Wrightstown Ravens' News
Fall 2019
Mrs. Beth A. Fox, Principal
729 Penns Park Road
Wrightstown, PA 18940
(215) 944-2306
(215) 944-2397 (FAX)
From the Principal's Desk
Dear Wrightstown Families,
It feels like yesterday I was welcoming you back to the new school year! Fast forward two months later and preparations for parent teacher conferences are in motion. I have enjoyed conversations with students; learning about their latest interests and sharing in their everyday successes. Over the next several months, I plan to meet with students in small groups for lunch. This will be a great opportunity to spend some more concentrated time with the children. It has been wonderful to observe the onset of many friendships and the collective respect and support they provide each other. I am so proud of our students and admire their abilities to lead with compassion and appreciation.
Thanksgiving is a time of reflection and kindness. It is a time when we spend giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives; looking to assist others in need. This Thanksgiving I encourage everyone to consider the meaning of kindness. To be kind to one another. Every day I am thankful that I am part of a school community where our students, staff, and families demonstrate various acts of kindness through their words and actions to each other. Being kind matters not just at Thanksgiving, but all throughout the year. I want to express my sincere thanks to our families who support the work we do each day and partner with us to be the very best we can be for students. I wish all of our families a beautiful Thanksgiving holiday.
Sincerely,
Beth A. Fox
What's Happening in November and December
Tuesday, November 5th - NO SCHOOL for Students/Staff In-Service Day
Wednesday, November 6th - STEM Club Grades 1-3 at 8:00am/CogAT Testing for 1st Grade/Young Rembrandts at 3:45pm
Thursday, November 7th - Ravens' Running Club at 8:30am/CogAT Testing for 1st Grade/6th Grade After School Sports at 4:00pm
Friday, November 8th - End of the 1st Marking Period/STEM Club Grades 4-6 at 8:00am/CogAT Testing for 1st Grade/Veterans Day Assembly at 2:15pm
Monday, November 11th - Ravens' Running Club at 8:30am/CR ED Week Visitation 9:30am-11:30am/Hello Languages at 4:00pm
Tuesday, November 12th - Student Council Meeting at 8:30am/CR ED Week Visitation 1:00pm-3:00pm/5th Grade After School Sports at 4:00pm
Wednesday, November 13th - STEM Club Grades 1-3 at 8:00am/CR ED Week Visitation 9:30am-11:30am/Young Rembrandts at 4:00pm
Thursday, November 14th - CR ED Week Visitation 1:00pm-3:00pm/6th Grade After School Sports at 4:00pm
Friday, November 15th - STEM Club Grades 4-6 at 8:00am/PTO Family Fall Ball at 6:30pm
Monday, November 18th - Hello Languages at 4:00pm
Tuesday, November 19th - Follett Book Fair during Library classes/Author Visit with Peter Brown/5th Grade After School Sports at 4:00pm/Follett Book Fair Night 4:00pm-7:00pm
Wednesday, November 20th - Follett Book Fair during Library classes/STEM Club Grades 1-3 at 8:00am/Reading Olympics Meeting at 8:15am/Young Rembrandts at 3:45pm
Thursday, November 21st - Fall Picture Absentee & Retake Day 1:00pm-2:00pm/6th Grade After School Sports at 4:00pm/PTO Meeting at 7:00pm in Art Room
Friday, November 22nd - Student Council Spirit Day/STEM Club Grades 4-6 at 8:00am/6th Grade Culture Day at 2:30pm/Report Cards released to HAC at 4:00pm
Monday, November 25th - Early Dismissal at 12:15pm PM Kindergarten Attends/Parent Teacher Conferences 1:00pm-8:00pm
Tuesday, November 26th- Early Dismissal at 12:15pm AM Kindergarten Attends/Parent Teacher Conferences 1:00pm-4:00pm
Wednesday, November 27th - NO SCHOOL for Students/Parent Teacher Conferences 8:30am-12:00pm
Thursday, November 28th - NO SCHOOL/ HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Friday, November 29th - NO SCHOOL
