Waterville Primary Friday Flyer!

Monday, December 9th: WPA Meeting at 6pm in Media Center

Tuesday, December 10th: WPA RNO at Chipotle 4pm-8pm! (flyer below)

Thursday, December 12th: Generals' Gift Shop

Friday, December 13th: Generals' Gift Shop

Friday, December 13th-Friday, December 20th: School wide Holiday Dress Up Days! (flyer below)

Friday, December 20th: Classroom Holiday Parties

Monday, December 23rd-Wednesday, January 1st: Winter Break, No School

Thursday, January 2nd: School resumes! Happy 2025!

Sunday, January 26th: WPA Family Walleyes Hockey Game (flyer below)

Dear Waterville Primary Families,

Happy December! I am writing to express our appreciation and gratitude for your ongoing support and encouragement, which truly makes our student success possible! An integral part of student success is based on our ability to maintain a safe learning environment throughout the different times of our school day, across our school campus. Traffic safety on a school campus is especially important because of the mix of students, bikes, scooters, and vehicles.

I have been receiving several comments and concerns from families regarding certain times during morning arrival, afternoon kindergarten arrival, and then afternoon dismissal and it seems that student safety expectations are not consistently being practiced. We all want our children to be safe and we constantly work to monitor and uphold the conditions and rules that create this safe environment. We are asking for your help to make sure that procedures are consistently followed.

Please review the reminders below and let me know if I can further clarify or assist you in understanding the importance of working together to keep all of Waterville Primary safe!

Please:

• Slow down: Please drive slowly in our school zone and throughout the school driveway and parking lot.

• Be alert: Please watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and scooters, especially those coming from the sidewalk areas around the school. (This seems obvious, but in the busy-ness of mornings and afternoons, we are seeing an increase in pedestrians walking across the parking lot without first looking for traffic AND in cars beginning to move forward in the parking lot without looking ahead. Please help us ensure safety by paying close attention during these high traffic times!)

• Follow rules: Obey crossing guards both at the cross walks and also the staff members that assist with the crosswalk painted on the driveway at the front door entrance of our school building.

• Please walk your child across the crosswalk at the entrance of our school building. Please do not send students across the crosswalk/driveway without an adult.

• Please do not block the crosswalk on the street in front of our school. Please make sure there is enough room to make the turn into the school parking lot before turning.

At the back door pick up, please park your vehicle and come up to the door to meet your student(s). This way we know your student will safely be released with the appropriate adult.

• Use designated areas: Please use the school's drop-off areas and avoid pulling around other cars in front of the school while other people are stopped to let their student(s) out/in the vehicle. If you choose to use the vehicle drop off line, please quickly say goodbye to your student(s) to keep the line moving smoothly and remain in your vehicle.

If you feel that you will need more time to help your student transition to the start of the school day, please plan to park in the front lot and walk your child across to the front entrance of the building, rather than utilizing the drop off line.

During the Afternoon Kindergarten transition:

• Please supervise your kindergarten student(s) until a school employee arrives to welcome the students into the school building each day at 12:25pm. Please make sure your student is safely standing by the front doors and do not allow them to run around in front of the school building. This is great practice for morning arrival and dismissal once your student attends school for the full day!

Again, we appreciate your patience and understanding as we all slow down to increase our awareness of the many small children, bicycles, and other vehicles during arrival and dismissal times. We all understand that these transition times result in a high volume of vehicles and pedestrians in a relatively small area, which creates congestion issues and, more importantly, risks to student safety. Consistency and communication helps drivers and pedestrians know what to expect and mitigates risk. Thank you for your patience, diligence, and commitment to keeping students safe.

*WPA Meeting: Please join the WPA for our monthly meeting on Monday, December 9th at 6 pm in the school Media Center. We hope to see you there!

*Make your December a little easier and earn money for Waterville Primary at the same time. We are hosting a Restaurant Night Out at Chipotle (Maumee; Reynolds Rd) on Tuesday, December 10 from 4-8 PM. The fundraiser applies to online pick-up orders, as well as dine-in/carry-out orders. If you are ordering online, please use code BLBV9YK. 25% of the event sales will get donated back to Waterville Primary!

Please sign up to volunteer at Generals' Gift Shop!

Our Generals' Gift Shop is back this year and is scheduled for Thursday, December 12th and Friday, December 13th. We will need a lot of parent volunteers to help with a number of roles including shopping helpers, gift table workers, craft helpers, and more!

Attached is a Sign Up Genius for you to pick a date(s) and time(s) to volunteer. Please make sure that you are available and committed for the entire time slot(s) selected. The shopping schedule is attached to Sign Up Genius, so you can choose to volunteer while your student is shopping if you'd like! Lunch will be provided for those volunteering all day.

