Wilder E-News November #56
I want to begin by wishing everyone a happy New Year! I am very proud of our progress as a school. We had one of the highest MAP scores in achievement/growth among all JCPS elementary schools. Overall, our average student scores were high achievement and high growth on the assessment. As well, our attendance is nearly 2% higher compared to last school year and our school culture is strong. Wilder was recognized for its culture by being awarded a Bronze Award from the Kentucky Department of Education for our work in Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS). I am confident that 2025 is going to be an amazing year for us!
I want to speak to you on the importance of supporting literacy at school by reading to your child at home. One of our major goals is to improve literacy for all of our students. A student reading on grade level is the strongest predictor of academic success. We want to have all students reading at or above grade level. At Wilder, we have high expectations about students reading. We encourage students to use the school's library resources to support student learning. At home, students can access the Lib Guide, Capstone e-Books, and MackinVIA (see links below). We definitely need your support and help at home to promote reading with your child. Recently, I read a great article about the importance of reading at home. These simple tips are supported by research:
· Be a good role model---read yourself and read often to your child
· Provide varied reading materials---some for reading enjoyment and some with information about hobbies and interests
· Encourage activities that require reading---for example cooking (reading a recipe), constructing a model (reading directions), or identifying a bird’s nest or a shell collected at the beach (using a reference book)
· Establish a regular reading time, even if it is 10 minutes a day
· Write notes to your school-age child; encourage written responses
· Ask your child to read to a younger sibling
· Establish one evening a week for reading (instead of viewing television)
· Keep a dictionary handy to look up new words
· Read aloud to your child
· Discuss the books you read with your child
In closing, I hope these tips help your student grow as a reader. I promise, you will not regret it!
Warm wishes to you and your families,
Bill Perkins, Principal
*From: http://www.readingrockets.org/article/how-can-i-improve-my-childs-reading
Wilder Families,
At Wilder Elementary, we are committed to ensuring all students receive the right level of challenge to match their abilities. We are currently in the process of identifying 3rd grade students for AP. In Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), the process for identifying elementary students for advanced placement (AP) focuses on recognizing and supporting students who show exceptional academic potential.
What is Advanced Placement?
At Wilder, advanced placement means identifying students who demonstrate high achievement in reading or math and offering more challenging and accelerated learning opportunities. While not the same as the high school AP program, this early placement helps prepare students for future success.
How Are Students Identified?
The process includes:
Teacher Recommendations: Teachers observe students’ academic performance and high achiever characteristics.
Assessment Data: MAP scores and other data points are reviewed to identify high-achieving students.
Holistic Review: Work samples, classroom performance, and other evidence are considered to ensure a well-rounded decision.
What Happens After Identification?
Students identified for advanced placement benefit from:
Challenging Curriculum: Lessons designed to stretch their thinking and problem-solving skills.
Enrichment Activities: Opportunities to explore advanced concepts or topics in greater depth.
Collaborative Learning: Being grouped with peers who share similar academic abilities.
How Can Parents Support Their Students?
Stay Involved: Talk with your child’s teacher about their progress and opportunities for enrichment.
Encourage Growth: Support your child’s curiosity by exploring new topics and skills at home.
Monitor Progress: Stay informed about assessments and advanced placement updates.
If you have any questions about advanced placement at Wilder Elementary, please reach out at wallis.malone-owens@jefferson.kyschools.us. Together, we can ensure that every student reaches their fullest potential.
Random Acts of Kindness Week, February 9–15, 2025, is a perfect reminder of how thoughtful gestures can bring joy, inspire change, and create a lasting impact on others. We will be celebrating Kindness here at Wilder for the entire month of February. Talk with your child and loved ones about how they can embrace kindness as a daily habit and a way of life. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has these tips for why kindness is important:
Kindness Builds Stronger Connections
Kindness fosters trust, empathy, and connection. When kindness becomes a daily habit, it creates a ripple effect that strengthens relationships—whether at school, in workplaces, or at home. By making kindness the norm, we cultivate an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired.
· At Home: Simple acts of kindness, like expressing gratitude or helping with daily tasks, strengthen family bonds and nurture positive relationships.
· At school: Students and teachers who practice kindness create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment, boosting confidence and collaboration.
Kindness Improves Mental and Physical Well-Being
Engaging in acts of kindness has been scientifically proven to enhance both mental and physical health. Performing kind deeds releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin and serotonin, which help reduce stress and increase happiness. Regularly practicing kindness can lead to lower blood pressure, improved mental health, and even increased lifespan. By making kindness the norm, we not only uplift others but also promote our own well-being.
