The Woodland Weekly
September 13th, 2024
Our newsletter is actually bi-weekly, but we LOVE the ring of the title!
Woodland School Families,
Happy Friday! We hope you had a wonderful week and enjoyed visiting classrooms yesterday at Open House. We saw the excitement students had as they guided you around the school to see all the hard work they've done so far this year. They have a lot to celebrate already!
As we move into another busy and exciting week of learning, we wanted to share some important updates and reminders with you. But first, here are some ways you can stay connected with your child's education beyond Open House.
Reading at Home
Reading helps build essential skills like comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking. Here are a few tips to make reading at home an enjoyable and productive experience:
- Set a Routine: Aim to read with your child for at least 15-20 minutes each day. This can be a great way to wind down before bedtime.
- Choose Books Together: Let your child pick out books that interest them. This can make reading feel more like an adventure than a chore.
- Ask Questions: Engage with your child about the story. Ask them to predict what will happen next or discuss their favorite parts.
Incorporate Math into Daily Activities
Supporting your child’s math learning at home can be both fun and rewarding! Here are some engaging and practical ways to help your child practice math skills outside the classroom:
- Discuss Math Concepts: Talk about math concepts during everyday conversations. For example, discuss patterns you see in nature or geometry in architecture.
- Card Games: Play card games such as War or Uno to practice number recognition and basic arithmetic.
- Ask Questions: Pose open-ended questions that require mathematical thinking, such as “How can we divide this pizza equally among everyone?”
- Praise Efforts: Recognize and celebrate your child’s efforts and successes in math, no matter how small.
School-Home Collaboration
We believe that a strong partnership between home and school is crucial for your child’s success. Here are a few ways you can help us support your child:
- Stay Informed: Keep an eye on school communications and updates. We often share useful tips and resources that can help you support your child’s learning at home.
- Attend Events: Participate in school events and parent-teacher conferences. These are great opportunities to stay engaged and informed about your child’s progress.
- Communicate: If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s education or well-being, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher. We’re here to work together to ensure the best for your child.
Teachers have been busy screening students in both math and reading to help determine their instructional focus areas for each child. One of the most valuable things you can do to support your child’s education is to practice together at home. Your involvement in your child’s reading and mathematical journey not only supports their academic growth but also strengthens your bond with them.
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Let’s keep working together to make this a fantastic year for our students!
Warm regards,
Emma and Kayla
413-569-6598
Supporting SEL with ADL’s Anti-Bias Building Blocks
We are excited to announce that our district is implementing ADL’s Anti-Bias Building Blocks as part of our Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum. These resources are designed to help our students develop positive relationships, understand and appreciate diversity, and build empathy.
Here’s how these Building Blocks support our SEL goals:
- Understanding Differences: Students learn to recognize and appreciate differences in themselves and others, fostering a more inclusive environment.
- Building Empathy: Activities and discussions help students understand and respect others’ feelings and perspectives.
- Encouraging Respect: The curriculum promotes respectful interactions and conflict resolution, which are essential skills for social development.
We are excited about these new resources and believe they will greatly benefit our students’ social and emotional growth. If you have any questions about this curriculum or would like to learn more, please feel free to contact us.
Important Dates!
September 18 PAWS PTO @5:30
September 23 School Picture Day! Wear your smile! (retakes will be November 4)
Join PAWS!
PAWS PTO is a volunteer organization run by parents for the kids. They host many events like the Book Fair, Turkey Trot, Barnes & Noble Night, and many more. Come join a meeting to see how you can help out! Meetings are at 5:30 pm and alternate between Powder Mill and Woodland.
September 18 PM
October 9 WS
November 13 PM
December 11 WS
January 15 PM
February 12 WS
March 12 PM
April 9 WS
May 7 PM
May 28 WS elections
Meadow Brook Farms Fundraiser
Flyers will be going home this week. Please consider participating in this fun and easy fundraiser. The fundraiser will run from September 16-27th.
Run Stanley
Join Mrs. Rood for a family fun running event on October 6 at Stanley Park in Westfield. The event includes a Munchkin Run (hosted by Dunkin' Donuts), a 5K trail run or walk, a dog friendly 5K trail run/walk, and a one mile non-competitive "Stroll and Roll" which is a walk through Stanley Park's pathways. You can register online by scanning the QR code or in person on race day. Hope to see you there!