Waite Elementary Parent Newsletter
December, 2023
Happy Holidays from the Waite Staff!
Dear Waite Families:
This is my favorite time of the year at Waite Elementary School. There is a festive atmosphere that permeates the building each day. Our students are in good spirits and excited about the upcoming break and holiday celebrations with family. There are musical programs and fun activities, spirit days, and classroom parties. The Holiday Shop has returned this December as well. This is a special time of the school year when we have a unique opportunity to create experiences and lasting memories for our students and their families.
School is about more than academics, although incredibly important. School is a space for growth and hope. It is during this magical time of the year that I am reminded how grateful I am to have the opportunity to spend each day working with your children and fostering conditions with our amazing Waite educators to cultivate rich learning experiences. Your children give me hope for our future and it is a true gift to serve as Waite principal.
This month our PBIS focus will be on Gratitude. We will be looking for occasions to promote gratitude with our students. Students will review the three (3) Rs: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Ready to Learn. Our culminating school-wide celebration will include a cookie party and craft experience students will have the chance to purchase using their PBIS points in their classroom PBIS store.
We also plan to have a few guest “elves” visiting the building throughout the month to encourage and support our focus on gratitude this holiday season (in the spirit of Elf on the Shelf - I know many of our families enjoy this tradition in their homes as well).
Spirit day information is included below (12/13-12/20). Classroom holiday parties will be on either 12/19 or 12/20. See information from your child’s teacher. Please note that all snacks MUST be store bought and pre-packaged. A simple craft, game, or other activity is a good and safe alternative to food items. For a list of allergen-friendly snacks, please visit the Snack Safely website: Click HERE.
We have much to be grateful for and there is a lot of hope for our school community moving forward; however, we are also at a pivotal point for the District and our Waite community with the failure of the November bond issue and operating levy. The Board of Education has made the decision to place a 7.5-mill continuous operating levy on the March 19, 2024 ballot, which will generate approximately $14 million annually. During the November 20, 2023, regular Board of Education meeting, the board passed a resolution of necessity as a first step in placing the operating levy issue on the ballot.
I will provide further objective information regarding the March operating levy in the future. The coming months will be a critical time for our community to reflect on the rich learning opportunities we currently have in place for our Waite students and work collectively to invest in and sustain these learning conditions into the future.
Best wishes to all of our Waite families for a beautiful holiday season full of family traditions and a happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Mr. Mattie
Waite, Principal
Mark your Calendars!
Upcoming Important Dates
11/27/23 – 12/8/23: Toys for Tots (collection has been extended)
12/1/23: Grade 1 Performance, 2:30 (doors open at 2:25)
12/4/23 – 12/8/23: PTO Holiday Shop – schedule has gone out
12/6/23: Steel Pan and Glee Club Performance, 6:00PM (Cafeteria/stage)
12/7/23: Picture Retake Day
12/13/23 – 12/20/23: Spirit Week
12/18/23: Grade 5 Field Trip to the PAC for ENCORE Performance
12/19/23 OR 12/20/23: Classroom Holiday Parties (date determined by teacher)
12/20/23: Early Release, 2:30 Dismissal
-Leader of the Month
-Story Time with Mr. Mattie
12/21/23 – 1/3/24: Winter Break – ENJOY!
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!
1/4/24: Back to School
1st Grade Holiday Performance
Waite December Events
Toys for Tots! (Extended Collection): 11/27-12/8
Holiday Shop: 12/4-12/7
Get ready! Waite Elementary Schools PTO is happy to announce that we are hosting a Holiday Shop this week, December 4th – 7th . We have collaborated with The Penguin Patch Holiday Shop company. Every child wants to surprise their family and friends in a big way! See shopping schedule below.
Our exclusive Penguin Patch gifts were designed with every budget in mind. Plus, it’s perfect for families with siblings. Our gifts are priced just for kids! Gifts start at just 25 cents, with 80% of our items being under $5.00 and 60% of our items being under $3.00. The school nor the PTO will apply any markup to prices (this is not a fundraiser), as we want each child to enjoy giving back to others this holiday season.
Here’s what you need to know about the big Holiday Shop event, which will take place from December 4th-7th, 2023 at Waite Elementary School (room 140):
For this event, there will be NO E-Wallets. On the day of your students Holiday Shop time, please send them to school with CASH. For your convenience, envelopes indicating how much money is enclosed and suggestions of who to purchase gifts for were sent home last week. Please, do not send money to school prior to your child’s day to shop. Please only send CASH the day of their holiday shopping. Teachers are not permitted to collect and keep cash in their classrooms. Cash sent in advance will be sent home.