- Stress Reduction: Consistently kind individuals have 23% less cortisol (the stress hormone) and age slower than the average population.
- Enhanced Mental Health: Engaging in acts of kindness produces endorphins, the brain's natural painkiller, leading to decreased pain and improved mood.
- Increased Happiness: A 2020 survey found that 63% of adults reported improved mental health when kindness was shown to them.
Kindness Creates a Ripple Effect
Witnessing or experiencing kindness inspires others to pay it forward, creating a chain of positivity that spreads far beyond the initial act. This ripple effect has the power to influence entire communities and even spark systemic change.
· A simple but profound act of kindness—like offering a genuine compliment or helping someone in need—can inspire a chain reaction of giving, reminding everyone involved that kindness is alive.
Kindness Breaks Down Barriers
Kindness transcends differences in culture, background, and beliefs. By making kindness the norm, we create an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome and respected. Kindness bridges gaps, fosters understanding, and helps us see each other as humans first.
· In a divided world, kindness reminds us to take care of each other.
· It encourages compassion to everyone.
Kindness Inspires Action
When kindness is the norm, people are more likely to step up. Whether it is helping a neighbor, supporting a cause, or standing up against injustice, kindness as a baseline encourages us to take meaningful action.
1. Start Small: Incorporate simple acts of kindness into your daily routine, like offering compliments, holding the door open, or lending a helping hand.
2. Model Kindness: Be an example for others, especially children, by showing kindness in your words and actions.
3. Amplify It: Share stories of kindness to inspire others and spread positivity.
4. Create Systems: Advocate for policies and practices—in schools, workplaces, and communities—that encourage and reward kindness.
Recently, Wilder had installed a new audio enhancement system. The system will allow for all teachers to clearly speak to students by using a microphone type communication device that is attached to a lanyard that the teacher wears around their neck. The system also allows for teachers to quickly alert the office of any safety issue they might encounter by an alert button that is on the microphone. It will be a plus in helping with communication with students. It also makes Wilder a much safer place. You can learn more about the Audio Enhancement system by clicking on the link which attached.
The Comprehensive School Survey (CSS) is an annual survey that has the objective of collecting school/workplace climate data from multiple stakeholders associated with our school system: students (grades 4 through 12), parents, school-based certified staff, school-based classified staff, and non-school-based certified and classified staff. Our 4th and 5th grade students have already taken this survey during their library class times. Parents, we need your help to do your survey. We have been given a goal of 40% completion. Please help us hit this goal!
Link to the parent survey: Click here
SURVEY | The Jefferson County Board of Education wants to hear from you about the qualities and priorities you care about in the next JCPS superintendent. Please take a few moments to fill out the survey and share your thoughts. Click here for the survey.
The Wilder Indoor Soccer team is starting soon! This year, we plan to have three teams. Any parents interested in helping please indicate your availability on the tryout signup form. Click here to sign-up.
When: February 6th and 12th, 5 - 6:30 pm
Where: Wilder Soccer Field (inclement weather site Westport MS Small Gym)
Who: ALL 3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students (teams will be COED)
Equipment: Cleats, shin guards, and water bottle
Team Fee is $140 (if your student makes the team)
Games will be on Friday and Saturday evenings March 14th - May 17th @ Mockingbird (no games on April 4/5 or May 2/3)
Please click the link here to learn more about important immigration resources.
Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) has enhanced its Backpack of Success Skills initiative to better prepare students for academic success. These refinements include a standardized Defense of Learning Rubric for 5th graders, Milestone checkpoints across K-4th to help students reflect on their progress. Your child will create and document meaningful learning experiences, called artifacts, that showcase critical thinking, craftsmanship, real-world connections, along with connections to the five Success Skills: effective communicator, productive collaborator, globally and culturally competent citizen, emerging innovator, and resilient learner. A new digital platform, OTUS, will be used by teachers to track progress and ensure alignment with success goals. Students will also reflect on their learning journey through milestone checkpoints and standardized rubrics, fostering growth and ownership of their education. These enhancements are designed to ensure all students are prepared and supported throughout their educational journey.
