Wildcat Family Newsletter

This month at Washington Elementary School, we're focusing on perseverance—the ability to keep going, even when things get tough. Perseverance means not giving up when faced with challenges and continuing to work hard toward a goal.

At school, students show perseverance when they tackle a difficult math problem, keep reading even when the words are tricky, or practice their handwriting until it improves. At home, perseverance might look like learning to tie shoes, helping with chores even when tired, or trying again after a failed attempt at riding a bike. In our community, we see perseverance in neighbors coming together to clean up after a storm, volunteers supporting long-term projects, or workers showing up every day with a positive attitude.

Let’s continue to encourage our students to stay determined, keep trying, and celebrate progress—no matter how small. Perseverance helps us all grow stronger!

March 31 - Return to school

March 31 - April 4 - ELPA 21 Testing for 3rd & 4th

April 2 - Paraprofessional Appreciation Day

April 2 - Kindergarten to Apple Seeds Farm

April 4 - School Librarian Appreciation Day

April 4 - Final Multicultural Festival Planning Meeting for ALL participants

April 7-11 - Assistant Principal Appreciation Week

April 7 - Family Connection Night: Math Games

April 10 - First Security Bank presentation to 2nd & 4th grades

April 11 - MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL (5:30-7:30)

April 14 - ATLAS Summative testing (ELA) K-4th grades

April 17 - ATLAS Summative testing (Writing) 3rd & 4th grades

April 18 - NO SCHOOL

April 22 - Kindergarten to Botanical Gardens

April 22 - 1st grade to Walton Arts Center

April 23 - Administrative Professionals Appreciation Day

April 23 - ATLAS Summative testing (Math) - 3rd & 4th grades

April 25 - Character Award Assembly

April 28 - ATLAS Summative testing (Math) K-2

April 29 - PTO Meeting 4:30

April 30 - ATLAS Summative testing (Science) 3rd & 4th grades

May 1 - School Principal Appreciation Day

May 2 - School Lunch Hero Appreciation Day

May 2 - Kindergarten Kickstart

May 3 - Cow Patty Run at Gulley Park

May 3 -19TH ANNUAL TOUR OF HOMES!

Testing starts at 8:30 on each day listed below. Please make every effort to attend and be on time, especially on these dates.

• April 14 - Kindergarten - 4th grades (English Language Arts)
• April 17 - 3rd & 4th grades (Writing)
• April 23 - 3rd & 4th grades (Math)
• April 28 - Kindergarten - 2nd grades (Math)
• April 30 - 3rd - 4th (Science)

Parade of Nations: 8:00 - 8:30 for students and families

Tour of Nations: Scheduled visits for students throughout the day

Multicultural Festival: Join us for this family-friendly event APRIL 11th 5:30-7:30!

We will have even many countries for you to explore and appreciate during the evening event. In addition to tables full of visual delights, you'll also enjoy an impressive lineup of dance performances! We will have food trucks on-site offering food for purchase.

🐄We’re less than two months away from the Cow Paddy Run on May 3 at Gulley Park! This annual charity race provides a fun, family-friendly fitness opportunity for students and the chance to win a portion of $4,000 in participation prize awards for Washington Elementary.

The Cow Paddy Run is presented by The Spark Foundation, a local nonprofit with a mission to create a positive impact in the community by providing increased access to health and fitness opportunities and education.

The top three Fayetteville elementary and middle schools with the most participants will earn funding to support health and fitness initiatives at their school:

1st Place: $2,000

2nd Place: $1,000

3rd Place: $500

For smaller schools, they have a Mighty Moovers Award — a $500 participation award for schools with fewer than 350 students. We are one of the three eligible schools this year and the one with the most participants will receive the money. That could be us!!

To eliminate financial barriers, The Spark Foundation offers pay-your-age pricing for runners 5 to 12 years old. They also have scholarships for runners that need all registration fees waived.

So lace up those shoes and stretch out those hamstrings! Let's moooooooooove! 🐄

Washington Elementary third and fourth grade students will begin our Bike Ed Trail unit March 31-April 11. Students will watch videos, have discussions and practice how we will conduct ourselves using the rules of the road and city trail system throughout this unit.

Bowers and Koenig will ride April 7th, Jackson and Stengel will ride April 8th, and then Neumayer and Felkins will ride April 9th barring any weather issues.

In the first week we will learn the rules like speed limits, how to pass or be passed on the trail and what to do in case a bike breaks down. We will practice these things, weather permitting, right outside the gym on the blacktop.

During the second week, we will travel as a class during their physical education period to the Razorback Greenway Trail. We will connect to the trail behind the parking deck on West Avenue and travel south. We usually make it a total of 3 miles round trip. We will have other adults along including Fayetteville Police officers and you may volunteer to join us if you would like. Students will be required to wear a helmet.

If you prefer to NOT have your child join us on the bike ride then please sign this letter for notification. These students will stay at school during P.E. and ride the Bike Ed course during this time to develop better riding skills. Also, students who are still learning to ride will stay at school and work on these skills.

If you have any questions feel free to contact Coach Thomas at 479-225-0539 (cell) or kevin.thomas@fayar.net.