Wilder E-News #42
September 1, 2023
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From the Principal's Pen
I want to thank our entire Wilder community for a fantastic opening to the 2023 - 24 school year. Yes, the district had some transportation obstacles at the beginning; however, things are continuing to improve each day. For Wilder, it has been particularly smooth thanks to our planning and support from staff and families. Our opening days of school have been spent practicing procedures, building relationships, and moving into instruction by fully implementing our new literacy and math programs.
In addition, MAP testing began this week. All students participate in MAP testing three times a year (fall, winter, and spring). We use this data to gauge how students are performing in reading and math. Additionally, we use this data to track progress, inform instruction, and ensure that all students are growing academically throughout the school year.
I want to invite you to our Open House on Tuesday, September 5th at 6:30 pm. Families will go directly to their children's homeroom class. Our teachers are excited to meet with you and share information about this year's activities. Please note that Open House is for parents only.
Thanks again for making the first week of school memorable and entrusting us with your children. We look forward to an outstanding school year. Please feel free to give me a call or email me at bill.perkins@jefferson.kyschools.us if you have a concern.
Respectfully,
Bill Perkins
Principal, Wilder Elementary
Upcoming Events
- September 4-No School Labor Day
- September 5-Open House at 6:30 pm
- September 6-Dance Club from 2:45-3:30 pm
- September 7-Soccer Club from 3-4 pm
- September 8-Chess Club begins!
- September 8-Telecast (Can be seen on Facebook and Twitter after 8 am)
- September 12-Committee Meetings from 3-4 pm
- September 13-Dance Club from 2:45-3:30 pm
- September 14-Cheerleading tryouts from 3-5 pm
- September 14-Soccer Club from 3-4 pm
- September 15-Cheerleading tryouts from 3-5 pm
- September 15-Telecast (Can be seen on Facebook and Twitter after 8 am)
- September 18-22-Book Fair
- September 19-Dance Club from 2:45-3:30 pm
- September 20-Soccer Club from 3-4 pm
- September 20-PTA Meeting at 7 pm
- September 22-Color Run (formerly Walkathon)
- September 26-Spirit Day at Salsarita's
- September 27-Dance Club from 2:45-3:30 pm
- September 28-Soccer Club from 3-4 pm
- September 29-Student of the Month Program @ 2 pm
PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (WILDER PTA)
From our PTA
Thank you for your support of the Wilder PTA’s Back-to-School activities! It was great to see so many friendly faces at the Kindergarten Playdate, Orientation, and especially the Wilder Family Picnic. If you have photos from these or other Wilder events that you would like to share for possible inclusion in the Yearbook and on Wilder’s Social Media, please email them directly to WilderElementaryYearbook@gmail.com. We would love to see Wilder fun through your lens!
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Please mark your calendar for the September PTA Meeting, which will take place on Thursday, September 21st, at 7:00 p.m. in the Wilder Library. This month, we will be finalizing plans for the ROAR Run as well as looking ahead to fun activities like the Fall Movie Night. All Wilder families are always welcome!
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The Wilder PTA is excited to announce that the ROAR Run, our vibrant new fall fundraiser, will take place on Friday, September 22nd. Each year, the ROAR Run generates almost all of the PTA's funds for supporting our kids and the school. This year, based on funding, the PTA wants to expand the Wilder playground by adding a second Gaga Ball pit and more outdoor seating throughout our campus.
In addition, the funds raised will allow the PTA to continue providing books for the library, free Wilder t-shirts, and funds for classroom necessities. We also plan to host a wide variety of community-building opportunities that are accessible to ALL Wilder students and their families, including Fall Movie Night, Donuts with a Grown-Up, the Talent Show, Field Day, and May Day, as well as Free Family Fun Nights at Champ's Rollerdrome and the Kentucky Science Center.
Look for more information about the ROAR Run in your students’ take-home folder and visit our website, https://go.rallyup.com/ROARrun2023 to donate today!
Safety Message from Mr. Perkins
Please watch a brief message from Mr. Perkins about safety.
