Werner Weekly
March 26, 2021
Note from Mr. Camp
Dear Werner Community,
I hope you all had a great spring break despite the snow! Things continue to go very well here at school with the return to in-person and we appreciate your support and flexibility.
Our fundraiser is off to a great start and we appreciate all the support so far! You can see more details below about how it is going. Communication will come next week about the fun run and what to expect for your student.
This week, we have been celebrating our awesome classified staff. They are instrumental to our success as a school and we are grateful for their work here. A BIG "Thank You" goes to PTA for providing the Human Bean Coffee Truck this week for our staff. It was a great treat!
Please take some time to read the important updates below regarding class placement input, state testing, and class picture day coming up on Friday, April 2.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the nice weather coming our way!
Sincerely,
Hayden
Coming Up
Stay up-to-date with the
Werner School Calendar March 23-April 1 Werner Fun Run Fundraiser
April 1 Werner Fun Run (no visitors allowed)
April 2- Spring Picture Day
April 8- PTA Meeting
April 16- NO SCHOOL, Parent/Teacher Conference Comp Day
April 19- NO SCHOOL, Staff Work Day
Werner Fun Run Fundraiser Update
We are on Day 3 of the fundraiser and off to a great start! Our goal is $20,000 are we already over $15,000. All of this goes to support our teachers and school, so we appreciate your support!
Our students are getting character lessons daily from this program. You can see one of those videos below to see what they look like. Next week, we will culminate the fundraiser with a BIG Fun Run on Thursday, April 1! For the fun run, our students will receive a great t-shirt and each class will run on their own track for safety measures. Since we can not have visitors here for the event, we will send out communication about how you can watch. Our PSDV students will have a separate Dance Fit video to participate in.
If you haven't signed up, see the details below how you can support our school. If you are uncomfortable supporting through the Boosterthon, but would like to make a direct donation to our school, you can do that by sending a check directly made to Werner Elementary School and giving to the office.
Please support our school today - here’s how:
- REGISTER your student(s) on funrun.com today. It takes 30 seconds!
SHARE with 5 family/friends using the SHARE tools on funrun.com (Facebook, Text Message or Email) Students will earn rewards just for sharing from funrun.com.
GIVE a donation if you are able to give.
Thank you for working with us to make our school stronger. We are grateful for your support!
Menu Changes for Next Week
Monday, 3/29- Breakfast is a change to breakfast rounds. Lunch change to Caesar Chicken Wrap for the cold lunch option
Tuesday, 3/30- Lunch change to Ham & Cheese for the cold lunch option
Hot lunch for both days remain the same.
2021-22 Class Placement Parent Input
One of the most critical and time-consuming tasks for teachers, and for me, during this time of year is class placement for next year. The procedure we follow to ensure the best classroom environment possible for each child has several steps and takes several meetings. This task is even more challenging when we receive a large number of parent requests in the spring. Before we developed a policy on class placement requests, we would receive up to 140 requests for specific class placements each spring. When teachers began to make class lists, we found it impossible to have these requests and still maintain the balance in each classroom that is necessary for kids to have the optimum environment in which to learn.
Fortunately, Werner’s class placement policy, developed some years ago by our Werner Council, has worked well for us. Please take the time to read the policy. My hope is that it will answer your questions or concerns. If it doesn’t, please let me know (hcamp@psdschools.org).
Please do not feel that you need to give us written input. In other words, do not feel obligated to write a letter unless you have a specific reason to do so. You can be sure if a teacher has questions about class placement for your child, they will ask you for information. We believe that input is any information about your child that will help us know their situation better. Input is not a request for a specific teacher. Input asking for a specific teacher will not be included in the Class Placement Process. All input will be shared with current and next year’s teacher.
If you do choose to give us input, the window this year is March 19-April 2. Due to the nature of this year, we offering the opportunity for input to happen online through the Werner Class Placement Input Form. Please complete a new form for each child. This is secure and confidential. Emails and other notes will not be accepted. Input will close at 4:00 pm on April 2.
Class Picture Day-April 2
This year, we will have students take individual pictures and a class composite will be made for each from individual shots. We will have picture day on Friday, April 2. More information is below about how to order. Please call the office (488-5550) for more information.
State Testing (CMAS) Update
This spring, Poudre School District will administer statewide assessments. These tests provide valuable information for our school and teachers, who use the data to understand where students are in their learning and tailor instruction accordingly. The district also uses these results to measure overall student academic progress and identify opportunities for improvement.
