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Washington Elementary
Boyertown Area School District - Home of the Bears
Washington Elementary School News - September 2023- Mrs. Lisa DeRenzo, Principal
Calendar of Events
SEPTEMBER
01 ..... Schools Closed/Offices Open
04 ..... Labor Day - District Closed
12 ...... Picture Day
20 ...... Early Dismissal -K/12 - Professional Learning Day 1/2 PM
Visit the calendar on our website for additional district events.
School Closed/Early Dismissal Reminders
Schools are closed on Friday, 9/1 and Monday, 9/4 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.
Early dismissal will be on September 20
Grades 1-5 will be dismissed at 12:25 pm.
Kindergarten dismissal is as follows:
PM 10:35-12:25 pm
Picture Day Is Coming!!!
Order before Picture Day on mylifetouch.com with your Student's School ID or Picture Day ID:
School Name: Washington Elementary
Picture Day Date: Tuesday, September 12
Picture Day ID: EVT36CTXN
Title 1 Newsletter and Daily Planner
Please enjoy the September “Helping Children Learn” Title I newsletter and daily planner at the links below. These Title I resources are provided each month to involve families in their child’s education. Here we will share with you simple ideas for nurturing literacy, as well as effective work habits and study skills. In this month’s edition, you will find strategies for improving your child’s working vocabulary, supporting study skills, avoiding chronic absenteeism, encouraging cooperation and more! Please do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Ramirez at jramirez@boyertownasd.org with any questions or concerns.
Do you have a few hours each day to join us at WES?
We are in need of lunch/recess aides. Please email Mrs. DeRenzo (lderenzo@boyertownasd.org) if you are interested in working a few hours (10:45 – 2:15) each day supporting our kids.
Science Explorers After School Science Club
Tuesday Afternoons - 3:45-4:45 - Grades 1-5
Slime Time (3-session club) - September 26, October 3, 10
Science Sampler - October 24, November 14, 28, December 5
Magical Mixtures - December 12, 19, January 2, 9
Invention Lab - January 16, 23, 30, February 6
Blinded By the Light - February 13, 20, 27, March 5
Anatomy Academy - March 19, 26, April 2, 9
Earth's Mysteries - April 23, 30, May 7, 14
See PDF below for more information
NEWS FROM THE NURSE’S DESK September 2023
Below you will find information regarding health room procedures. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the health room nurses at 610-473-1970.
Physical & Dental Forms: All state mandated Kindergarten and 3rd grade private dental forms and all Kindergarten private physical exam forms are due now. If you have an upcoming appointment, please notify the health room of the appointment and we will make note of the date in your child’s record.
Medication Information: If your child requires prescription or over-the-counter medication while at school, a medication authorization form (found on the BASD website) must be completed by your physician. Once completed, please submit the paperwork, and then contact the health room to schedule an appointment to drop off your child’s medication. Prescription medications must be in an original pharmacy labeled container. Over-the-counter medication must be in original packaging. Please refer to the BASD website for more information.
Returning Paperwork: Please return any health room forms (Physical, Dental, Medication) via email if possible. You can scan and email the original document or email a photograph from your phone to either ewismer@boyertownasd.org or chackman@boyertownasd.org
Change of Clothing: Please consider keeping a change of clothing in your child’s backpack. Clothing can become soiled due to a bathroom accident, fall outside in the mud, or because of spilling food/drink. The health room may not have appropriately sized clothing, so if your child does have an accident of any sort, a parent will be called to bring clothing in for the child.
A Message from Your School Counselor, Mrs. Oxenford - September 2023
What do you think the most important thing might be that your child needs to succeed? My answer to that question is that self-control is essential to classroom success. It’s the single most important factor in helping children succeed in every aspect of their lives as well as becoming well-adjusted adults.
Why is Learning to Wait so Important?