For those new to the event, Generals' Gift Shop is a student holiday shopping experience that takes place during the school day. A flyer for the event will be coming home with your student just before Thanksgiving for you to complete and will provide additional instructions. Students can independently choose gifts for loved ones reflecting many different hobbies, holidays, and interests, and come home with presents ready to share for any holiday that your family may celebrate during this season. It is always an incredibly joyous and festive time to spend with our students.

Teila and I have been busy in classrooms these past couple of months! In each class, we completed Career Awareness/Career Exploration lessons. These all took place before the Thanksgiving Holiday. This week, we began Sources of Strength lessons in all Kindergarten classes and in some 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade classes. Please see below for more specific information!

Career Awareness Lessons - Kindergarten and 1st Grade

Our youngest students followed up their experience on Career Day, earlier this fall, by participating in Career Center work. These centers offered Kindergarten students the opportunity to explore some specific career choices by completing some matching activities (ex: matching the firefighter to the fire extinguisher, matching the scientist to a microscope, etc.). They also looked through 30 different descriptive pictures of career options and chose the one they were most interested in at this time to color. Hopefully you enjoyed looking at your Kindergartener’s “career choice” when those coloring pages came home!

1st Grade students participated in similar Career Awareness activities, with some extension work. We spent some time together talking about personal strengths and interests and why this is important self-knowledge to consider when thinking about possible career paths. To better narrow down personal interests/preferences, 1st Graders worked in partner groups to play “Would You Rather”. They read through the different options (ex: Would you rather work outside or work inside?; Would you rather work with people or animals?) They also were able to independently explore more about different careers by completing career matching puzzles and activities, similar to the matching activities described in the Kindergarten lesson. Finally, each 1st Grader completed a practice “job application”. With help, they selected one career choice to “apply” for and listed a personal strength and interest of theirs that aligned with that choice. These job applications were adorable and a great way to clearly illustrate why personal strengths and interests are so critical to take into account with career choices. We had lots of fun together!

Career Awareness Lessons - 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade

Our older students explored different career opportunities using a couple of different websites. “Paws in Jobland” is a really great and engaging website for kids, offered through the College Foundation of North Carolina. 2nd and 3rd Graders enjoyed exploring “Jobland”, which is a city in which a variety of different career clusters are represented by the buildings in the town. To help record their current interests and their ideas related to potential career paths, 2nd and 3rd Grade students completed recording sheets that were aligned with the Paws in Jobland “map”! 2nd Graders went straight to JobLand and made their own determination about their areas of interests. Then, they selected one specific career to record on their recording sheet and added a fact that they learned about that career.

3rd Graders had the added challenge of “grading” the Paws in Jobland website by first completing the interest inventory on the website (under “Job Finder”). They answered 26 “yes or no” questions based on their own preferences. The website then took them to the map of Jobland, but only allowed them to open the buildings (or career clusters) which aligned with the answers they selected on their inventory. We discussed as a group that, while it is interesting to look through information that an interest inventory gives to us about ourselves, we also need to remember that no instrument is perfect and that no one knows our own individual strengths and interests better than we do, ourselves! So, if any career cluster groups of interest were not open in Jobland after completing the inventory, students were able to open them all up and indicate that the website did not interpret their scores 100% accurately.

4th Graders began a collaborative Career Research project using the Virginia Career View website. After selecting their top 3 interests (from a list of about 10-15 choices), each 4th Grader selected one career that was interesting enough for them to further investigate. After selecting a career to research, students looked through the website for specific information about their selected career, including a job description, an abbreviated list of basic job responsibilities, and a description of the education and training needed to pursue this career. Their research will be added to a grade level Google Slideshow, which I will share out with students, teachers, and families once it is completed!

Introduction to Sources of Strength Lessons!

Sources of Strength is a preventative curriculum that has been implemented throughout the Anthony Wayne district in all primary schools and at Fallen Timbers Middle School. These evidence based and age appropriate lessons focus on helping kids to understand that each of them is a unique, valuable, and critically important member of our school family. Introduction lessons have been focused on meeting specific goals designed to boost resilience and self confidence in each participating student. One main goal that has been addressed in all grade levels is understanding where our “strength”/resilience/confidence comes from. Students had the opportunity to identify and share specific people, places, activities, and things that bring them strength and help them do and feel their best! An additional goal that has been a main focus in each grade level is building a healthy and strong “class community” in which everyone feels connected and important to each other. We completed some sharing activities to help us work towards this goal. See the pictures below for a preview of all of the fun to come as we continue to expand our knowledge of our own sources of strength!

