EW Cougar News
Volume 11 Issue 5 January, 2023
Good afternoon Cougar Community!
More often than not, in and out of the classroom, our students make very good choices. I wanted to share with you that there have been some occasions in which students have created messaging groups with many classmates. All District devices are connected to Securly, so when a concerning topic is seached, a team of us is immediately notified. We are able to intervene in order to support a student and their family.
On personal devices, this is not the case. When my daughters were younger, I joked with them, saying that they did not have cell phones, we just let them borrow one of ours. There are many benefits with personal devices, but if left unsupervised, there can be room for mistakes. When your children are aware that you monitor their devices, they will be more likely demonstrate positive, online conduct. As caregivers, we need to be aware of the apps and online presence of our children.
AimsWeb+ is a tool that we use in DASD to measure students' achievement. We assess students three times a year (Fall, Winter, and Spring). We use the data to create MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) groups according to the data to provide students with intervention in reading and math. The school team works together to provide each student what they need to find success. Caregivers who are looking for ways to give their children opportunities for additional practice can always use IXL. IXL is a computer program that offers students practice sessions in recommended areas, or if teachers have assigned skills, sessions to reinforce current concepts of study. While there are some "games" to play on devices, IXL is a program that can boost learning.
We held our first Dr. MLK Jr. Day of Service at East Ward on January 16. I would like to thank the team of teachers and parents who developed the plan, and worked with our Home and School and other caregivers to put together care bags to be given to The Lord's Pantry. The day was a huge success, and will certainly benefit many Downingtown residents.
I recently met with Mrs. Schoenfeld, our primary literacy specialist, and Ms. Boff, Supervisor of K-6 ELA/Humanities, to discuss Title I services at East Ward. Our school is one of 4 elementary schools in Downingtown who qualify as a Title I school due to the percentage of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch. To learn more about Title I services, you can view this video I shared at the start of the school year, or preview the DASD Tile I website. Additionally, as caregivers, we would like your input to improve our Title I programming. Please consider completing this survey. Thank you for all of your support of East Ward!
At the end of each newsletter, please find helpful information. This section may give you answers to questions you have about things like the student handbook, attendance, or car rider pickup. There's too much for any of us to remember, so I want for everyone to know it can be found below.
Thank you for your support, encouragement, and involvement of all things East Ward! For those who celebrate, I wish you and your family good luck, prosperity, and good health in the Year of the Rabbit! I am thankful to begin this year with all of you at EW.
Your Proud Principal,
Nick Argonish
Career Exploration in DASD- Grades 1-5 ~ SMART FUTURES
Career exploration is an important part of the student experience at DASD. This year, we are using a new career exploration program called Smart Futures. In iDesign, students will be asked to use this software to complete activities so they can find out more about careers that cater to their interests and aptitudes.
Please take 10 minutes to watch this video to find out more about Smart Futures: Smart Futures Student Tour
More questions or concerns about Smart Futures? Reach out to Dr. Troy Podell, Supervisor of Secondary ELA/Humanities, at tpodell@dasd.org
Upcoming Events
1/16- School Closed MLK Day
1/16- EW Day Of Service
1/27- Pizza Bingo 6:30 PM
2/7- Health screenings at EW
2/10- Soup Day For Teachers
2/15- Spring Pictures
2/22- Home&School Parent Meeting
EAST WARD'S FIRST ANNUAL MLK JR. DAY OF SERVICE
East Ward is hosting a day of service on Monday January 16th, 2023 from 9-10:30 am in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Who: Each grade level is collecting an item/items (see below)
What: Using items collected to make bags
Where: East Ward Elementary School
Why: We are putting the bags together to help people in our community
ITEMS BEING COLLECTED
Kindergarten: Hats
First Grade: Gloves
Second Grade: Socks
Third Grade:(Travel size) Shampoo/Conditioner
Fourth Grade: (Travel size) Body wash/Deoderant
Fifth Grade: (Travel size) Toothpaste & Toothbrushes
Other service options: If you are unable to join us on Monday, January 16th, here are a few ideas to help serve our community.
Serve in person: Downingtown Library, Lord's Pantry, Volunteer at the Chester County Food Bank, Clean up around a local park or community area.
Serve Anywhere: Make "caring cards" to take to a local senior center or fire house, Gather any old t shirts and towels and bring to an animal shelter nearby, Donate gently used books to the library, Create handmade bookmarks to donate to the local library, school or community center.
Monday, Jan 16, 2023, 09:00 AM
East Ward Elementary School
Understanding Eating Disorders- Webinar 1/24
Citadel Heart of Learning Award- Nominate an East Ward Teacher
Each year, Citadel Bank gives the Heart of Learning Award to recognize teachers throughout Greater Philadelphia who make a difference in our community, support students beyond the call of duty, and encourage full potential. We know our teachers are amazing, but it is wonderful when they get recognized by others. If you would like to learn more or nominate one of our East Ward teachers, please click the link below.
ED Extras- Using Words To Teach Words
Use Words to Teach Words
Students who comprehend the most from their reading are those who know a lot about words. These students know about word prefixes, suffixes, word roots, and multiple meanings of words. This knowledge expands their vocabulary, which helps when they encounter new words during reading. As students reach the upper elementary grades and the reading becomes more complex, word knowledge becomes even more important.
Families can help develop word knowledge through simple conversations focused on words. For example:
Start at the root
Begin with a simple root word, such as push. Ask your child to come up with words they know that contain that word, such as pushing, pushed, pushover, push-up. Talk about how all these words have some shared meaning related to the word push.
