Words To The Wise
A Word From Principal Palmer
Principal’s Message
Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that the holidays are behind us and that the school year is almost half over! We need to shake of that big Ravens playoff loss and begin looking forward to the Birds. Pitchers and catchers report in less than a month! The second marking period will end on Friday, January 24, 2020, with report cards being distributed on Thursday, February 6, 2020. Here’s to keeping all those New Year’s resolutions!
As we complete the second marking period, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our families for supporting Westowne Elementary and the instructional program. Students come prepared to learn and parents understand that school is extremely important and expect students to give one hundred percent.
Thank you for spending time each evening to listen to daily events, assist with homework, and to encourage efforts to meet the academic challenges of each grade level. Westowne is very fortunate to have many parent volunteers visit and assist teachers and students daily. Many volunteers complete work at home to support the instructional program and special events planned for the year.
During the remaining months, the faculty, staff, and administration look forward to working with you to ensure a successful year for every student. A special thank you to the Westowne PTA for their commitment and dedication to all staff and students. It is always great to have so many supportive and involved parents. Best wishes for a happy and healthy new year!
A special thank you to the 294 parents, grandparents, and family members that visited Westowne during American Education Week. It was a very nice turnout! We thank you for your patience and for your assistance and participation while in the classrooms. A very big thanks to the PTA for providing snacks and beverages each morning and for their assistance with signing in and directing visitors to the correct rooms! We also thank our PTA for the set-up and staffing of the wonderful Holiday Shoppe. What a great opportunity for our students!
To ensure students refocus on instruction as quickly as possible after the break, all teachers will reinforce/reteach routines in the following areas: classrooms, bathrooms, hallways, cafeteria, and recess. I ask that all parents assist with this effort and remind students about proper behavior while in school. It is very important that classroom disruptions are kept to an absolute minimum so instructional delivery is consistent and meets all students’ needs. I have attached the Westowne Code of Conduct below to assist you if you decide to hold a conversation with your child(ren). By reinforcing our school’s high behavioral expectations at home, I hope to ensure an overall calm and safe learning environment. Thank you in advance for your support!
Code of Conduct
Effective instruction is best implemented in a structured and nurturing environment. Hence, this Code of Conduct will be instituted systemically by faculty and administration and be posted in each classroom. The four components of the Code of Conduct will be recited daily during morning announcements:
I am a part of the Westowne family
I am Respectful
I am Responsible
I am Safe
I am Prepared
From Nurse Martin
From the Nurse:
Please send your child to school with a reusable water bottle each day. Students are allowed and encouraged to drink more water every day in school! If they have a water bottle in the classroom, they miss less time from class going to the water cooler.
If your student comes home wearing clothing from the nurse’s office, please wash and return only the shirts and pants; the underwear cannot be reused; it is yours to keep.
Students who bring cough drops to school are sent to the nurse. The nurse will keep the cough drops in an envelope, labeled with your child’s name, and the nurse will dispense the cough drops as needed. This prevents cough drops from getting into the mouths of students who should not have cough drops. Thank you for your understanding!
If your student needs prescription medication at school, please have the physician complete the medication order form. You can pick up, or I can send home, a medication order form from the school. Once the physician has completed the order, and, you have completed the parent section, an adult can bring the completed form and the medication to the nurse. We will count the medication together and sign the form together. This includes: Epipen, inhaler, ADHD medications. If you have any questions regarding the dispensing of medication at school, please contact Nurse Martin at 443-809-0023 or jmartin13@bcps.org.
It is cold and flu season!! Please encourage and practice good hand washing with soap and water. Soap is more effective at killing germs than hand sanitizer. If soap is not available, hand sanitizer can be used. If your child has a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, please keep your child home for 24 hours after the last symptom! Fever-free for 24 hours means fever-free without giving medication to reduce the fever. When in doubt, call the pediatrician to ask if it is safe to send your child back to school. If you do take your child to the doctor, please get a note for school which states the date that your child may return to school.
If your child has any type of injury or surgery that prevents participation in PE/recess, or requires any sort of accommodations at school, please provide a note/letter from the doctor stating the restrictions and the dates that the restrictions are applicable. We will need a note from the doctor when the child is able to participate without restrictions or accommodations.
I wish you great health this month!!
Nurse Martin
443-809-0023
jmartin13@bcps.org
The Library Corner - Ms. Johnson
Registration is now open for the 3rd session of Eco-Explorers. (the most recent flyer is attached along with a photo of yesterday’s visitor, can you put them in the newsletter?)
