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Woodside Words December 2009 Newsletter
Art News: Fourth Grade students have been busy working to create Christmas ornaments for the State Capitol Tree. The tree is displayed in the State Capitol rotunda throughout the month of December. The tree is beautiful; I hope that some of you have the opportunity to see it during the holiday season. Students have created magnificent issue paper rose window designs mounted on metallic paper. Happy Holidays! Mrs. Connie Henke, Art Teacher
Family Time Creates Family Traditions, Paul Mann, Principal
The holiday season brings with it an increase in the opportunity to spend time together as a “family”. Even with the busiest of schedules, this time of the year provides for an increase in “family time” together.
Family time is critical. It creates memories and traditions that become the stories that they write about and share with their classmates at school. Whether it is watching a movie together and talking about it afterwards, taking a walk through the woods, that special trip to Grandma’s for a family meal, or reading a family favorite cuddled together on the couch, these memories enhance a child’s learning.
Research has shown that one of the most important things parents can do with our youngest children is to merely talk to them. The amount of success a child has in school during their early years is directly connected to the amount of words they have heard spoken or read to them. The higher that number, the more successful readers and writers they become. When together, talk about what you are doing, explain your thoughts and share your memories with them. Ask your children to come up with ideas on a “new” tradition they would like to make this season. These simple tasks can cost nothing in money, but can be the most precious thing you do this holiday season.
Set up a family night. Plan together what you will do the following week, even if it is only an hour a week. Playing a game together or walking through the park to see the lights may be the greatest gift you can give them. They will love it!
The entire Woodside Family wishes you, and your family, the very best during this holiday season.
Family Movie Night
We will be showing the animated family film “UP” on Thursday, December 17th, starting at 5:30 PM, in our gymnasium. This is a great opportunity for your family to enjoy a good film and some quality family time together. We will have popcorn and bottled water available for you to purchase. We will not serve a meal. Gather up your pillows, blankets, cushions and join your friends for an evening at the movies.
Spirit of Giving
An important part of our elementary social studies program involves teaching our students about our community and the way communities operate to meet the needs of its citizens. Since 1998, Woodside has participated in our “Spirit of Giving” program. This project collects needed items for local agencies whose purpose is to meet the needs of our neediest children and families. Difficult times can happen to anyone and at anytime. By collecting items for the Food Pantry, the South Wood County Humane Society, and our own Woodside Families Helping Families, our students are able to see first hand how each of these agencies meets the needs of struggling families.
Please consider supporting this project. It is a great way to get involved with our community. The project runs from November 30 – December 11th. Boxes are available in the front foyer for you to deposit your donations.
Woodside Families Helping Families: We recognize that the local and national economy has hit some of our families very hard. Some have lost jobs, while others have had work hours drastically reduced. If your family is struggling and you would like some help, please contact Mrs. Becky Steckbauer, School Counselor, 422-6142. We would like to help if at all possible.
Winter Weather Wear!
Colder weather is a natural part of our transition from fall to winter activities at Woodside. We request that you help us to keep your children comfortable at school by making sure that they are leaving home with appropriate winter wear: coats, hats, gloves, boots, and snow pants. We frequently confront students who are outside in T-shirts when the weather is much to cold. The student’s response is, “I didn’t bring a coat today!” Now, we don’t believe that, and further discussion usually results in the student returning to their locker to get their coat!
Students are required to go outside unless the weather conditions could result in a health hazard. When we have snow cover, or melting snow and mud, students are required to wear boots, even when they are on the blacktop. This helps to keep the cost of maintaining our classrooms down as snow, salt and mud are not tracked into the classrooms. All students in K-4th Grade are required to wear boots and snow pants once we have a covering of snow. Students in the 5-6th Grades do not have carpet in their classrooms, and because of this and their age, they are not required to wear boots but must have a pair of shoes that are worn only outside of the building. If they wish to play in the snow on our “un-shoveled” playground they are required to wear boots and snow pants as well. This helps to keep them comfortable when they are sitting in the classrooms after they have been outside. For our younger students, you may wish to send along an extra set of clothing that can be kept in their lockers for those “emergencies” that may result in wet socks, pants, and tops.
Once the snow cover arrives, our famous “boot rule” goes into effect. Please help us to monitor your child’s winter wear.
Winter Related School Closures
It is important that your family have a plan in place should the winter weather force us to close school early. Your children should know where they are to go and how to get into the home. If school is in session, and bad weather forces us to close early, announcements will be made through the local radio stations. The decision to close early is made by the Superintendent in conjunction with the bus companies. This decision is usually made prior to 9:30 AM. Students at the elementary level will all eat lunch prior to dismissal. Please recognize that we will not have time to call every parent to find out what we are to do with their children. Having a prepared plan will save you a lot of last minute anxiety.
If school is cancelled prior to the start of school, local radio and television stations will begin to broadcast the closure information at approximately 6 am. However, it takes time for all of the closures to get processed by these companies so please leave the radio or television on. Please do not call the school office to find out if school is in session. The secretaries may not be in the building and the phone may go unanswered.
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