Attendance, Bus Tracker Information and Wilder Social Media
Important Attendance Information!
Attendance Matters!
Please send in a parent or doctor's note when your student is absent and returns to school. It is also helpful to call our attendance clerk, Amy Elder, at (502)214-7711 to let her know your student will be absent. You will want to save this number for questions/concerns about absences.
The following reasons are NOT excused absences: missing the bus, oversleeping, taking a vacation, parent illness, or car issues.
You are permitted 10 parent notes and unlimited doctor notes per school year.
Edulog - Bus Tracker App for Parent Use
JCPS has an account with Edulog to track your child's bus. To do this, simply click the link below or follow the directions to install the app. To get started, download the Edulog Parent Portal Lite app from the Apple or Android store. You can use the QR code found on the JCPS Edulog Parent Portal Lite website.
After downloading the app, you’ll be asked to enter a registration code. Use district registration code: 98295545. Please do not share this code as it is specific to JCPS buses. Once the app is downloaded, go to the DISTRICT tab, tap the plus sign (+) in the top right corner to add the district code. When the code is accepted, you will see the district name and the number of buses you are following (initially zero). Next, tap on the slide button to activate one or more buses. Tap on My Buses in the main menu. You can scroll to each bus by swiping the vehicle box. Tap on the plus sign (+) to add an Alert Zone. Enter an address or move the map, name the alert zone, add a time frame, adjust the radius with the slide button, then hit Save. Once your vehicles have been added and alert zones created, the buses will be listed on the home screen. To access your Inbox, tap the envelope icon on the home screen, where you can view messages and notifications.
You can view the location of a bus by tapping that particular bus in the MY BUSES tab. Notifications are sent immediately when your child's bus arrives within the zone you established. The school bus sends regular GPS pings to the app database every 15-20 seconds. As with all technology, disruptions can occur. A lag can be produced if there is a disruption in cellular service or the GPS unit on the bus is disconnected. Make sure to monitor the app for bus movement before the expected bus time.
You can view the instructions in Spanish and learn more about the app at our website.
We believe the Edulog Parent Portal Lite app will provide you with crucial information about your student’s bus route, offering you peace of mind.
Thank you for all you do to support our students and staff throughout JCPS.
From JCPS Communications
Links to Wilder's Webpage, Twitter, and Facebook
To easily access our webpage, Twitter (now X), and Facebook, please see the links below:
Webpage: https://schools.jefferson.kyschools.us/Elementary/Wilder/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WilderWildcats
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Student Support and Behavior Intervention Handbook
Athletics
Wilder Basketball 2023-24 Information and Tryouts
Head Coach: Matt Mathes
Who: Any student (2nd -5th grade) who is interested in playing for the Wilder basketball team
When:
Tryout #1:September 13, 2023 6:00 -8:00 pm.
Tryout #2 (tentative): September 15th 6:00 -7:00 pm. A second session might be necessary depending on the number of athletes trying out.
Where: Kammerer Middle School Gym (Door 6 on side of building by parking lot)
NOTE: Tryouts will be a CLOSED session.
Items to Bring: Wear basketball shoes and bring water.
Practices: Kammerer Middle School -- dates/times TBD
Games: MidAmerica on Watterson Trail on Friday evenings - November 17th - February 16th
Dues: Approximately $120-$130 to cover uniforms (jersey/shorts), MidAmerica basketball league, end-of-season banquet and awards.
Click here to sign up for the Wilder Basketball Team
Message from Mrs. Mateja in the Library
Please check out the Wilder LibGuide for upcoming events, eBooks and wonderful resources for you and/or your student. Mark your calendar for the fall Book Fair September18-22 with Literati. Don't want to send cash with your student to shop? Feel free to create a gift card for use through the Literati site on the Wilder LibGuide.
Author Alex Willan will be making a return visit on September 14th, to promote his new release Elves Are the Worst. You can order his book(s) from Carmichaels by clicking here.