Monday, December 2nd - Hello Languages at 4:00pm
Wednesday, December 4th - STEM Club Grades 1-3 at 8:00am/Reading Olympics Meeting at 8:15am
Friday, December 6th - STEM Club Grades 4-6 at 8:00am
Monday, December 9th - Hello Languages at 4:00pm
Tuesday, December 10th - Student Council Meeting at 8:30am/5th Grade After School Sports at 4:00pm/Winter Concert at NMS at 7:00pm
Wednesday, December 11th - STEM Club Grades 1-3 at 8:00am/PTO Holiday Shoppe Set up in Gym at 4:00pm
Thursday, December 12th - PTO Holiday Shoppe/4th Grade Gifted Support Trip/PTO Holiday Pop Up Shop 6:00pm-8:00pm in the Gym
Friday, December 13th - PTO Holiday Shoppe/STEM Club Grades 4-6 at 8:00am
Monday, December 16th - Hello Languages at 4:00pm
Tuesday, December 17th - 5th Grade After School Sports at 4:00pm
Wednesday, December 18th - STEM Club Grades 1-3 at 8:00am/Reading Olympics Meeting at 8:15am
Thursday, December 19th - 6th Grade After School Sports at 4:00pm
Friday December 20th - STEM Club Grades 4-6 at 8:00am/Classroom Holiday Parties
Monday, December 23rd through Wednesday, January 1st - NO SCHOOL
WES Rededication Celebration
We had a wonderful time at our Rededication Celebration! Thank you to all those who attended to help make this night a very special one!
REMINDER
Tuesday, November 5th
Wednesday, November 27th
Thursday, November 28th
Friday, November 29th
Dismissal at 12:15pm
Monday, November 25th - PM Kindergarten Attends
Tuesday, November 26th - AM Kindergarten Attends
CR Education Week Visitation
Monday, November 11th - 9:30am-11:30am
Tuesday, November 12th - 1:00pm-3:00pm
Wednesday, November 13th - 9:30am-11:30am
Thursday, November 14th - 1:00pm-3:00pm
Halloween at WES
Fire Prevention Day at WES
Congratulations to our Lingohocken Fire Prevention Poster Contest Winners:
Brinley Scritchfield
Macie von Vital
Alice Halderman
Erin Topper
Cole Sexton
Lila von Vital
Emma Hearn
Joey LeDonni
Sarah Shilane
Maddie Mallamaci
Harper Green
Zach McBurney
Bella LeDonni
Edwin Hearn
Gigi LeDonni
Lydia Bogert
Lyla Burns
Petyon Longenbach
Addi Sutton
Flag Lessons!
Absentee and Retake Picture Day
News from the Library!
Hello from the library! Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Ventresca and Mrs. Weiss are happy to be your librarians this year. We have been enjoying getting to know the students at Wrightstown and getting our school year started together. Hopefully you have been enjoying The Wild Robot with your family. We are SO excited to host the author/illustrator Peter Brown at Wrightstown on Tuesday, November 19th. Students are getting to know his other titles as well. You can order books to be signed (including the sequel, The Wild Robot Escapes!) when he visits. You can print out the order form HERE.
During that same week (11/18 - 11/22), we will host our fall book fair! Most classes will attend during their library time; a schedule and additional information will be sent home soon. The book fair will stay open for families to shop on Tuesday evening (11/19) from 4:00 - 7:00 pm. Hope to see you then! Happy reading!
Physical Education
The year has been off to a great start in the gym! Students in Mr. Donohoe’s class kicked off the year working through a series of teamwork and cooperative challenges. In one such challenge, students had to assemble a “hula hut”. Don’t let the picture fool you, this is not an easy task!
Students in grades 4-6 then began work on football related skills, throwing and catching. Students in grades 1-3 have been working to improve their locomotor movements through a variety of tagging activities. The next unit students are starting is our jump rope unit. During this unit students are learning about the benefits of using a jump rope and a variety of tricks/moves that can be done with a rope. Check out a few of our students trying to set their personal high score on the jump rope!