Wilder's Quick Recall Team is being led this year by Ms. Hatfield and Ms. Doner. Our students are already practicing and have been involved in match play. Congratulations to the following 4th/5th grade students who won both games against Hite Elementary earlier this month:
James Metzmeier
Harper Burnett
Liam Custis
Zachary Martinez
Ben Ruppert
Evelyn Scherrer
Matthew Shumway
Jarius Lamptey
Wesley Dungeon
Arun More
Grant Gilman
Stanley Druen
We are pleased to announce that School Smiles will be returning to Wilder in February for another dental visit with our students. The dentist will see the rest of the students who signed up during our first round of sign-ups and take appointments for additional students. If you would like to add your child to the dentist's visit schedule, please fill out the form by clicking here.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Mrs. Wilkinson at: katie.wilkinson@jefferson.kyschools.us
Hi there! I am Ms. Delahanty. I am excited to be a part of the Wilder community! I will be substitute teaching English Language Development to Multilingual Learners in grades 2, 4, and 5. I am a Louisville native, graduate of Manual High School and the University of Kentucky. I have been teaching in Spain for the past five years and earned my Masters in Teaching at Universidad de Alcalá. I love to read, cook, and travel (my next destination will be California this summer). I look forward to getting to know the students and having a great rest of the school year!
Happy New Year! The older grades are still tooting along on recorders. 4th and 5th grades are learning new notes while 3rd grade is still trying to "make a pleasant sound." You may hear about your student earning their bead. We do a version of recorder karate where students have individual playing tests. If they pass, then they earn their color bead. Our goal for each grade is to make it to the blue level. Students can earn all the way up to a gold bead by practicing their recorders at home!
Second grade continues to develop music skills by reading notation and applying it in class. We have been watching a movie about Johann Sebastian Bach over several classes and learning about music history.
Kindergarten and 1st graders are getting ready for the musical on February 11th at 6:30 p.m. Students will need to return to school by 6:15 pm. Here are the songs if your student wants to practice at home. Pandamonium Music
Together in Harmony,
Mrs. Wooten
!Hola! This quarter in grades K-2 we will be working on counting, identifying, and writing numbers in Spanish. Then we will be taking another virtual field trip to Costa Rica! If your family has any items they would like to share from Costa Rica, please send them in for a show and tell with your child anytime between 2/19 - 3/12. Wilder Spanish now has Facebook and Instagram! Follow both forms of social media to stay up to date with our weekly activities and learning targets.
Facebook: Wilder Elementary Spanish
Instagram: @wilderelementaryspanish
Happy New Year and welcome back to school! I hope your winter break was filled with rest, joy, and time with your family. As we continue this school year, my focus is on supporting students in achieving their academic, emotional, and social goals.
As your Mental Health Counselor at Wilder, I would like to remind you that I am here to support you and your child in navigating any challenges they are dealing with at this time. I can provide support for the following:
Stress and anxiety management
Academics and goal setting to be successful in school
Friendship and peer concerns
Building resilience and coping skills
Family situations such as grief related to a death or divorce or other home situations
And other situations or challenges that could be impacting your child
Resources for support at home
Referral to outside services
I provide counseling services in the following ways: individual or small group.
If you feel your child could benefit from these services, have questions or concerns, please reach out to me at 502-576-7492 or by email at deeann.cannon@jefferson.kyschools.us. I look forward to speaking with you.
Warm regards,
DeeAnn Cannon
Mental Health Counselor
502-576-7492 or deeann.cannon@jefferson.kyschools.us
We are wrapping up an awesome Crayola Creativity Week. Make sure you ask your student about the story and author/illustrator that they listened to and what the creativity activity was. This is the fourth year Wilder has participated, and I was honored to be asked to serve on a panel with two other educators in the country to promote this program this year.
World Read Aloud Day is coming up on February 5th, and we have lined up four authors for each grade group for virtual visits throughout the day to celebrate.
K-2: (Gary Gray, Doug Wechsler, Shelli Johannes & Carrie Kruck)
3-5: (Dustin Brady, Matiana Llanos, Sita Jit & Vicky Lorencen)
Please remember the Wilder LibGuide is always available for great eBooks and other online resources like Pebble Go and Pebble Go Next 24/7.
Keep Reading!
The Kids' Heart Challenge began on January 17th, but students can start early by registering online. Mrs. Meyer is so excited about the new DUCKS that will be the thank you gifts this year. Sign up early and encourage your students to ask family to sponsor them. Click here for more information about the event.
