Pray-Woodman Elementary School
A message from Principal Mr. Nils Gabrielson
A Note from Nils
Hello,
I wanted to share this letter that I gave to Dr. Greer last week and share plans for our transition in building leadership.
The position has been posted and applications will be accepted until early January. Teams consisting of ESC leaders as well as PWS teachers and support staff will interview candidates for the job with the position being filled by late January. I look forward to working with the new principal to prepare for the 2024-2025 school year.
While my body and my soul are telling me this is the right time, I will greatly miss all of you, and will cherish the opportunity to work with you in the upcoming months.
Stay Connected
Visit our website at www.usd266.com/pws.
Connect with Mr. Gabrielson at ngabrielson@usd266.com or call 316-721-0902.
Pray-Woodman Elementary School is located at 605 W. Academy Ave. in Maize.
A message from Assistant Principal Callie Harris
Catching up with Callie
Hello, PWS!
How is it December already? I hope your break was bucket filling and you are able to relax over the one to come. This month I wanted to talk a little bit about our Random Acts of Kindness fund. The RAK fund is used to help pay for school lunches when students do not have any money on their account. This fund is utilized daily by our students. It feels amazing to be able to say that any student we have at Pray-Woodman can eat when they are hungry. If you are interested in donating to this fund, please email me and I can provide you with more information. To those of you who have donated, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
One more thing to consider this season, if you are cleaning out your toy closets, our school can always use toys and games. These items are used in classrooms for purposeful play, indoor recess, for fine motor tasks and earned rewards.
Thank you for making Pray-Woodman the absolute best place to be. We could not do what we do without you.
Stay Connected
Visit our website at www.usd266.com/pws.
Connect with Mrs. Harris at charris@usd266.com or call 316-721-0902.
Pray-Woodman Elementary School is located at 605 W. Academy Ave. in Maize.
Pray-Woodman PTO for Spirit Night
2023 Maize Caring Hearts
Maize Caring Hearts is a local organization that supports community members in need. Organizers have set up an Amazon Wish List for qualifying Maize students and their siblings. If you would like to participate, please visit 2023 Maize Caring Hearts Amazon Instructions.
We cannot thank you enough for helping local families in need this year! Maize Caring Hearts would not be possible without your willingness to contribute.
Media Center with Mrs. Trish Shields
Our students earned a special Lego day in the media center recently. Children created many creative and clever raccoon traps (and turkey traps, too). We were inspired to design these traps based on the fact that a sneaky raccoon family was caught in our Pumpkin Jack pumpkin patch. We wanted to brainstorm ways to keep these critters out of our patch next year.
Speaking of Pumpkin Jack (a carved pie pumpkin)... He is back this year and he has a partner... Pumpkin Jill (a carved ash gourd). If you have ever carved a pumpkin, you may already know what time has in store for it. Our Jack and Jill will eventually rot. In the library, we read Pumpkin Jack by Will Hubbell to kick off this decomposition literary and science activity.
The book is a sweet story of a boy and his pumpkin. He places his jack o lantern in the garden and watches it decompose and change throughout the seasons. We are 25 days into the decomposition process. Jill has a great deal of mold, but Jack has only a little. It will be fun to see this project through again this year. Be sure to ask your student about the progress throughout the school year. Check out our fun Lego and pumpkin photos here: photos
Spread a little Positivi"TEE"
The library staff would like to invite students to join us in something called “Positive Thought Thursday.” To help promote social and emotional well-being in our school, we welcome and encourage PWS students to wear a t-shirt with a positive message on Thursdays.
Here are just a couple examples of positive messages: “Choose Kind,” “Be the Nice Kid,” “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Any phrase or picture on a shirt that sends a positive thought and puts a smile on someone’s face is perfect! This is completely optional, of course, but I hope you consider having your child participate on Thursdays! Thank you for being such a positive part of our school community!
The library media center staff wishes all of our PWS families a very Merry Christmas and a relaxing winter break full of family, friends and fun!
STEAM with Mrs. Christina Eck
STEAM-Lympics is in full swing here at PWS!
Get ready because the next and final challenge is happening next week! Can't wait to see more creative ideas and teamwork in action. Here is your clue: "Silver sheen, a craft so light, holds cargo and sets sail at night. Not a bird, or a fish at play. What am I on STEAM's wave today?"
Full STEAM ahead:
Since late October, we have unveiled a series of stories about STEAM in our elementary and intermediate schools. The series includes an overview story and a feature on each school’s STEAM teacher(s). Click here to explore the entire series!
For the month of December, we have been decking the halls and dribbling, passing, and shooting the basketballs! The first week, our students learn the correct way to dribble with their dominant and non-dominant hand. During week two, students have learned how to pass and shoot with a partner. For the last week of our basketball unit, students will put their skills to the test by participating in a variety of challenges and games.
We know students and teachers are looking forward to Winter Break. To help keep your kids active during the break, below are some simple ideas:
- Get outside – go for walk, bike ride, shoot hoops, play soccer, or jump on the trampoline. (Weather permitting)
- Dance party – put on Just Dance, Go Noodle, or just say hey Alexa��
- Help around the house – dust, vacuum, take out the trash, cook, etc. They get valuable Life Skills and you get quality time with your child…it’s a WIN/WIN
- Here is a link with more ideas to keep your kid’s activity over Christmas break: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/getting-active/25-ways-to-get moving-at-home-infographic
Have a wonderful Holiday break!
Coach Schuette and Coach Hubert
The Capturing Kid’s Hearts word of the month of November and December is Teamwork, with the slogan “Better Together.”
We are here to partner with you for the success of your student. Please call (316-721-0902) or email us cheide@usd266.com or hspears@usd266.com if you have any questions or concerns.
Important Upcoming Dates
December
- Tue., December 19 Chipotle Spirit Night
- Thu., December 21 Teacher Work Day – NO SCHOOL
- Dec. 22 - Jan. 2 Winter Break – NO SCHOOL
January
- Wed., January 3 Start of Term 3
- Mon., January 15 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day NO SCHOOL
Helpful Reminders
- After school transportation changes please call the Pray-Woodman student pick-up line (316) 721-0902 (option 5) by 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday please call by 3 p.m. Wednesday please call by 2 p.m.
- All visitors and volunteers who wish to enter the school during school hours must present a government issued photo ID, such as a driver's license. This includes parents, guardians and grandparents. Please allow for extra time to either run the driver's license or to look up their information if already in our system.
No cell phones/communication devices allowed during the school day. The use of cell phones/communication devices during the school day is prohibited. Phones should be turned off and kept in student backpacks during the school day unless special permission has been given by the administration for use in classroom projects directed by teachers.