As adults, so many good life decisions are contingent on us waiting. In order to reach a goal, we have to work hard to attain it and that means hard work and sacrifice. We so often have to put off pleasures in order to meet that goal. For instance, if your goal is to lose weight, if you hold off on having that extra snack, you’ll move closer to your goal. If you get out of bed when the alarm goes off instead of snuggling back under the covers (there is nothing more gratifying then that!) you’ll be more productive that day.
For kids, they should understand that if they put off watching TV or video games so that homework gets done first, they’ll get better grades.
Self-control is one of the most important character traits that your child needs to succeed.
Talking to Your Kids About Self-Control
Practicing self-control isn’t easy, even for adults. It’s hard for anyone to wait, and for kids who developmentally have poor impulse control it’s even harder. Ironically, when children know that it’s hard to wait, it makes it easier for them. We can also help them think of other things to do while they’re waiting, to make the process easier and also teaches them coping strategies on how to manage the waiting in a tolerable manner. In essence, managing the waiting in pleasurable ways is the secret to learning self-control.
For younger kids, it might sound like this:
“I know it is so hard to wait for our pizza to be ready. Maybe if we play with our Legos for a bit, it will make the time go faster…”
For older kids: “I know you’re expecting the team list to come out any day now. The wait can feel really frustrating. Sometimes it helps to keep yourself busy with the things you like to do. That can sometimes ease the stress!”
Help children problem solve
Children with good self-control have learned to make decisions. Decisions require us to make sense of lots of information, so show them how to keep their emotions in check as they review their options, and then come up with a plan. This will take a lot of time and practice.
You can give your child what he needs to succeed by engaging in some constructive dialogue.
For younger kids, it might look like this…
“Oh no! Both of you want to play with the trains! How can we work it out?”
For older kids, it might look like this.
“Both of you need the bathroom at the same time! How can we work this out?”
Help children plan
Help children make their own schedules. When children are in control of their schedules not only are they learning self-control (If I don’t get started on my homework now, I am not going to be able to make it to baseball practice), they become responsible and dependable.
For young children:
“Okay, we have been having trouble getting to school on time. Let’s figure out a way to make our mornings go smoother. Any ideas?”
For older children:
“Okay, it’s the beginning of the school year. Have you given some thoughts as to how you want to schedule your evenings, to include homework and those extracurricular activities you signed up for? Let me know if you need some help!”
The Key to Success
Although self-control is serious stuff, it can also be taught through games. Making it natural and fun will be less laborious for both of you. Anytime children need to inhibit their reactions, stop themselves from doing something, they are learning self-control. Some ideas to get started are Simon Says, Red, Light, Green Light, Freeze game, and musical chairs.
What your child needs to succeed is positive input and reinforcement at home to teach the important character traits that he’ll need for classroom success.
Source: www.parentingsimply.com
PTO News - September 2023
- Join the PTO. All of our WES families have not yet joined the PTO. Please register now at PTOofWES.org/become-a-member
- The Remind App - Always stay up to date with everything WES by texting @ptoofwes to 81010 - and download the remind app to receive info from the PTO
- Follow our Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/492894364508151
- Follow our Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/weshsa
- Friday September 8th at 7pm is our Outdoor Movie night. We will be showing the Super Mario Bros. Movie. There will be concessions available by donation and the Boy Scouts will be selling popcorn!
- Thursday September 21st at 7pm is the first PTO meeting of the school year. It will be held in the Staff Lounge at WES and also on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82392997937?pwd=U2JVOHozQitxN2NmOS9BbkZNSEJ3Zz09
Meeting ID: 823 9299 7937
Passcode: 330351
- Our Annual Joe Corbi's Pizza fundraiser will begin on Tuesday September 26th and orders will be due by Tuesday October 10th.
Contact us anytime at PTOofWES@gmail.com and use our website for helpful information - PTOofWES.org
Thanks for your support of Washington Elementary!!
A homework assistance program for Washington Elementary School students is starting after school at 3:30 PM on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 at the Bally Community Center.