Multiple meanings
Many words have more than one meaning. While sitting at the dinner table, choose a word and brainstorm as many meanings and uses for the word as you can think of. Some words to start with: spring, frame, check, light.
Consider the prefix
Numeric prefixes like bi- and tri- are a part of many words kids know and use. Discuss words like tricycle, tricep, triangle. All these words share the prefix tri-, which means three. Can they develop a list of words that begin with the prefix bi- (like bicycle and binoculars)? This gives you a great chance to introduce new words, like bicentennial, bicep, and biped. You can generate similar word lists with the numeric prefixes uni, octo, and cent.
Word learning and vocabulary growth takes time and patience. Don’t expect your child to learn each new word after one conversation. True word learning happens after being exposed to words several times. We all learn about words throughout our lifetime. You’re getting your child off to a great start by developing an early interest in words.
For more on helping your child with word learning, read Building Your Child’s Vocabulary
www.ReadingRockets.org/article/32444
Reading Rockets, Colorín Colorado, and LD OnLine are services of public television station WETA, Washington, D.C. Reading Rockets is funded by the
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. Colorín Colorado, a web service to help English language learners become better readers, receives major funding from the American Federation of Teachers. Additional funding is provided by the National Institute for Literacy and the
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. LD OnLine is the world’s leading website on learning disabilities and ADHD, with major funding from Lindamood-Bell Learning Processes.
Counselor's Corner
Note from the Counselor’s Desk
A term we hear a lot in the field of education is executive functioning (EF), but what does it really mean? EF skills are linked to our ability to self-regulate. They also enable us to plan and organize, focus our attention, make decisions, and remember instructions. Specifically, they depend on our working memory, mental flexibility and self-control. These are skills that need to be TAUGHT to children. Just like with any new skill, some students might need more practice than others. Here are a few suggestions from the Child Mind Institute about how you can support the development of EF Skills: Make checklists, set time limits, help your child use their planner, establish routines. As parents/guardians, when we model these skills, we help teach our children how to apply them to their work. Learn more about supporting your child with these skills here.
Counselor Lessons for January
This January, Counselor lessons will focus on the following topics:
· K: Decision Making
· 1st: The Power of Kind Acts
· 2nd: Differences in Feelings
· 3rd: Worries
· 4th: Entrepreneurship
· 5th: Managing Strong Feelings
What is my school counselor up to this month?
- Running Fall small groups including:
- Social Skills
- Zones of Regulation
- Worry Group
- Girls’ and Guys’ Group
- Teaching monthly counseling lessons in the iDesign classroom. See topics above.
- Meeting individually with students.
- Collaborating with teachers and parents.
Coping Strategy of the Month
Use your five senses to think about what is happening right now in this moment.
Katie Rastetter, School Counselor
610-269-8282 ex 23040
From the Health Room
To decide whether or not to send your child in to school, please consider the following District/ Nursing Staff guidelines:
Consider keeping your child at home for an extra day of rest and observation if he/she has any of the following symptoms:
- Very stuffy or runny nose (especially if discharge is yellow/green)
- Cough (even a mild cough can be a sign of continued illness)
- Mild sore throat (no fever, no known exposure to strep)
- Headache, body aches
- Cold and Flu symptoms, even if fever free
Always keep your child at home if he/she has any of these symptoms:
- Fever (100.4 degrees or higher)
- Your child may only return to school only after temperature has been consistently below 100 degrees, by mouth, for a minimum of 24 hours, without fever reducing medication
- Vomiting (even just once)
- Diarrhea (even just once)
- Frequent congested (wet) or croupy cough
- Severe sore throat (change in eating/drinking habits, exposure to strep throat)
- Known exposure to COVID, Flu, RSV, or someone with a severe cold
Other Helpful Information
School Attendance
School attendance is very important (even while online), and our Cougars want to be in attendance as much as possible! There is a strong correlation between a student’s attendance and learning. We encourage students at East Ward to come to classes, on time, each and every day, unless there is a health related reason for their absence. The DASD carefully tracks each student’s attendance daily, and is required to notify parents once their child has reached 3 illegal absences. An illegal absence is defined as an absence with no note received within three days. An attendance improvement plan will be developed if a student reaches 6 illegal absences. The plan will include interventions that will be put in place to improve school attendance.
As you can see, attendance is very important, so if your child is absent from school, please email our attendance line at ew_attendance @dasd.org prior to 9AM. Doing this will serve as your absent note rather than having to send in a written note. If you do not have email, we will need a written excuse. Please know that the email or written note serves as written documentation for your child’s absence from school and is filed accordingly. If you know your child will be late to school due to an appointment, an email will also help to eliminate your written note upon arrival.
Securly Home App
Student/Parent Handbook
Our 2022-2023 Parent Handbook is posted on the East Ward Elementary School website. When visiting our homepage, please scroll down to the lower left portion of the page. In the “Backpack” you will find the Parent Handbook posted. It is very important that each parent/guardian read through the handbook. Important information such as attendance regulations, communication protocols, health and medical guidelines, activity fees, student expectations, calendar, instruction and assessment is included. Also featured is a section about our Home and School Association; officers, committees, and events are included.
East Ward Elementary School
Email: ewinfo@dasd.org
Website: https://ew.dasd.org/
Location: 435 Washington Ave, Downingtown, PA, USA
Phone: 610-269-8282
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dasdew
Twitter: @dasd_ew