Congratulations to our first Student of the Month/Student of the Quarter winners! The following students are being recognized this quarter for their great choices during the first quarter of the school year. These choices earned each of them Bucket Filling slips, which they then entered into our Student of the Quarter raffle. This raffle is offered at the end of each quarter. Our next Bucket Filling Store will take place before winter break, so these students’ boards will remain up throughout the remainder of 2024! Please join us in celebrating Marley Siefert, Callie Sparks, Landyn Stalker, Logan Wright, and Aria Mead. Keep up the great work, Generals!

Thank you for all of your generous contributions to the Anthony Wayne Community Food Ministry! We had a fantastic turnout and were very happy to be able to contribute such a significant amount of donated food items towards the AW District-Wide Food Drive before Thanksgiving Break. You are all wonderful!

Dear Waterville Primary Families,

We need your holiday spirit and help! We decorated a beautiful holiday tree (#4- Purple Up for Purple Star Families) in Parker Square (downtown Waterville- along the river where the original school was located) on behalf of Waterville Primary and our Purple Star Generals. Our tree is covered with 3D printed ornaments that we designed and printed here at school. If we win, a large donation will be made on our behalf to the Folds of Honor Foundation

We encourage you to participate and consider the other beautiful trees in Parker Square as well. A couple of Waterville Primary students and families have trees on display!

If you are able to support our tree, or any of the other trees, please stop by a Waterville location and vote for, in person. The local businesses with ballots are: Waterville Library, Waterville Hardware, Subway, Old House, and Dale's Diner. Please vote by this Saturday, December 7th, before 3:00pm. The winner will be announced at Waterville's downtown holiday event on December 8th. Thank you for your participation!!

* Please Complete this Purple Star Generals Membership Form if your child(ren) is military connected and you feel that he/she would like to be a part of the leadership group here at school.

If you have not already paid school fees, you can pay online at www.PaySchoolsCentral.com or by check payable to Anthony Wayne Local Schools. Fees are $50 per student.

Free and Reduced Meal applications are available for the 2024-25 school year. Parents DO need to fill out a new application, even if they were eligible last year. Electronic application through PaySchoolsCentral.com is preferred, but paper applications are accepted. Instructions and information are available online at www.AnthonyWayneSchools.org/FoodServices

News from Food Service

· We are looking for subs! Want to work where your kids have lunch? Come sub for us. Great hours, usually between 9:00am-1:30pm. Pick and choose when you want to work.

Follow us on X @awfoodservice

Lunch Menu

December Menu

Ways to pay for meals in the cafeteria

1) Check made out to AWFS: you can write one check for all your students, regardless of what building they are in. Simply designate how to split the money in the NOTE section.

2) Cash

3) Online via www.payschoolscentral.com

How to Keep Track of Your Student's Meal Account - PaySchools Central

Check account balances, add money, see detailed reports of what your student is buying, set up recurring payments so you don't forget to add money, set up reminder emails when your student's account goes low, and pay your school fees. It's all in one place.

All of this is done through: www.payschoolscentral.com

* You will need your most commonly used email address and your students 6-digit ID number to create an account.

If you need help setting up the account please call PSC - 1-877-393-6628.

Thank you!

We have several full and part-time positions available to qualified candidates interested in serving in our schools. Need even more flexibility? Substitute employment is a great way to work on your own terms. Learn more at www.AnthonyWayneSchools.org/HumanResources.

It is important that we have accurate contact information for parents/guardians and emergency contacts. If email addresses or phone numbers change during the school year, please update your child’s FinalForms account. This will help ensure we can reach you.

The importance of helping a child learn to commit to something long term, persevering when faced with obstacles, and the willingness to keep trying- even when a task or goal is challenging, is our continued focus at Waterville Primary. Grit and growth mindset is not an “edu-fad” but dispositions we will encourage and intentionally teach all of our students, through different classroom activities, assignments, literature, role models, real world examples, and conversations about the topic.

We really need your help again this year with continuing to provide examples of our very own students and ways that they have shown commitment to an activity or goal. You all did a great job recognizing our gritty students and staff last school year and we need to continue to recognize some new students as the school year begins.

Our “Waterville’s Great Wall of Grit” bulletin board remains hanging in the hallway across from the kitchen. This display showcases our gritty students and staff that have been nominated by other individuals as examples of strivers-students who have an enduring passion and take action to achieve a goal. We will continue to spotlight our students and staff who have both determination and direction.

At the end of this Friday Flyer you will find a nomination form to complete if you would like to nominate a student or staff member here at Waterville Primary that you feel exemplifies Grit. Please turn them into the school office once completed and make sure to check out the “Great Wall of Grit” next time you are here in the school.

Waterville Primary Attendance and Transportation Information

Please read these brief updates regarding attendance and transportation, and reach out to Amy Shiffert for clarification or concerns.

REPORTING ABSENCES

All absences can be reported by emailing WAattendance@anthonywayneschools.org and copying your student's teacher. You do not need to call AND email. In the event that you're unable to email, a phone call to 419-878-2436 can be made at any time and left with one of the secretaries, or as a voicemail for Amy Shiffert.

