The Wonderful World of Woodbury
August 2019
And now a word from our Principal...
Dear Woodbury Families,
As the 2019-2020 school year quickly approaches, it is my pleasure to welcome everyone back for another great year at our little school. It is our mission and purpose to engage and empower every child, and to have them feel a part of our Woodbury family and community of learners. Additionally, we strive to challenge each student to grow academically, behaviorally, and socially. As a new school year approaches, it allows us to work hand in hand with all families to ensure the very best for all children. Our first newsletter is typically loaded with lots of information so please be sure to scroll through to the end.
Our building has been very active this summer undergoing many life safety renovations including a new boiler and uni vents in many classrooms. Amidst the chaos, our wonderful custodians have worked tirelessly to prepare our school for the first day! We appreciate their hard work! Class lists will be posted on Tyler this Friday at 2:30 p.m. We also encourage you to join us if you can for our Stop & Drop and Popsicles on the Playground on Thursday, August 15th at 1:00. At this time you can drop off your supplies and say hello to your teacher. We hope to see you!
The first day of school for all students is on Friday, August 16th with an early dismissal at 1:10 p.m. During the first week of school, we will be helping our newest students get acclimated and welcoming all students with our first week assembly. Throughout the week we will be reviewing school-wide expectations and daily procedures. Our student success guide will be sent home to share with our guiding framework of being safe, kind, and responsible scholars and members of our school community. We ask that you review this with your child and engage in regular dialogue about their role in making Woodbury a great place to be. Below you will find more information about procedures surrounding our school including arrival and dismissal routines.
Please check our district and school website for updates prior to school and throughout the year. Our monthly newsletters and calendars will be uploaded to the website each month and sent home via school messenger. We would also like to encourage you to check out our school’s Facebook page by liking the Woodbury Elementary Facebook page and our Twitter page by following @Woodbury430. We also utilize Classroom Dojo, which many of our teachers use for classroom communication. Teachers will be able to help you sign up if you are not familiar. We try to post many of the happenings in our building on social media throughout the year. However, we do not rely on social media to relay important or critical information that needs to reach you immediately as not all of our families use those venues. Important or critical information will be sent home via paper copy, or we will email or contact you via phone. If you need school related information or have questions, it is best to call our main office or email us directly.
Our school wide theme for the 2019-2020 school year is "Readers are Leaders!" Some of the greatest humans the world has ever known are or were voracious readers. So, please beware...The habit of reading may cause some or all of the following...
Inspiration | Creativity | Open-mindedness | More Acceptance & Culture | Better Brain Function | Connecting with Others | Increased Emotional Intelligence & Empathy | Meditation & Stress Relief | Laughter | Stronger Family Relationships through Reading Together | Better Sleep | Happiness | Sharp Mind | Stronger Vocabulary | Better Writing | Growth Mindset....
We look forward to fostering the amazing potential in our Woodbury students through our continued focus on literacy. Reading colors the world and strengthens the mind and souls of us all.
Once again, we are honored to serve our Woodbury family. It is truly a privilege to be a part of a community where parents, teachers, and students care for each other, and strive to build positive relationships that support academic and social growth. If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the school at 815-786-6316.
See you soon!
Mrs. Kern
New Year, Fresh Start... You've Got This!
2019-2020 Woodbury Inflatable Fun Run
Register by Friday to be guaranteed a shirt. Once you complete the registration you can head to paypal.me/Woodburyppa to complete your registration. Registration can also be dropped off in our office. The form is available below.
We hope you will join us for this super fun event!
2019-2020 Reminders for Parents
STUDENT ARRIVALS
Student arrival at Woodbury begins at 7:45 a.m. Please plan for your student to arrive sometime after the designated time of 7:45 a.m. so that appropriate supervision is available. Children may enter the building at 8:00 a.m. to purchase lunch tickets and go to the classroom. Our goal is for students to be in their classrooms and ready to begin learning at 8:10 a.m., the official beginning of the school day. Please note that students who are dropped off need to go directly to the playground and will enter the playground door next to the blacktop.
Any student arriving after 8:10 a.m. will need to be signed in in the main office before going to the classroom. For safety reasons, please escort your child into the main office if they are tardy and there is no longer adult supervision outdoors.
