Wildcat News

I hope everyone enjoys a Thanksgiving celebration filled with family, gratitude, and love. I know I am incredibly grateful for the Washington students and families in our care! A few things so you can stay in the know:

~ Fall Conferences: Thank you to everyone who attended conferences this fall. This time is so important for all--students, parents, and teachers. The collaborative conversations, the checking of progress, and the goal setting that occurs are all critical for student success.

A special thank you to the Washington PTO for providing the fantastic teacher meals. If you donated anything for those meals OR if you volunteered at the book fair, THANK YOU!!! A special shout-out to Jennifer Svien for her coordination of the Scholastic Book Fair. Her work helped to make this an excellent event!

~ Lice: We have had several cases of head lice reported in our school. All confirmed cases have been communicated with families directly. Please continue to monitor your child for head lice. If head lice is detected, please begin treatment right away.

For further information on prevention and treatment of head lice call the school health office: Paula Ziegler 507-207-5904 Or Licensed School Nurse Bethany Dierks 507-207-5803. Additional important lice information can be found here.

~ Monthly Title I Information: Washington's Parent Engagement Plan emphasizes the importance of collaboration between parents and educators. We encourage you to participate in our school activities, attend meetings, and provide feedback to help us create a supportive learning environment for your child. Our school operates under a Schoolwide Plan, which allows us to use Title I funds to improve the educational performance of all students. Through school improvement strategies and initiatives, we aim to address the specific needs of our students and enhance their academic achievement. A copy of both plans are available upon request.

~ No School: As a reminder, there is NO SCHOOL for elementary students starting Tuesday, November 26. Students will return from the Thanksgiving holiday break on Monday, December 2, 2024.

Thank you for being such a great Washington community!

Ann Haggerty

Washington Principal

ahagge1@isd77.org

Winter weather is here. Students go outside for recess daily, weather permitting. Please ensure your child is dressed properly for the weather: snow boots, snow pants, winter jacket, winter hat, and snow gloves. If your student is in need of winter gear please let the office know or fill out this Google form.

When we receive measurable snow, students MUST have snowpants and boots in order to play in the snow. Without these items, children will be asked to stay on the blacktop during recess.

Also, we follow the Wind Chill Chart to determine if kids go outside at recess time or not (see below). We go outside when the temperature and the wind speed land us in the light blue area. If you notice, we do go outside when it's quite cold, so having your child dress appropriately is extremely important!

During the month of November, our entire school will focus on Habit #1: Be Proactive. As parents/guardians, your understanding and support of our leadership work in this habit is very appreciated! I have found this language and learning to benefit ALL, not just students!

Habit 1: Be Proactive is about taking responsibility for our lives. This is the first habit because every other habit depends on our ability to act proactively rather than reactively—to make things happen rather than waiting for them to happen.

One of the key ideas in this habit is that we have the freedom to choose our response. When things happen to us, we get to decide whether to focus on what we can change or to get stuck waiting, complaining, and worrying.

One of the most important indicators of whether we’re responding proactively or reactively is the language we use. When we use proactive language we say things like “I can” or “I get to.” When we use reactive language we say things like “I can’t” or “I have to.”

When we use consistent, proactive language it affirms our capacity to choose and reflects and reinforces a proactive approach to life.

Excellence, Equity, Empowerment. Every student, Every day.

Email: ahagge1@isd77.org
Website: https://we.isd77.org/
Location: 1100 Anderson Drive
Phone: 507-345-3059