Wildcat Chat
Washington School: November Issue 2019
Letter from Ms. Brito
Dear Washington Families,
Welcome, Fall--the beautiful foliage is in full bloom, and we have much to look forward to with the holidays around the corner! We have so much to celebrate at Washington, and I am grateful for the engaging and robust experiences we continue to provide for our students and staff.
The school-wide Social and Emotional Learning theme for November is empathy. This month we will be reminding students to identify their own feelings and the feelings of others, notice and respect when feelings are the same and different, and show compassion. When students can identify, understand, and respond in a caring way to how someone else is feeling, it creates a positive and accepting school climate.
I feel incredibly grateful to work with such a dedicated and talented group of educators here at Washington. This month's ongoing professional development will focus on the implementation Lucy Calkins' Writer's Workshop. We have been supporting our teachers with data-informed instruction and creating targeted learning experiences for students with grade level teams. Our wonderful staff and students have been working hard at applying new instructional strategies during writer's workshop, and we look forward to continuing to learn and grow in this together.
Thank you to our families for all of your encouragement and support--we appreciate you taking the time to read with your children, check homework and communicate with your teachers. I truly believe that it takes a village to educate our children, and we are so grateful for the strong partnership between home and school. Many thanks to the Washington PTO and our parent volunteers for helping to make this year's Walk-a-Thon a huge success!
Finally, I would like to thank our wonderful students who continue to amaze me with their kindness, hard work and enthusiasm. Thank you for challenging yourselves to learn everyday, and thank you for challenging us to become better educators and people. We are so proud of the hard work you do everyday for our school and community.
This month's chat has a lot of information--please see below for details about upcoming events and important announcements.
On behalf of the Washington Staff, I would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving with friends and loved ones.
Warmly,
Ms. Brito
Washington Principal
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Red Ribbon Week: October 28th - November 1st
Washington will honor Red Ribbon Week by having a school spirit week. Please see below for this year's themes.
Cold Weather Reminders and Lost and Found
Now that the weather is changing and temperatures are dropping, dressing your child appropriately for the weather is important. Students will be sent outdoors for recess, weather permitting. It is important for the students to go out in the fresh air and exercise.
Additionally, there are multiple items in the lost and found. We will be returning everything with students' names in them. Please have your child check the lost and found to see if they lost anything. We will be donating all unclaimed items in the coming weeks.
Annual Holiday Sing is Around the Corner!
In order to better accommodate the families of Washington School and to help alleviate overcrowding, the Holiday Sing schedule of performances will be the same as last year. This model is used by the other big schools within the district.
The Holiday Sing will take place on Friday, December 20th, 2019. If the student's last name begins with A - L, or they are an AM kindergartener, then the parent/guardian performance will be in the AM.
If the student's last name begins with M - Z or they are a PM kindergartener, then the parent/guardian performance will be in the PM.
Please see the schedule of performances below.
Halloween at Washington
The students and staff of Washington School will celebrate Halloween on Thursday, October 31st. Parents who are helping with room parties should enter through the main doors to receive a name badge. If you have not yet had your driver’s license scanned by our Raptor system, please do so as soon as possible. If your name is not on the room parent list, you will not be permitted to attend the classroom parties.
Based on feedback, we have amended the morning Kindergarten parade to include parents and relatives. Morning Kindergarten staff and students will exit the building from the classroom doors, and head east on Stewart. Our afternoon costume parade will take place around the track at the back of the building. Relatives or parents who wish to view the parade on the track may do so. Please note, if the weather does not cooperate, the parade will take place indoors for staff and students only.
We appreciate your cooperation and support with our Halloween celebrations.
Other Important Guidelines:
No food or candy is allowed at the party!
Parents who are assigned to help with the class parties, must be registered with the office. Parents who are not a room parent or have not registered with the office will not be permitted to attend the class party.
EVERYONE is welcome to attend the parade. The parade is in the PM.
AM Kindergarten Parade will be outside, weather permitting. Parents will not see the parade if it is inside the building.
Students need to return to classrooms after the parade to pack up for regular dismissal.
Halloween Schedule:
10:30 a.m. Kindergarten AM Parade
*This year we will parade with the morning Kindergarten students through the hallways and outside.
10:45 -11:30 a.m. Kindergarten AM Party
2:00 p.m. Students change into their costumes
2:15 – 3:00 p.m. Halloween Classroom Parties
3:00 p.m. Halloween Parade
3:30 p.m. Dismissal from classrooms
Costume Information:
Costumes are optional for students in grades K-5.
Costumes should be brought to school, and students must be able to put their costumes on themselves.