Once student arrival is concluded, all entrances to the school are secured and only the front entrance of the building is open.
First Day Jitters...As students adjust to their morning routine and a new school, sometimes saying goodbye can be hard to do. Reassuring your child that they will see you later and saying goodbye at the door or on the playground will help build their independence and allow them to learn to cope with emotions about separation. We have lots of caring adults on hand to help your child navigate the building and start their day. This also helps teachers begin the routines of their day more smoothly with their students. We promise that those tears will turn into smiles within moments.
In addition, please note that we do not have playground supervision in the morning until 7:45. Please do not drop students off or release them from your vehicle until an adult is present. It is important to us that our students are safe.
My Child Forgot Something
If your child forgot an item at home and school is in session, we ask that you please bring it to the office. In order to not interrupt the classroom, we ask that you please not bypass the office to drop an item off.
Student Drop-off
Please note the following drop off procedures:
In rain or inclement weather there WILL BE an adult at the Southeast door even if you don’t see them. Please drop your student off on the playground and have them enter the building via this door. If there is inclement weather at pickup that is a danger to students (i.e. severe storm/lightening), we will keep students inside and monitor and communicate parent arrival to the adults inside the building to send your child out. This takes a little more time, but is safer for our students.
2nd Street is for quick drop offs only – if you plan to stay on the playground or go into the building, we ask that you please park somewhere else and walk to the playground to enter school. Several staff members supervise the playground and the arrival of students at 7:45 a.m. Please do not drop of your child on the playground prior to the time or if there is not an adult visible.
Please do not drop students off at the 4 way stop at 3rd and Lafayette as this causes a safety hazard with the buses.
Bus Drop-off
3rd Street is for BUSES ONLY. Please do not drive around the cones to park or drop off a student. Our bus area is monitored by the Sandwich Police department and they WILL ticket you.
Absences
Student absences need to be called in by 8:15 (815.786.6316) on the day of the absence for the safety of your student. If your child is not at school, and we have not been contacted, we will make every effort to get in touch with you. There is an answering machine here at school, so you can call at any time to let us know if your student will not be present. An automated system will take calls before 7:00 a.m. If contact cannot be made, the absence will be considered UNEXCUSED. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
Student Dismissal
Change in Usual Transportation
Please notify the Woodbury office of any change in your child’s normal dismissal routine. Notice should be given to the office no later than 2:00 p.m. so that we can notify our staff and ensure your child’s safe dismissal. Along with a change in transportation information, please include your child’s full name, the name of your child’s teacher, the date, and your signature. We prefer that a written notice be placed in student backpacks so that the office receives notification of the change early in the day. If a change occurs after your child is already in school, please call the school office prior to 2:00 p.m. If the office does not have notice of a change in transportation, we will send the student in their usual manner.
Student (Parent) Pick-up
There is playground supervision from 2:50 until 3:00. Please arrive on time each day to pick up your child. It is helpful to have an emergency backup plan in case something happens at the last minute that causes you to be unable to be here on time.
All students must depart from school grounds following dismissal, unless they are involved in a supervised after school program or activity.
Signing Students Out During the School Day
In the event that your son/daughter needs to leave school before the end of the day, please send a note and plan to come into the office to sign him/her out. Your child will be called to the office when you arrive, and you may sign him/her out there. Please be prepared to present identification.
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING
During inclement weather, if there is any question whether school will or will not open, please tune into local radio stations. Please do not call the school. You should receive a notification from our automated contact system.
School Safety, Visitors, and Volunteers
We believe very strongly in being responsive and current in our practice and even more in keeping your children safe at school. Our district and staff continue to dialogue to make improvements and develop more tools in order to be even more responsive in the event of an emergency. Please know that we are still the same warm and fuzzy building on the inside and updates to safety are an additional way to let our families know that our care and concern for your children is a high priority.
Please enter the front door only and sign into the office. We ask that you do not enter from the playground doors or other side doors. This includes at arrival and dismissal. We also ask as we have in the past for you to not walk your child to class.
