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Wiley Elementary Newsletter
For the Month of February 2025
Principal's Message:
In addition to our academic achievements, we are thrilled to highlight the vibrant project-based learning opportunities that have been unfolding in our classrooms. These hands-on experiences allow students to engage deeply with the material, collaborate with their peers, and develop critical thinking skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
Looking ahead, we have some thrilling school events planned in the upcoming months, which will foster school spirit and community engagement. From our upcoming Penny Wars to our first annual Baked Good Auction, we can't wait to see our students shine and bring everyone together for memorable experiences. The proceeds from these events will help provide a turfed area on the playground for students to play football and soccer.
As a reminder, regular attendance is crucial to our students’ success. When children are present and engaged, they benefit the most from the learning opportunities we provide. With the cold and flu season upon us, please help us keep our school community healthy by encouraging good hygiene, promoting handwashing, and keeping students home when they are unwell. Together, we can create an environment that supports learning and well-being for all.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. Let’s make February an incredible month!
Month at a Glance
February 2025 Monthly Events
February 5th:
* Class Pictures
February 6th:
* Willie Spears- Guest Speaker
* January Academic Assembly at 3:00 pm
February 7th:
* Staff In-service Day
February 10th:
* Scholastic Book Fair Begins
February 12th:
* NWEA Field Trip- Pueblo- 8:15-3:15
February 13th:
* Parent/Teacher Conferences- NO SCHOOL
February 17th:
* Presidents Day- NO SCHOOL
* School Board Meeting at 7:00 pm- Rock School House
February 18th- March 3rd:
* Penny War- Please see more details below
February 27th:
* 100 Days of School Activities
January Academic Assembly Highlights
A Honor Roll
A-B Honor Roll
Perfect Attendance
Improved Attendance
Attendance Traveling Trophy
Attendance is a priority at Wiley Elementary. We have a school wide challenge going on between each classroom. Our challenge is to see which classroom can have the highest percentage of attendance for the month. The class that has the highest attendance rate for the month gets to display a traveling trophy in their classroom for the month. Congratulations to Mrs. Forgey's 3rd Grade class for having the highest attendance rate for the month of January. They had a 92% attendance rate.
Past Winners Include:
September: Mrs. Forgey (3rd)
October: Mrs. Fry (2nd)
November: Mrs. Forgey (3rd)
December: Mrs. Compton (Kindergarten)
School Board Staff and Student Recognition
January
At the monthly School Board meeting held on Monday, January 20th the following students and staff were recognized.
December Students of the Month:
Sadie Lubbers (Kindergarten):
In the classroom, Sadie shows a passion for learning, always participating in discussions and going above and beyond on assignments. In addition to being a hard working student, Sadie is exceptionally intelligent. Beyond academics, Sadie is a role model for others, demonstrating integrity, kindness, and respect for everyone around her. She is always willing to lend a hand to classmates in need, and her positive attitude contributes greatly to the classroom environment.
Paola Salgado (1st Grade):
Paola is a very kind hearted, sweet, genuine student and friend. She is always respectful and friendly to everyone she crosses paths with. Her excitement for school and learning is very admirable. She comes to school, every day, with a contagious smile, a big hug, and ready to learn! She is always prepared and works very hard. She never gives up, even if she doesn't succeed the first time. She sets an example of excellence in behavior and cooperation to her peers. She is honest and trustworthy- and strives to always do the right thing. To others, she may appear quiet at times, but don't let that fool you! She can talk you ear off with funny stories and jokes and is a real hoot- always making her class laugh! Paola is smart, sweet, and all around an excellent student, classmate, and friend, and is very deserving to be student of the month.
Zaylee Perkins (2nd Grade):
Congratulations Zaylee Perkins on being selected as Student of the Month! You have worked so hard throughout the month of December, and it shows in so many wonderful ways. You've made tremendous progress in building positive relationships with your classmates, and it's clear that you're always ready to lend a helping hand or a kind word. Handwriting has been a goal of yours since the beginning of 2nd grade, and I’m thrilled to say that your penmanship has improved beautifully. It's amazing to see the effort you put into everything you do. You've also become much more active in our classroom, and I love hearing your voice as you share your thoughts and opinions as you continue to grow. You're a respectful listener, and you take every opportunity to learn from your mistakes and improve. Keep up the fantastic work—you should be incredibly proud of yourself.
