WMS Friday Forecast

This pandemic has changed our lives! Today I want to recognize the amazing efforts of our parents. I understand the challenges of our parents suddenly being asked to be their own children's teachers... along with doing your own work! The challenges are intense. But I want to thank you for taking on the challenge of being parent/teacher!

It can be tough to keep your kids on track for learning. So here are a few tips to make it manageable:

1. Break times into smaller chunks. Do math and social studies for an hour then take a break. Do that for each content and consider chunking harder subjects with easier subjects.
2. Schedule time with the teacher if your child is struggling. Sometimes some face-to-face time can make the difference!
3. Find a way to reduce distractions. Project your child's screen onto the TV, be within view of their screen, or set a timer. Kids will often take a long time on a subject because they are playing a game or watching YouTube videos. Figuring out how to reduce those distractions will reduce the time truly spent on school work.
4. If it is too much... STOP! We know that sometimes an assignment can be too touch. Consider taking a break or letting the teacher know your child wasn't able to complete it. It is absolutely OK to do that!

Again, cheers to you for wearing this new hat. I truly appreciate all you are doing during these challenging times!

Tim

Do you have a student we should be
featuring in our RedHawk Spotlight?
Please email their story and a couple of photos
to Tim Loversky for consideration.

Check out our latest student featured below!

Callie Ramirez, from Team 7-2, wanted to Bring the Block Together and remind people that we're all there for each other during this crazy time. To do this she put together a gift bag for each house around her block. She started by making 46 face masks so each house would get 2 masks. She also included a pair of vinyl disposable gloves, 3 recipes, a list of 11 things to do during quarantine and a Fun Facts activity for the neighbors to participate in - share fun facts about themselves with the neighborhood and get out for a short walk every day.

She is hoping her project will inspire others to do something similar in their neighborhood to help Bring the Block Together.

Way to go Callie! See Callie's video below!

Returning Student Registration for 2020-2021 has moved to an online format that will open on April 27. In years past, parents completed the necessary paperwork in paper format. This year, all acknowledgments and authorizations are contained in a single electronic, online registration form that will be easily accessible from most electronic devices (computer, Chromebook, and Smartphones).

Beginning April 27, parents can sign into the Returning Student Online Registration form using their Home Access Center (HAC) credentials, select individual students, and complete their registration. The form will be located in the Parents/Community menu of the District website.

Registration fees for elementary and middle school will be available in Pushcoin beginning April 27, and billed to reflect the early bird discount of $10.00 if paid by May 22. High School fees will be available in June. For families who may qualify for a fee waiver, and are not directly certified by the state, a 2020-2021 district fee waiver application will be available on the District 303 website in July, accessible from the Parent/Community menu.

CLICK HERE FOR THE D303 PARENT GUIDE TO ONLINE REGISTRATION

Would you like a Wredling yard sign delivered and installed at your 8th grader's home to celebrate the end of middle school? If so, please fill out the Google form below in its entirety.

Click here for the Spanish version

If your child has medication in the health office that you need to retrieve AT THIS TIME, please email Juanita.Gryfinki@D303.org for assistance.

As Mr. Loversky has already explained, when guidance for public access to school settings is received from the Illinois Department of Public Health/CDC, details on a general medication pick up process/timeframe will be shared.

Thank you for your understanding and support at this time.

Juanita Gryfinski RN, MSN, MS, MA, PEL-CSN, NCSN

Dept. Chair for Health Services CUSD 303

This is your chance to offer a shout out to one of our WMS staff members who has done something great, gone above and beyond the call of duty, or who has made a difference in your life (or your child's life). These will be added into our weekly newsletter for staff!

Congratulations to our WMS winners in the AAUW Creative Writing Contest!

Students from Wredling who received recognition include:

• Ava Larson for Green-Eyed Monster - 3rd in 7th Gr Fiction
• Grace Nowak for Goodbye Ray - 1st in 7th Gr Non-Fiction/Essay
• Chloe Kirsten for Be Brave, You Can Do This - 2nd in 7th Gr Non-Fiction/Essay
• Stella Rosenburg for The Turkey Hunt - 3rd in 7th Gr Non-Fiction/Essay
• Lauren Martin for What a Wonderful World in 7th Gr Poetry

Thank you to all students who submitted their writing to this contest.

Take a look at this information to learn more!

We realize that there are varied financial challenges right now for more of our families. Through the generosity of WMS families, we have a fund for families in need. While we understand there are a variety of community agencies that support, schools often serve as that conduit. Gift cards can include Jewel, Target, Walmart, or other primary food sources.

If you need a gift card for food, please send an email to lucy.johnson@d303.org.

If you would like to donate a gift card or some cash, please send it to Wredling or email Tim Loversky to arrange a time for drop-off:

Tim Loversky

c/o Wredling Middle School

1200 Dunham Road

St. Carles, IL 60174

Please let us know if you have a need- we are a community that cares for each other! And we appreciate all of your generosity and kindness as we face an unprecedented time of need for some of our families.

Thank you-

Tim

SEL Lessons: This week's SEL lesson focuses on perspective taking; The ability to look beyond your own point of view, so that you can consider how someone else may think or feel about something. To do this successfully, you must have some understanding of others' thoughts, feelings, motivations, and intentions.” (Socially Skilled Kids, 2020). There are activities embedded in the presentation for students and adults. The five developmental stages of perspective taking; age 3 through 15+ is interesting and helpful to understanding this social-emotional competency.

• Social awareness: The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.

The challenges and uncertainty facing families and children are impactful on overall mental health and well being. We are hopeful the resources shared will be a support to parents/guardians and children. If you have any questions on the information provided or are seeking additional support for yourself or child, please contact Patti Palagi, Director Instructional Interventions (patti.palagi@d303.org or 331-228-6457).

I am an award-winning children's author who spoke at Wild Rose last year and was scheduled to speak at Ferson Creek and Lincoln this spring. I am also an Illinois resident and the founder of Idea Tank for Kids, an entrepreneurship competition for Illinois kids age 8-13. (Think Shark Tank for Kids!)

I'm writing with an exciting opportunity for your students. This spring, Idea Tank for Kids is AT HOME. Illinois kids age 8-13 are invited to create a video of their idea and submit their pitch to www.IdeaTankForKids.com.

Grand prize is $1,000! Deadline to apply is May 25, 2020. Finalists will pitch their idea on Zoom to a panel of judges on June 5, 2020.

I have attached a flyer about Idea Tank for Kids in hopes that this is something you want to pass on to your students and educators.

Best regards,

Lowey Bundy Sichol

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Lowey Bundy Sichol

Author * Speaker * MBA

Founder, Idea Tank for Kids

Award-winning book series, From an Idea to...

www.LoweyBundySichol.com

www.IdeaTankForKids.com

Contact us on Twitter @WredlingD303

#WredlingLearns

Website: wredling.d303.org
Location: 1200 Dunham Road, St. Charles, IL, USA
Phone: (331)228-3700
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Wredling-Middle-School-537757163011275/
Twitter: @WredlingD303