Willow Wolverine Newsletter

Willow Elementary Families,

We are halfway through the school year and we hope your kids are coming home with a big smile each day after school! We want your kids to work hard all week and play hard all weekend! Happy Holidays!

Sincerely,

Mr. Porcello

Thank You Willow Elementary PTA

Thank you fabulous Willow Elementary PTA! We are so grateful for all you do for our students, school, and community. You make every day brighter for our kids and we can't thank you enough.

Make Sure Your Kids Are Dressed for Winter Weather
Please make sure your children come to school prepared for winter weather. A warm hat, mittens/gloves, a warm coat, snow pants, and winter boots are a must during the Alaska winter. We have outdoor recess to ten degrees below zero.

Report Cards and Writing Event Thur, Jan 9th 3:00-5:00 (Title 1)

Come pick up your child's report card, check out student writing examples throughout the school, and bring home dinner on us. More info coming soon.

Attendance Matters!

To reach their full potential, we want your children to come to school every day. It’s okay to keep them home when they are sick. However, when they are healthy and well, send your child to school to be an active member of the classroom. Don't let inclement weather interfere with regular attendance. When school is open, get your children to school.

We have a drawing every two weeks for students with 100% attendance. They can win prizes on display in the front atrium! Once your child gets 100% attendance over two weeks, he or she will also have an opportunity to win a grand prize each quarter of the school year.

Perfect attendance in two-week intervals will also give access to additional privileges throughout the school year!

In Summary:

• For every two weeks of 100% attendance, each student gets their name in a drawing to win a prize. One student per class KG through 5th grade every two weeks.
• Each student is then eligible for a grand prize drawing each quarter.
• 1 grand prize per class each quarter.

Remember, ATTENDANCE MATTERS!

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Winter Weather: Closure and Delay Information

The arrival of winter weather also brings the potential for school closures and delayed start times. Please see the bullet points below to help your household tap into school and district updates.

• There is a snowflake on the far right of the district homepage. Click on the snowflake and you will be directed to district wide closure and delay information. Willow Elementary is in Region #6.
• You will hear from Willow Elementary with specific information on campus closures or delayed starts.
• If we have a delayed start, we will not serve breakfast but will serve lunch at the regularly scheduled times. We will not have preschool on delayed start days as well.
• If there are power outages regionally or locally, the district page is your best bet for up-to-date information.

Title 1 Information

Title 1 information is always available on the district website and in our front foyer. You can always stop in or call the school with any questions. Our Title 1 program is funded by the federal government to help with student achievement and success.

Important Dates in December 2024/January 2025

12/19: Last day of school for students before Winter Break

12/20-1/5: Winter Break--Happy Holidays

1/6: First day back to school after Winter Break

1/9: Report Cards and Writing Event 3PM-5PM

1/20: No School/MLK Jr. Day

1/21-1/24: Spirit Week

1/29: WLE Spelling Bee- more info soon

🎨🎯Coming Soon! 2025 Artist in Residence with Mrs. Korpi 🎯🎨

How to Choose “Just Right” Books:

Too Easy!

Have you read it lots of times before?

Do you understand the story very well?

Do you know almost every word?

Can you read it smoothly?

Just Right!

Is the book new to you?

Do you understand a lot of the story?

Are there just a few words on each page you don’t know?

When you read, are some places smooth and some choppy?

Too Hard!

Are there more than 5 words on a page you don’t know?

Are you confused about what is happening in this book?

When you read, does it sound pretty choppy?

Willow Elementary Math Masters

Ask your child if he or she is working on being a Willow Elementary Math Master. Your kids should be working on their math fact fluency every day throughout the regular school year. Mastery in math facts lays the foundation for success in mathematics.

• Doors open at 9:10 AM every Monday
• Doors open at 8:10 AM Tuesday through Friday
• Students go directly to the gym upon arrival to eat breakfast
• 9:15 AM-9:30 AM every Monday
• 8:15 AM-8:30 AM Tuesday through Friday
• Students not eating breakfast at school will go directly to their classroom
• Willow Elementary will not serve breakfast after 10:00 AM Monday through Friday
• Remember, PE, Art, and Music Specials are always in the afternoon after lunch and recess
• Every school day ends at 3:00 PM

• Students must be dropped off at the car/drop-off line during morning arrival. Parents/guardians can then park and enter the building as needed.

• Students must be picked up from the gym via the car/pick-up line during dismissal. Parents can then park and enter the building with their kids under their care.
• Please call by 2:30 PM if you will be picking up your student or another person is picking up for you, this allows us to ensure proper communication to the classroom and pick-up line.
• Reminder - Only parents/legal guardians are allowed to call in any changes to a student(s) pick up status.

Busing/Bus Passes

• Please call by 2:30 PM if a bus pass is needed for your student, this allows us to ensure proper communication to the classroom and bus drivers.
• Any student walking unsupervised to and from the bus stop must have written permission on file at the school office.

Reminder - Only parents/guardians are allowed to pickup students unless specifically called to the office by a legal guardian.

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Special Thanks To Our Community Partners:

• Newman's
• Valley Fuel
• Alaska Fireplace
• Willow Caswell Fire Department
• Willow Equipment Rental
• Willow Lions Club
• Three Bears at Pittman Rd
• Willow Museum
• QAP/COLASKA
• Willow Elementary PTA
• Willow Food Pantry
• Alaska State Troopers
• Willow CERT
• Roni’s Deli

Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Brian Porcello, Principal

907-495-9302

Email: brian.porcello@matsuk12.us
Website: matsuk12.us
Location: 31706 W Parks Hwy - Willow, AK
Phone: (907)495-9300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MSBSDWLE/