Ava Dulac (3rd Grade):
Throughout her time in my class, Ava has consistently demonstrated qualities that set her apart from her peers. She is not only intelligent and driven, but also possesses a kind-hearted nature that makes her a joy to work with. She approaches every challenge with a positive attitude and a determination to succeed, often going above and beyond to ensure she fully understands the material. In addition to her academic achievements, she is incredibly responsible and dependable. She has taken on leadership roles in group projects. Her kindness and consideration for fellow classmates create an inclusive environment that fosters collaboration and mutual respect. It is with great enthusiasm that I nominate Ava Dulac for our third grade Student of the Month.
Jaxi Downing (4th Grade):
Jaxi has truly stood out this month due to her exceptional work ethic and dedication to her studies. She consistently puts forth her best effort on assignments, tackling even the most challenging tasks with determination and perseverance. Jaxi is not only a hardworking student but also a helpful classmate. She is always willing to assist her peers. One of Jaxi’s greatest strengths is her willingness to ask for help when she needs it. Rather than struggling, she actively seeks clarification from teachers or peers, ensuring that she fully grasps the concepts. This combination of dedication, helpfulness, and the courage to ask questions, makes Jaxi perfect for December’s Student of the Month.
Tycely Reeder (5th Grade):
This month 5th grade nominates Tycely Reeder as student of the month. I've had the pleasure of watching this young lady grow so much over the past few years. She has many positive characteristics that make her an obvious choice for this honor. Tycely is respectful to her teachers, coaches and peers alike. She is a very responsible student that prioritizes her education. She doesn't always give herself enough credit, or realize her own strengths and improvements in the classroom. She is always willing to put in the extra effort to get the job done. Her perseverance and resilience are undeniable. She is an amazing student, and an even more exceptional human and friend. Our classroom is a better place because of students like Tycely.
Staff Recognition:
Mr. Eikenberg was please to recognize the 5th grade teachers as this months Staff Recognition, and had this to say about them.
As we end the first semester and begin a successful second semester, I wanted to take a moment to extend my true appreciation for the outstanding work you have both done in your classrooms and the positive impact you have had on your students.
Your hard work and exceptional work ethic do not go unnoticed. Day in and day out, you go above and beyond to create engaging and supportive learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of our fifth graders. Your ability to adapt your teaching styles to meet the varying learning preferences of each student showcases your dedication to their success and personal growth.
I am continually impressed by the unique and effective strategies you both employ in your teaching. By fostering an atmosphere of creativity and critical thinking, you encourage your students to explore their potential and develop a love for learning that will last a lifetime. Your lessons are not only educational but also inspiring, making even the most challenging topics accessible and enjoyable.
The solid teamwork you demonstrate is a true asset to our school community. Your collaboration and communication with one another set an excellent example for both your colleagues and students. The respect and camaraderie you share contribute to a nurturing environment where students feel safe and supported.
Above all, your ability to build long-lasting, positive relationships with your students is truly commendable. You take the time to connect with them personally, recognizing their individual strengths and challenges. This dedication fosters a sense of belonging that motivates them to excel and maximizes their educational experience.
Thank you once again for your commitment to excellence and for being such exceptional educators. We are fortunate to have you on our team, and I look forward to seeing the continued growth and success of your students under your guidance.
Preschool Updates
Monthly Learning:
Literacy: Focusing on letter sounds, beginning to put sounds together to create CVC words, writing and mailing letters.
Math: 1 to 1 counting, number recognition, counting to 20, following recipes, using shapes to create images.
Social/Emotional: Learning about occupations in our community. Becoming more confident with independence.
