloting two State Board approved publishers, Studies Weekly and Teacher Curriculum Institute (TCI). The pilot team includes 20 individuals from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, school sites and experiences, which includes teachers, a Library Media Technician, principals and parents/guardians.
We are also actively aligning our pilot process to PUSD’s Racial Equity and Inclusion Plan, which can be found on PUSD’s Home Website, to ensure there is racial, gender, and orientation diversity and a variety of perspectives so that our students see themselves in the curriculum. We feel it is important to have conversations with community members on the pilot process and provide access to review the two pilot resources.
Learning Support Services will be hosting two community forums for parents and community members to attend. These will be Zoom sessions that will offer a brief outline of the CA Framework and Standards, overview of the pilot process, provide access to review the materials, and allow for a Q & A session.
The dates are:
Tuesday, March 16 from 5:00-6:00 OR Thursday March 18 from 6:00-7:00. If you would like an invitation to this Zoom session please, RSVP to the session you wish to attend. If you are unable to attend and wish to review the resources or have a question, please submit your request by clicking this link to share your information and we will email you the steps to gain access to the materials.
Learning Support Services looks forward to collaborating with our PUSD Elementary School parent/guardian community.
RESOURCES TO SUPPORT SOCIAL EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
Please access the link below for resources to support social emotional wellbeing.
mental health resources for students, staff, and families
Mrs. Rhubottom’s Online Library
Check out books from our library! Go to the library link below!!
Willow Grove Elementary School's website
https://www.powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/ES/WGES/Home
UPCOMING EVENTS
3/15 Preschool Registration Opens
3/15-28 Scholastic Online Book Fair
3/22 WGEF Golf Tournament
NEWS FROM PTA
Save the Date
Literacy Day is on March 5th. It is PJ Day and a Book Read with Mrs. Huff. The video will be sent to all teachers to share with their class.
WE WANT YOUR CHILDREN IN THE YEARBOOK!
Does your Grizzly have a special, funny or unique mask? We are looking for photos of Grizzlies wearing their favorite masks to be featured in a "Mask Fashion" page in the yearbook!
We will also be featuring Grizzlies' pets. Want to be a part of the Quarantine Pet page? Send us a picture of your Grizzly with their pets!
And don't forget to send us any pictures of your children sporting any Grizzly Gear.
Just send your pictures to wggrizzliesyearbook@gmail.com and we will make sure it ends up on the yearbook. Thank you for your support!
Book Fair
We are working hard to keep kids reading and raise critical funds for our school through the PTA with our Scholastic Online-Only Book Fair from March 15-28.
The Fair will connect your kids to notable books and inspiring characters — helping them become lifelong readers. And you’ll love the new option to shop for Book Fair exclusives — directly from the interactive booklist.
Plus, enjoy these special online shopping features:
· Access to over 6,000 products
· All orders ship direct to home
· FREE shipping on book-only orders over $25*
· All purchases support our school and earn 25% in rewards
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with online shopping:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/willowgroveelementaryschool2
Thank you for continuing to support our school.
Interested in joining the PTA Board?
Our PTA Board has positions available!! The PTA is now recruiting new members to join our amazing organization that helps our children remain connected through the many programs we provide. PTA elections will be held at our April Association Meeting. If you would like to join our PTA board please reach out to Jo Ann Sweidel at joannsweidel@gmail.com for more information.
PURCHASE YOUR YEARBOOK NOW!
The Willow Grove Yearbook is now on sale for $25. Why buy a yearbook? Keeping our kids connected with each other is essential in this current world where social distance is needed. Don't let your kids miss out on seeing all their friends! Simply go to https://www.memorybook.com/online-pay/parent-pay/ and enter our school code: 094794. If you have any questions, please contact Jo Ann Sweidel at joannsweidel@gmail.com
Culture Night
Culture Night will be in May and this year we are doing virtual and a drive by parade for culture night. This year our fashion show will be a fashion movie featured on our Grizzly TV. We are asking our Grizzly families to start sending photos to us of you dressed in your outfits or send us a picture of you at a place you have been to. We will put it all together into a movie. Also if you would like your photos featured in our yearbook please submit all photos by February 28th. Send pictures to ptawillowgrove@gmail.com
Please consider becoming a PTA Member and help us build our rainbow!
Individual memberships are only $20 each.
Joining is now easier than ever: Go to www.willowgrovepta.org and click memberships to get started.
Why join the PTA when our kids are learning from home?
The purpose of the PTA is to create a community and connect children and families together. More than ever, this connection is vital to the emotional and mental health of our kids.
How can we connect kids when they aren't in school?
With your membership and donations, the PTA is ready to help our kids connect with each other through a variety of online and interactive virtual experiences including science, art, Grizzlies Got Talent and a Fall Harvest Drive-by Parade. Over the summer, the district repaved the playground blacktop. We will use your membership and donations towards repainting the blacktop, supporting teachers, replacing playground equipment (i.e. soccer nets) and making sure it's ready when the doors of Willow Grove open again. Membership is open to everyone! Each person in the family can become a PTA member—parents, grandparents, educators, students and friends. Becoming a member doesn’t require you to volunteer, though we always welcome your time and talent!
Don't forget to ask your employer to match your donation. See if your company is on the corporate matching list. If you see them on the list, contact your HR or Corporate Giving department and let them know you would like them to match! We are only as strong as we are united.
NEWS FROM WILLOW GROVE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
DON’T MISS OUT ON THE WGEF GOLF TOURNAMENT! ONLY 4 FOURSOMES LEFT!
Grab your foursome and register TODAY. Tee times are on a first come first serve basis. No shotgun start. Due to COVID, must register as a foursome and only 4 spots left. The 11th Annual WGEF Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, March 22, 2021 at The Santaluz Golf Club. This event will look different this year, but it will still be a fun day of golf, food, contests, prizes and more!
Thank you to some of our wonderful sponsors Land Rover, SolarTech, Gloria Shepard with Coldwell Banker, Continental Mobile Housing, Indian Motorcycle, California Smartscape, MOR Furniture, A/C Mechanical Sol, Lenspark, The Oakley Family, PAIX Medicine, and Alexander George DDS. Please visit our website for more information at www.willowgrovefoundation.org.
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE WILLOW GROVE EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION?
If you'd like to help keep important programs like science, art, P.E. and much more at Willow Grove, please consider joining the Willow Grove Educational Foundation Board of Directors. This group of parent volunteers works to raise valuable funds that keep critical staff and educational programs at our school. For more information, please email willowgrovefoundation@gmail.com.
SAVE THE DATE! WILLOWFAIRE RETURNS IN 2021!
Please mark your calendars for the upcoming Willow Grove Educational Foundation spring fundraiser. We are positive this fundraiser will take place on Saturday, May 1, 2021 in some capacity. Visit our website for more details.
HOME OF THE GRIZZLIES!
Email: ahuff@powayusd.com
Website: https://www.powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/ES/WGES/Home
Location: 14727 Via Azul, San Diego, CA, 92127
Phone: 1-858-674-6300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WillowGroveElementary
Twitter: @WGGrizzlies