Washington Elementary
October 2, 2017
Join Us for the Washington Open House
Supporting The Leader in Me Initiative by Dr. John and Jane Covey
We are often asked how parents can support their school’s leadership initiative. Each time we are asked we give the same answer “Use the 7 Habits language at home.”
As the school year unfolds, the children are learning the language and meaning of the 7 Habits. By hearing the same language at home and at school, you send the children a strong message of what you believe is important and that we are all on the same team—the team that wants to help succeed.
When parents and schools support one another, the sky is the limit! Below is a summary of each of the habits:
- Habit 1: Be Proactive (You’re in Charge)
- Habit 2: Begin With the End in Mind (Have a Plan)
- Habit 3: Put First Things First (Work First, Then Play)
- Habit 4: Think Win-Win (Everyone Can Win)
- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood ( Listen Before You Talk)
- Habit 6: Synergize (Together Is Better)
- Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw (Balance Feels Best)
Washington Elementary Holds First PRIDE Time of the Year
Students are be organized into cross grade level groups (Grades K/2/4 and Grades 1/3/5) to build community, build relationships, and offer opportunities for mentorship, leadership and personal growth. The application of the Seven Habits will be the focus of Pride Time. This will be building-wide and include all students and staff, with a group ratio of about 2:20 (staff:students). Pride Time has been developed to give people access: adults opportunities to connect and mentor students, and it gives students opportunities to connect with and mentor peers.
Desired Outcomes for Culture of Leadership and Excellence
A safe and supportive environment focused on developing leadership capacity in all students.
A student centered culture with a laser like focus on our primary purpose of student learning
An environment where differences are embraced and celebrated
Healthy relationships where every student has at least one adult advocate and peer friendship.
Develop the skills and mindsets that allow students to lead their own lives, to be able to work effectively with others and make a meaning contribution wherever they go in life. (Stephen and Sean Covey, Leader in Me)
Student benefits
Sense of leadership
Provides/ builds intrinsic motivation for students
Provide lifelong skills
Students feel like they are part of a larger community
Builds relationships: student-to-student, teacher-student
PRIDE meets one to two times per month on Wednesdays. Our next PRIDE time is Wednesday, October 4th.
Important Dates...
Open House- October 5, 6-7:30pm
Picture Retake Day- October 9
PTO Meeting- October 9, 6:30-7:30pm in Media Center
International Day of the Girl- October 11 at 4-7pm at Children's Museum
Open Door Dental Clinic- October 16
1st Day of Excel- October 23
Family Literacy Fun Night- October 26 at 6-7:30 pm
Vision & Hearing Test- October 30
PTO Meeting- November 13, 6:30-7:30 in the Media Center
Conferences- November 14, 16, and 20.
No School- November 21-24.
Washington Elementary Motto- Voted on by Students and Staff
Washington Elementary Presents…..
Family Literacy Fun Night!
When: Thursday, October 26th, 2017
Where: Washington Elementary School
Time: 6:00pm-7:30pm
Free pizza will be served from 6:00pm-7:00pm.
Students will receive two steps for attending
Family Literacy Night in their Wildcat Logs.
Mingle through the Interactive Reading Stations in classrooms around the school.
Come and enjoy a performance by Washington Students as they share
their talents in a Reader’s Theatre Show in the Media Center!
Mr. Baier will be giving Leader in Me Presentations to Families.
PTO will be hosting a bookfair in the Gym.
Hope to see you there!!
Safety First; IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE FOR PARENTS
A lot of activity is happening daily near and around Washington Elementary School both at drop-off in the morning and pick-up after school. In order to create a safe experience for all students, staff and parents, we are asking parents to make sure they note the bus drop off and pick up areas marked along McConnell Street. Please do not park, drop off or pick up between the intersection of Anderson Dr. and McConnell and the slide located part way down McConnell Street. We are waiting on one additional sign to mark this area. Also, please be alert for children who may be passing both in front and back of your vehicles. We want to make sure all of our children are safe.
