Serving Grades Pre-K through 5th Grade in Westmoreland County Virginia

• February 2025

2/3-14: Monday, Book fair for two weeks

2/3-6: VALLSS Testing for Kindergarten

2/3: Monday, Extended Day Tutoring 3:30 -5:00

2/4: Tuesday, Lockdown Drill (school safety practice)

2/4: Tuesday, Extended Day Tutoring 3:30 -5:00

2/5: Wednesday, El Toro fundraiser all day 20% to WD

2/7: Friday, Spirit Day, wear your WD gear or colors

2/10: Monday, Extended Day Tutoring 3:30 -5:00

2/11: Tuesday, Extended Day Tutoring 3:30 -5:00

2/11: Tuesday, Ledo’s Pizza all day, 20% to WD when mentioning the school

2/12: Wednesday, 5th Grade Field trip to the Science Museum of Richmond

2/13: Thursday, Parent/Teacher conferences 2 -6 pm

2/13: Early Release for Students @ 12:30

2/13: Book Fair will be open during parent conferences & Roses/Vase delivered

2/14: Friday, It's Now a Full Day of SCHOOL (make-up day), St. Valentine’s Day, Wooden Roses and candy grams delivered

2/17: Monday, This is a regular school day (make-up day)

2/18-21: Tuesday-Friday, EL Testing

2/20: Thursday, McDonald’s fundraiser, mention WD to get the school 20%

2/21: Friday, Spirit Day, wear your WD gear or colors

2/24: Monday, EL Testing Continues

2/24: Monday, Extended Day tutoring continues 3:00 – 5:00

2/25: Tuesday, Extended Day tutoring Continues from 3:00 – 5:00

2/27: Thursday, VSBA Regional Student Art Contest submissions are due

2/28: Friday, VSLA Writing Extravaganza for grades 3-5 are due

2/28: Friday, Spirit Day, wear your WD gear or colors

Feb. 1, 1926

What is now known as Black History Month, was first celebrated on this date as Negro History Week by Carter G. Woodson. It became a month-long celebration in 1976.

Feb. 2, 1948

President Truman sent Congress a special message urging the adoption of a civil rights program, including a fair employment practices commission and anti-lynching and anti-poll tax measures.

Feb. 3, 1956

Autherine J. Lucy becomes the first black student to attend the University of Alabama.

She was expelled three days later "for her own safety" in response to threats from a mob. In 1992, Autherine Lucy Foster graduated from the University with a master’s degree in education. The same day, her daughter, Grazia Foster, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance.

Feb. 4, 1794

France abolishes slavery. The nation will have a lukewarm commitment to abolition and will under Napoleon, reestablish slavery in 1802 along with the reinstitution of the "Code noir", prohibiting blacks, mulattoes and other people of color from entering French colonial territory or intermarrying with whites.

Feb. 5, 1990

Columbia University graduate and Harvard University law student, Barack Obama became the first African American named president of the Harvard Law Review.

Feb. 6, 1945

Bob Marley, Jamaican reggae star, is born.

Feb. 7, 1967

Comedian, author, recording artist, actor, and talk show host Chris Rock was born in South Carolina. He will become a critically acclaimed comedian, hosting his self-titled show on HBO. He will also bring to the forefront a boycott of the flag of his birthplace. He will star in and make a few movies of his own.

Feb. 8, 1944

Harry S. McAlphin is the first African American accredited to attend White House press conference.

Feb. 9, 1944

The first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, Alice Walker, was born the eighth child of sharecroppers Willie Lee and Minnie Lou Grant Walker.

Feb. 10, 1966

Andrew Brimmer is appointed by President Johnson to become the first African American governor of the Federal Reserve Board.

Feb. 11, 1644

The first Black legal protest in America was pressed by eleven Blacks who petitioned for freedom in New Netherlands (New York). The Council of New Netherlands freed the eleven petitioners because they had "served the Company seventeen or eighteen years" and had been "long since promised their freedom on the same footing as other free people in New Netherlands."

Feb. 12, 1956

In 1956, the first black late-night talk show host in history, Arsenio Hall, was born.

Feb. 13, 1892

The first African American performers, the World's Fair Colored Opera Company, appear at Carnegie Hall.

Feb. 14, 1946

Gregory Oliver Hines was a renowned actor, dancer, singer, and choreographer born in New York City, New York.