Costumes brought to school MUST:
- BE OF NON-VIOLENT NATURE
- Not contain ANY weapons (real or imitation). This includes, but is not limited to, swords, guns, knives, clubs, lasers, etc.
- Not contain any fake blood or other gruesome masks
- Masks are NOT allowed to be worn at school during the party or the parade
(Masks need to be left at home).
- Not represent a violent character such as, Freddie Krueger, “Jason”, an ax-murderer, etc.
- Not display any alcohol, drug or cigarette logos
- Cover the child appropriately: that is, no exposed torso, chest area, buttocks, etc.
Thanks in advance for your cooperation in supporting a safe and enjoyable holiday celebration!
Congratulations Washington ROARS Winners!
Thank a Principal on Principal Appreciation Day
District 64 is joining with other schools across Illinois on Friday, Oct. 25 to celebrate Principal Appreciation Day as a part of the nationwide Principal Appreciation Month.
We are asking all members of our school communities to thank their principals for their hard work and commitment to educational excellence.
While this honor happens each year at this time, we should remember that our principals earn our respect and appreciation each and every day. These school leaders face many challenges day-in and day-out, yet they continue to set the tone for educational excellence. Their positive attitude inspires our teachers and lifts students to greater success and their work with families and the community helps build successful learning environments for all students. Principals remain a key aspect of the many positive achievements happening daily in District 64.
Please take this time to thank our District 64 principals for their leadership and dedication through social media (#ThankAPrincipal), with a phone call, email or greeting card. View the District 64 staff directory to contact your school’s principal.
Hundreds will "Hustle" at annual ELF benefit. . .still time to join!
The District 64 Elementary Learning Foundation (ELF) expects a big crowd at its third annual Halloween Hustle on Saturday, Oct. 26. The family-friendly 5k run/walk begins at 8 a.m. at Hodges Park. "Day-of" registration will open at 6:30 a.m. See more details here!
Schools are actively competing to see who will have the highest participation percentage in the event and a friendly rivalry between schools continues to drive registration. The winning school is awarded the coveted ELF trophy for 2019.
Interest in the logo contest was high with about 100 student entries. The winning design came from second-grader Declan Kerrigan of Field School. His design of pumpkins running in the race will be featured on the bibs and t-shirts.
Starting and ending in beautiful Hodges Park, the loop will allow for a 5k Run or Walk, as well as a shorter 3k distance. The event is stroller-friendly for those too little to run. There is even a Tiny Tike Trot loop around Hodges Park for participants aged 5 and under! Participants are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes!
The event is the largest fundraiser for ELF and funds raised go directly to teachers and schools to support innovation grants.
Students to honor School Board Members at November meeting
District 64 invites all members of our community to join us in thanking the members of our Board of Education for their contributions to public education on School Board Members Day officially celebrated across Illinois on Friday, November 15.
Lincoln Middle School students will have the honor of presenting certificates of appreciation to our Board at its regular meeting on Monday, November 11.
Our Board includes: Rick Biagi, President; Tom Sotos, Vice President; Carol Sales, Secretary; and members Fred Sanchez, Larry Ryles, Dr. Denise Pearl and Rebecca Little. Contact Board members personally via email through our website or #ThankABoardMember on social media! A roster of former Board members back to 1968 also is available here.
The 2019 statewide theme – Transform Vision into Reality – highlights board members’ critical role in creating lasting education opportunities that reflect the desires of the Park Ridge community.
District 64 encourages all local residents to take this once-a-year opportunity to thank these seven community volunteers for their oversight of the education of about 4,600 students supported by the work of more than 600 staff members.
As the seasons change… keep school closing guidelines in mind
Food basket fundraiser to benefit D64 families
The Park Ridge Kiwanis Club has again taken up the challenge to provide holiday food baskets to School District 64 families in need. But this year the Club will do it without a fundraising event at a local restaurant.
Instead, the Kiwanis will focus on accepting donations online to help more than 100 families in District 64 that fall below the poverty level. The website link is expected to be ready in early November and be open until early December. The link will be promoted in District 64’s weekly e-News.
In the meantime, cash donations will be accepted through the mail at Kiwanis Holiday Food Basket Fundraiser ℅ Frank Kaminiski, 200 S. Vine, Park Ridge, IL 60068.
District Mission Statement
Washington School
Email: abrito@d64.org
Website: http://www.d64.org/wes/
Phone: 847-318-4360
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Washington-Elementary-School-Park-Ridge-Niles-1390702047844919/?fref=ts
Twitter: @WashingtonD64