PAW PRINTS
Winfield Elementary Newsletter - March 15, 2019
Winfield Elementary School Improvement Goals
All students will demonstrate measurable growth and achievement in reading.
All students will demonstrate measurable growth and achievement in mathematics.
All students will demonstrate growth in their social-emotional learning.
Peek At The Week- St. Pat's Day Edition
From the Principal
Each March, Disability Awareness Month is celebrated throughout Indiana. And given that adults and children with disabilities represent slightly more than 19 percent of Indiana’s population, disability awareness is important for all of us. Led by the Indiana Governor’s Council for People with Disabilities, the goal of Disability Awareness Month is to promote the independence, integration, and inclusion of all people with disabilities.
Our school's campaign theme is “Be Cool. Be You.” No matter the differences between people, it is always better to treat others the way you want to be treated, and this is especially true when interacting with friends, co-workers, and other Hoosiers who live with disabilities. The theme is all about the importance of being comfortable in your own skin and making the conscious decision to be yourself, because acting different around someone with a disability isn’t cool.
These are just some of the ways we are celebrating this month:
- Read Alouds about acceptance and working with others
- Videos during student lunches about disability awareness
- Wildcat Wednesday focusing on unique and special talents of all
- Rocking Your Socks on 3/21 for World Down Syndrome Day (wear crazy socks!)
- Wearing "Be Cool Be You" shirts on Wednesdays (and ANY day you wish!)
When the weather warms at the end of the school year, we will host our special fundraiser. We duct-taped principals to the wall, topped staff members with ketchup mustard and relish, held an epic game of pie face, and made human sundaes...what could we be planning?!? Stay tuned...
Contact Information:
Jillian Alonzo, Principal
663-2287 ext. 19001
Help us celebrate our GREAT TEACHERS...
It takes moments to recognize a teacher!
Students, parents, and fellow colleagues can access The Times Teacher Appreciation Form at www.nwitimes.com/forms/teachers_appreciation/ and nominate a teacher who excels in the classroom. Nominators are kept confidential…their information is not printed in the paper.
Best In Region Voting is Open!
Let’s make it ten years in a row!!! Voting for the Times Best in the Region 2019 has started. Time to vote for “Best Place to Live” Crown Point as the vote that represents Crown Point Community School Corporation. Let us make Crown Point the 2019 winner. We won 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Let’s show pride in our community and its schools for the 10th time in a row! A powerful marketing statement is a click away.
Go to http://nwitimes.secondstreetapp.com/l/Times-of-Northwest-Indianas-Best-Of-The-Region-2019 register/login, click on the “Living” category, and cast your vote. Votes are limited to one vote per award category per user, and you can vote for just this one category without completing the whole ballot.
Home-School Connections
PBIS: Positive Behavior Intervention and Support
SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING:
Students who have a solid base of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship skills have the ability to make responsible decisions. Responsible decisions can be choices made with consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, consequences, and well-being of self and others. Just as we are faced with numerous decisions daily, our children are as well. By understanding social emotional learning, we can teach our children to make good choices now.
“Research has shown that SEL skills are critically important for success in work, especially higher-paying jobs…” (Dusenbury and Weissberg 38). At Winfield Elementary, we pride ourselves in whole child learning. Not only are our academic standards top-notch, we also encourage and incorporate social emotional learning within our classrooms. SEL is provided to our students through our SecondStep curriculum, our school-wide positive behavior system (PAWS), student of the month, Wildcat Wednesday mentoring program, and the modeling of teachers and staff.
Your children fill my bucket on a daily basis and never cease to amaze me. Today was no exception. When I spoke with a student about a teacher experience that he had earned, the compassion he showed blew me away. This student was a PAWS ticket recipient and winner; he won Mrs. Alonzo’s seat for a day! I checked in with him to see if he had received her chair yet. His response and the tone of his voice nearly brought me to tears. This young man was not concerned with himself nor his reward. He was most concerned with the comfort of our beloved principal. He looked at me with his head held high and told me that he did not want to take her chair right away, because she had been sick. He wanted to give her a least three weeks before taking her chair away from her for the day. I was astounded and let him know how proud I am of him. This act of kindness and the respect he showed could not have delighted me more. This student exemplifies our PAWS traits: Play Fairly – Act Kindly – Work Hard – Show Respect. This is just one story of many that show me our kids’ social emotional learning is well under way. I am beyond proud to be part of this wonderful community and school district!
