WHES Community News
Week of November 20, 2023
Upcoming Events
November
21 – Grandparent's / VIP Day (see schedule below)
22-24 – Schools Closed for Thanksgiving Break
December
6-12 – Computer Science Week
8 – 2-hour Late Arrival
15 – In-School Winter Music Performance
21 – 2-hour Early Dismissal
22-29 – Schools Closed for Winter Break (through January 1)
Reminder - VIP Day
Each year, Windy Hill Elementary School invites a Very Important Person or grandparents to visit their special student at school. This year, we are holding our VIP/ Grandparents Day on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. A VIP/ Grandparents visitation schedule is included below. In the interest of safety and consideration of space and parking limitations, we are requesting this day be set aside for grandparents or that very special person (adult only) who doesn’t have the opportunity to participate in school events throughout the year.
GRANDPARENT/VIP VISITATION SCHEDULE
- Pre-Kindergarten/ Head Start - 10:00-10:45
- 4th Grade -10:00-10:45
- 1st Grade -10:50-11:35
- 5th Grade -11:45-12:30
- Kindergarten-12:30-1:15
- 2nd Grade -1:20-2:05
- 3rd Grade - 2:10-2:55
Absent Note Template
Wizard Need to Knows
WHES Angel Tree Donations Sign Up
2023 CCPS Holiday Card Contest
School & Home Connection: Social Stories (REPEAT)
Social stories explain social situations to children and help them learn ways of behaving in these situations. These stories are sometimes called social scripts, social narratives or story-based interventions.
Typically, the stories are read just before the event they describe. For example, each morning a parent and child might read a story about what to do in the school playground, and the teacher might also read the story with the child just before the child goes out to play.
Parents and teachers help the child practice by reminding the child of the story’s key points. For example, ‘What does the story tell us to do?’
Once the child understands the social situation, children can read the story less often and it can be gradually phased out.
Children can experience social stories in different ways, depending on their capabilities. For example, if children aren’t yet reading, you can read stories to them or record stories and play the recordings as children read along.
These resources are helpful for all children with varying abilities and needs. Below is a link to great social story resources that can be used at home and school. Please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher or a member of the leadership team to share a story that you have found useful with your child. We look forward to adding this to our toolbox in our collaboration between home and school.
Printable Social Stories for Kids | And Next Comes L - Hyperlexia Resources
Literacy Survey 📖 (REPEAT)
Reminder, if you haven't already completed our literacy survey, please provide your feedback.
Please complete this brief survey to help us plan for a Family Literacy Night at Windy Hill!
Counselor's Corner
From Ms. Pirchio and Ms. Whitaker: November 2023
Here at school, we have been very busy learning about self-control, what it is, why it's important, and how to practice it. Learning happens best when it's done both at school and at home. Below are many ways that you can help your child continue to learn about the theme of self-control through reading it and talking about it. We are really enjoying exploring this topic at school and we hope your family will enjoy it as much.
Read about it!
- Oh, no, George by Chris Haughton.
- Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker by Christiane Jones.
Talk about it!
Here are some discussion points to help you talk about self-control with your child.
- What does self-control mean and why do you think it's important?
- Is self-control easy or difficult for you? Why?
- Tell me about a time when you used self-control?
- Tell me about a time when you didn't use self-control.
- How do you think self-control can help you in school?
- How do you think self-control can help you outside of school?
During the month of October, we were busy learning about responsibility. We believe that teaching responsibility to our elementary students is a fundamental part of their education. Responsibility not only helps them succeed academically, but also prepares them for life. We have discussed why it's important and ways they can show responsibility at school and home. Below are many ways that you can help your child continue to learn about the theme of responsibility through reading it and talking about it. We really enjoyed exploring this topic at school and we hope your family will enjoy it as much.
- I Just Forgot by Mercer Mayer
- Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola
- The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey
Talk about It!
- What does responsibility mean and why do you think it’s important?
- Is responsibility easy or difficult for you? Why?
- Tell me about a time you were responsible.
- Tell me about a time when you did not show responsibility.
- How do you think responsibility can help you at school?
❄️Winter Concerts ❄️
North Beach Holiday Parade
Musicians from WHES/HES will be marching in the North Beach Holiday Parade on December 1st at 6:00 PM! Students will be singing and playing kazoos! Be on the lookout for a permission slip from Mrs. Thompson (band and strings students) and Mrs. Flora (chorus and other invited students). Come join in the fun!
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
WHES Winter Concert
The WHES Band/Strings/ Chorus will perform our annual Winter Concert at the Mary Harrison Center on December 14. Band/Strings will perform at 6:30pm and Chorus will perform at 7:30pm. More information will be sent home with students closer to the concert date.
