The Puma Pride
Week of December 10, 2018
Principal's Message
As principal, I could not be more proud of our teachers and students. As I visit classrooms, students are working diligently to meet the goals they set for themselves in the second marking period. Their creativity and energy are evident throughout the special’s classes, as well. This month, our teachers have participated in a variety of professional development sessions in social/emotional learning, math, and literacy to enhance the teaching and learning in the classroom. Winter benchmark assessments are underway. This second round of assessments will assist teachers in determining the growth that students made since September and drive instruction accordingly. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
Congratulations to our Silver Spoons winners for December. The “Pawsome” students in Mrs. Monaghan’s and Mrs. Kohler’s classes displayed exemplary behavior in the cafeteria this month. The Home & School and principals provide a special dining experience for the winning classrooms. The Playground Pride award goes to grades one and five. Their playground etiquette resulted in extra recess time. Keep up the fantastic "Pawsome" behavior!
Thank you to our families who participated in the Giving Tree project. If you plan to join in, the last day to send gift cards is Friday, December 14. Mr. Julius and I are looking forward to seeing you at our Chick-Fil-a Night on Tuesday, December 11. Check out the upcoming events below.
Thank you for your continued support. Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Cathy Perkins
What is Happening in Kindergarten?
Kindergarten is busy exploring the different December holidays. From playing the dreidel game with older buddies to writing about our favorite holiday adventure during our writing time. We have completed all of the lower case letters in the alphabet and are now using them to read and write three letter words. In math, kindergartners are arranging and analyzing quantities of 1 more. There has been quite a bit of academic growth since the beginning of the school year!
A big "Thank You" to our families for their support in helping us grow.
Kindergarten Students Prepare Packages for Troops
Winter Concert
It is time to “Save the Date” for our Winter Concert! This year’s choral event is slated for Wednesday, December 19th, at 7:00 PM in the Willow Dale Elementary Alta S. Leary All-Purpose Room. The concert will feature our 5th-grade band, 5th-grade orchestra, handbells, combined 4th, and 5th-grade chorus. It is certain to be a wonderful evening; one that should not be missed.
We hope to see you there!
A Message from the School Nurse
Cold and Flu Season
We are entering cold and flu season! The best prevention against
illness is of course vaccination so don't forget your yearly flu shot!
The flu vaccine is also available as a nasal mist for some patients.
The best way to prevent the spread of germs is, of course, hand
washing. Stress the importance of this to your children in order to
keep them healthy and able to learn! Make it fun for them and sing
songs to make sure they are doing a good job!
The Willow Dale Nurse’s office does not keep cold and cough medicine in stock. If your child requires over the counter medicine, we advise they take it prior to the school day. Please be careful when administering any medication that may make your child drowsy.
If your child is having any fever or vomiting, they should stay home
until symptom-free for 24 hours. We are trying to keep all of our
students happy and healthy during this time of year!
If you have any medical questions, please contact Mrs. White - whitde@centennialsd.org or 215-441-6093.
Service Project Opportunity, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for all Willow Dale students & families
Between now and January 21, 2019, our school will be holding our annual used children’s clothing and equipment drive for
Cradles to Crayons
Cradles to Crayons is a local organization that provides, free of charge, the basic essentials that low-income and homeless children need to be safe, warm, valued, and ready to learn.
Here’s how you and your whole family can help:
Bring in gently used or new items (see list);
Come to WDES on Monday, 1/21/19, 9 – 12 noon, to sort and bag all the donations; and/or
Volunteer to drive to the C2C local site to drop off our school’s donations that same day.
We need to know who can help on MLK Day, (all children must be accompanied by an adult), and who is willing to drive to the drop-off site. If you would like to volunteer for either or both, please let Mrs. Kerber know at: kerbha@centennialsd.org.
Sponsored by Willow Dale’s No Place for Hate Committee.
Cold Weather Guidelines for Recess
Below 60 degrees—Jacket or long sleeves
Below 50 degrees—Coat and long pants
Below 32 degrees—Gloves and hats to go outside
Below 20 degrees—Shortened recess (5-10 minutes)
Below 10 degrees—Indoor recess
All temperatures represent the “feels like” number
*If you you are in need of coats, hats, gloves- Contact the School Counselors:
Ms. Hopkins: hopkle@centennialsd.org
Ms. O'Brien: obride@centennialsd.org
Last Week to Participate in the Giving Tree Project
Feeding Everyone at Special Times
In 2012 NJS Charity Fund was founded for the sole purpose of helping local people in need have a nice holiday meal at Thanksgiving. The thought of doing more expanded to the Christmas Holiday as well. The focus is to supply nice holiday meals for people in need predominantly in the Bucks and Montgomery Counties. The name has now been changed to FEAST. Feeding Everyone at Special Times. Special times has been defined by FEAST as any time people are in need of a good meal. Our primary focus is but not limited to Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. What started as a little bit of a whim, has started to gain some traction and grow in size. Give people a hand up not a handout.
What we do?
Individual Meals are prepared. Turkey/Ham, Stuffing, Vegetable, Bread, Dessert.
As people are identified, they are added to our list. Privacy is respected as most of the people we serve come from local schools and churches.
If you are interested in participating in the FEAST program go online to https://tug21959.wordpress.com/meals/
Simply fill out Name, Email, Phone, Number of Meals
or Text (267) 225-8589 Name, Email, Phone, Number of meals
(Please no calls)
Counselors' Corner
With the holidays right around the corner, here are some ways to reduce holiday stress.
The holidays are a time of great joy and excitement for children and their families. But they can also sometimes bring with them the added stress of trying to deliver the best holiday celebration ever. Children's Hospital Boston psychiatrist Stuart Goldman, MD, offers the following tips and advice to help children and parents enjoy healthy, happy holidays.
School Vacation
Add a little structure to your child's school vacation. Plan activities, such as playing board games, going to the movies or sledding outside. Consider scheduling activities the whole family can participate in together.
Get Outdoors
Keep children active. The winter brings less daylight, which can lead to more inside time and less physical
activity. Try to get outdoors, even if only for a little while.
Bedtime
Make sure children get plenty of sleep. Holiday time often begets later bedtimes. Make sure you get your child gets back on his regular sleep schedule before going back to school.
Talk
Be mindful of past events, like the death of a loved one or a divorce in the family, that may resurface around the holidays. Address these changes in advance, explaining that the holidays will be different and that it's okay to express feelings about it.
Information taken from: http://www.childrenshospital.org/patientsfamilies
Chick-fil-A Night
Tuesday, Dec 11, 2018, 04:00 PM
Chick-fil-A, Easton Road, Warrington, PA, USA
Winter Concert
Wednesday, Dec 19, 2018, 07:00 PM
Willow Dale Elementary School, North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Winter Break
Saturday, Dec 22, 2018, 08:45 AM
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December Rotation Calendar
Willow Dale Elementary School
#Puma Pride
Email: perkca@centennialsd.org
Website: https://www.centennialsd.org/Domain/692
Location: 720 North Norristown Road, Warminster, PA, USA
Phone: 215-441-6093
Twitter: @Willow_Dale_ES