Dusenbury, Linda and Weissberg Roger P. “Social Emotional Learning in Elementary School: Preparation for Success.” The Education Digest. September 2017, pp. 36-43.
Contact Information:
Brandy Sims, Positive Behavior Coach
663-2287 ext. 19602
Book Fair Week: April 22-26
I'm gathering a team of enthusiastic, creative, and talented volunteers to help out at our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair, and I would like to invite you to help out.
Please take a moment to view our sign-up sheet to see what roles interest you. Spread the word to your friends and invite them to help us have the best Book Fair ever!
https://volunteer.scholastic.com/#/experience/login/WeJ889pLE
If you need to contact me, please use the email address below. Thank you!
Paula Poer
ppoer@cps.k12.in.us
Lost & Found
From the Nurse
Fighting the winter blues? Colds or flu?
Here are a few tips to improve wellness in the winter months:
- Wash your hands! Frequent handwashing is a great start to fighting the transmission of germs. Coughing into your sleeve instead of your hands is helpful also.
- Get plenty of sleep! Lack of sleep keeps our immune system from working efficiently. Adequate sleep keeps our immune system strong.
- Get plenty of vitamin C! Citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, kale and broccoli are a few fruits and veggies high in vitamin C. Vitamin C is essential is keeping your immune system strong. Try to add some of these foods into your family’s daily meals.
- Stay active! An active body leads to an active immune system! Spend time some indoor time jumping rope or doing some jumping jacks instead of being snuggled up on the couch. An active, healthy body leads to a healthy immune system.
Contact Information:
Lori Taylor, Nurse
663-2287 ext. 19081
School Attendance
If your child will be absent from school, please notify the office before 9 am. You may also email: winfieldattendance@cps.k12.in.us. Please include your child's name, date of absence, and reason for absence. Please limit voluntary absences.
Attendance Goal: 97% Actual: 93.8%
Kindergarten: 93.9% First Grade: 95.6% Second Grade: 91.2%
School Hours 9:05 am-3:44 pm
*ALL TRANSPORTATION CHANGES MUST BE CALLED INTO THE OFFICE BEFORE 3 PM.
All children are dismissed through the car rider line. Parents do not come inside the building during dismissal. Please review the Arrival/Dismissal Map here: Traffic Map. Traffic flow has gone very well the past few days! Please remember to remain in your vehicle to speed up the flow of traffic. If your child need your assistance fastening a seatbelt/car seat, kindly pull into a parking space before your exit your car.
Note: If you are a car rider, we will provide your with a nameplate for your dashboard. Please ensure this nameplate is present every day at pickup to expedite the line.
The school office is open daily from 7:30 am-4:30 pm. If you have Transportation questions after hours, please call 219-663-1465.
HELP WANTED!
Crown Point Schools Transportation Department will start training for school bus drivers and special needs monitors in February. Full training is provided for sub bus drivers and sub special needs monitors who enjoy competitive pay, summer and holidays off and the potential for full time work. Please apply online at https://intranet.cps.k12.in.us/rdsonlineapp/default.asp
Important Dates
March
19- Spring Picture Day
22- End of Third Grading Period
25-29- Spring Break; No School
April
12- First Grade Music Program
15-17- Winfield Kindergarten Screening
19- Good Friday; No School
25- Creative Arts Fair 5-7 pm
26- Grandparent's Day
From the Cafeteria
Understanding the Lunch Line: A Parent's Guide
Meal Prices
Student Breakfast: $1.50 Student Lunch: $2.25 Milk Only: $0.40
Funding Cafeteria Accounts
- Send cash or check payable to Winfield Elementary Cafeteria in a sealed envelope with your child' name, teacher, $ amount, and "Cafeteria" clearly written on the front.
- Payments may also be made online by visiting www.mymealtime.com. The required passcode is the same as the child's Student ID in RDS.
