January PreK-4 Newsletter

As we welcome the New Year, we want to express our heartfelt appreciation for your continued support in helping our students grow and succeed. The past year has been filled with incredible learning moments, and we’re excited to continue working together to make 2025 even better!

In the year ahead, we remain committed to fostering a safe, nurturing, and inspiring environment where every child can thrive. The coming weeks will be filled with new opportunities for academic and social development, and we encourage you to support your child in re-establishing routines and setting positive goals for the new year. Your involvement plays a crucial role in shaping their educational journey, and we look forward to the many opportunities for growth and discovery that lie ahead.

Wishing you and your family a joyful, healthy, and successful 2025. Here’s to another year of learning, laughter, and making unforgettable memories together!

Windom Area Schools complete benchmark testing 3 times each year. These tests in reading and math help teachers and students know how well they are progressing and opportunities for potential growth. Students do best on these assessments when they are well-rested and have had a healthy breakfast which is free at school. While the timeframe for testing lasts most of the month, your child will only be assessed on 3 days for about 30 minutes each session. You can help your child show what they know by following a bedtime routine and encourageing them to eat breakfats either at home or at school.

We are looking for more parents to join the Parent Teacher Organization. The mission of the PTO is to enrich the educational experience of students, support staff, and connect families and the community.The PTO has plans for various fundraisers and fun activities for students. PTO Meets the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 PM. Come join us for one or all meetings!

Windom Kiwanis will host their Terrific Kid program on January 13 and 16. This is a great opportunity to recognize students who are kind, helpful, respectful, responsible, and have a growth mindset. Families of students who are being recognized will be notified of times and location.

Windom Area Elementary will host Family Engagement Night on January 14 from 5:45-7:00. There will be a FREE meal followed by information about car seat and seatbelt safety. Sign up by clicking on the image!

Jan 17 will be a 1/2 day early out for the end of second quarter. Elementary students will be released at 12:30 on that day.

There will be no school on January 20 for a staff development day.

There are many parts that work together to make a "good reader". Families can help by doing some very easy, everyday interventions. Build a wide vocabulary and background knowledge simply by talking to your child. Narrate your activities with children as young as newborns. Invite children to help with chores and use the proper names for objects, places, and body parts. Bring children to public places like restaurants, parks, malls, and city offices to do business. In all of these ways, kids are exposed to a wide variety of language and vocabulary because of the natural conversations that happen. However, in order for these experiences to be valuable, kids need to be mentally present. We can help kids to engage with the world around them by removing screens when they are in public. Kids who are on screens at restaurants, in the car, and in stores miss out on all of the valuable vocabulary that is bing shared with and around them! Families can help build vocabulary and background knowledge and set the stage for great readers!

In an effort to best serve our students in a safe, productive, and positive environment, there have been a few small updates to our Elementary Student Handbook. Please review the handbook and remind your child of any important information.

As the weather gets colder, we want our students to stay warm and healthy. If the "feels like" temperature is above zero, and it isn't actively raining, kids will go outside. When there is snow on the ground, students will need appropriate snow gear including snow pants, boots, hats, and gloves to play anywhere there is snow. If you need help getting these item, please contact Melissa Pletcher or Cassie Muskie at the elementary school. mpletcher@isd177.com or cmuske@isd177.com.

Snow days are likely in Minnesota. In the event of a snow day, please listen to or read the announcement to see if it an E-learning day. In the event of an E-Learning day, your child has work to complete for each teacher they see. These days are counted as student contact days, so work completion counts as attendance on E-Learning days. Look for e-learning work in your child's take-home folder. Thank you for supporting your child's education.

Breakfast and lunch menus can be found on the Windom Schools Website. Go to Family->Food Service->Printable Menu. Here is the page to get you started.

Our Windom Nursing Department consists of District Nurse Jessica Matt & Elementary Nurse Jacki Larson. Both Nurse Jessica & Nurse Jacki care deeply for the well being of students and they have put together a great resource website for your use. You can click on the image to view the site.

Windom Elementary has a new attendance email. attendanceelem@isd177.com is a place where you can send a note if your child will be absent, late, or needs to leave early. You can also continue to call in to 507-831-6925 Ext 443 or 441 (Ext 311 for Spanish)