Washington Elementary
Boyertown Area School District - Home of the Bears
Washington Elementary School News - April 2024
Mrs. Lisa DeRenzo, Principal
Calendar of Events
APRIL
9 .............. WES Hosts Committee of the Whole Meeting - 7PM
15............. 4th and 5th Grade Chorus Spring Concert at MSW - 7PM
17 ............. Early Dismissal for ALL BASD Students
18 ............. Art Show and Book Fair - 5-8PM
Visit the calendar on our website for additional district events.
PSSA Testing 2024
English/Language Arts: April 22, 2024 – April 26, 2024
Math/Science: April 29, 2024 – May 3, 2024
Please know that Educational Trips are strongly discouraged for students in Grades 3-5 during the testing weeks.
4/8/2024 Eclipse Message from Mrs. Torchia
Positive Behavior Support - March Winners
Congratulations to the March 2024 PBS monthly winners! The following students have demonstrated the core behaviors of our school wide Positive Behavior Support Program of being respectful, responsible, and safe.
The following students should report to the library to receive a coupon for a free treat from Turkey Hill:
The winners are:
AM Kindergarten Mrs. Medvetz: Blake Drupp
PM Kindergarten Mrs. Medvetz: Nolan Hontz
PM Kindergarten Mrs. Kellon: Miguel Valle
Grade 1: Madelyn Yates
Grade 2: Taron Little
Grade 3: Addison Sheehan
Grade 4: John Miller
Grade 5: Brecken Troutman
ALL WES Families are Invited to Attend!
WES Families,
You are invited to attend the BASD Title I Family Night on Tuesday, April 30th from 6:30-8:00 PM in the Boyertown Middle School West Cafeteria. It will be an exciting night of literacy games, books, snacks and prizes!
You can RSVP by clicking the link below. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs. Ramirez at jramirez@boyertownasd.org or Mrs. Sartor at tsartor@boyertownasd.org.
We hope to see you there! 😊
BASD Summer Camps 2024
We are pleased to introduce our summer camps for 2024.
Please follow the appropriate link(s) below for more information and to register your child(ren).
Information for Students Entering Kindergarten ONLY
Information for Students Entering Kindergarten through Grade 2
Information for Students Entering Grades 3 to 5
Information for Students Entering Grades 6 to 8
Information for Students Entering Grades 9 to 12
The registration deadline is Friday, April 26, 2024.
Lost and Found
Attention parents and students! The lost and found collection is growing, and we want to reunite these items with their rightful owners. From backpacks to lunchboxes, jackets to water bottles, the lost and found rack is brimming with treasures waiting to be reclaimed. If anything looks familiar, encourage your child to swing by the lost and found area and reclaim their belongings. Let's make sure everything finds its way back home!
PTO News - April, 2024
PTO News -
- PTO Meeting - Thursday April 25th at 7pm in the Staff Lounge at WES and also on Zoom. Zoom link for this meeting can be found on PTOofWES.org. This is our annual Elections meeting. If you or anyone you know would be interested in running for a position on our PTO Board, please send in a nomination to PTOofWES@gmail.com by Wednesday April 24th.
- Luau Dance (Someone Special Dance) - will be held on Friday April 26th 7-9:00pm. A paper with more information will be coming home from school soon. A reservation will be required to attend and can be found at PTOofWES.org. This Luau themed event is $5 to PTO member families and $10 to Non-members.
We are preparing for a very busy last 2 months of the school year, please stay informed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/492894364508151 and PTOofWES.org for information. As always you can contact the PTO at PTOofWES@gmail.com
NEWS FROM THE NURSE’S DESK APRIL 2024
Below you will find information regarding health room procedures. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the health room nurses at 610-473-1970.
Pennsylvania Mandates
Attention 2nd grade parents: The State of Pennsylvania REQUIRES each child to have a dental examination for 3rd grade. If your child is currently in 2nd grade, your dental examination forms are due by the start of the 2024-2025 school year. An examination is considered acceptable if it was completed on September 1, 2023, or later. Please return the completed dental examination forms by emailing them to dwilson@boyertownasd.org or chackman@boyertownasd.org or by faxing it to
610-754-8301. Blank dental forms can be obtained from the BASD website. From the BASD homepage, click on Health Services then scroll down and choose Family Dental Form.
