We had an amazing turnout at our Wass Wellness Night yesterday. 325 students worked side by side with their parents to improve their wellness physically, mentally, and emotionally. Whether you had a chance to try yoga for the first time, enjoy a smoothie, challenge your child to a physical activity, set a personal goal, or just enjoy the community time, thanks for coming out and participating in this event. The pictures show the fun had by all.
I would like to thank Rebecca Wressell for chairing this event. Rebecca has chaired our learning nights for the past seven years and has done an amazing job. Thank you, Rebecca!!! I would also like to thank Mr. Cavataio for his leadership in physical fitness and specifically with his efforts in planning and organizing our Wellness Night. This event is fully sponsored by the Wass PTO. Thanks to everyone for your support in our PTO fundraising. This helps us offer great programs like our Wellness Night to our students and parents.
WASS SCOUTS SHOW PERSEVERANCE
MORNING DROP OFF REMINDERS
I would like to remind everyone of 3 important safety issues at morning drop-off. Please adhere to the following morning Wass drop-off procedures:
- Please remain in your car when you are in the drop-off loop. If your child can’t get out of the vehicle on his/her own, please park in the parking lot and walk your child up to the sidewalk. Getting out of your vehicle slows down our drop-off process.
- Do not use the parking lot as a drop-off area. This area is meant for parents that want to park and walk their child up to school. If this continues, I will likely have to use funds to purchase signage for this area. If you see someone dropping off their child, please “kindly” remind them of our policy.
- Please pull all the way forward in the drop-off loop. We can fit up to 18 cars at one time if everyone pulls all the way forward. This also helps us get students into the building faster.
AFTER SCHOOL PICK-UP REMINDERS
The heart of winter brings an increase in the number of parents that pick up their children from school and want to use our parking lots. We have twice as many families as we do parking spaces. We all need to work together to maximize the resources we have. Please adhere to our policies and consider some of these suggestions:
- Don’t park illegally in the parking lot. If there isn’t a space available, please don’t park illegally. It only makes the situation worse. Please consider parking on a neighboring street and walking up to the school or have your children walk to the neighboring street. You’ll make Mr. Cavataio proud with a little exercise.
- Don’t park next to “NO PARKING” signs. The Troy police are out helping us keep our streets and walkways safe for all members of our community.
- Please be patient! While it can be busy at dismissal, we clear out all parking lots within 15 minutes of the bell. Sometimes, sitting in your car and just waiting for things to clear provides an opportunity to ask your child about his/her day.
- If you are one of the first vehicles that parks in the drop-off loop, please pull all the way forward so we can maximize the number of parking spots in the loop. Thank you!
REVIEW THE SCHOOL YEAR AND MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS
It’s the beginning of a new calendar year—and nearly the halfway point in the school year. So it’s a good time to take stock of your child’s habits and make needed adjustments.
Talk with your child about how she thinks the school year is going. If the two of you had set learning goals at the start of the year, review those goals now. Is she making progress? How can she make the rest of the school year even better? Then, help your child make some resolutions. Here are three to consider:
- Recommit to routines. Has your child’s bedtime begun to slip? Are mornings more rushed? Is her regular study time now not quite so regular? Sleep and study routines make life easier—and help kids do better in school.
- Spend more time reading. There is no skill that will help your child more in school. And reading ability, like other skills, gets better with practice. Encourage your child to read every day. Let her read about anything, from sports to her favorite movie character.
- Spend less time on screen media. Talk about the amount of time your child spends in front of screens. How much time does she spend watching shows and movies? Playing online games? Browsing the internet? Set and enforce limits.
Reprinted with permission from the January 2019 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2019 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.
PARENT BOOK CLUB - GROWTH MINDSET FOR PARENTING
We will be hosting a Parent Book Club on Tuesday, March 5 at 7:00 PM. Please join us for a book study on Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kids. You can purchase this book on Amazon at the link below.