Thank you,
Shane Baier PrincipalInternational Day of the Girl- Wednesday, October 11 at 4-7pm
PTO Meeting Minutes.. 9-18-2017
Meeting Attendees: Diane Winegar, Kelli Bohm, Alissa Conyers, Tracy Opie, Shane and Liz Drahota, Amy Cain, Eileen Campbell, Hilary Kent, Laura Bemel, Keira Luntsford, Marnie Moule, Jennifer Brunz, Shane Baier, Casey Neitzel, Jeff Dittmer, Vusa Bentley
May Meeting Minutes Approved: Laura B. (1), Amy C. (2)
Principal Report:
Shane presented on parents and school staff being equal partners with academic support, status, parental support and participation being some key areas that we can all work together in.
We also watched the Safe Environment training video to better prepare us at events in case of emergency situations. We will always have someone at each event with our emergency response plan available and to be the point person in those situations. This is a district policy we are following.
The school’s motto for the year is “Live, Learn, Lead”. This was voted on during entrance conferences by the students.
Open house is scheduled for October 5th. There will be Leader in Me stations around for the students to show their parents what it is all about. The PTO and Harbor Hill Graphics will have tables present for the parents to stop at.
Teacher Report:
Amy Cain: Thank you from the staff for the welcome back breakfast. Also, thank you for the Kleenex for the Kindergarten parents. It was a great distraction for some of them! The picnic was a big hit with almost 300 in attendance.
Request for Funding:
Jeff Dittmer asked for the 4th grade trip to History Fest be funded to attend the Friday session. The district will cover $4 of the $6 fee and they are asking PTO to cover the other $2 with a total of $174. Motion was made to fund by Casey N., seconded by Amy C. No opposed.
Request was also made by the 4th grade for permission to pursue going to the Children’s Theater in November and Farm America in April. PTO agreed to fund the Children’s Theater and asked Jeff to see if AgStar might cover Farm America. Total amount for the theater trip will be coming.
Treasurers Report:
Casey has the budget for the coming school year set. It was approved by the executive board in June and presented at this meeting. Each grade level has $300 and the specials have $250 to request in funding for classroom supplies. There is also money set aside for field trips for each grade level.
Committee Reports:
Fundraising:
We received the HyVee receipts $. Yay! They have changed the program a bit. They are requesting that receipts be turned in monthly. This will make it a bit more challenging to keep up with. BoxTops and Milk Moolah are still going. Jennifer would be interested if there is anyone willing to take over some of this. The Labels for Education program (Campbells soup labels) will end this year. We can submit labels until the end of 2017 and are able to use the points up until the end of May 2018.
Book fair:
Tracy confirmed that we only want to do 2 book fairs a year and eliminate the BOGO at the spring picnic. The fall one is set for October 26th during the title 1 Reading Night. This is Tracy’s last year as coordinator. Casey and Eileen have agreed to take it over.
Events:
The welcome back picnic was amazing! Around 300 people attended. We batted around a few ideas about what worked and what didn’t. The survey we asked to be filled out didn’t go as planned but we are going to figure out other way to get feedback for the spring picnic.
Vusa Bentley came and spoke about the Bentley McGowan Wagonmobile. She bakes pizzas at event’s and chooses an organization that she donates the proceeds too. September 30th at Terrace View Fall Festival will be for Washington PTO. There is no cost to us and all she asks is that there be a couple of people to help collect money. Terrace View covers the coast of the pizzas.
We are going to get ideas from the students about what might be a good Family Fun night this winter.
Conferences will be the 14th, 16th and 20th of November. We will provide the meals for teachers again. More on that next month.
Wrap up:
Next month we would like to discuss some goals for the PTO as far as what we are raising funds for and the events we are sponsoring.
Motion was made to adjourn by Jennifer B., seconded by Alison C.