Wildcat News
February 5th, 2021
A Message from the Principal
FWE families,
This global pandemic has forced us to face many challenges as students, families and educators. We have all faced a myriad of anxious thoughts during this time: will our family be okay? Will we get sick? Will my child fall far behind in school? These feelings of anxiety are normal. Although we know we cannot fully control our external circumstances, we do have some control over this anxious inner voice. One skill we teach students that they can practice is to utilize a growth mindset.
Dr Talita Calitz shares, "A growth mindset is a way of seeing the world that focuses on potential, change and possibility. Someone with a growth mindset might think:
- I enjoy a challenge because it helps me to develop into a better person.
- I just made a mistake, but I am eager to learn from this and to improve.
- I feel scared and worried, but that does not define who I am.
A growth mindset is a habit that you could practice daily by stepping away from the constant stream of anxiety in the media, by taking a deep breath and by giving yourself the space to develop this mindset despite extreme stress and uncertainty."
Here are some examples from Dr. Calitz to illustrate the difference between a fixed and growth mindset:
- Fixed: I am so stressed: without Wi-Fi, I am never going to finish my assignments!
- Growth: I am stressed about my assignments, but I am confident that I can get through this by using the resources available to me.
- Fixed: I know that the online learning is going to be a disaster!
- Growth: Even though the situation is uncertain, I have the skills that I need to succeed and adapt to change.
- Fixed: Bad things like this always happen to me. Why can’t I get a break?
- Growth: I have been through so many challenges, but they make me strong and resilient.
During this time of uncertainty, as educators we have had to lean heavily on the skill of using a growth mindset. We have reinvented what school looks like by adapting to the need for virtual learning. We are again employing our growth mindset as we prepare for more students to join the hybrid learning model. We hope families will join us in practicing this skill as you set new goals for the second semester and look toward transitioning to more in person learning (hopefully coming soon).
We encourage you to join us in challenging yourself to develop a growth mindset, using the following steps:
- Allow space for negative, anxious thoughts – this is normal.
- Now pause and adapt the negative thoughts to become more positive.
- Do this by focusing on what you are able to change about your current situation.
- Focus on your potential and your strengths and the positive role that you can play during this crisis.
Here you can find additional information if you are interested.
Proud to serve you,
Kristin Cortes
Principal
Upcoming Events
- February is Black History Month
- February 8th - Report Cards will be mailed out.
- February 10th - First Growing Community Meeting with Oxbow Farms
- February 12th-15th - Presidents Day Break, NO SCHOOL
- Thursday, Feb. 18 - 11:30am-1:30pm & 3pm-6pm and Friday, Feb. 19 - 11:30am-1:30pm are Learning Material Distribution dates for the month of February.
ROAR Awards
Leo S. - Pope
Jimena D. - Lynch/Kuntz
Medardo R. - Kuntz/Lynch
Keagun B. - Maxson
Bethany B. - Smith
Evekyn J. - Abbott/Lovelace
Omar D.L.L. - Lovelace/Abbott
Jemma H. - Dunn
Scarlett M. - Pratt/Ramirez
Eric M. - Ramirez/Pratt
Aaron G. - Murphy
Counselors Week
Report Cards
If you have any questions when you receive your child's report card, please contact your child's teacher directly.
February is Black History Month
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.
Amazing Engagement!
Our Wildcats worked hard last month to increase their levels of engagement all around. Teachers have been awarding raffle entries to students for a wide variety of things like: attending Zooms, participating during meetings, turning in assignments, accomplishing i-Ready lessons and much more. We are proud of how many entries were earned across our campus. Keep up the great work! If you didn't see your name last week, more opportunities will be coming.
Attendance
Attendance is taken daily. Please call the office if your child is unable to join their Zoom meetings. If your grade level is learning in person, your child will be marked absent if they do not attend in person instruction.
If you know your child will be absent or unable to complete work, please call our 24 hour attendance hotline at (360) 804-3201 to excuse them.
From our School Conselor, Mrs. Simeoni
Social and emotional learning at Home!
Being aware of your child’s social and emotional needs is just as important as their schoolwork.
I wanted to provide families with some information, resources, and tools to help support their child even when they are not in school.
What is social and emotional learning?
“Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions” (Casel, 2020).
Why is Social and Emotional Learning Important?