This “Program for After-School Students” (PASS) is open to all students in grades K through 5 and will meet every Wednesday in conjunction with the school calendar. Parents can register their students through the web site, BallyCommunityCenter.org or request information by email at http://www.ballycommunitycenter.org/PASS.html
There is no fee required for this program and masks are not required.
Board of School Directors Meetings
To see the scheduled Board Meetings for the 2023-2024 school year please visit the district website: www.boyertownasd.org/Domain/60
Visitors and Volunteers
All visitors and volunteers must report to the office whenever entering the building during school hours. This includes before and after school. Before visitor or volunteer badges can be given, a valid driver’s license must be presented and scanned into the Raptor system. Once the badge is given it must be worn throughout your stay with us. Please remember to sign out in the office before leaving. We will be looking for badges on all visitors in our building as a safety precaution.
For information regarding Raptor, please visit the district website. On the district home page click on the parents tab and then click on Raptor/Visitor Management.
Tardy Students
Attendance at school is important. This includes arriving on time in order to be ready to start each school day properly.
- School begins each day at 8:45 AM. Any student being transported by private vehicle who arrives after 8:45 AM will be considered tardy.
- He/she must report to the office with the transporting adult before going to the classroom.
- The adult will need to sign your child in and indicate the reason for the tardiness. When you sign your child in late at the office, please make sure you have recorded the arrival time.
Family Trips
When planning a family trip, please refer to the Elementary Handbook. It is very important to remember that an educational trip form must be submitted to the building
principal at least two (2) days prior to the trip. Failure to submit a trip form prior to departure date will result in trip days being counted as an unlawful absence.
Please note that although permitted, we do not encourage absence from school. The activities of the classroom can never be fully made up.
Please also note that educational trips will not be approved during any standardized achievement tests, i.e., PSSA. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Brewer.
WES Dismissal Plan 2023-2024
Parent/Guardian Pick-up Procedures
1. Everyone must complete WES Dismissal Plan Form-2023-2024 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdgYnVe9ItrM0uqMtioc5yTbWNzCt9X0VYccUWDvymz9exOqw/viewform for each child. If you already completed this form by the August 17th at 12 PM due date, please do not complete again. If you still have not completed this form, please complete.
○ Sets plan for student transportation for the 2023-2024 school year.
○ You may specify 1 day of the week or select multiple days for parent pick-up.
○ All families must complete this form for each WES child.
○ Any and all changes to the plan must be communicated by completing the form found in
Item #2 or by emailing Cheri Cronrath ccronrath@boyertownasd.org or Lisa Erb
2. Daily Pick-Up Form 2023-2024. Complete this form when the mode of transportation is changing for a single day. The form is linked https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSepfkrSmxRV7XDpVZJxNj0aOu86NfCvIY8TRrqywZMA_SRjfg/viewform
○ There will be no paper forms. We ask that you do not send a note with your child when there is a
change of transportation.
○ Use the form linked above (Daily Pick-Up Form 2023-2024) to communicate with us, or email Mrs. Cronrath at ccronrath@boyertownasd.org or Mrs. Erb at lerb@boyertownasd.org.
Attendance Information
If your student will be absent or late, please complete one of the following before 9 AM on the date of the absence/tardy event:
- Complete the online attendance form
- Email the attendance secretary: attendanceWES@boyertownasd.org
Please remember - every day your student is out, you must report the absence as noted above.
Absences due to trips or vacations: Educational Trip forms must be submitted prior to the departure date. Failure to submit a trip form prior to departure date will result in trip days being counted as an unlawful absence.
Community Bulletin Board
BASD is proud to host our online Community Bulletin Board. The electronic bulletin board features district and community activities, events, clubs, resources, and more. The board is updated regularly and is an excellent source of information regarding things happening throughout our community and beyond. Be sure to check it out regularly!
#BASDBEARSCareAboutOurCommunity
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Washington Elementary
1406 Route 100
Barto, PA 19504
(610) 754-9589