Important Paperwork Needed from Families
Educational Benefits Forms(EBF): Important ALL FAMILIES NEED to Complete
Good news! Our school participates in a program called Community Eligibility. This means all Wilder students may eat breakfast and lunch at no cost. In order to keep the program, ALL families must complete an Educational Benefits Form (EBF). This form will support our Free/Reduced and Non-Free/Reduced families. Please complete the form as soon as possible by clicking the link: https://jcps.me/EBF
Only one form is needed per household, with all JCPS students listed on the form. Information will be kept confidential; no matter what is on the form, students can still eat a meal at no cost.
Please update and complete all student forms on the JCPS website by clicking the following link:
Wilder's Open House
Open House is September 5, 2023
We would like to invite our parents to Open House on Tuesday, September 5th from 6:30-7:45 pm. It
will be an opportunity to get acquainted with your child’s teacher, hear an overview of class
expectations and learn about this year’s curriculum.
Join Wilder's SBDM Committees
Committees for 2023-24
As the school year gets underway, the Wilder staff would like to invite you to play an active role in our school community by becoming a member of a SBDM committee.
Safety
Committee Chair- Dr. Owens
Review our school discipline plan
Monitor attendance and create incentives for our students
Review PBIS Implementation
Culture and Climate
Committee Chair- Monica Stinson
Develop plans to nurture relationships among stakeholders within the school
Identify areas of improvement based on school data
Organize activities aimed at improving culture and climate
Wellness
Committee Chair- Sheila Vanderhoff
Facilitates partnerships with outside agencies promoting health/wellness
Development and/or monitoring of the Wellness Policy
Make suggestions to the SBDM Council on initiatives that would improve wellness
Walkathon
Health Fair
Field Day
Parent Involvement
Committee Chair- Carrie Slocum
Enhance partnership with the PTA
Plan activities to encourage parental involvement
Coordinate/Plan Parent/Teacher Conference Day
Recommend initiatives to improve parent participation
Backpack Initiative sharing with parents
Organize volunteers
Racial Equity
Committee Chair- Missy Herberger
Developing, Implementing, and Monitoring the Racial Equity Plan and Policy
If you are interested in joining a Committee this school year, please reach out to Mr. Perkins by emailing him or giving him a call.
Important Information for all Families New to Wilder
All students who are new to Jefferson County Public Schools must provide the following information to be included in the student’s permanent record that is kept on file in the school office:
- Certified copy of your child’s birth certificate, or other reliable proof of your child’s identity and age submitted with an affidavit of the inability to produce a copy of the birth certificate
- Kentucky Immunization Certificate
- Kentucky Medical Examination Form
- Kentucky Eye Examination Form
- Kentucky Dental Examination Form
Copies of these documents need to be brought to school as soon as possible. Parents/Guardians can bring them to school during the day or send them via your student's "take home" folder.
Car Rider Information
Thank you for your patience as we work out the kinks with morning carpool. One of the biggest issues we are having is people trying to turn left when leaving the parking lot. It is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you turn RIGHT out of the lot. We have signs posted by the road as a reminder. Because traffic is backed up on Herr Lane in the morning, we recommend that you get in the car rider line by 7:40 am each morning. Thank you in advance for working with us so that we can have all car riders inside the building by 8:00 am to avoid being marked tardy.
SBDM Meeting Update
Site Based Decision Making (SBDM) Council Information
Congratulations to our 2023-24 SBDM Council members who will represent our school community this
year: Jess Metzmeier (parent), Anne Frye (parent), Deanna Walker, Zerina Kicic and Melissa Thompson.
Our Council met on Wednesday, August 25, 2023 to discuss the following agenda items:
- Update about opening of school and student enrollment numbers
- Staffing update and vacancies
- Budget information
- Committees for this school year
- Reviewed district REAP (Racial Equity Protocol) document and review the Family Engagement Policy using the REAP.
Our next meeting will be September 20, 2023 @ 3:00 pm in the Wilder Conference Room.
Wilder Telecast for September 1, 2023
Please see our first Wilder Telecast of the school year by clicking below.