There are discussions about assessments happening at the state and federal levels during this COVID-19 era, and we will update you if our current plans change as a result.
Our school’s current testing schedule is below.
To excuse your student from state assessments, you may complete a Parent Excusal form digitally by logging into ParentVUE and accessing Services Tracker. Instructions and screenshots on how to do this can be found here. (https://techportal.psdschools.org/node/2603) Please note that you will need to fill out a form for each subject area. You may also print a PDF version of the "2020-21 Opt Out of State Testing Form" and return it to your school. Forms are available in English, Spanish and Arabic.
If you decide to opt out, we encourage you to keep your student home on our scheduled testing days. Absences will be excused. Due to COVID-19 protocols, students who are opted out of tests but come to school will still sit with their classmates during the testing sessions, so we do not mix cohorts. They may sit quietly or read a book, according to state guidelines.
If your child is ill on a testing day, they should not come to school and follow the Return to Learn guidelines or PSD COVID-19 protocols. Families may contact us to discuss makeup options.
For more information about state assessments, visit the Colorado Department of Education website here.
Please let me know if you have any questions and thank you for your support.
Sincerely,
Caity Sahimi
Assistant Principal/Assessment Coordinator
Werner Elementary School
csahimi@psdschools.org
Frequently Asked Questions (to support schools to answer family questions/do not send with the letter)
- How do I excuse my student from state assessments (CMAS, PSAT, SAT, etc.) this spring? If you decide to opt out, we encourage you to keep your student home on our scheduled testing days. Due to COVID-19 protocols, students who are opted out of tests but come to school will still sit with their classmates during the testing sessions, so we do not mix cohorts. They may sit quietly or read a book, according to state guidelines. More information >>
- How many hours do students spend taking assessments? (Asked another way: How many hours is my student “not being taught?”) The following is a resource from the Colorado Department of Education that shows the amount of time for each test. More information >>
- Why is PSD administering state assessments after the Board of Education passed a resolution in January asking for statewide tests to be paused this school year? The Board of Education did in January approve a resolution supporting the suspension of CMAS testing for this school year for several reasons, including that the services school districts across Colorado have been severely disrupted because of COVID-19. That said, President Joe Biden communicated on Feb. 22, 2021 update about assessments, accountability and reporting requirements for this school year. Based on President Biden's communication, we understand the importance of gathering data so we can identify each student's instructional needs and monitor the effectiveness of our teacher's work with them. Many things have changed throughout the pandemic, and we have shifted as those changes have occurred. This is just another example of that. Information about districtwide testing is available on the Poudre School District website.
Following public health guidelines, PSD to allow voluntary shortened quarantines
PSD believes access to education is critical to student success. As allowed by county and state public health guidance, PSD staff and students can voluntarily end their quarantines early if they meet strict criteria and are approved by PSD COVID-19 Response Teams to do so. This goes into effect March 22 and is a change from PSD’s previous protocols. Process information and criteria are available on the
PSD Protocols for COVID-19 web page.
PSD Family Engagement Survey
You will soon receive an email from PSD (from
dschmitz@psdschools.org via Survey Monkey) regarding a family engagement survey we give every few years. Middle and High school surveys went earlier this week. We appreciate you taking a few minutes to share feedback for our school to celebrate what is going well and how we can continue to grow.
Werner March Newsletter
Here is the
link for the March newsletter.
Volunteers at Werner
As you may know, PSD has decided to allow a limited number of volunteers to work at schools during the second semester. Sites can decide whether to utilize this support, and our team is excited to take advantage of this opportunity to work with you.
The district has established the following COVID-19 protocols for volunteers. These are posted on the PSD website on the Volunteers web page.
· All elementary school volunteers must wear a KN95 mask and eye protection (e.g. face shield) as part of PSD’s contact tracing strategy at the primary level. We will provide these to you on your first day at school.
· Volunteers must always wear required PPE, maximize social distancing from others and wash their hands frequently.
· Volunteer duties are designed to limit the potential for close contact (within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes with a COVID-19 positive individual) as much as possible. These include but aren’t limited to traffic monitoring and recess duties outside, grading, shelving library books or making copies while distanced from others (preferably alone), and more.
Please fill out this short Volunteer Interest form if you are interested in helping us. We appreciate your help!
