Wildcat News

Welcome back and Happy New Year to all!!!! A few things so you can stay in the know:

~ SAFETY: I just received this message from a parent regarding safety at drop-off time in the morning: "I would like to express my concern for dropping my child off. I have almost been hit three days in a row this week already by someone either speeding or someone being impatient. Two of the three have pulled into the parking lot and parked so I’m not sure if that’s a drop off spot or staff parking lot. Thank you from a concerned parent."

Please, please, please slow down and be mindful as you are dropping off or picking up students! The staff parking lot should NOT be used (unless you are with morning ACES) for dropping off or picking up. This is reserved for staff parking or for special education transportation.

~ PTO Meeting: Our January PTO meeting will be held at 6:00 on Monday, January 13th in the Washington Media Center. Here's the link if you'd prefer to join virtually. There will NOT be child watch available that evening, AND we will do our level best to finish before the Vikings game. :-)

~ Save the Date--Family Game Night: The PTO is hosting our 2nd Annual Family Game Night on Friday, January 31 from 6:30-8:00pm at Washington Elementary. In addition to families bringing in their favorite board games (sorry--no large motor games this year--just not enough space), we may have The Dork Den and/or other places demonstrating some games. We will again be offering Silent Auction baskets and NEW this year...BINGO!!!!!!

The PTO is on the hunt for donations for BINGO prizes (they can be small) as well as Silent Auction donations. You may either make a silent auction basket OR simply donate some items (new games, cards, food, etc.) that the PTO will make into baskets. Maybe you'll find some great after-holiday specials that could be great donations. Please just bring any donations to the Washington office sometime before the event.

~ Sharing: Just a reminder that there are many things at school that we want kids to share, but food and anything hair related are not things that we ever share. This might be also be a good time to remind folks that we respectfully ask families, for a variety of health/allergen related reasons, to move away from birthday treats that involve food. As a refresher, here are the guidelines that we have shared many times.

~ Exciting announcement: Take a moment to watch the Lighthouse Team Video Announcement linked below. You won't want to miss this!!! :-) AND...the Lighthouse Team did an amazing job!

Thanks for all you do to support your kiddo and our school--it matters!

Ann Haggerty

Washington Principal

ahagge1@isd77.org

During the month of January, our entire school will focus on Habit #3: Put first things first. As parents/guardians, your understanding and support of our leadership work in this habit is very appreciated! I have found this language and learning to benefit ALL, not just students!

Habit 3, Put First Things First, is about learning how to prioritize and manage your time so that your first things come first, not last. Habit 3 is the habit of will-power (the strength to say yes to your most important things) and won’t-power (the strength to say no to less important things and to peer pressure).

Habit 3 emphasizes how to work toward our goals. Of all the habits, Habit 3 is the most difficult one to maintain. It is always easier to do simple or fun tasks first, so having a plan to complete lengthy or difficult assignments can be a challenge.

Understanding the Habit Putting First Things First means:

• Spending time on things that are most important.

• Saying “No” to things I know I shouldn’t do.

• Setting priorities, making a schedule, and following a plan.

• Being disciplined and organized.

Future skills that can be learned by putting first things first:

• Demonstrate time management skills

• Cultivate a strong work ethic, flexibility, and adaptability

• Develop intrapersonal skills of self-management

• Be accountable and responsible for actions and results

• Begin to cultivate analytical skills

“He who fails to plan, plans to fail”

We’re thrilled to share the next steps in our district’s Focus School initiative, following approval at the November school board meeting. Starting in the 2025-26 school year, our district will expand its elementary school offerings to include:

• Bridges Community School (Global Studies)

• Jefferson Elementary (Outdoor/Nature-Based)

• Rosa Parks Elementary (STEAM- Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math)

At MAPS, we are committed to offering innovative educational opportunities that meet the diverse needs of our students. With these updates, families can now choose from three unique elementary school models:

• Neighborhood Schools foster a strong sense of community, helping students feel connected to the people and places around them. These schools include Eagle Lake, Franklin, Hoover, Kennedy, Monroe, Roosevelt, and Washington.

• Neighborhood+ Schools blend the neighborhood school experience with additional enrollment options centered on specific themes, enhancing learning and engagement. These schools include Jefferson and Rosa Parks.

• Community School brings together students from across the district through an application process, offering a specialized, nontraditional public school experience. This includes Bridges Community School.

Focus School Enrollment Timeline
Selecting the right school for your child is an important decision! Here’s what you need to know about the application process:

• Application Window: November 25, 2024 - January 24, 2025

• Notification of Enrollment: February 14, 2025

• Deadline to Accept/Decline: March 1, 2025

If applications are submitted after the window closes, they will automatically be added to a waitlist. Students may be admitted from the waitlist until July 15, 2025.

How to Apply
Applications can be submitted through the Infinite Campus Online Parent Portal now through January 24th, 2025. We encourage families to explore their options by scheduling a tour at the focus schools that interest them most.

To learn more about our focus schools and the application process, visit our Focus School webpage.

We’re excited about this new chapter in our district’s commitment to future focus education.

The Cognitive Abilities (CogAt) Screener testing window will be open from February 3rd thru the 14th. The CogAt will be given to all 2nd grade students and new-to-district students in grades 3-5 who have not yet taken the CogAt.

The CogAt provides insight into students’ abilities and guides educators in making appropriate educational decisions for students. Mankato Area Public Schools use the CogAt in the following ways:

• to help educators differentiate instruction for the needs and abilities of a student;

• to understand discrepancies between a student’s ability and achievement; and

• to use as a measure in identifying students for placement in Talent Development Services, including cluster and Rising Scholar classrooms.

In grade 2, the CogAt is untimed. Students in a typical 2nd grade class generally take less than one hour to complete the CogAt, In grades 3-5, the CogAt will take approximately 45 minutes. The CogAt has three sections: verbal analogies, quantitative analogies, and nonverbal matrices. There will be short breaks between sections.

If you do NOT want your child to take the Cognitive Abilities Screening Form, please contact your school no later than Wednesday, January 29th.

Boy Scouts/PTO Partnership: Washington Elementary and the PTO are proud charters of the local Boy Scouts (soon to be Scouting America) Pack 91! We are looking to grow our partnership and create opportunities for more collaboration as we continue to support each other's missions. We are currently looking for a parent volunteer to serve in the role of Chartered Organization Representative (COR), which is a liaison role between Scouting and the PTO! No scouting experience necessary and you are not required to have a child in scouting to volunteer! If interested in learning more about this AMAZING opportunity please reach out to PTO President Katie Dease (katie.kendhammer@gmail.com).

Winter weather is here. Students go outside for recess daily, weather permitting. Please ensure your child is dressed properly for the weather: snow boots, snow pants, winter jacket, winter hat, and snow gloves. If your student is in need of winter gear please let the office know or fill out this Google form.

When we receive measurable snow, students MUST have snowpants and boots in order to play in the snow. Without these items, children will be asked to stay on the blacktop during recess.

Also, we follow the Wind Chill Chart to determine if kids go outside at recess time or not (see below). We go outside when the temperature and the wind speed land us in the light blue area. If you notice, we do go outside when it's quite cold, so having your child dress appropriately is extremely important!

Excellence, Equity, Empowerment. Every student, Every day.

Email: ahagge1@isd77.org
Website: https://we.isd77.org/
Location: 1100 Anderson Drive
Phone: 507-345-3059