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
NHS Craft Fair Concert
Do you plan to do some holiday shopping at the NHS Craft Fair on December 9
Students from all over the county, including WHES will be performing at 1:15 PM in the Northern HS small gym. Come hear 5th graders play their band and strings instruments! Permission slips have gone home to all WHES second year players. Family members who are musical are also invited to play along.
🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶
Lunchroom Monitor Needed!
We are in need of a lunchroom monitor. Hours are 11:30 am - 2 pm. Please apply if interested. Lunchroom Monitor - WHES
Substitute Positions at WHES!
Interested in a substitute position at Windy Hill Elementary School? Come join our team! Please email Ms. Schmidt if you are interested or have already completed the application process at the CCPS website.
Apply online
♥️Volunteers♥️
We LOVE our Volunteers and couldn't do without YOU!
EVERYONE must reapply for being a volunteer. The system was cleared out and you must reapply each year. Remember, if you want to be a chaperone or work events, you must be approved. If you are an employee of CCPS, you still need to complete the volunteer process for participation in events at school.
Even if you are not sure if you will be able to attend anything, please sign up early. Here’s the CCPS link of info:
Become a Volunteer - Calvert County Public School District (calvertnet.k12.md.us)
Upcoming Community Events
Jingle Bell Jog on Sunday, December 3, 2023 at the NHS
Northern High School FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) is super excited to be hosting a Jingle Bell Jog on Sunday, December 3, 2023 at the NHS track. Will it be a cold day? Probably! Can you get a team of co-workers, friends, or family together? Absolutely, YES!! Can you support a great cause? Indeed!! Will you have the rest of your day in a busy December? Yes, that’s why we made it a morning event! Oh, and can you win prizes? Indeed, the first top female finisher and the top male finisher will each receive a $200 VISA gift card, as well as there will be trophies for various age categories, BUT get in on those gift cards just in time for the holidays!
This jog/stroll/walk/trot/crawl is to support #deMANDAcure which helps families facing a cancer diagnosis. NHS FBLA wants to flood the track with cancer survivors, families honoring those who have experienced a cancer diagnosis or battle, and to raise significant funds for #deMANDAcure. If you purchase your ticket before November 10, you will receive an event t-shirt where you can design the shirt specifically for the person you are jogging for. (Example: I am jogging today for _________). Registrations after 11/10 will not get the event t-shirt. Please log into the Eventbrite site to purchase your tickets and to see all of the pertinent event details. Questions can be directed to Nancy Wilt, NHS FBLA Lead Advisor at wiltn@calvertnet.k12.md.us.
Northern High FBLA Jingle Bell Jog Tickets, Sun, Dec 3, 2023 at 7:00 AM | Eventbrite
I am happy to introduce our 2023-2024 PTO Board.
President
Holly Norton
Vice President
Destiny Sweeney
Secretary
Michele Katsaris
Staff Member at Large
Theresa Flaim
Treasurer
Paul Krutsch
Click here to learn more about our PTO Board.
Additional Information and Resources Previously Shared
For information about family events and youth activities taking place in our community, visit www.calvertnet.k12.md.us/flyers. Please note: These events and activities are not sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education or Calvert County Public Schools. We provide equal opportunities to outside agencies to distribute materials that offer opportunities to students and/or their parents, but that permission should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the school district.
Nondiscrimination Statement
Calvert County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry or national origin, familial status, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or genetic information in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
- Director of Student Services
- Director of Human Resources
443-550-8000
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
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Anti-sexual, Anti-racial and Anti-disability Harassment Statement
Discrimination can manifest itself in behaviors such as bullying, harassment, or intimidation of individuals.
Calvert County Public Schools does not tolerate any form of harassment including, but not limited to, sexual, racial, or disability. Any individual (student, employee, or community member) who believes that he or she has been subjected to any form of harassment is encouraged to report the allegation of harassment. Students, parents, and community members may report allegations of harassment to: Ms. Cecelia Lewis, Director of Student Services, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Employees may report allegations of harassment to: Mr. Zachary Seawell, Director of Human Resources, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.
Calvert County Public Schools is committed to conducting a prompt investigation for any allegation of harassment. If harassment has occurred, the individual will be disciplined promptly. Disciplinary actions for students found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or expulsion. Disciplinary actions for employees found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or termination.
Calvert County Public Schools encourages all students, parents, employees, and community members to work together to prevent any form of harassment.
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
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Calvert County Public Schools Antiracism Statement
Calvert County Public Schools explicitly denounces racism, bullying, discrimination, white supremacy, hate, and racial inequity in any form within our school community. Furthermore, CCPS will not tolerate the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism.
Each member of the district, individually and collectively, is responsible for creating and nurturing a safe, antiracist learning environment where each student, staff member, and community partner is a respected and valued member of the CCPS community.
Owings Maryland 20736
Phone 443-550-9790
Fax 410-286-4023