Feb. 15, 1848

Sarah Roberts is barred from white school in Boston. Her father, Benjamin Roberts, filed the first school integration suit on her behalf.

Feb. 16, 1904

James Baskett, the first male African American to win an Academy Award, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Feb. 17, 1891

A. C. Richardson, a black inventor, invented the churn, patent no. 466,470.

Feb. 18, 1896

Grenon, H. patents the Razor Stropping Device, patent no. 554,867.

Feb. 19, 1942

The Army Air Corps' all African American 100th Pursuit Squadron, later designated a fighter squadron, was activated at Tuskegee Institute. The squadron served honorably in England and in other regions of the European continent during World War II.

Feb. 20, 1927

Sidney Poitier, an American actor and director, and the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, was born.

Feb. 21, 1940

Rep. John Lewis, U.S. Congressman and civil rights icon, who chaired the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee from 1963 to 1966, was born. He was a Democrat who represented Georgia’s 5th Congressional District from 1987 until his death in 2020.

Feb. 22, 1888

In West Chester, Pennsylvania, African American painter Horace Pippin was born. Pippin is considered one of the major American painters of his period. One of his more significant works, "John Brown Going to His Hanging," is owned by the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Feb. 23, 1868

W.E.B. Du Bois, American sociologist, historian, author, editor, and activist who was the most important Black protest leader in the United States during the first half of the 20th century, was born.

Feb. 24, 2020

Katherine G. Johnson, the NASA mathematician who played a key role in helping America win the space race and whose story was featured in the 2016 film Hidden Figures, dies.

Feb. 25, 1965

Veronica Webb, an African American model, actress, writer, and television personality and first African American to have a major cosmetics contract when she signed with Revlon in 1992, was born.

Feb. 26, 1964

On this day in 1964, boxer Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

Feb. 27, 1883

Walter B. Purvis patented hand stamp.

Feb. 28, 1932

Richard Spikes invented and patented the automatic gear shift.

Feb. 29, 1940

On this day, Hattie McDaniel, known for her supporting roles, became the first African American to win the Oscar Award for her role as 'Mammy' in the movie Gone With The Wind. Not only was she the first African American to receive this award, but she was the only woman to have received it until Whoopi Goldberg received the same award for her role in the movie Ghost.

The division "Code of Conduct" books (yellow books) were sent home last week with your child. Please review the book for any questions you have with the division's code of conduct. A digital online version will come out soon and the link will be shared with families.

Start Date: Monday, November 4, 2024

Dear Washington District Elementary School Families,

I hope this message finds you well. I would like to remind all parents and guardians about the process for changing your child’s mode of transportation from a car rider to a bus rider, or for specific days of the week.

Recently, our office staff has received an increased number of last-minute calls and communications requesting changes to student transportation. While we understand that plans can change, these last-minute requests have put a significant burden on our staff and led to errors, which have understandably caused frustration for some parents.

To avoid these issues and ensure the safety of all our students, it is important that any transportation changes are communicated to the office before 2:00 p.m. on the day of the change or before. We cannot accept any changes to a student's mode of transportation after this time. Last-minute changes often create confusion during dismissal, which begins promptly at 3:10 p.m. but office staff prepare in advance of this time.

Additionally, please indicate whether the change is temporary or permanent and, if temporary, how long the change will be in effect. This helps us ensure that we can accurately track your child’s transportation needs without error.

To help us provide a smooth and secure dismissal process, please make sure to:

1. Contact the school office by phone, stating that you have sent the required written documentation for any transportation changes **before 2:00 p.m.** to notify us of any changes. This email or note (with the student) should include the

a. Child’s Name, Teacher and grade-level

b. You should email the Teacher, morning secretary, Mrs. Dickerson (dickersonlm@wmlcps.org), afternoon secretary, Mrs. Lopez (brookslopezj@wmlcps.org), A.P., Dr. Repass (repassmr@wmlcps.org)

2. Clearly indicate if the change is for one day, a set period of time, or a permanent switch.

3. Communicate regular changes (such as different transportation on certain days) well in advance by written notice.

We understand that emergencies can arise and will do our best to assist you in such situations. However, for the safety and well-being of all students, we ask that last-minute changes be minimized as much as possible.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office staff.

