Jaguar News Journal

Dear JWE Families,

Good afternoon! I hope you're having a great weekend and looking forward to the week ahead. It's officially February! Wow!!!

As you know, Report Cards were sent home with students on Friday. We hope all our families were able to spend some time going over these with their student and celebrated progress made. Parent Conferences are coming up! We will have these on February 18th. You likely already received scheduling information from your child's teacher. If you have not it will be coming very soon! We hope all our families can take time out of their busy schedules to come and meet with teachers to discuss progress and strategize for student success! We look forward to seeing you!

This Wednesday is the first one of the month so that means we will have our monthly Wellness Wednesday here at school! Weather permitting, students and staff will start the day walking around the track before coming into the building! Parents/guardians - you are welcome to come and walk with your student!

Our Lost & Found was emptied last week - as we'd advertised to you, we donated remaining items to charity. Now is a great time to be sure you have your child's name written on/in his/her items! Specifically sweatshirts, jackets, water bottles, etc. We work hard to get items back to their owners, but in the absence of a name or a child/family looking for it we end up donating A LOT of items to charity.

We thank you for your partnership and support!

Sincerely,

Sara Hammill

Principal

​Regular school attendance is necessary for each student’s academic and social success. The school day at John Wayland begins at 8:20 AM and concludes at 3:00 PM. During that time, teachers are providing important instruction and supporting activities for student understanding. Frequent absences, tardies, and/or early dismissals interrupt the continuity needed to help students master important concepts and skills. Thank you for prioritizing school attendance as we partner to promote the success of each and every student here at John Wayland.

We do understand that there are times when absence is absolutely unavoidable. If your child will miss school for any reason, please be sure you contact us to let us know. You can call the school office at 540-828-6081 or email us at: jwesattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us. Please let us know as soon as you know your child will be out but always by 9:00 am on the day of the absence.

Here's a link to RCPS Attendance Policy should you desire more information.

Anxiety and worry can show itself in many different ways, especially in children. It can impact emotions, behaviors, academic performance, and overall well being. Keeping an eye on changes such as excessive worry, sudden lack of interest in activities, trouble sleeping, or physical complaints such as stomachaches and headaches are important as these could indicate that your child may be experiencing feelings of anxiety.

You can help navigate these feelings by encouraging open communication. Sometimes, just allowing time and space to voice their worries can help children feel lighter and less alone. Additionally, keeping a consistent routine can help provide stability and predictability. This could look like evening and bedtime routines, morning routines, scheduled extracurricular activities, etc.

While it's natural to want to protect children from stress, avoiding situations that make them anxious can sometimes make things worse. Instead, acknowledge their feelings and remind them that they can handle challenges. Working with your child on coping strategies like deep breathing and positive self-talk (such as saying nice things to themselves) can also help them feel calmer and remind them that they are safe, even when they feel uncomfortable.

It's normal for kids to feel worried or anxious sometimes. However, if these feelings happen often or stop them from doing everyday activities, it might be a good idea to talk to your child’s doctor or a mental health professional. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns!

Recommended books on worry and feelings of anxiety:

Wilma Jean the Worry Machine - Julia Cook

Ruby Finds a Worry - Tom Percival

The Whatifs - Emily Kilgore

Our next PTO meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 5, from 6-7pm via Zoom. A meeting link and agenda will be sent out next week. All are welcome to attend! Our next event will be a proceeds night at Ledo Pizza in Harrisonburg! 20% of all sales from 11am - close will be donated to the JWES PTO. See flyer below for more details!

The imporance of unplugged play for child development cannot be underestimated. Children learn so much from the social interactions and cognitive process involved in play! This Wednesday, February 5th is Global Day of Play! Grade level teams have communicated with families on that team's plan to embrace unplugged play for their classes! We encourage all families to embrace and normalize play in your homes that doesn't involve computers, tablets, or screens!

Feb. 5: Wellness Wednesday

Feb. 5: Global Day of Play

Feb. 5: PTO Meeting - 6pm - See above for info

Feb. 10: Spirit Night at Domino's

Feb. 11: 3rd Grade to EMU

Feb. 17: No School for Students; Secondary Parent/Teacher Conferences

Feb. 18: No School for Students; Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences

Feb. 19: 3rd Grade (Durren/Pieretti) to You Made it Pottery

Feb. 21: 3rd Grade (Mizell/Hoover/Docev) to You Made it Pottery

Assistant Principal: Diane Secord

Email: jwesattendance@rockingham.k12.va.us
Website: http://jwes.rockingham.k12.va.us/
Location: 801 N Main St, Bridgewater, VA, USA
Phone: 540-828-6081
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnWaylandElementary

JWES PTO Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095468617570