Decades of research studies demonstrate the following benefits of SEL:
● Sets the foundation and provides long term benefits well into adulthood.
● Improvement in students’ social and emotional skills, attitudes, relationships, academic performance, and perceptions of classroom and school climate
● Decline in students’ anxiety, behavior problems, and substance use
● Long-term improvements in students’ skills, attitudes, prosocial behavior, and academic performance (Casel, 2020).
Techniques you can use at home!
Starfish Breathing
● Have your student spread out fingers on one hand. This will be our Starfish hand!
● Place the index finger of their other hand onto the base of the thumb of the Starfish hand.
● Begin slowly tracing fingers starting with the thumb. As they go up the finger breathe in and as they go down their finger breathe out.
Breathing techniques help to regulate the mind and body. It also provides a brief break for students who can become overwhelmed with emotion. Reminding students to take a breath before reacting can help with emotion regulation.
Mindfulness 5,4,3,2,1
● Have kids look around the room and identify 5 things they can see, 4 things they can touch, three things they can hear, 2 things they can smell, and 1 thing they can taste.
This mindfulness technique can be used as a grounding exercise when kids need help managing big emotions. This technique can work well if your student is already upset and needs help regulating their emotions.
Journal Writing
● Setting a timer and having your student write for 5-10 minutes can help them express feelings and thoughts. You can also encourage your student to discuss their thoughts afterwards if they would like to share.
● You can also provide open-ended prompts:
○ What are some things that make you feel mad? Sad? Happy?
○ Describe a time and situation you needed help.
○ What is something you are good at? Something you want to get better at?
○ What are some goals you have in school or at home?
○ Write about a time you disagreed with a friend. How did you handle it?
○ What are some qualities that you want in a friend? How would you describe a good friend?
○ Write about a time you had a conflict. How did you feel? How did you resolve it?
○ What is something you have done this year that you are proud of?
The Power of “YET”
● If your student becomes frustrated or discouraged. Try reassuring and encouraging them by adding in the word “yet”
○ Example: If your student says, “I don’t know how to do this math problem” try adding the word “yet” to the end of their sentence.
Adding the word “yet” encourages a growth mindset and reassures your student that our brains get stronger by trying new and challenging things!
i-Ready Diagnostic & Lessons
Many of our classes are finishing up the diagnostic test and returning to regular lessons. Please check in with your child to ensure they have completed the diagnostic (as requested by their teacher) and encourage them to return to spending at least 15-20 minutes on daily i-Ready lessons.
Join the Growing Community with Oxbow Farms!
JOIN THE GROWING COMMUNITY!
In 2019 we built the Outdoor Classroom for garden-based learning experiences at school… In 2020, we helped over 100 families grow fresh food at home… 2021 & beyond-- let’s dream even bigger, together!
FIRST MEETING: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10th, 3:30-4:30pm on Zoom For an invitation & to learn more, please email FWOutdoorClassroom@gmail.com or call/text Sra. Elizabeth Lovelace (805) 727-3233. You can also connect with an Oxbow Farmer in person at Frank Wagner most Wednesdays during free lunch pickup, 11:30am-1:30pm.
Learning Schedules
Please contact your teacher or the office with any questions.
UPDATE! Lunch Services
Make sure your contact information is up-to-date!
It is very important that all families make sure all of their contact information is up-to-date with the school office. In the event of school delays and cancelations, or other emergencies, we need to be able to contact all of our families. When there are urgent messages to share with families, they are sent out via email and phone call. Messages are also posted on the district website, Facebook and Twitter.
If you would like to opt-in to also receive text messages, please send a text message of "Y" or "Yes" to our school's short code number, 67587. You can opt out of these messages any time by simply replying to oue of our messages with "Stop".
Inclement Weather Procedures Reminder
Now that winter is upon us, we wanted to remind you of our inclement weather procedures. Even though it is an unusual school year, we will be upholding our typical inclement weather procedures just as any other school year. This means that if road conditions are deemed unsafe, we will be delaying or canceling school for that day. Canceled school days may need to be made up at the end of the school year. These days are included on our published calendars as "snow make up" days.
For more information please visit: https://www.monroe.wednet.edu/about/news/new-page/~post/inclement-weather-procedures-for-2020-21-20210108
Thermometers
Does your family need a thermometer? Please contact the office at (360)804-3200 and we will try to provide you with one.
