Miss Henderson's third graders meet their new buddies from Miss Lauinger's kindergarten class. All students at Wass participate in buddy class partnerships.
CHARACTER IS OUR SUPER POWER!!!
All Wass students participated in our Wolf Pack program on Thursday. Returning Wolves were reunited with their Wolf Pack members and welcomed in new members. Students completed a team building activity designed to allow students to get to know each other and form school-wide friendships regardless of age. We want all of our students to know the importance of having good character. In life, people with good character enjoy meaningful relationships and are known as reliable in the work force. Every Wolf can have SUPER CHARACTER! At the end of our Wolf Pack lesson, students were able to design a Wass Super Hero Emblem that we will use throughout the year to visually represent what it means to be a Character Super Hero.
BOOST YOUR CHILD'S READING AND WRITING SKILLS WITH CONVERSATIONS
In elementary school, teachers expect students to think about what they’ve read, and then draw conclusions. To give your child the practice he needs to develop this ability:
- Ask questions that require him to think. If you watch a TV show together, talk about it afterward. “Why do you think the character did that?” or “Do you think things like that happen in real life?”
- Share your thoughts when you haven’t made up your mind. You might say, “I am still not sure who I’ll vote for in the mayoral election.” Then talk about the strengths of the people running for that office. Your child may have some great insights.
- Set aside time to read together—and then talk about what you’ve read. Some families make one meal a week their “reading dinner.” Everyone brings a book to the table. After a few minutes of reading, family members talk about what they’ve read and ask questions about what everyone else has read.
- Make the most of car time. Parents know that the best talks often take place in the car. So ask your child about what’s going on in his life. Listen to his answers.
- Keep a shared journal. Try reading the same book. Take turns writing notes to each other about your reactions to what you’ve read.
Reprinted with permission from the October 2018 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2018 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc.
A.L.I.C.E. PARENT MEETINGS
The Troy School District is implementing A.L.I.C.E. as a measure to counter an aggressive intruder or shooter event. A.L.I.C.E. takes a more proactive approach in the event of a serious emergency. All employees have started training and this training will continue during the school year. We will also conduct informational parent meetings, which will be held at all four middle schools. The information below includes dates, times and locations for the A.L.I.C.E parent meetings.
- Thursday, October 4th at 7:00pm – Smith Middle School
- Tuesday, October 9th at 7:00pm – Boulan Park Middle School
- Wednesday, October 10th at 7:00pm – Baker Middle School
- Thursday, October 11th at 7:00pm – Larson Middle School
Our next All Pro Dad meeting is on Thursday, Oct. 18 from 7:45-8:30 AM. The topic will be INITIATIVE. Everyone has something to offer the world and without initiative, the world loses. All the needs and problems are left unmet and unsolved. It's important to teach our kids to have initiative so they can play their part in making the world a better place.
You can sign-up or register for the meeting at the link below. We look forward to seeing you and your child. Go M.A.D.! Go Make A Difference!
Join Mr. Cavataio and the Wolf Pack on Tuesdays to Wake Up with the Wolves on the Wass Track from 8:00-8:30 a.m. This is a great way to actively start your day as a family. Waking up with the Wolves will take place every single Tuesday throughout the school year. If it rains, we will cancel the program and resume the following week.
THREE SIMPLE WAYS TO NURTURE YOUR CHILD'S LOVE OF SCIENCE
A recent survey showed that only about half of moms and dads felt “very confident” in their ability to help their kids learn science. But you don’t need to be a scientist in order to boost your child’s scientific know-how. You only need to be willing! To promote your child’s interest in science:
- Investigate together. There’s no shame in admitting that you don’t have all of the answers. So, if your child asks a question like, “Why is the sky blue?” or “Where does rain come from?” you can simply say, “I’m not sure, but let’s find out together.” Go online or visit the library to discover the answer. You’ll both learn something!
- View educational programs. There are lots of kid-friendly science shows on TV. Watch them with your child. If you’re not sure where to start, ask his teacher for suggestions. Afterward, talk about the shows. “Wasn’t it neat when they explained how fish breathe through their gills?”
- Go online. There are tons of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) websites, games and apps available. Visit www.commonsensemedia.org to find one that looks cool and check it out with your child!
Reprinted with permission from the October 2018 issue of Parents make the difference!® (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright © 2018 The Parent Institute®, a division of PaperClip Media, Inc. Source: M. Silander and others, “What Parents Talk About When They Talk About Learning: A National Survey About Young Children and Science,” Education Development Center, niswc.com/elem_STEM.
WASS RESTAURANT NIGHT
On Oct. 8 from (4:00-9:00 PM), the Wass PTO will be hosting one of two Restaurant Nights to support our PTO and school events and activities. Please consider joining us at Noodles and Oberweiss on Rochester Road. WE RECEIVE 50% OF THE SALES FROM NOODLES. THIS IS HUGE!!! Last year we raised over $2000 from this fundraiser.
MLK DAY OF SERVICE DONATIONS
We will be collecting fleece ahead of time at parent/teacher conferences for our MLK Day of Service.
SPECIFICS FOR FLEECE DONATIONS:
- We need donations of 2.5 yards of fleece to make finished blankets of at least 4ft x 6ft.
- The width on fleece at fabric stores is just over 4 feet, so if donors buy 2.5 yards of fleece, that would be perfect.
- If you want to send in 5 yards or 10 yards or 20 yards, that is wonderful as well—the goal is to be able to cut into 2.5 yard increments.
- Each blanket consists of two pieces of fleece—usually one solid and one printed, but you are free to donate whatever you would like.
- Fleece is on sale right now at many areas stores.
Remember, these blankets will be used by children, veterans and adult patients, so think about patterns that would appeal to any of those groups. Thank you so much for your support!
KROGER REWARDS & AMAZON SMILE
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.
Have a great weekend! #BeWassKind #WassReaders
Matt Jansen - Principal - Wass Elementary