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Washington Elementary
Boyertown Area School District - Home of the Bears
Washington Elementary School News - October, 2023- Mrs. Lisa DeRenzo, Principal
Calendar of Events
OCTOBER
09 ......... Professional Learning Day - No School for Students
09-13 ... Fire Prevention Week
11 ......... Early Dismissal -K/12 - Sr Career Portfolio Presentations
23 ......... Picture Retakes
27 ......... Fall Parties
Visit the calendar on our website for additional district events.
School Closed/Early Dismissal Reminders
Schools are closed on Monday, 10/9.
Early dismissal will be on October 11
Grades 1-5 will be dismissed at 12:25 pm.
Kindergarten dismissal is as follows:
PM 10:35-12:25 pm
Fire Prevention Week – October 9th – October 13th
To kick off this important week, our Local Fire Department will visit WES on Friday, October 6th. Our students will have an opportunity to see a fire truck, learn about fire safety and visit and special, inflatable house!
School Spirit Friday's
Let’s show our WES Spirit each Friday in October! Students are encouraged to wear their Washington T-Shirts every Friday this month! A HUGE thank you to our PTO for providing new shirts again this year! They look fantastic!
Fall Parties!
WES Fall Parties will take place on Friday, October 27th. More information will be shared by classroom teachers.
Do you have a few hours each day to join us at WES?
We are in need of lunch/recess aides. Please email Mrs. DeRenzo (lderenzo@boyertownasd.org) if you are interested in working a few hours (10:45 – 2:15) each day supporting our kids.
Science Explorers After School Science Club
Tuesday Afternoons - 3:45-4:45 - Grades 1-5
Slime Time (3-session club) - September 26, October 3, 10
Science Sampler - October 24, November 14, 28, December 5
Magical Mixtures - December 12, 19, January 2, 9
Invention Lab - January 16, 23, 30, February 6
Blinded By the Light - February 13, 20, 27, March 5
Anatomy Academy - March 19, 26, April 2, 9
Earth's Mysteries - April 23, 30, May 7, 14
See PDF below for more information
NEWS FROM THE NURSE’S DESK October 2023
Below you will find information regarding health room procedures. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the health room nurses at 610-473-1970.
Physical & Dental Forms: All state mandated Kindergarten and 3rd grade private dental forms and all Kindergarten private physical exam forms are due now. If you have an upcoming appointment, please notify the health room of the appointment and we will make note of the date in your child’s record.
When to keep your child home:
As stated in the BASD student handbook, if your child exhibits any of the following symptoms, it is recommended that you keep your child home from school and consult with the child’s primary health care provider:
- 1. A cough interfering with your child’s sleep or ability to participate in school activities
- 2. A cough that is productive and has phlegm or is associated with fever or trouble breathing.
- 3. Fever: A temperature equal to or greater than 100 degrees without the use of a fever reducing medication. Please note that the student’s temperature should remain normal without the use of fever reducing medication for 24 hours prior to the return to school.
- 4. Nausea, Vomiting or diarrhea
- 5. Unusual skin eruptions, hives, or rash.
- 6. Redness or drainage from the eyes.
- 7. Head lice
Please refer to the BASD student handbook for more information.
Mandated Health Screenings: All current state mandates are still in effect. Students in grades K-5 will have their annual health screenings from now through December. If your child does not pass a screening, a referral letter will be sent home for you to follow up with a private physician. For more information please review the Mandated Health Screenings page on the BASD website.
Medication Information: If your child requires prescription or over-the-counter medication while at school, a medication authorization form must be completed by your physician. Once completed, please submit the paperwork, then contact the health room to schedule an appointment to drop off your child’s medication. Prescription medications must be in an original pharmacy labeled container. Over-the-counter medication must be in original packaging. Please refer to the BASD website for more information.
Returning Paperwork: Please return any health room forms (Physical, Dental, Medication) via email if possible. You can scan and email the original document to chackman@boyertownasd.org
****We recommend keeping a change of clothing in your child’s backpack as clothing can become soiled due to a bathroom accident, fall outside in the mud, or because of spilling food/drink.
A Message from Your School Counselor, Mrs. Oxenford -October 2023
Washington Elementary School will be participating in the 2023 National Red Ribbon Campaign “Be Kind To Your Mind. Live Drug Free.”. The Theme is a reminder that everyday Americans across the country make significant daily contributions to their communities by being the best they can be because they live Drug-Free!
Red Ribbon Week is nationally recognized and celebrated as a symbol of support for efforts to reduce drug use through youth prevention and education programs. Providing youth with knowledge and skills to assist in resisting high-risk behavior will protect them as they grow. Persuasive, consistent, educational messages about drugs and alcohol can prevent substance abuse. The 2023 Berks County campaign will run from October 23-31, 2023 and is sponsored by the Council on Chemical Abuse (COCA).