All 2nd-5th grade students created an entry for the Kentucky Derby Museums annual” Horsing Around with Art”. The museum selects 5 entries from both primary and secondary grades to be displayed and judged in the museums gallery which will be displayed until May 10th. Congrats to those students chosen to have work displayed this year and to all of our amazing wildcat artists!
2nd Graders
Camilla Gage
Joe Scheirich
3rd Graders
Roman Lewter
Meridian McKay
Silas Stevens
4th Graders
Jaidee Cesin-Morales
Sanela Kicic (3D)
5th Graders
Lucy Anderson
Gwen Legleiter
Nailah Jackson
Tyriq Hines
The Art room needs newspaper! Spring is around the corner and that means clay units will be starting. We use newspaper to wrap up all 500+ students' work so the items get home safely. If you have any newspaper you can donate, please send it to school with your child.
Looking for art programs and camps around town? Click here for opportunities.
Make sure you check out the NEW Wilder webpage for upcoming events.
Family Fun Night @ Kentucky Science Center
Please join us on Feb. 4 at the Kentucky Science Center for a family fun event which the PTA is hosting, free of charge, for Wilder Elementary families! The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and you will sign in (by family, not by class) at the front door. The movie for our event is 'Backyard Wilderness,' a 25-minute delight, and we have the place until 8 p.m. We will send out fliers ahead of time with more details, including parking information, so please watch for that in your students' take-home folders. We need volunteers to help with short shifts at the sign-in table; if you are interested in volunteering to help for a 30-minute shift, please sign up here.
Friendship Parties
The annual Friendship Parties are scheduled for Feb. 14th. Please keep an eye out for messages from your room parents (often through the teachers via Class Dojo) to donate party supplies and snacks for the big day. Please note if you plan to attend: send your name, name of the teacher, and the time for your party to Mrs. Frederick at charlotte.frederick@jefferson.kyschools.us by Monday, February 10th; and please be mindful where you park so you are not blocking the carpool line or bus circle.
Board Meeting Locations
When we started the school year, we considered and implemented a number of ideas with the goal of driving up meeting attendance. One of those was rotating the location of the meetings between the school library and the public library in Lyndon. Because we have seen evidence of better attendance at the school library, all future PTA board meetings for the remainder of the school year will be held at the school library. Please make that note on your family calendars we sent out in August. We will continue offering the virtual attendance option as we've seen great success and appreciation for that addition.
The next meeting is Feb. 20th at 6 p.m. in the school library and everyone who is part of our Wildcat community is welcome.
Join the Fun!
Please join the PTA by following this link. It's $5 for membership (which must be renewed, annually), which stays with the PTA and contributes to the many free, family-fun events we plan throughout the school year, and supports our students, faculty and staff in the classrooms and all around our gorgeous campus. In addition, you'll get the newsletters with detailed information about upcoming events and the opportunity to volunteer--the gift of more time with your Wildcat.
Parents and families, please remember that the bus circle is a No Parking Zone at any time of the day, even after school when you are picking up a student from an activity. Please park in the front parking lot and walk to the door instead. If someone other than the parent picks up a student, please let them know this as well.
Parents of walkers, please follow the directions for picking up your child that have been previously sent out by newsletter, School Messenger, and the Parent/Student Handbook regarding parking. If you must drive to pick up your child as a walker, please park in the front lot and walk around the right side of the building through the staff parking lot to the exit doors at the end of the building by the kindergarten doors. You should not park in the staff parking lot. We have seen an increase in the number of families who are parking in the staff lot, some even in spaces marked with a staff member’s job title. Please also remind any family or friends who pick up your child.
The state requires schools to close their carpool doors at the start of the student day. To be in compliance with their directive, our carpool doors must close at 7:30 a.m. Families who arrive after 7:30, must park in the front parking lot and walk their children to the main entrance to be signed in. Please understand this is district and state policy.
SBDM Council Members: Jess Metzmeier (parent), Anne Frye (parent), Bill Perkins (principal), Zerina Kicic (teacher), Melissa Thompson (teacher), and Tina McCorkle (teacher)
Our Council met Wednesday, January 15th to discuss the following agenda items:
- Review current budget and assess any needs
- Update on projected numbers for the 2025-26 school year
- Student achievement report as part of the Vital Signs
- Reviewed three policies (Professional Development, Assignment of Staff, and Emergency Management Plan Policy)
Our next meeting will be February 26, 2025 at 2:30 pm. in the conference room.