Please ring the bell at the front door. We will welcome you to our building and ask that you identify yourself and share the reason why you are there. Example: "I am Mrs. Smith and Johnny forgot his folder today."
After signing into the office we will provide you with the appropriate identification for volunteering in our building. All volunteers will be asked to read and sign our Volunteer Handbook prior to volunteering. Handbooks can be picked up in the school office and is also attached below. We will hand out a copy of the handbook at Open House. If you plan to volunteer or chaperone any future field trips, we ask that you fill out the form in the back and return it to school.
We appreciate your support in keeping our students and staff safe.
Introducing Officer Brian Fasnacht
Woodbury Way: Be Safe, Be Kind, & Be Responsible
Become a Member of our Woodbury Primary Parent Organization (PPA)
PPA members pictured above from left to right: Lisa Miller, Nicole Hernandez, Lindsay Brummel, Stephanie Beery, Mandy Denny, and Nicki Kelley.
The PPA is looking forward to providing many exciting, fun, and educational opportunities for your children this year. They have recently spent the summer planning our 2nd annual event, the Woodbury Inflatable Fun Run.
Did you know? The funds PPA raises throughout the year support various school activities and school initiatives such as healthy school program, assemblies, field trips, after school activities, school beautification and playground updates. The PPA also helps organize volunteers for various school projects and activities.
There is no obligation to join the PPA. They are always seeking new members who are able to lend a helping hand no matter how big or small or for members who simply want to stay in touch with the organization and provide input and feedback. You can contact PPA via email @ ppawoodbury@gmail.com or follow the group for updates, meeting reminders, and other information on Facebook.
Please feel free to join them! Meeting reminders and updates can be found on the PPA Facebook page and will be included in school newsletters, Classroom Dojo, and the School Facebook Page.
Classroom Teachers Continued ELA Pilot
Many Hands Make Light Work! Special Thanks...
A special thank you also goes to the helping hands who tended to our garden over the summer. Mrs. Geltz, Mrs. Hoffman, & Mrs. Calvert all worked together so that we have some fresh veggies to enjoy at harvest time. We are so grateful! Watch for flowers in bloom as well as tomatoes, peppers, squash and cucumbers! An additional shout out goes to Redbud Creek Farm and Winding Creek Nursery Inc. for their donations of plants and seeds in order to provide this unique experience for our students.
Finally, thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Miller, Mrs. Brummel, and Mrs. Beery for their work freshening up the paint on some of our playground equipment. We are so thankful for our wonderful families who give of themselves to lend a helping hand at our school.
Program Information
Daily Fruit Program
Woodbury also has a Daily Fruit Program available for our students. The program usually starts the week after the Sandwich Fair. Fruit will be available for daily snack for a reasonable cost. A letter explaining how the program works will be coming out soon. Please read it and respond quickly so that we can have the program up and running right after the fair. This program has been maintained for 8 years now and we are very proud of it. The fruit snack program is not a government program, it is completely supported by our small community and our local Kiwanis supports us through their generous donations. Along with the fruit program we have a vegetable garden that the students will be harvesting soon. You may see some tomatoes or green peppers coming home.
2019 Vision & Hearing Screenings
Each school year vision/hearing screenings are conducted for Sandwich District 430 schools in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Vision screening will be done as mandated for the following children: Preschool, Kindergarten, 2nd, 8th, special education students, new/transfer students, and students with any other concerns. Hearing screenings will be done for Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, special education students, new/transfer students, and students with any other concerns. Screenings will be done at:
SCREEN/RESCREEN Dates
Woodbury - Screening October 16, 2019/Rescreening October 30, 2019
Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo this vision screening if an optometrist or ophthalmologist has completed and signed a report indicating that an examination has been administered within the previous 12 months and that evaluation is on file at the school. This notice is not a permission to test and is not required to be returned. Vision screening is not an option. If a vision examination report is not on file at your child’s school (in the mandated age/grade) they will be screened. You may contact the school nurse, Mrs. Hoyt, with any questions you might have.
Tyler Parent Portal
Water Bottles and Heat
Treats at School
Often students bring treats to school to share on special occasions. While bringing in snacks does not pose a problem, food allergies and health concerns require that food brought in must be store bought and unopened with clearly labeled ingredients. Non-food items such as pencils, stickers, bookmarks, or other small items are also encouraged in lieu of edible treats.