Who is the most powerful influence in a child’s life? Parents. No one ever said parenting would be easy and the teenage years can be challenging. However, according to THE PARTNERSHIP AT DRUGFREE.ORG parents have more influence over their child than friends, music, TV, the Internet and celebrities. Children whose parents teach them about the risks of drugs and alcohol are up to 50% less likely to use than those who do not. Following are six research-supported parenting practices offered by the Partnership to help reduce the chances your child will develop a drug or alcohol problem:
1. Build a warm and supportive relationship with your child.
2. Be a good role model when it comes to drinking, taking medicine and handling stress.
3. Know your child’s risk level.
4. Know your child’s friends.
5. Monitor, supervise and set boundaries.
6. Have ongoing conversations and provide information about drugs and alcohol.
For more information and resources visit www.redribbon.org
PTO News - October, 2023
- Joe Corbi Fundraiser orders are due Tuesday October 10th
- Next PTO meeting is Thursday November 2nd
Once again, this year, a homework assistance program for Washington Elementary School students will be available each Wednesday through the school year. The Program for After-School Students (PASS) begins on October 4, 2023. Students will be picked up at the school at 3:30 PM and transported to the Bally Community Center.
PASS is open to all students in grades K through 5 and will meet every Wednesday in conjunction with the school calendar. Parents can register their students through the web site, BallyCommunityCenter.org or request information by email at http://www.ballycommunitycenter.org
There is no fee for this program, but registration is required.
Board of School Directors Meetings
To see the scheduled Board Meetings for the 2023-2024 school year please visit the district website: www.boyertownasd.org/Domain/60
Visitors and Volunteers
All visitors and volunteers must report to the office whenever entering the building during school hours. This includes before and after school. Before visitor or volunteer badges can be given, a valid driver’s license must be presented and scanned into the Raptor system. Once the badge is given it must be worn throughout your stay with us. Please remember to sign out in the office before leaving. We will be looking for badges on all visitors in our building as a safety precaution.
For information regarding Raptor, please visit the district website. On the district home page click on the parents tab and then click on Raptor/Visitor Management.
Tardy Students
Attendance at school is important. This includes arriving on time in order to be ready to start each school day properly.
- School begins each day at 8:45 AM. Any student being transported by private vehicle who arrives after 8:45 AM will be considered tardy.
- He/she must report to the office with the transporting adult before going to the classroom.
- The adult will need to sign your child in and indicate the reason for the tardiness. When you sign your child in late at the office, please make sure you have recorded the arrival time.
Family Trips
When planning a family trip, please refer to the Elementary Handbook. It is very important to remember that an educational trip form must be submitted to the building
principal at least two (2) days prior to the trip. Failure to submit a trip form prior to departure date will result in trip days being counted as an unlawful absence.
Please note that although permitted, we do not encourage absence from school. The activities of the classroom can never be fully made up.
Trip forms are available in the school office or downloaded below. Once completed please turn it into the school office or email it to the attendance secretary Report an Absence .
WES Dismissal Plan 2023-2024
Parent/Guardian Pick-up Procedures
1. Everyone must complete WES Dismissal Plan Form-2023-2024 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgYnVe9ItrM0uqMtioc5yTbWNzCt9X0VYccUWDvymz9exOqw/viewform for each child. If you already completed this form by the August 17th at 12 PM due date, please do not complete again. If you still have not completed this form, please complete.
○ Sets plan for student transportation for the 2023-2024 school year.
○ You may specify 1 day of the week or select multiple days for parent pick-up.
○ All families must complete this form for each WES child.
○ Any and all changes to the plan must be communicated by completing the form found in
Item #2 or by emailing Cheri Cronrath ccronrath@boyertownasd.org and Lisa Erb
2. Daily Pick-Up Form 2023-2024. Complete this form when the mode of transportation is changing for a single day. The form is linked https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepfkrSmxRV7XDpVZJxNj0aOu86NfCvIY8TRrqywZMA_SRjfg/viewform
○ There will be no paper forms. We ask that you do not send a note with your child when there is a
change of transportation.
○ Use the form linked above (Daily Pick-Up Form 2023-2024) to communicate with us, or email Mrs. Cronrath at ccronrath@boyertownasd.org and Mrs. Erb at lerb@boyertownasd.org.
Attendance Information
If your student will be absent or late, please complete one of the following before 9 AM on the date of the absence/tardy event:
- Complete the online attendance form
- Email the attendance secretary: attendanceWES@boyertownasd.org
Please remember - every day your student is out, you must report the absence as noted above.
Absences due to trips or vacations: Educational Trip forms must be submitted prior to the departure date. Failure to submit a trip form prior to departure date will result in trip days being counted as an unlawful absence.
Community Bulletin Board
BASD is proud to host our online Community Bulletin Board. The electronic bulletin board features district and community activities, events, clubs, resources, and more. The board is updated regularly and is an excellent source of information regarding things happening throughout our community and beyond. Be sure to check it out regularly!
#BASDBEARSCareAboutOurCommunity
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Washington Elementary
1406 Route 100
Barto, PA 19504
(610) 754-9589