If you are able to attend the Wass Parent Book Club on Mindsets for Parents: Strategies to Encourage Growth Mindsets in Kids, please sign up so we can plan intelligently. Several Wass staff will lead our conversations on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2018 from 7:00-8:00 PM.
ALL PRO DAD
Our next All Pro Dad meeting will be on Thursday, January 31. The January topic is LOYALTY. Relationships are built on loyalty. It is the same with our family and our friends. Loyalty means standing with someone in the good and bad times. I've got your back, you've got mine. If you don't have loyalty, you stand alone.
Please RSVP at the link below.
Chris Fritzsching - Team Captain - Wass Elementary
Here is a list of important dates for school programs and activities that you might consider placing on your calendar.
- Jan. 21 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
- Jan. 21 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Athens HS (8:30 Breakfast / 9:00 Service)
- Jan. 22 - Grades 3-5 Reading & Writing Parent Night @ Troy Union (6:30-7:45)
- Jan. 22 - Girl Scout Information Night @ Wass (6:30 in Cafeteria)
- Jan. 24 - Wolf Packs
- Jan. 28 - 1st Grade Informance for Miss Naugle's Class @ 2:45 PM
- Jan. 29 - 1st Grade Informance for Mrs. Dipzinski's Class @ 2:45 PM
- Jan. 29 - 5th Grade Musical @ 7:00 PM
- Jan. 31 - 1st Grade Informance for Miss Pickelhaupt's Class @ 2:45 PM
- Feb. 4 - 5th Grade Band & Orchestra Concert
- Feb. 6 - Early Release Day
- Feb. 7 - Wass Family Bingo Night
- Feb. 11-15 - Box Top Contest / Collection
- Feb. 13 - K-2 Reading & Writing Parent Night @ Morse Elementary (6:30-7:45)
- Feb. 18-19 - Mid-Winter Recess - No School
- Feb. 27 - Early Release Day
- Feb. 28 - Parent - Son Banquet
- March 7 - End of the 2nd Marking Period
- March 8 - Teacher Work Day - No School for Students
- March 14 - 3rd Grade Vocal Music Concert
- March 27 - Early Release Day
- March 29 - April 5 - Spring Break
- April 10 - Kindergarten Information Night
PARENT-SON BANQUET
The 2019 Parent / Son Banquet will be held this year on Thursday, February 28th from 6:30 PM to 8 PM. Volunteers are needed to help set up, decorate, serve food, assist at craft, photo, and sundae stations, and clean up after. If you have any questions, please contact Porsche Fischer at porsche.fischer@icloud.com. Please consider volunteering for one of the wide varieties of volunteers that are needed by clicking the sign-up genius link below:
Our January Wolf Pack Meeting will take place this Thursday from 8:55-9:30 AM. This month's lesson is on Intentional Acts of Kindness. Students can wear their Wass Wolves' apparel on Thursday to show off their school spirit.
FOCUS ON RESPECT TO SUPPORT A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
When students have respect for teachers and classmates, they help create the positive academic environment all kids need in order to be successful. To promote respectful behavior:
- Discuss respect. What is it? Why is it important? How does it feel to be treated with respect or disrespect?
- Be a role model. Do what you want your child to do. If you want her to say please when asking for something, remember to say please yourself. If you want her to knock before entering your bedroom, do the same for her.
- Criticize constructively. When you need to correct your child, do it privately and respectfully. “Next time, please hold the door for Grandpa. That will make it easier for him to get through the door.”
- Notice times when your child is respectful. “You listened to the coach even when other kids were joking around. I was impressed.”
Reprinted with permission from the January 2019 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2019 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.
BOX TOP COLLECTION
The Wass PTO raises significant funds every year through your normal purchases at Kroger and Amazon! These funds go right back into the classroom, directly impacting all Wass students. If you have not registered yet (especially at Kroger and Amazon), simply click on the link to find out how. Please consider asking family and friends to sign up for this FREE benefit for our Wolves. Thank you for supporting the Wass PTO.