Literacy Corner by Mrs. Paula Etgen
There is a lot of exciting news this fall at Wrightstown! Our students are well into their reading activities – both in school and at home. Even though 20 minutes does not seem like a lot of time, it truly makes a difference in how your child grows as a reader. Check out this link to see just what a difference it makes! Remember, it is OK to read with your child - you can share the book and each read a page, or some nights they can just be the reader or the listener. Make it a fun family activity - build a fort, take out some flashlights, and read a book!
Just a reminder that our district utilizes the Journey’s Reading program. Information about this program can be found on my website. There is information on how to log onto the program’s website, Think Central, as well as information about the program.
Our character pumpkin decorating contest truly has some amazing designs! Students obviously let their creative juices flow because the results are simply fabulous.
One last note, if you are struggling with book ideas for your children, Good Reads is a great site for you to get some. If you have a tough time finding a “just right” book for your child, Scholastic’s Book Wizard could be a big help. You can plug in your child’s approximate reading level, as well as the genres that they enjoy reading, and it will display leveled books appropriate for your child. As soon as children find a series or genre that they like, it is like eating potato chips – one won’t be enough! Have fun “falling” into reading!
Trunks, treats, and games, oh my!
save the Date! Winter Concert
Please join us for our Winter Concert
Tuesday, December 10th
7:00pm
at
Newtown Middle School Auditorium
Come enjoy the sounds of the season as presented by the Fifth and Sixth Grade Chorus, Advanced Band and Advanced Orchestra! We will present our concert of seasonal favorites at Newtown Middle School on Tuesday, December 10 at 7:00 p.m. You’ll hear the chorus sing such pieces as a jazz version of “Jingle Bells”, “Wonderful Life” from the movie ‘Smallfoot’, and a beautiful multi-media presentation of “Light a Candle”.
Counselor's Corner with Mrs. Jachimski
As a member of the Raven Ready Team, I am happy to report that our students are doing a wonderful job with our school wide expectations. Students are showing that they understand the rules and are excited when they receive their Raven Ready reward cards! We just celebrated our second group of Principal’s 200 winners!
More News from Mrs. Jachimski
Whole Body Listening is the Way to Go!
In first grade, we read and discussed the book, Whole Body Listening Larry at School by Elizabeth Sautter and Kristen Wilson. The story describes two siblings, Leah and Luka, as they struggle to focus their brains and bodies during different situations throughout their school day. Larry, a classmate, helps explain how they need to use more than their ears to listen when they are around others. This awareness not only helps them access the information being taught in school, but helps them learn how to work, play, and converse as part of a group.
What is Whole Body Listening?
Whole Body Listening is more than just “hearing” with the ears. It includes:
Listening with the eyes (looking toward the speaker)
Listening with the ears (both ears ready to hear)
Listening with the mouth (quiet and waiting for your turn to talk)
Listening with the hands (quiet and kept to yourself)
Listening with the feet (quiet and still)
Listening with the body (facing toward speaker)
Listening with the brain (thinking about what is being said)
Listening with the heart (considering the speaker and others listening)
Student Council Corner
Student council is off to a remarkable start! Our first big project was holding Wrightstown’s SOCKTOBER! The students have worked hard creating posters to hang around our school to promote this wonderful cause. The school worked together to collect over 279 pairs of socks, which will be donated to the Bucks County Homeless Shelter in Levittown PA. Way to go Wrightstown! Thank you for your continued support. The first school Spirit Day will be held on November 22nd. Please wear any WES spirit clothing or blue and white to show our “Thanks” for Wrightstown!
Our next community outreach event will take place during December. Our school will be collecting NEW hats, scarves and gloves to be donated to a local organization. Please bring the items into school from December 2nd until December 13th and place them on our Wrightstown “Giving Tree” located by the Gym. Happy Holidays!
Our next two Student Council meetings will be at 8:30 AM on November 12th and December 10th.
Council Rock PSSA Testing Window Dates
ELA - Grades 3 through 6
April 20th - April 24th
Math - Grades 3 through 6 and Science - Grade 4 ONLY
April 27th - May 1st