Wildcat News

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of the first half of the year...how does that happen?! A few things so you can stay in the know:

~ Focus Schools: Please be sure to read the information below related to Focus Schools. Should these interest you, please note the January 24th deadline to apply.

~ Yearbook Order Form: You may have seen a yellow copy of the Yearbook order form come home last week. If you need a new order form, you can have your child request a new form from their teacher or the office. The cost for a yearbook is $10 and the deadline to order is January 31. See sample of the form below.

~ Save the Date--Family Game Night: The PTO is hosting our 2nd Annual Family Game Night on Friday, January 31 from 6:30-8:00pm at Washington Elementary. Please bring your favorite board games and/or card games to play with your family and friends (sorry--no large motor games this year--just not enough space). Please enter Door #3 for this event, AND we are respectfully asking for no food or drink as we don't want games to be ruined. Please use this link to volunteer--the PTO needs your help!

* BINGO will be played in the cafeteria from 6:45-7:45.

* Board games, including some demonstrations from Atlantic and maybe the Dork Den, will be played in the gym.

* Card games will be in the Media Center.

Silent Auction items will be on display in the open area near the office and available to bid on from 6:30-7:30pm, with silent auction winners announced at 7:45pm. Check out the pictures below for some of the AMAZING items that have already been donated. We are still accepting donations for Silent Auction items--just bring them to the office sometime before January 30. Even if you have stand alone items, PTO members will take those items and make them into a cool basket.

AND...we are still in need of BINGO prize donations. Some possible ideas: pencils, erasers, fidgets, simple games, small snacks, etc. Please bring donated prizes to the Washington office by January 30.

~ No School: Just a friendly reminder that there is NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 20 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day and NO SCHOOL on Monday, January 27 as this is a day dedicated for teachers to write progress reports.

~ January Title I Information: Title I is a federally funded program included under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. It is a source of funds to assist schools in providing additional instruction for students. Title I funds are targeted to public schools with the greatest economic need; public schools whose average population of students who qualify for Nutrition Benefits is greater than 35% K-5 or 75% K-12.

Thanks for all you do to support your kiddo and our school--it matters!

Ann Haggerty

Washington Principal

ahagge1@isd77.org

Families of budding scientists,

If you have a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grader, you may have heard that your child is invited to embark on a journey of scientific discovery! The contract packet that recently went home is designed to help your family determine an intriguing testable question to focus on. If you and your child decide to take advantage of this memorable opportunity, please complete the last page of the contract and return it to school by Friday, January 31st. In return, your child will receive their own copy of the 2025 Science Fair Workbook; this workbook will include a proposed timeline, reminder of important dates, a working copy of the scientific method, information/ideas regarding display boards, and judging criteria that former Wildcats (currently juniors & seniors) will use as they interact with our scientists at our science fair on Tuesday, March 25th. If you have any questions, please use the contact information at the bottom of the contract packet that went home. If you need another copy of the contract, use the following link:

Link to the 2025 Washington Science Fair Contract

During the month of January, our entire school will focus on Habit #3: Put first things first. 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 3, Put First Things First, is about learning how to prioritize and manage your time so that your first things come first, not last. Habit 3 is the habit of will-power (the strength to say yes to your most important things) and won’t-power (the strength to say no to less important things and to peer pressure).

Habit 3 emphasizes how to work toward our goals. Of all the habits, Habit 3 is the most difficult one to maintain. It is always easier to do simple or fun tasks first, so having a plan to complete lengthy or difficult assignments can be a challenge.

Understanding the Habit Putting First Things First means:

• Spending time on things that are most important.

• Saying “No” to things I know I shouldn’t do.

• Setting priorities, making a schedule, and following a plan.

• Being disciplined and organized.

Future skills that can be learned by putting first things first:

• Demonstrate time management skills

• Cultivate a strong work ethic, flexibility, and adaptability

• Develop intrapersonal skills of self-management

• Be accountable and responsible for actions and results

• Begin to cultivate analytical skills

“He who fails to plan, plans to fail”

We’re thrilled to share the next steps in our district’s Focus School initiative, following approval at the November school board meeting. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, our district will expand its elementary school offerings to include:

• Bridges Community School (Global Studies)

• Jefferson Elementary (Outdoor/Nature-Based)

• Rosa Parks Elementary (STEAM- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math)

At MAPS, we are committed to offering innovative educational opportunities that meet the diverse needs of our students. With these updates, families can now choose from three unique elementary school models:

• Neighborhood Schools foster a strong sense of community, helping students feel connected to the people and places around them. These schools include Eagle Lake, Franklin, Hoover, Kennedy, Monroe, Roosevelt, and Washington.

• Neighborhood+ Schools blend the neighborhood school experience with additional enrollment options centered on specific themes, enhancing learning and engagement. These schools include Jefferson and Rosa Parks.

• Community School brings together students from across the district through an application process, offering a specialized, nontraditional public school experience. This includes Bridges Community School.

Focus School Enrollment Timeline
Selecting the right school for your child is an important decision! Here’s what you need to know about the application process:

• Application Window: November 25, 2024 - January 24, 2025

• Notification of Enrollment: February 14, 2025

• Deadline to Accept/Decline: March 1, 2025

If applications are submitted after the window closes, they will automatically be added to a waitlist. Students may be admitted from the waitlist until July 15, 2025.

How to Apply
Applications can be submitted through the Infinite Campus Online Parent Portal now through January 24th, 2025. We encourage families to explore their options by scheduling a tour at the focus schools that interest them most.

To learn more about our focus schools and the application process, visit our Focus School webpage.

We’re excited about this new chapter in our district’s commitment to future focus education.

The Cognitive Abilities (CogAt) Screener testing window will be open from February 3rd thru the 14th. The CogAt will be given to all 2nd grade students and new-to-district students in grades 3-5 who have not yet taken the CogAt.

The CogAt provides insight into students’ abilities and guides educators in making appropriate educational decisions for students. Mankato Area Public Schools use the CogAt in the following ways:

• to help educators differentiate instruction for the needs and abilities of a student;

• to understand discrepancies between a student’s ability and achievement; and

• to use as a measure in identifying students for placement in Talent Development Services, including cluster and Rising Scholar classrooms.

In grade 2, the CogAt is untimed. Students in a typical 2nd grade class generally take less than one hour to complete the CogAt, In grades 3-5, the CogAt will take approximately 45 minutes. The CogAt has three sections: verbal analogies, quantitative analogies, and nonverbal matrices. There will be short breaks between sections.

If you do NOT want your child to take the Cognitive Abilities Screening Form, please contact your school no later than Wednesday, January 29th.

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

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