Medication
Spring is here and that means allergy season is here. If your child needs to take medication while at school to help with his/her allergies, refer to the BASD medication policy. All prescribed and over-the-counter medications require a completed medication authorization form which includes written authorization from a physician, as well as written permission from a parent/guardian. Once all paperwork is completed and sent to the health office, please call 610-473-1770 to schedule an appointment to drop off the medication. Please note, medication must be brought to school in the original container by a parent or guardian. The medication may not be brought in to school by the student. Medication authorization forms can be obtained from the BASD website. From the BASD homepage, click on Health Services then scroll down and choose Medication Authorization Form.
Change of Clothing
Please keep a change of clothing in your child’s backpack. Clothing can become soiled due to a bathroom accident, fall outside in the mud, or because of spilled food/drink. The health office may not have appropriately sized clothing, so if your child does have an accident of any sort, a parent will be called to bring clothing in for the child.
A Message from Your School Counselor, Mrs. Oxenford - April 2024
Helping Kids When They Worry
As kids grow, they face many new things. Starting school. Meeting new friends. Learning to swim. Competing in sports. Learning to drive. Each new thing can feel like a big step forward.
When kids and teens face new things, they often feel a mix of emotions. Facing something new — even when it's a good thing — can be stressful. It's natural to feel excited about what's ahead — and to worry about whether they're ready to handle it.
Worry isn't all bad. It can be helpful as long as it doesn't last too long, become too intense, or happen too often.
Worry is a caution signal. It's a natural response to a big event, change, or challenge. Worry is a way of thinking and feeling ahead: "Am I ready for this? What's going to happen? Is it safe to go ahead? What do I need to do to get ready? How will I do it? What if I feel nervous?"
Thinking through the part they worry about — calmly and with support from parents — can help kids get ready for what's ahead. When kids feel prepared, they can focus on the part they're looking forward to.
How Adults Can Help
Sometimes kids avoid things that feel new or challenging. But doing new things (that are safe and right for their age) helps kids grow. With each new challenge they can gain skills and confidence.
Parents can help kids and teens face new things without letting worry hold them back. Here’s how:
- Spend time with them. Do this every day, even if it's just a few minutes. Do things together that you both enjoy. Go for a walk, cook, eat, play — or just hang out. Find ways to smile and laugh together. This keeps the bond between you strong and positive. And it creates moments for kids to open up naturally.
- Ask what's on their minds. Help kids label what they think and feel. They might not always have a lot to say. And they might not always want to talk about what's on their minds. But let kids know you're open to listening and talking any time.
- Listen with patience. When kids and teens want to talk, listen with your full attention. Give them time to put their thoughts and feelings into words. Ask questions to hear more. Don't be too quick to give advice. Let them confide. Listen calmly to what they have to say.
- Validate. Let kids know you understand. Say it’s okay to feel how they feel. Tell them their feelings are normal. Try not to say, "There's nothing to worry about." This can make kids think they shouldn't feel the way they do. Instead, listen calmly and accept how they feel. That makes it easier for kids to share.
- Help kids think of how to handle things. Help them feel capable. Don't jump in to solve things for them. Instead, invite kids and teens to think of what they can do. Support their good ideas. Talk it through together. Remind them of times they tried something new and it went well. Offer to help as needed.
- Help them practice. When possible, help kids break a new thing into small steps. Let them practice one step at a time as they build toward their goal. Celebrate each success.
- Encourage. Praise your child's effort and progress. Tell them what they said or did that made you proud. Help them relax so that stress and worry don't build up.
- Help them expect good things. Ask your child or teen to share what's going well and what they look forward to. Ask about the good things that happen in their day. Tell them about the good things in your day, too. Let them know that it’s OK to talk about worries but it helps to put more focus on the good moments.
- Soothe and comfort. At times, kids and teens may feel overwhelmed by worry. In those moments, trying to talk it through isn't likely to help. It might help more to offer comfort and understanding. Remind them that you're there to help them through things that happen. Teach them to use calm breathing to relax their mind and body.
What if My Child Worries too Much?
Sometimes worries become worse with time. When kids worry too much, it’s hard to enjoy school, activities or friends. Worries can start to affect sleeping or eating. They can lead kids to feel anxious or afraid, and to avoid things they might enjoy. Worry like this could be a sign of an anxiety disorder.