Sincerely,

Mr. Hernandez

Principal, Washington District Elementary School

Parents, be on the lookout for the divisions new school transportation School Bus Tracking Mobile Application. This is a unique real-time GPS tracking tool that track bus location. It can deliver same real time vehicle tracking information to the cell phone of busy parents and students. Alerts notify parents when the bus is just a few blocks away. Students get to the bus on time, without the need to stand outside for extended periods of time on dark, cold winter mornings.

Click the photo for a YouTube video

This is a reminder that students will Not Open the Exterior Door for Visitors, Parents, family members, or friends! All visitors coming into the building to visit or check out a student must present their Government-approved photo ID so it can be scanned through our Raptor program and then signed out on the appropriate form

Hello,

WDES has finally received their X-ray Bag Check machine. In the next two weeks, the administration along with SRO Campbell are prepapring the machine to be ready for our students. The purpase of this machine is to unsure school safety and to align with the divisions vision on safety. Each student will have their backpack placed through the machine by a staff member to be scanned for any weapons or illegal items on school grounds. Please be patient with administration, Deputy, and our students has we incorporate this new process into our school safety plan. Thank you for your understanding in keeping our students safe.

Hello Parents and Family members of WD,

My name is Deputy Campbell and I am the new School Resource Officer of SRO at WD. My primary goal is to promote safety in and around our school and serving as a liaison between the school and outside agencies. By assisting to develop and implement comprehensive safety plans and strategies, in coordination with school administrators and local first responders to ensure the safety of the students and staff at WD.

Last week I was able to read to Pre-k, Kindergarten and 1st Graders a book called “There’s a cop in my school” and talk about our safety plans at school. We talked about fire drills, earthquake drills, tornado drills and lockdown drills, please talk to your children at home and have them tell you about the classroom plans.

Always remember, I am here to assist in any way I can, to ensure we have a safe and happy school year here at WD.

Deputy Campbell, M

Virginia Reads One Book will be kicking off on March 3, 2025. Here's information you can include in the calendar:

Our school is about to participate in a special, community-wide shared reading event beginning on March 3, 2025. Every family will receive a copy of the same book the last week of February and will be asked to read it together at home. Please make the time so that your family can participate in this special activity.

Reading aloud at home is valuable because it better prepares your child to be an effective reader, and it is also a fun, worthwhile family activity. With this program, we aim to build a Community of Readers at our school. Everyone – students, parents, teachers, even administrative staff – will all be following along together.

Along with the book, you will receive a reading schedule so that you can keep up at home. Generally, you will be asked to read about 15 minutes each night.

In school, your child will be invited to answer daily trivia questions to encourage and reward attentive listening. You will soon find that your child will take pride in knowing and anticipating the details of the story. In class, students will explore the book through activities and discussion. You will want to make sure your family keeps up so that your child can be included.

This is a novel program in which children of all grade levels will all be listening to the same book. Strange or daring as that may seem, it actually makes sound educational sense. Reading professionals recommend reading material out loud that is beyond a child’s own reading level. We also believe that you can and should continue reading chapter books with your older children, even when they can read by themselves. We have selected a title that can be followed and understood and enjoyed by younger students, but will still captivate and stimulate older children.

I know that you’ll enjoy this special reading time with your children. I hope to talk with both you and your students about this special book. When a whole school reads a book, there’s a lot to talk about. With your help, we can build a Community of Readers at our school.

The student’s units’ target is the number of units a student should aim to complete in a week in order to drive the student towards their end of year grade level benchmark (or substantially closing the gap to this benchmark).

This research-based measure considers the average amount of time it takes to complete units, how many units are in each grade level of material, and the student’s Performance Predictor range. This target corresponds to the student’s usage target and is a rate of two units per ten minutes of usage.

When students complete a unit in Lexia, they receive a certificate of completion and a prize to celebrate their success.

Zearn is a nonprofit educational organization behind Zearn Math, the top-rated math learning platform used by 1 in 4 elementary-school students and by more than 1 million middle-school students nationwide. Everything we do is driven by the belief that every kid is a math kid.

A Note From The School Nurse:

Children learn best when they are healthy, well-rested, and have nutritious meals and snacks. With cold weather approaching, remember to dress warmly and not share hats or jackets.

When your child is sick: Please keep them home from school for the following symptoms and remain out until the symptoms have stopped for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medicine such as Tylenol or Motrin):

■ Temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher

■ Diarrhea or Vomiting

■ Suspicious undiagnosed rash or itchy