2025-2026 Universal Preschool Registration
Universal Preschool Registration is open for the 25-26 school year. If you have a child that will be 4 years old by October 10th they will qualify. This cutoff date is a change which it has been extended so please be aware. If your child has a sibling or a relative that works for the school district, they will automatically be placed at Wiley once you register. You may use the following link to register https://upk.colorado.gov/. Please help spread the word as we are excited to have two preschool classrooms again next year. Please reach out with any questions you may have.
Kindergarten Updates
Monthly Learning:
Reading: Fiction & Fantasy, Visualizing, Sequence & Key Details, Pronouns & Nouns
Writing: Structuring sentences/letter formation
Math: Understanding/Introduction to Subtraction/ reviewing addition
Science: Living & Nonliving Organisms
Social Studies: All about me
At Home Practice:
Please make sure that you are practicing sight words with your child. Also, please take time each night to read with your child.
1st Grade Updates
Monthly Learning:
Reading: This month in spelling we are working on long i words (y, i, ie,igh) long e ( ea, ee, e, y), as well as r controlled words using ar, er, ir, or, and ur. Recognizing and reading compound words will be learned. Focus on comprehension strategies like visualizing, sequencing, and making and confirming predictions. We are also learning about point of view in a story. In grammar sentence fluency, and inflectional endings are reviewed.
Writing: We are learning how to write personal narratives by focusing on personal experiences, sequencing events, and adding details.
Math: We have started our geometry unit, where we are learning about two-dimensional shapes and their attributes, as well as defining three-dimensional shapes by their properties.
Science: We are continuing to learn about animals and their offspring, including mammals, marsupials, and reptiles. We are also studying how plants reproduce, what seeds need to grow, and how seeds spread.
Social Studies: Our history unit focuses on changes over time, including past, present, and future. We are learning about timelines, historical fiction, primary sources, and historical facts.
At Home Practice:
* Read a short story together and ask your child to predict what will happen next and retell (summarize) the story giving main ideas and details. Look for words with er, ir, ur, and or in books or around the house and practice spelling them.
* Encourage your child to write a short story about something fun they did recently. Help them add details like who, what, when, where, and why.
* Go on a shape hunt around your home! Find different objects and have your child identify whether they are 2D or 3D shapes.
* Take a walk outside and look for seeds. Talk about how they might travel (wind, animals, water) and how they will grow into plants.
* Look at old family photos or objects and talk about how things have changed over time. Discuss what life was like when parents or grandparents were kids.
2nd Grade Updates
Monthly Learning:
Reading: Theme, sequencing, and point of view
Phonics: Diphthongs and variant vowels
Writing: Shurley Grammar- identifying helping verbs, identifying the complete subject and predicate in sentences, identifying declarative and interrogative sentences, possessive nouns, irregular verbs, and Opinion writings.
Math: Solving problems involving addition and subtraction, subtracting within 1,000 using models and strategies, time and money
Science: Life Science - plant and animal life science
Social Studies: Civics
At Home Practice:
* Practice spelling words
* Practice sight words
* Practice math facts
* Reading books nightly
3rd Grade Updates
Monthly Learning:
Reading: We will be focusing on prefixes re- and un- along with their meaning and deriving definitions for words that have those prefixes. We will continue work on synonyms and antonyms as well as using context clues to figure out unknown words. We will also be working on what it means to be a good citizen. Author’s claim will be another skill we will be introducing.
Writing: We will be writing poetry. We will also be working on paragraph writing focusing on sequential order and expanding sentences. We will also continue working on interrogative sentences and possessive nouns in grammar.
Math: We will be continuing our work on our multiplication facts to earn our ice cream sundae. We are moving into fractions. This will include understanding fractions as numbers, fraction equivalence and comparison.
Science: Students will be learning about animal adaptations that are both behavioral and physical. We will then be moving into life cycles.
Social Studies: We will continue our independent state research and presentations. Immigration to the United States will be our next topic of learning.
At Home Practice:
*Practice multiplication facts.
*Spelling words
*Pointing out items outside school that have fractional parts.
*Practice the Shurley Grammar Jingles at home or while riding in vehicles.