If your child has worry, stress, or anxiety that seems too hard for them to handle, talk with your child's doctor or a mental health doctor. Childhood anxiety can get better with the right treatment and support.
Source: www.kidshealth.org
REVISED SESSION DATES DUE TO SNOW/FID DAYS
Science Explorers After School Science Club
Tuesday Afternoons - 3:45PM-4:45PM - Grades 1-5
Anatomy Academy - April 2, 9, 16, 23
Earth's Mysteries - April 30, May 7, 14, 21
See PDF below for more information
Board of School Directors Meetings
To see the scheduled Board Meetings for the 2023-2024 school year please visit the district website: www.boyertownasd.org/Domain/60
Visitors and Volunteers
All visitors and volunteers must report to the office whenever entering the building during school hours. This includes before and after school. Before visitor or volunteer badges can be given, a valid driver’s license must be presented and scanned into the Raptor system. Once the badge is given it must be worn throughout your stay with us. Please remember to sign out in the office before leaving. We will be looking for badges on all visitors in our building as a safety precaution.
For information regarding Raptor, please visit the district website. On the district home page click on the parents tab and then click on Raptor/Visitor Management.
Tardy Students
Attendance at school is important. This includes arriving on time in order to be ready to start each school day properly.
- School begins each day at 8:45 AM. Any student being transported by private vehicle who arrives after 8:45 AM will be considered tardy.
- He/she must report to the office with the transporting adult before going to the classroom.
- The adult will need to sign your child in and indicate the reason for the tardiness. When you sign your child in late at the office, please make sure you have recorded the arrival time.
Family Trips
When planning a family trip, please refer to the Elementary Handbook. It is very important to remember that an educational trip form must be submitted to the building principal at least two (2) days prior to the trip. Failure to submit a trip form prior to departure date will result in trip days being counted as an unlawful absence.
Please note that although permitted, we do not encourage absence from school. The activities of the classroom can never be fully made up.
Trip forms are available in the school office or downloaded below. Once completed please turn it into the school office or email it to the attendance secretary Report an Absence .
WES Dismissal Plan 2023-2024
Parent/Guardian Pick-up Procedures
1. Everyone must complete WES Dismissal Plan Form-2023-2024 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgYnVe9ItrM0uqMtioc5yTbWNzCt9X0VYccUWDvymz9exOqw/viewform for each child. If you already completed this form by the August 17th at 12 PM due date, please do not complete again. If you still have not completed this form, please complete.
○ Sets plan for student transportation for the 2023-2024 school year.
○ You may specify 1 day of the week or select multiple days for parent pick-up.
○ All families must complete this form for each WES child.
○ Any and all changes to the plan must be communicated by completing the form found in
Item #2 or by emailing Cheri Cronrath ccronrath@boyertownasd.org and Lisa Erb
2. Daily Pick-Up Form 2023-2024. Complete this form when the mode of transportation is changing for a single day. The form is linked https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepfkrSmxRV7XDpVZJxNj0aOu86NfCvIY8TRrqywZMA_SRjfg/viewform
○ There will be no paper forms. We ask that you do not send a note with your child when there is a
change of transportation.
○ Use the form linked above (Daily Pick-Up Form 2023-2024) to communicate with us, or email Mrs. Cronrath at ccronrath@boyertownasd.org and Mrs. Erb at lerb@boyertownasd.org.
Attendance Information
If your student will be absent or late, please complete one of the following before 9 AM on the date of the absence/tardy event:
- Complete the online attendance form
- Email the attendance secretary: attendanceWES@boyertownasd.org
Please remember - every day your student is out, you must report the absence as noted above.
Absences due to trips or vacations: Educational Trip forms must be submitted prior to the departure date. Failure to submit a trip form prior to departure date will result in trip days being counted as an unlawful absence.
Community Bulletin Board
BASD is proud to host our online Community Bulletin Board. The electronic bulletin board features district and community activities, events, clubs, resources, and more. The board is updated regularly and is an excellent source of information regarding things happening throughout our community and beyond. Be sure to check it out regularly!
#BASDBEARSCareAboutOurCommunity
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Washington Elementary
1406 Route 100
Barto, PA 19504
(610) 754-9589