Irvine Nature Center comes to Westowne every Thursday from 4 to 5 p.m. with lessons about nature and the environment, crafts and activities, and animal ambassadors. The 3rd (and final) session for 2019-2020 will meet on Thursdays from March 12 to May 21, from 4 to 5 p.m. This program is open to students from kindergarten to 5th grade. For more information and to register, please contact Lydia Shreeve at ShreeveL@ExploreNature.org or call 443-738-9219.
Pirates Reads Day
On Thursday, March 12, students and staff will celebrate Pirates Reads Day with pirate-themed activities and games. There will also be time to relax and read. Everyone is encouraged to wear clothing featuring pirates, oceans, sea life, sailing, etc. No costumes, pajamas or toy weapons, please. (The entire family can come back to school that evening for Westowne’s pirate-themed Literature Night from 6 to 8 p.m.)
The Seven Dudes Challenge
Since October, students have been selecting and reading genre-specific books to help their class fill in a monthly list and earn their Genre Dude! Grade 1-5 classes have a library media class lesson for each month’s genre to help students know what does (and does not) meet the criteria for each month’s genre. So far this year, class have read Realistic Fiction (October), Historical Fiction (November), Science Fiction (December), and Nonfiction (January). Did your child’s homeroom complete their genre list and earned their Genre Dudes? If the class still needs to earn a Genre Dude, encourage your child to read books to put on the class log. All books count – print books & eBooks, library books & books at home. In late January, classes will learn about February’s genre – be sure to ask your child what the new Dude is and help them read books for the genre.
Destiny – the school’s online library catalog
Did you know that you can view the school library’s online catalog, Destiny, outside of school? You can help your child browse for books to check out during library class, read eBooks, write book reviews, check for overdue books on student accounts, and more. The easiest way to access Destiny is through BCPS One’s Digital Content screen. If you need help, your student should be able to guide you. But if they need help, please contact Miss Johnson, Westowne’s Library Media Specialist, at cjohnson13@bcps.org. Happy Reading!
The library needs tubes and tissues
The library has been collecting paper towel and toilet paper tubes for a few months to prepare for Reads Day and Literature Night activities. Thank you to everyone who sent in tubes with their child. At this point, we have plenty of toilet paper tubes, but still need paper towel (or other long) tubes. The library could also use some tissues – preferably the small cube-sized boxes, which fit in the supply holder on the tables. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Cheryl L. Johnson
Library Media Specialist &
Broadcast Production Facilitator
Westowne Elementary School
Look who visited Eco-Explores
Before and After School Care
Registration will be starting soon for the next school year. Please visit some of these sites for before and after care.
Tsunami Martial Arts: (transportation provided)
http://www.tsunamimartialarts.net/page/after-school
Sanbridge Early Learning Center (transportation provided)
http://www.sanbridgeearlylearningcenter.com/
The Y before and aftercare ( At the school)
https://ymaryland.org/beforeafterschoolenrichment
Story Quest Before and Aftercare (transportation provided)
K-8 S.T.E.A.M (After school - transportation provided)
The Lost and Found will be donated to the Southwest Emergency Shelter on 2/14/2020
Closing and Delay Information
Upcoming Events
TUESDAY, Jan 28 - Drama Club Rehearsal, 4pm - 5:30pm (front door dismissal)
WEDNESDAY, Jan 29 - Drama Club Rehearsal, 4pm - 5:30pm (front door dismissal)
THURSDAY, Jan 30 - Black Saga, 4pm - 5pm (front door dismissal)
THURSDAY, Jan 30 - Eco Explorers, 4pm - 5pm (front door dismissal)
THURSDAY, Jan 30 - Zumbini, 4pm - 5pm (Parks and Rec door dismissal)
FRIDAY, Jan 31 - FUNding Friday
FRIDAY, Jan 31 - Westowne House Day
Week of Feb 2 - Feb 8
TUESDAY, Feb 4 - School’s Closed for Special Election Primary
THURSDAY, Feb 6 - Report Cards Distributed
THURSDAY, Feb 6 - Black Saga, 4pm - 5pm (front door dismissal)
THURSDAY, Feb 6 - Eco Explorers, 4pm - 5pm (front door dismissal)
THURSDAY, Feb 6 - Zumbini, 4pm - 5pm (Parks and Rec door dismissal)