Windermere Family Update

Windermere Family Update

Windermere Weekly Parent Update 9.27.24

We have been in school about 6.5 weeks. Wow! It’s hard to believe next week is October. The highlight of each day is getting to participate in morning meetings. I love getting to know your children, and this daily time gives me so much joy. Visiting classrooms when we started school, and fast forward to now, there is already so much growth.


Tuesday, October 8th from 11:05 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 9th from 4-7:30 p.m. we have parent teacher conferences. We value our partnership with you, as you are your child’s first and best teacher. Please make sure you sign up for a conference with your child’s teacher on these dates. Thank you!


I wish each of you a great weekend.


Julie

Upcoming Dates:

10.3.24 - Hawk Walk - rescheduled from 9/27/24

10.4.24 - Fall Family Night 5-7 pm

10.8.24 - Early Dismissal - 11:05

10.10.24 - Picture Retake Day

10.11.24 - NO SCHOOL Students

10.14.24 - NO SCHOOL Students

10.31.24 - Harvest Parade and Parties - UA Beggar’s Night

Explorations:

The theme for the lesson is "Perseverance and The Engineering Design Process".

- Students can follow The Engineering Design Process in order to create, modify, and test a paper airplane launcher.

Students will...

- Learn about the Engineering Design Process.

- Create, modify, and test a paper airplane launcher.

- Design and test different style paper airplane designs to discover which works best with the launcher.

Here is a link to the latest Elementary Explorations newsletter. In this issue you will find a recap and photos from Lesson 2, as well as a preview of Lesson 3

Food Rescue is Back

After lunch, students have the opportunity to donate any unopened food, which will be delivered to the Heart to Heart Food Pantry. We’re looking for volunteers to help with deliveries! It’s a simple, one-hour commitment, typically on Thursdays at 11:15 AM.

If you're interested in volunteering, please sign up here! For any questions, feel free to reach out to Sarah Wood at sewood@uaschools.org.

Gum Policy:

As a reminder, Windermere has a NO GUM policy at school. Please remind your students they are not to chew gum.

Trading Cards:

Students should not bring trading cards to school. We have had many challenges with cards being traded on accident, lost cards or hurt feelings. Thank you for keeping these at home.

Picture Retake Day:

is October 10th. On this day, we will photograph any student that was absent on the first day's photography event as well as anyone requesting a retake picture.

If a student would like a retake of their photo, they simply bring back their original package and hand it to the photographer when they get their photo taken. We will reprint the same package for them using that new image.

Sometimes a student may not have a physical package to return if they ordered a digital download or if the parents have viewed the first image online and were unhappy with the photo. We will photograph any of these students that present themselves for a picture.

Library Media Center News:

The Literati Book Fair is coming! Excitement is running high! There are two ways to shop! Our online fair is already open and you can shop through October 8th. Shop with your reader and have books shipped directly to you (online exclusives only) or delivered to school.


In person shopping Days:

10/3 Thursday

10/4 Friday

10/4 Friday during Fall Fest (5-7)

10/7 Monday

10/8 Tuesday

10/8 Tuesday Conference afternoon/evening


Students and families can also shop in person on the dates above. Students will be able to use cash/credit (taxes apply) or families may wish to purchase and send a digital gift card with their shopper (we also have the ability to look up gift cards by student name). The digital gift cards can be purchased on our personalized Literati Book Fair website. Consider purchasing a gift card for your child's teacher! Your child will come home with this book fair flyer, but there will be many more options as well including a writing station with writing utensils, journals, craft kits, and posters. Students will have the option to preview the collection on Wednesday and take photos of books/prices for their wishlists. Thank you for supporting your Windermere Library Media Center! The Book Fair is a great fundraiser, but also is an opportunity for your child to independently shop and experience opportunity cost in a safe and supportive environment! Please reach out to Katie O'Keefe, our school counselor, if your family would like help securing shopping money for your child through our PTO Outreach fund.