REPORTING TRANSPORTATION/DISMISSAL CHANGES

All end-of-day transportation changes should be reported at the start of the day by sending a note with your student or by emailing ashiffert@anthonywayneschools.org and copying your student's teacher. We understand that last-minute changes may happen later in the day due to unforeseen circumstances, but ask that you communicate in advance whenever possible! If you have an unforeseen transportation change later in the day, please call the office at 419-878-2436 to ensure the message is received and delivered.

Did you know that Waterville Primary is one of very few STEAM-designated elementary schools in Ohio?! We are always looking to increase opportunities for lessons centered around STEAM. We are always interested in developing professional growth opportunities with community leaders, employers, and resources to enhance student learning.

Each classroom in grades 1-4, have participated in a STEAM lesson with Snapology (we hope to offer this to kindergarten in the spring)! This is a mobile field trip opportunity that aligns with learning standards across multiple content areas. Students in first and second grade focused on learning about animals, habitats, computational thinking, problem solving, while using Legos and Cubelets robots.

Our third and fourth grade students focused on physics and engineering concepts, gear systems, motors, wheels, and axels, while building functional small scale amusement park rides. Our students and educators really enjoyed this interactive STEAM experience!

Our team is always looking to extend learning standards into the professional workforce. Ensuring our students are college and career-ready is fueled by our connections and collaborations with local businesses and professionals in STEAM-related fields. If you work in a field where STEAM principles are a critical part of your team's success, we would love to hear from you and how our students can learn more!

As a STEAM-designated school, our staff is committed to putting the newest technology trends in the hands of our students. Coding and programming are also a part of modern literacy and it's important to help students understand how it can be positively used to shape their world. All STEAM lessons foster critical thinking skills and characteristics featured by our Portrait of General competencies. In addition, all students use a universal design process to help align our project-based learning with our district's core values and the steps necessary for successful problem-based navigation. Our mission is to allow students to explore STEAM-related areas while building healthy peer relationships through collaboration and teamwork.

Waterville Primary STEAM Programming Highlights:

• 3D Printers & Doodle Pens
• Tinkercad and Coding Opportunities
• Sphero Bolt Kits
• Career Exploration
• Ozobots
• Snap Circuits
• Project Prairie & Toledo Zoo Partnership
• Land Lab & Community Partnerships
• Composting / Recycling Efforts
• Air Monitoring and Data Collection with GLOBE and Purple Air
• TAB - Art Instructional Practices
• Lego Club
• Lego Spike Kits (Prime and Essential)
• Operation Chick Quest
• Equitable Access to 21st Century Technology
• Fully Equipped Makerspace Lab

Waterville Primary will be continuing our presence on Twitter with the handle @AWLSWA. This medium is used for both sharing daily activities and any potential alerts for our building. If you do not have a Twitter account you can still get updates via a Fast Follow feature that sends tweets to phones via SMS text messages. Here is all it takes to sign up to receive SMS text messages from the Waterville Twitter account when a tweet is posted:

On the phone to receive the messages, simply create a new text message to phone number 40404. Next, the message to be sent should read: follow @awlswa

That’s all there is to it! Any student or parent that follows this procedure will receive any Waterville school Twitter messages to their phone as an SMS text message.

To turn off text messages, you would send a message to 40404 that reads: off @awlswa

We are so fortunate to be in a vibrant and active community! Flyer Central is the space on our website where you will find events, activities and camps held by various organizations in our area.

https://www.anthonywayneschools.org/flyercentral

AWLS Parent Organizations

Get involved with our Boosters and Parent-Teacher Organizations

AWLS Fundraisers and Events

· AW Junior High Musical: Willy Wonka Jr.

· Breakfast with Santa

Local Events & Activities

EVENTS

· Snowy Social (Age 6 and under)

· Lucas County Board of DD Calendar of Events

· Waterville Library Events Calendar

· Whitehouse Library Events

ACTIVITIES

· Family Ties Parent Support Group

· No School Day Camps

· Ohio BASS Fishing Club (Grades 9-12)

· Crafts and More at Whitehouse Library

· Scouting America – Troop 9615 (Girls Grades 5-12)

Educational Offers

· 4th Grade History Pass

Lessons & Classes

· BGSU Saturday Art Youth Program (Ages 5-19)

· RiverFront Studios: Art & Music Lessons

AW Youth Foundation Athletics

· Anthony Wayne Youth Foundation

Athletics

· Glass City Broomball (Girls, Grades 8-12)

· Learn to Skate and Learn to Play Hockey (Toddler-Adult)

Community Support

· Neighborhood Bridges

· AWLS Community Resource Guide

· AWLS Surrogate Parents Needed