Do you enjoy working with kids and love great hours? We are looking for new food service team members. If you are interested in learning more, please call Pam Maloney 662-6480.
Contact Information:
Polly Smith, Cafeteria Manager
663-2287 ext. 19603
Nutrition Nuggets
Students with healthy eating and exercise habits have higher test scores, better attendance, improved concentration, fewer discipline referrals, and greater overall achievement. Nutrition Nuggets shares ideas to improve nutrition and physical fitness at home. Every issue is filled with practical ideas for:
- preparing nutritious meals on a tight schedule and tight budget
- smart snacking
- finding time for exercise—and ways to make it fun
- boosting vegetables and whole grains
- making nutritious foods appealing
- physical activities families can do together
- teaching kids about healthy choices
You can access the latest edition here: Nutrition Nuggets-February
Cafeteria Menu: Week of March 18
MONDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Pizza OR Breakfast Bar/Cereal
Lunch: Cheesy Pizza, Lean Green Beans, Yummy Pears, Carrots
TUESDAY
Breakfast: Pancake Wrap OR French Toast Bites
Lunch: Cheeseburger Deluxe OR Breaded Chicken Sandwich, Baked Beans, Cherry Tomatoes, Pineapple Tidbits
WEDNESDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Sandwich OR Confetti Pancakes
Lunch: Pasta & Meat Sauce OR Fruit & Granola Parfait, Popping Peas, Crispy Garden Salad, Crazy Applesauce, Twisted Bread Stick
THURSDAY
Breakfast: Breakfast Burrito OR Whole Grain Donuts
Lunch: Clucking Chicken Nuggets, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Roasted Carrots, Sliced Cucumber, Mandarin Oranges, Corn Bread
FRIDAY
Breakfast: Whole Grain Muffins OR Cereal/Poptart
Lunch: Breakfast for Lunch, Juice, Hash Brown Stars, Fresh Broccoli Florets, Fruit Juice
Birthday Celebrations
As a school we believe it is important to recognize students on their birthdays. To protect instructional time in the classroom and manage student health needs, we do not allow edible birthday treats in the classroom (this includes CANDY in treat bags). Your child's birthday will be announced on the morning announcements and he/she is invited to the office for a small birthday treat.
If you choose, non-food items may be substituted your child may commemorate their special day by bringing a small treat for their classmates (pencil, bookmark, sticker, etc.) or dedicating a book to the classroom (and placing a special birthday bookplate inside).
OPTIONAL: Families wishing to celebrate their child's birthdays at lunch may purchase Ice Cream Tickets for each child in the class. Tickets are $0.75 each. Please complete an order form in the office 1 week prior to birthday.
2019-2020 Kindergarten Registration
Registration is now ongoing. Please call the school office schedule an appointment. Kindergarten students must be five (5) years of age on or before August 1, 2019 in order to enroll for the 2019-20 school year. It is not mandatory for students to come with their parents to registration, but they are welcome.
The following documents are required at the time of registration:
1. Child’s certified birth certificate (not hospital certificate)
2. Immunization record
3. Child’s Social Security Card
4. Three documents from the following are required to prove residency: utility bills (NIPSCO, Water) deed or mortgage statement, or Lake County Tax Bill.
In addition, a driver’s license or state photo ID with the current address is required to prove residency.
CAFE Corner
Midwest Gymnastics
Join us on Saturday, April 6th at Midwest Gymnastics on Summit Street for a fun drop-off event. Students may be dropped off from 7-9pm for $10 and enjoy trampolines, foam pit, tumbling tracks and more! Supervision is provided by volunteers from the CAFE. Please direct any questions to Kim Neff at kimneff31@yahoo.com.
Extracurricular & Community Offerings
Ignite Elite Volleyball (located in Crown Point) will have a 6 session volleyball clinic on Sundays starting April 14th. You can find more information and register at the link provided. https://www.ignite-elite.com/youthprograms
Winfield Elementary
Email: jalonzo@cps.k12.in.us
Website: www.cps.k12.in.us/Domain/843
Location: 13128 Montgomery Street, Crown Point, IN, United States
Phone: 219-663-2287
Twitter: @WinfieldElem