Dear families,
We had a blast at our Willow Grove Walk event this week. Thank you to our parent volunteers and also to our PTO for the water donation. Our event was full of school pride and excitement as students were greeted and cheered on by our own mascot, Buddy the Bear! What fun!
Thank you for attending conferences! It was wonderful seeing you. We appreciate our partnership with you to best support your child. A big thank you to our PTO and all of the generous donations that filled the hearts and tummies of our staff during our conference evening.
Kindly,
Jenny Smith, Principal
New *Halloween Celebration Details - October 29*
Halloween is just around the corner! We celebrate as a school on Friday, October 29. Following are the need-to-know details.
BLENDED EARLY CHILDHOOD
9:45 AM - Blended Early Childhood Parade - We will do a parade route with just blended classrooms at 9:45 AM. The parade route will go along the front of our school. If you would like to attend the parade, the viewing area for families is the grassy area/sidewalk in front of the school on Checker. Blended PM parents may bring their child in just for the parade if they'd like. PM students must leave after the parade and come back when their typical PM program starts. If you choose to bring your PM child to the parade please notify your child’s teacher so they know to expect your child. You will drop them off in the office and pick them up there after the parade in the office. Please bypass the line for scanning ID’s for the party and come right in to retrieve your child.
10:00-10:45 for AM Blended & 2:00-2:45 for PM Blended - Classroom Parties - Only approved PTO parent volunteers may enter the building for the classroom parties. Our room parents put together a fun celebration in each classroom. PTO volunteers may enter the building immediately following the Blended parade to go to classrooms.
KINDERGARTEN & STRUCTURED PROGRAM
10:00 AM - Kindergarten and Structured Program Parade - The parade route will go along the front of our school. If you would like to attend the parade, the viewing area for families is the grassy area/sidewalk in front of the school on Checker.
10:30-11:15 - Party (Kindergarten, Structured) - Only approved PTO parent volunteers may enter the building for the classroom parties. Our room parents put together a fun celebration in each classroom.
COSTUMES (ALL)
As you are choosing or creating a costume for your child, please keep them school-appropriate. No blood or gore and no bare tummies in school. Children may not wear costume masks (only their required face masks may be worn). Weapons, real or pretend, are NEVER allowed on school grounds. No cigars or cigarette items (real or pretend). Please keep hair coloring and make-up simple.
RAIN NOTICE (ALL)
If there is rain, we will need to cancel the outdoor parade. We cannot allow parents in the school to view the indoor parade, for obvious security reasons. Let's cross our fingers for a beautiful fall day!
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR PTO PARTY VOLUNTEERS
- Parents attending the parties may not bring additional family members, other children, etc. We need everyone to abide by this and will have to ask you to leave if you come with other attendees.
- Every PTO volunteer approved to come into our school MUST have their license or ID scanned through our security system to enter. There is always a very long line at this first party, so please anticipate this. We highly encourage PTO room party volunteers to swing by Willow sometime in October before the party to have their license scanned, which will speed up the process. The more people who come in early to be scanned, the shorter the line! You may also come in the day of the Halloween party BEFORE THE PARADE to have your license scanned. We will clear out the office just before the parade starts, so please come early, as lines are long for this first party.
- All volunteers must have followed our procedures for verifying vaccination or have proof of a negative Covid test. Call the office with questions.
- All volunteers must wear a mask at all times and remain socially distanced.
NEW *Law Enforcement Safety Drill*
On October 14, Willow Grove will be conducting a Law Enforcement Safety Drill.
In compliance with the New Safety Drill Act, parents have the right to exempt their child from the Law Enforcement Drill.
If you do not wish your son or daughter to participate in the Law Enforcement Safety Drill, please contact me (Jenny Smith) at [email protected]. If we do not hear from you, we will assume your child has permission to participate in the drill.
NEW *Superintendent Survey Closes Today
One final reminder: Today ~ Friday, Oct. 8 ~ is the FINAL day to complete the Superintendent Search Survey. Click here for the link.
NEW *PTO Updates*
There is a lot happening...don't miss out!
- DESSERT DAY DEADLINE IS TODAY! This is your last opportunity to participate in Dessert Day at the prorated price of $16. We'll be closing the order form at 9am tonight, and will NOT be reopening orders so that we may better serve those who've already signed up. We apologize for this change and appreciate your patience as we continue to improve how we navigate through pandemic guidelines. Please visit your MTK to place an order by 9pm TONIGHT!
https://wgkcpto.membershiptoolkit.com/
Any questions or concerns may be sent to [email protected].
- HUGE THANK YOU to those who supported our teachers and staff by helping to bring them a meal during educator conferences! Everyone was so appreciative of the honorary donations made in their names. Whether through a monetary donation, or through decorations and set-up by our amazing Conference Meal Committee...the staff all felt the love from our amazing Willow Grove community!
- Our first school-wide social event is around the corner! Please head over to your MTK so you may pre-order your Ice Cream Social treats (feat. Culvers) and raffle tickets at a discounted rate. This will be a super fun, yet safely distanced evening on Thurs, Oct. 21st, where families with last names A-L may attend from 6-6:45p, and M-Z from 6:45-7:30p.
- And don't forget to check out our Book Fair, which will be open 10/18-21, including during the Ice Cream Social! Watch for upcoming communications regarding a visit with your child's class. And remember to check out your teacher's Book Fair wishlist in order to donate a book to the class in your child's name!
- Lastly, we are gearing up for our upcoming Halloween class parties! If you had wanted to volunteer for a party or had signed up to be a Room Parent at some point and haven't heard any info, please email Stacey Busch. Her info may be found on the home page of your MTK portal.
SAVE THE DATE!
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR & BOOK DRIVE - 10/18-10/21
ICE CREAM SOCIAL - 10/21 (6-7:30 PM)
DESSERT DAY - 10/22
HALLOWEEN PARTY/PARADE - 10/29
More details about this and more in our BLOG! Thank you!
REPEAT *Cold Weather & Recess*
It’s hard to believe but it started to get a bit chilly this week! This is a friendly reminder to dress your children to go outside. We go outside nearly every day. We have indoor recess only in extreme cases (0-10 degrees; wind chill is considered). Once we get enough snow to play in, children must be dressed properly to go into the snow. This includes a coat, hat, snow pants, boots, and mittens/gloves. If they have not dressed in the required snow garments, there is a large, plowed blacktop playspace for kids to play on. My best parent advice...LABEL EVERYTHING with your child's name. Our Lost & Found explodes with items in the winter, and if your child's name is on something, those items make their way back to your child much easier.
REPEAT *Covid Metrics*
To stay up-to-date this school year on local metrics, please visit the COVID DASHBOARD for District 96. Our priority remains to keep our students safe and follow guidance from the CDC. If your student is identified as a "close contact", you will be notified individually through the contact tracing process.