The holiday shop will function similarly to our book fair. Each class will have a designated shop date and time (during your student’s Encore PE time). There will NOT be an opportunity to shop before or after their class time. Additionally, there will be NO family shopping date. Please encourage your shoppers to know who they would like to purchase gifts for and their approximate budget for each person. Volunteers will also be on-site to assist shoppers.
Participation is OPTIONAL. If families choose not to participate, the PTO will have small holiday crafts set up for students to make and take home with them.
Holiday Shop Information and Schedule
We are looking for volunteers to assist with the shop and craft station! Please sign-up below:
Picture Retake Day: 12/7/23
Picture Retake Day will be next Thursday, December 7.
Please see order information linked below (and follow instructions for retakes vs. first time orders):
Winter Spirit Days: 12/13-12/20
Winter Spirit Day themes will be sent to parents on Friday, December 1. Spirit days will be the last six (6) school days before winter break: 12/13-12/20. This year students are voting to select themes. Each grade level will brainstorm and then vote to contribute one school-wide spirit day. Teachers are working with students this week to select themes. Please be looking for further information later in the week.
12/13: Candy Cane Day - (Anything with stripes) - Kindergarten Idea
12/14: Elf Day - 1st Grade Idea
12/15: Holiday Hat/Headband Day - 2nd Grade Idea
12/18: Holiday Icon Day - (Dress as Santa, a menorah, a star, a reindeer, a dreidel, a Christmas tree, or anything that represents the holiday season) - 3rd Grade Idea
12/19: Dress in all One Color Day - (Holiday colors or not!) - 5th Grade Idea
12/20: Holiday Pajama Day - 4th Grade Idea
Classroom Holiday Parties: 12/19 or 12/20
Please look for information from your child's teacher regarding classroom holiday parties. Teachers were given the option to schedule the party on either 12/19 or 12/20. The teacher will indicate the date and time in an upcoming parent communication. There is a limit of two (2) approved parent volunteers per classroom. Teachers will provide sign-up information if you are interested in volunteering. Please check-in at the front office on the day of the party to obtain a visitor badge.
Counselor Corner
A Note from Miss Andrews
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I am excited to share with you an overview of the lessons your child will engage in. These lessons are designed to promote personal development, enhance social-emotional skills, and support academic success. Links to each grade level’s focus are included to provide detailed information and at home activities for the family!
November/December Focus:
Kindergarten: The Group Plan
1st-4th: Smart Guess vs. Wacky Guess
5th: Students will be focusing on Creativity and how there are many opportunities to be creative all around us. Students will use their creativity to find new ways to manage their stress in healthy ways. Follow the link to learn some ways to incorporate creativity at home: Creativity at Home.
Lost and Found
Please look through to see if there is anything here that belongs to your child.
All items will be taken to Goodwill or discarded on 12/20.
November Special Events
Food Drive Prizes
PTO Skating Event
Book Fair
Coats for Kids
End of Trimester 1 / Report Cards
Veterans Day Assembly
First Leadership Symposium
PBIS Movie Celebration
Thanksgiving Break
Toys for Tots Collection
PTO Ornament Night
Scrabble Tournament
Veterans Day
Book Fair
PTO Family Ornament Night
Scrabble Tournament
Student Recognition
PBIS Morning Announcements
PBIS Selfie with a Waite Educator
PBIS Morning Announcements
PBIS Selfies with a Waite Educator
PBIS Selfies with a Waite Educator
5th Grade Class President, Hudson. Way to go, Mr. President!
Leadership Symposium and Luncheon
"Size of the Problem" November Movie Celebration
November Buckeye Leader of the Month
Nolan Painter
Leo Harrison
Elle Kuhel
Zander Sturm
Collin Koskey
Adeline Wickley
Lea Bergstresser
Jack Surso
Alayna Andrews
Colton Beard
Regan Lukasewski
Jaxon Pool
Sera Kirby
Avery Isley
Jacob Chrzanowski
Alex Rodeheaver
Henry Warfe
Cara VanLoocke
Henley Thompson
Savannah Sprague
Luke Wolfe
Olivia Lee
Adelaide Singleton