Family Support - Food Resource

For a second year, the district is partnering with the Tri-Village Packers (TVP), a group of community volunteers who work to reduce food insecurity in Upper Arlington. Families with UA students can register throughout October and early November to receive grocery items that supplement their pantries during the upcoming Thanksgiving break. This is not a Thanksgiving meal but support to offset food insecurity by providing breakfast and lunch items during the extended break from school.


Last year, TVP provided food for more than 90 students during Thanksgiving break, and we believe there will be a greater need this year.


Please review and share the linked flyer and registration form weekly through November 1st. In the coming weeks, forms and flyers will be shared in additional channels and languages. Please reach out to Kristyn Anderson at kmanderson@uaschools.org if you have any questions or need support in a particular situation related to this program.

Elementary Progress Reports

Because the elementary school years are so critical to a student’s academic and personal growth, our teachers will be increasing the amount of communication regarding each student’s achievement this year.


In previous school years, elementary students have received Progress Reports three times a year, at the end of each trimester. There have also been conference opportunities for families in the fall and the spring.


Beginning this school year, teachers will provide Progress Reports in January and June. In the fall and the spring, they will provide Interim Reports for each student. Teachers will share each student’s fall Interim Report with families during conferences on October 8th-9th, 2024. While spring conferences are optional for families, all students will receive another interim report at that time. Interim and Progress Reports will be accessible to families in PowerSchool.

Our goal is to increase meaningful conversations between teachers and families regarding each student’s individual achievement, growth and learning needs. We are excited to launch this expanded reporting system this year and look forward to collaborating with you!


Chalk the Block at Easton: Hey Windermere! Mrs. Justice will be creating a chalk mural at Easton this weekend. Feel free for you and the kids to stop by, say hello and check out some amazing art at this free event! Event info is linked below.


Chalk the Block Easton Event Info

Multilingual Parent Information Night:

Thursday, October 3rd

6:30-7:30pm

Tremont Elementary Cafeteria


Please join us for our Multilingual Parent Information Night!


Come and learn more about the ML program! We will discuss a variety of topics, and provide resources related to school and the Upper Arlington community. In addition, we hope this event provides an opportunity for families to connect.


If you will be bringing your child, we will have quiet activities for them to do during the event.


If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your ML Teacher (see below.)


Please RVSP using the Google Form here: https://forms.gle/H9GrxTfuBWD7bAnj8


Cynthia Redman, Tremont

(credman@uaschools.org)


Anjali Das, Wickliffe, Windermere, and Barrington

(adas@uaschools.org)


Mary Ann Dunn, Greensview

(madunn@uaschools.org)

Lost and Found:

Please label your students sweatshirts, water bottles, lunches, etc. so we can return them if they get lost. Our lost and found is beside the office and starting to fill up, please remind your students to check for lost items. We donate all items during winter break, spring break and the end of the school year.

From the Nurse’s Clinic:

Any prescription medication administered at school requires written authorization from the student’s physician as well as written parental permission. Per Ohio Revised Code, the Prescribed Medication must be received by the health office in the container in which it was dispensed by the provider or pharmacist (we cannot accept medication in baggies). Medication authorization forms and other health forms can be found on the district website at: UA Health Forms. Should you have any questions, please contact the Windermere Health Office at 614-487-5060.

Stop, Drop and Go:

Please refer to this arrival and dismissal doc for guidelines on keeping everyone safe during our drop off and pick up times.

Wireless Usage/iPhones/Gizmos:

As smartwatches become more common among students, parents have asked about settings that might reduce the risk of the device causing a distraction during school. Here are links to information about school-time settings for two devices we see here at school, the Apple watch and the Gizmo watch. We kindly ask that students use these settings. Please know we will always call you or allow your child to call you during the day, if needed. If a Smartwatch becomes a distraction, we may ask a child to keep it in their backpack.

Student Absences:

Please email windermereattendance@uaschools.org along with your child’s teacher, any student absences. For extended absences (vacations, travel, etc.) please submit a pre-planned absence form. For more information on the district attendance policy, please visit the district's attendance web page. For all medical appointments, please provide a doctor’s note.

Windermere Elementary School
www.uaschools.org/windermere

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