*Read books out loud
4th Grade Updates
Monthly Learning:
Reading: Expository text and chronological order
Writing: Grammar and topic sentences
Math: Introduction to fractions
Science: Animals, Fossils, and Rock Cycle
Social Studies: Research on Black History Month, Gold Rush, and Sand Creek Massacre
At Home Practice:
* Weekly Spelling Words
* Timed Fluency Reading
* Math Facts
5th Grade Updates
Monthly Learning:
Reading: Expository Text, ask & answer questions, central idea & relevant details, text features: diagrams, text structure: compare & contrast, make, confirm & revise predictions, suffixes, and homophones Novel Study: Finish Hatchett and start The River.
Writing: Identifying and creating all four types of sentences using the following parts of speech: Nouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, pronouns, conjunctions and interjections. Learn the proper way to plan and write autobiographies.
Math: Multiplying Fractions, finding the area of a rectangle with fractions, multiplying mixed numbers, and division with fractions.
Science: Stars vary in size and distance, resulting in relative brightness. Earth's orbit and rotation and the orbit of the moon around earth cause observable patterns.
Social Studies: Early European exploration
At Home Practice:
* Practice spelling words and math facts.
* In addition, making sure students come to school in proper attire for the weather.
* Sickness is going around and students need plenty of rest.
Attendance Tracker
Attendance by Month
At Wiley Elementary, we take attendance very serious. In this section, you will see our monthly attendance rates. Students that have perfect attendance and two or fewer unexcused absences each month are recognized at our Monthly Academic Assemblies.
August 2024- 95.7%
September 2024- 95.6%
October 2024- 96.8%
November 2024- 94.9%
December 2024- 96.5 %
January 2025- 94.8%
Penny Wars
It’s time to clean out those piggy banks, couch cushions, and laundry room jugs—Penny Wars is coming to Wiley Elementary! From February 18th through March 3rd, each classroom will have a bucket in the hallway to collect donations. All proceeds will go toward a much-needed turf soccer/football field for our playground! Our goal is to raise $4,000, and we need your help!
Here’s how Penny Wars works:
- Pennies & Paper Bills = Positive Points
- Pennies are worth 1 point each
- Paper bills are worth their dollar value in points (e.g., a $1 bill = 100 points, $20 = 2000 points etc.)
- Silver Coins = Sabotage!
- Any silver coin (nickels, dimes, quarters) placed in another class’s bucket will subtract that amount of points from their total!
The class with the most points at the end of the fundraiser gets to pie Mr. Eikenberg in the face!
But that’s not all—the whole school can earn awesome rewards as we reach our fundraising milestones!
● $2,500: Extra afternoon recess
● $3,000: Extra recess + snow cones
● $3,500: Extra recess + snow cones + pizza
● $4,000: Extra recess + snow cones + pizza + a movie trip to Eads!
This is a great way to teach students about friendly competition, teamwork, and giving back, as well as a fun and exciting way to support our students and improve their playground experience.
Thank you for your participation and generosity! Let the Penny Wars begin!
Winter NWEA Field Trip
Wiley Elementary Staff and Students would like to congratulate these students for meeting or exceeding their Winter NWEA goal in all three tests including; Reading, Language Usage, and Math. Due to their hard work and dedication to their learning, these students will be rewarded with a field trip of their own. The field trip will take place on Wednesday, February 12th. Students will be traveling to Pueblo to the trampoline park for a day of jumping and activities. Lunch and snack will be provided. Students will be coming home with an itinerary and waiver that must be signed and returned in order to attend. Once again, Congratulations and keep up the great work! We are very proud of you!
Student Extra Curricular Highlights
Jaxi Downing- Girls Wrestling
Wiley Elementary Staff and Students would like to congratulate Jaxi Downing on a successful weekend of wrestling. Jaxi participated with Sisters on the Mat out of Texas in an all-girls duals team at Oiltown Throwdown in Ponca City, OK. Her team placed 1st in the Silver Division out of 12 teams. Jaxi walked away with four pins on the weekend! Keep up the great work Jaxi! Wiley Elementary is proud to showcase our students' achievements outside of school as well. Please feel free to send any pictures and a short summary and I would be glad to post. We are equally proud of our students as they succeed in their extracurricular activities.