Dear Families,
We had an exciting day at Willow Grove celebrating some of our students with Warm Fuzzies. You can read all about it in this message, below.
We are looking forward to our Halloween parade and PTO parties next week! We hope to see you at the parade. We will hold the parade if it is cold, but not if it is raining. If we cancel the parade a message will go out to families that morning. If you attend the parade, please stay for the full parade, instead of leaving when your child passes. Otherwise, our audience is very small for the last few classes and not as fun. The parade is quite short!
Finally, we have a volunteer opportunity featured in our message this week that we would absolutely love and appreciate your help with. We can only hold our Willow Grove Window to the World Cultural Fair with your help. Please read up on those details below and complete the survey if you are able to join in!
Kindly,
Jenny Smith, Principal
October At-A-Glance
- 31 - Halloween Parade & PTO Party - Note: If you are coming to view the Halloween Parade (weather pending), please stay for the entirety so all kids have an audience. It's about 10 minutes in length. Thank you!
November At-A-Glance
- 10 - Report period ends, EC-Grade 8
- 17 - Trimester 1 report cards issued
- 22 - NO SCHOOL - District Holiday
- 23 - NO SCHOOL - District Holiday
- 24 - NO SCHOOL - District Holiday
- 28 - EARLY RELEASE DAY
District 2023-2024 School Year Calendar
New *November 7 Author Visit & Book Signing Information*
Thank you to our PTO for providing an author visit at Willow Grove! Author Rekha Rajan is visiting Willow Grove on November 7th. If you are interested in having a book signed by the author please use the following Amazon links to purchase the book(s) and then send the book(s) to school with your child by November 6th. Please write your child’s name and classroom teacher on a Post-it note and attach it to the inside cover of the book(s).
Please also fill out THIS GOOGLE FORM so that we can make sure the books are signed by the author.
If you have any questions please email Ms. Martinez.
NEW *Willow Grove Warm Fuzzies*
We kicked off Warm Fuzzies today! This is one way we recognize students for their positive behaviors. At Willow Grove, we focus on three positive pillar behaviors that students learn from our school pledge:
These character pillars are something we regularly embed into our work with children. Additionally, each month has a special theme. For example, during the month of October, we learned and practiced greetings and partings. In November, we spotlight "expected behaviors." "Expected behaviors" is the common school language we refer to for behaviors we would consider kind, responsible, and respectful. Some common examples would be keeping our hands and feet to ourselves, using kind words, and being helpful to others. When students demonstrate anything tied to our pledge or monthly theme in an outstanding way, adults in the school recognize them with a Bear Paw. Children are ecstatic to earn Bear Paws and so proud of their actions, as are we.
To further recognize our students, we close each month by recognizing a couple of kids per classroom. All students are recognized by the end of the school year. They earn what is called a "warm fuzzy." These are proudly hung from the child's backpack to celebrate the exemplary behaviors and learning they have demonstrated. When students earn a warm fuzzy they come to the office to collect it from Assistant Principal Ms. Payne, some special guests (explained below), the one and only Buddy the Bear, some Willow Grove staff, and me!
There is something very special about the warm fuzzy your child is receiving. The Warm Fuzzy Project is a collaborative partnership between Willow Grove and the Exceptional Learner's Collaborative (ELC). The ELC is a special education cooperative, of which District 96 is a part. They support students, their teams, their families, and our community in navigating the learning of students with exceptional needs. Students who are in high school and in the transitional program serving ages 18-21 designed, made, and delivered the warm fuzzies directly to Willow Grove. They make over 60 warm fuzzies a month for us! The partnership serves our students by recognizing their positive behaviors. It provides valuable vocational skills for students working at ELC. Some of our former Willow Grove students are even part of this special project! We are honored to be supported by these exceptional students and the ELC administration and staff.
Warm fuzzies students have attached to their backpacks.
.png?mask=1)
Students receiving warm fuzzies at our office celebration.
We proudly display warm fuzzy recipient names on our whole school bulletin board for the month.
.png?mask=1)
NEW *Willow Grove ~ Window to the World - Calling All Families! Volunteer Now!*
On the evening of December 14th at 6:00 PM, we’ll be having a fun family event, showcasing the many cultures represented in our school community. We are excited to learn from and celebrate each other! We cannot do this without your support and are looking for parents who would like to share artifacts and traditions from around the country and globe with our students and families. Parents who are interested can share about holidays, traditions, clothing, games/toys, geographical locations and landmarks, music, art, food, etc. Children or families may do a short performance (dance, music, etc.). Ideas families choose to showcase are not limited to places outside of our own country. Families can share about areas right here in the USA, including our own community, and/or what makes their family unique to help us all learn about one another. We are so excited for this event! We hope that you’ll consider sharing with our school community. We would all love to learn from you! Please also know you may partner up with others and do it with a group. If you would be interested in participating, please CLICK HERE by November 13th to complete this brief survey. THANK YOU!
Click here to see a video from a previous cultural fair. This will give you an idea of what the event is all about. Here is even a second glimpse if you're looking for inspiration.