Frank Wagner Elementary received digital thermometers provided by a generous combined donation from:
Rotary Club of Monroe / Darian Caldwell Rotary President
Pharm A Save Pharmacy /Sue Graafstra
and The Monroe Public Schools Foundation / Katy Woods MPSF President
On behalf of our Frank Wagner Elementary Staff and families, THANK YOU so much to everyone making this donation possible!!!!
Monroe School District is currently hiring for Substitute Paraeducators
Due to our immediate need for Paraeducator Subs we are temporarily waiving our regular educational requirement of 72 college level credits or passed ParaProTest. Job requirements are; A sincere interest in helping children of all ages succeed in a safe and healthy school environment. If you are interested in applying to be a Substitute Paraeducator please apply online at https://monroejobs.hrmplus.net/
Applicants will be screened and interviews will take place via Zoom. Please note that the waiver of the educational requirements ONLY applies to the Substitute Paraeducator job position and not to any contracted Paraeducator jobs.
Questions?! Reach out to Annadea Olsen at olsena@monroe.wednet.edu
Frank Wagner Elementary is seeking bilingual applicants for the following positions:
- Library Specialist
- Preschool Para-educator
- 2nd Grade Para-educator
- Health Room Para-educator
From Nurse Pamela's Desk
Parents/guardians of our in-person students: Please refer to the chart to determine if your child is well enough to attend school in person. Help us keep our Wildcat community healthy!
Please contact the school nurse at (360) 804-3206 with any questions.
Pamela Hyvonen, BSN, RN
School Nurse, Frank Wagner Elementary
(360) 804-3206 (M-F mornings)
School Nurse, Park Place Middle
(360) 804-4320 (M-F afternoons)
Local Resources for COVID Testing
DRIVE-THRU TESTING AVAILABLE BY APPOINTMENT
REGISTRATION AND APPOINTMENT PROCESS
Websites have been set up where people will be asked screening questions and sign up for an appointment. If there are multiple people who will be coming in the same vehicle to be tested, each of them should register.
MSD Self Declaration Checklist Attestation Form
Please do not:
Pre date attestation forms in advance. Attestation forms need to be filled out daily
Please do:
- Enter your child's temperature in the temperature box.
- Date and include your child's full name (First and Last).
- Answer questions accurately. This is a legally binding document that we are required to keep for up to 7 years.
Technical Difficulties?
TRANSLATE THIS NEWSLETTER / TRADUCIR ESTE BOLETÍN DE NOTICIAS
1. When you receive the school newsletter in your email inbox, open the email and click on the title in the newsletter to open it in Smore.
2. Once in Smore, scroll to the very bottom of the newsletter. Above the red word ‘Report’ you will see the word ‘Translate’. Click ‘Translate’.
3. Next, select your preferred language in the drop-down menu and the newsletter will automatically translate to the language you chose.
TRADUCIR ESTE BOLETÍN DE NOTICIAS
Nuestro boletín se puede traducir a cualquier idioma en tres sencillos pasos:
1. Cuando reciba el boletín de la escuela en su bandeja de entrada de correo electrónico, abra el correo electrónico y haga clic en el título del boletín para abrirlo en Smore.
2. Una vez en Smore, desplácese hasta el final del boletín. Sobre la palabra roja "Informe" verá la palabra "Traducir". Haga clic en "Traducir".
3. A continuación, seleccione su idioma preferido en el menú desplegable y el boletín se traducirá automáticamente al idioma que elija.
Contact Us.
Frank Wagner Elementary
Main Line (360)804-3200
Attendance Line (360)804-3201
Office Manager: Col Wolf
Office Assistant: Karina Blanquet
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Monroe School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination:
Title IX Coordinator
Joanne Dickinson
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2539
Section 504/ADA Coordinator
David Paratore
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2603
Compliance Coordinator for 28A.640 and 28A.642 RCW
Joanne Dickinson
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2532
The Monroe School District will also take steps to assure that national origin persons who lack English language skills can participate in all education programs, services and activities. For information regarding translation services or transitional bilingual education programs, contact:
Kimberly Whitworth
14692 - 179th Avenue S.E., Monroe, WA 98272
(360) 804.2558