Planning for 21-22 School Year
It's that time of year that we are working on planning for next year and need your help. If you have moved this year, please make sure you let the office know of your change if you haven't already. For those that have moved out of our attendance area, you will need to apply for School of Choice. Also, If you know that you won't be at Werner next year, please let our office know (488-5550). This does not pertain to 5th grade students. If you have any questions about enrollment, please check with our School Secretary, Mrs. Whetsell (488-5550).
COVID-19 Case Dashboard
The COVID-19 Case Dashboard is designed to give our community a transparent look at the prevalence of COVID-19 in PSD. The default dashboard page displays information from Oct. 5, the first day primary students were in session, through the present. There are also pages that display information for the previous 28 days and for each month.
Dashboard data are refreshed daily at 5 p.m. and overnight.
Werner Phase 4 Details
Stay up to date with practices and protocols on our
Phase 4 Details site. This will be updated throughout the time we are in this phase.
Staff Favorites
We often get questions about our staff and their favorite things (for appreciation, etc.). You can access those remotely at
Staff Favorites.
Box Tops for Education
For over 20 years, Box Tops for Education has given families an easy way to earn cash for their school, with products they already buy. Now you can simply scan your store receipt with the Box Tops mobile app to identify participating products and instantly add cash to your school's earnings online.
Last year, Werner made $195 from this simple act. For more information, please go to: https://www.boxtops4education.com/. You can also drop off your box tops at the office. Thanks for your support!
Werner Business Directory
Dear Werner Community,
The PTA wants to support our Werner families and their businesses. Attached is a directory of businesses owned and operated by our Werner families. We hope that if you have need of any of the services provided by any of these businesses that you give them a call or email. You can also access the directory at this link.
If you have a child who attends Werner or a spouse who works at Werner and you own, or are employed by, a business that you would like to be included on this list, please complete this form https://forms.gle/tM7modi1SHb1X1p99
If you have any questions please email PTA Treasurer, Patti Haswell, at haswellpatti@gmail.com. Please note that this directory is only for families directly affiliated with Werner. Thank you.
Werner PTA
Werner Cares and Shares-March
Message from PTA
Your PTA knows how hard this year has been and we want to support our Werner families in whatever ways we can. If you have a child who attends Werner or a spouse who works at Werner and you own, or are employed by, a business that you would like to promote, please complete the form below. This information will be compiled and shared with our Werner community so that we can bring more business to each other. If you have any questions please email PTA Treasurer, Patti Haswell, at
haswellpatti@gmail.com. Please note that this directory is only for families directly affiliated with Werner. Thank you.
https://forms.gle/tM7modi1SHb1X1p99
HELP NEEDED: Pictures for the Yearbook
We are still planning to have a yearbook this year and need your help with pictures. Please add any pictures from spirit days, special activities, remote learning, etc. to our
Werner Photo Album.
Meet superintendent finalists during April 2 online community forum
Search firm Hazard Young Attea & Associates, or HYA, will host a virtual forum from 5-8:30 p.m. April 2 during which PSD students, families and community members can meet the three superintendent finalists selected by the Board of Education. There will be time for attendees to ask questions. Information about the finalists will be posted on the PSD Superintendent web page when it is available, prior to the forums. Spanish interpretation will be available. Get the online meeting link and call-in option information here.
PSD Newsletter-GHH
One of many ways information is shared is through the Great Happens Here community newsletter, which features timely information about the latest happenings in the district. GHH is emailed to families and interested community members about every two weeks.
Here is the most recent
newsletter from PSD with Great Happens Here. For archived newsletters and information about how to sign up, go to:
https://www.psdschools.org/department/communications.
Resources for those facing housing and food hardship
The COVID-19 pandemic has created financial hardships for many in our community, leading to housing instability and food insecurity. There are financial resources available to help families and landlords and protections in place to help people stay housed. The PSD Department of Language, Culture, & Equity has worked with community partners to put together resources to support families.
Please see the LCE Family Resources Information (English and Spanish) for information on support with housing, food, and utilities.
PSD 2020-21 School Year
Stay up-to-date with PSD's plans, protocols, etc. for the 2020-21 school year at: https://www.psdschools.org/psd2020-21. This site will house all the information needed for the different phases and updates throughout the year.
Werner Elementary School
An award-winning neighborhood school in Fort Collins, Colorado