Mark your calendars for the evening of December 14th. This will be fun for the whole family!
NEW *PE Volunteer Opportunity*
Would you like to accompany your student to P.E. class??? Sign up to be a P.E. helper! If you would like to be a P.E. helper for your child's class period, please fill out the form below. P.E. Helpers are like Mystery Readers but in gym class! Each child can have one gym class visit for the school year. This visit may include one to two adult helpers. Siblings may not attend.
Please follow this link and fill out the information so that we can get something scheduled.
Thank you and I look forward to seeing you in class!
-Mr. Sutton
NEW *Willow Grove PTO Updates*
In the latest edition of the PTO blog, we want to thank all of the families that have made the events the
past few weeks a success. We are excited that the book fair is continuing virtually and thrilled to announce the launch of the Willow Grove Spirit Wear store online. For specific information please read
the latest edition of the WG PTO Blog.
Click here for the Willow Grove PTO Blog to keep up on all the Willow Grove happenings!
REPEAT *Lightspeed Systems - Kindergarten Only*
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As a part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe and secure online environment for our students, we are excited to announce that we will be offering the Lightspeed Systems Weekly Student Online Activity Report to all parents and guardians of our school community.
You will receive an email from District 96 that will enable you to register for the Weekly Student Online Activity Report. Once you receive the email from our school district you will have the ability to register. Simply choose to register and follow the prompts to sign up for the Weekly Student Online Activity Report.
The Lightspeed Systems Weekly Student Online Activity Report is a valuable tool that will allow you to gain insights into your child's web history while using the school's iPad. This report will provide an overview of the websites visited by your child while using the iPad. The report is designed to promote transparency and communication between parents and the school, fostering a safer digital learning experience for our students.
The weekly activity report is only accessible to parents and guardians registered for this service. It will not be shared with any external parties, and the data collected will be used solely for the purpose of improving the online safety measures at our school. Parents/guardians will not start receiving weekly reports until their child has at least a week's worth of browsing data.
Lightspeed Parent/Student Enrollment Email Schedule: Families will begin to receive LightSpeed Parent report emails from Lightspeed. This email correspondence will allow you to enroll and begin receiving your child’s reports from Lightspeed for the following grades on or near the following dates below.
- October 23, 2023 (8th Grade)
- October 30, 2023 (7th Grade)
- November 6, 2023 (6th Grade)
- November 13, 2023 (5th Grade)
- November 20, 2023 (4th Grade)
- November 27, 2023 (3rd Grade)
- December 4, 2023 (2nd Grade, 1st Grade, Kindergarten)
Please note that while we encourage parents to use this tool to stay involved in their child's online journey, it is essential to have open conversations with your child about their internet use. Establishing trust and communication around digital practices will enhance the overall safety and well-being of our students.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Weekly Student Online Activity Report or need assistance with the registration process, please feel free to reach out to the IT department at [email protected].
Thank you for your continued support in creating a secure and nurturing learning environment for our students.
REPEAT *Willow Grove PTO Updates*
In the latest edition of the PTO blog, we look forward to everything happening in October. From the Ice Cream Social to the Book Fair, October’s Dine Out Day, and more! Visit the PTO blog for additional details.
Click here for the Willow Grove PTO Blog to keep up on all the Willow Grove happenings!
REPEAT *Halloween Costumes*
It’s hard to believe it’s already time to talk about Halloween, but here we are! Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I especially love watching your children in all of their excitement! It's important that you know the parameters about costumes as you are choosing the perfect one for our school celebration! There is also an opportunity for you to view our parade I’d like to share with you.
Costumes
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 masks. Weapons, real or pretend, are never allowed on school grounds. No cigars or cigarette items. Please keep hair coloring and make-up simple. I can't wait to see what you come up with!
Halloween Festivities
9:15 AM - Parade - Parents may stand on the front sidewalk and grass area near the flagpole to view our parade! 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!
9:45-10:30 - Party (Kindergarten, Structured, and AM Blended/ECSE) - Only approved PTO parent volunteers may enter the building for the classroom parties. Approved volunteers may not swap with a different person or bring relatives/siblings. Our room parents put together a fun celebration in each classroom and we thank you so much!
2-2:45 - Party for PM Blended
Blended and ECSE Program - Blended will have 2 parties (one for AM and one for PM). Again, only PTO-approved volunteers may attend the party. Blended PM parents may bring their child in just for the parade if they'd like. Parents must provide transportation to and from the school parade. Students must leave after the parade and return when their typical program starts. If you choose to bring your 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. Please bypass the line for scanning ID’s for the party and come right in to retrieve your child.
Important Notes for PTO-Approved Halloween 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. For your sake and ours, please do not put us in this situation. We have many individuals entering our building for the party and cannot accommodate additional individuals. This includes "trading" with another individual for the approved volunteer.
Every PTO volunteer approved to come into our school MUST have their license or ID scanned through our security system to enter. You have to bring this with you or you will not be able 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 the month of October before October 31st 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 the lines are long for this first party.