Safety provisions will be set up for food or environmental allergies on an individual basis. Curricular activities involving food will be dealt with individually.
Lunch Prices
Breakfast $1.55; Reduced Breakfast .30; Lunch $2.90; Reduced Lunch .40;
Snack Milk .40; Extra Milk at Lunch .60
These prices are from the 2018-19 school year and will be updated if there is a change.
Breakfast at School
Free/Reduced Lunch Information
The carry over period for those who were receiving free/reduced lunch 2018-2019 school year typically occurs in early October. If you haven't turned in a new 2019-2020 application or received notification for approval for this school year, your child will automatically be put on paid lunch. Free/Reduced lunch applications are available in the office of each school or on the Sandwich School District website at www.sandwich430.org. If you have any questions please call 815.786.2187.
A reminder to those who are a part of the Free/Reduced Lunch Plan - these students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch, both include milk. However, snack milk is not included as a part of the Free/Reduced program. If your child is on F/R lunch, and has milk at snack break, .40 will be debited from their lunch card and is your responsibility to pay. Please notify your child and his/her teacher if you want your child to not have the milk option for snack time. Students may also bring in a bottle of water or juice if you choose to do so. Pop is not an acceptable beverage for school.
Electronic Devices & Personal Items
Cell Phones and Other Electronic Devices: The possession and use of cell phones and other electronic devices, are subject to the following rules:
- They must be kept out of sight and in an inconspicuous location, such as a backpack, purse, or locker.
- They must be turned off during the regular school day unless the supervising teacher grants permission for them to be used or if needed during an emergency.
- They must not be used in any manner that will cause disruption to the educational environment or will otherwise violate student conduct rules.
- Cell phones with cameras are not permitted in bathrooms or locker rooms. The taking, disseminating, transferring possessing or sharing of obscene, pornographic, lewd, or otherwise illegal images or photographs, whether by electronic data transfer or otherwise on school grounds, or at any school function, is prohibited.
We also ask that personal items such as toys, trading cards, dolls, stuffed animals, etc. please remain at home or in backpacks unless a specific request is made by the teacher to bring those items to school (show and tell, star of the week, etc). Many of these items often become a distraction during the school day. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items of personal property and electronic devices brought to school.
Keeping up with your Child's School Lunch Balance
Please be sure to keep up with your student's lunch balance. Notes are sent home weekly to those students who have accumulated a negative balance on their lunch account. Any student with a negative balance will not be allowed to purchase snack milk.
You can check your student's balance online at the district web page www.sandwich430.org under the Lunch Program Link section. If your student reaches -$5.00 we will contact you.
Contact Information Changes
Paperless
In an effort to use less paper, save time, and eliminate the clutter of papers that comes home to you, we will continue to communicate as much information as we can to you electronically through this newsletter, our website, Facebook & Twitter page, and Classroom Dojo. We will continue to send home copies of the lunch menu, but they will also be linked at the bottom of each newsletter and are also available on www.sandwich430.org.
Woodbury Grades 1-3 Curriculum Night
Woodbury School will be hosting an informational night for parents on August 22, 2019.
We would like to provide you the opportunity to meet your child’s teacher and have a first hand look at building level programs. Teachers will give a 30 minute presentation. Kindergarten teachers will not be presenting during this evening as they host Orientation in the spring and additionally present to parents in the first few days of school. We hope you will be able to join us as we begin, once again, towards our goal of becoming a community of learners.
Grade 1: 6:00-6:30
Grade 2: 6:30-7:00
Grade 3: 7:00-7:30
Thursday, Aug 22, 2019, 06:00 PM
322 E. Third St. Sandwich, IL
Fall Picture Day
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2019, 08:00 AM
322 East 3rd Street, Sandwich, IL, USA
Woodbury Elementary School
Email: jkern@sandwich430.org
Website: https://ww.sandwich430.org/
Location: 322 East 3rd Street, Sandwich, IL, USA
Phone: 815-786-6316
Facebook: facebook.com/wwwoodburyschool/
Twitter: @Woodbury430