Newsletter October 2019
Washington Elementary School
October 2019
SAVE THE DATE!
What: Holiday Concert
When: December 12th
Time: 6:30PM
Where: Alberta Kimball
Upcoming Events
October 4th- Kinders to Fire House
October 9th - Early Release
October 10th- Kinders to Grand Opera House
October 16th - 5th Grade to Sullivan's Woods
October 17th - 4th Grade to Madison
October 18th - School Safety Day
October 24th - PTO Meeting
October 25th - No School
October 28th - Picture Retake Day
School Safety Day Oct. 18th
Keeping your children safe is the responsibility that we take most seriously. In order to ensure our students’ safety, we need to takes steps to make sure our children know what to do in various emergency situations. As such, we will be using the afternoon of October 18th to teach our students routines related to the following emergency situations:
- Holds - Used in the event of an internal medical emergency
- Lockdowns - Used in the event of an external safety concern
- ALICE drill - Used in the event of an intruder
- Evacuation drill - Used in the event of an internal safety concern (gas leak, chemical spill, etc.)
- Reverse evacuation drill - Used in the event students are outside and an external threat is detected
- Fire drills - Practiced monthly
- Tornado drills - Practiced bi-annually
Our Safety Day activities will take place beginning at 12:30pm on Oct. 18th. Neighborhood families can expect to see students being walked through safety routines outside, on and around school grounds. Please know that your children are safe and we are simply practicing. Teachers will provide lessons in the classroom to correspond with the various drills so students are aware of why we are practicing and understand what they can do to stay safe at school. If you have any questions, please contact our office!
October 28th - November 1st
Monday - Picture Retake Day & Sports Day
Tuesday - Flannel Day
Wednesday - Mix-Match Day
Thursday - Orange & Black (Costumes PM)
Friday - PJ/Comfy Day
Happy Halloween!
Halloween is almost here! Weather permitting, we would plan to include and involve our parents and neighborhood. One of the best parts of being a neighborhood school is having so much support and involvement right in our backyard. For Halloween this year, we will do a parade around the block (weather permitting).
Our schedule for Oct 31 will be as follows:
7:45am - 1:45pm classes will run as usual (no costumes allowed)
1:45pm - 2:10pm All grades will participate in a parade around our block
2:10pm - 2:45pm All students will return to their classrooms for a class celebration
Parade Plans
Parents will not be allowed entrance into the building to assist with costumes; please plan accordingly. Students will be dismissed from classroom activities at 1:35 and provided 10 minutes to change into costumes in the classroom. Bathroom changing will not be permitted due to the large number of students. We will exit out the front doors on Winnebago and turn right to head east on Winnebago Ave. We will walk the sidewalk around our block and re-enter via the School St. entrance to avoid walking on Bowen St. which tends to be busier. If you DO NOT want your student to participate, please provide ample notice to his/her classroom teacher.
Please observe the following guidelines for school-friendly costumes.
**If a costume, or parts of a costume, violate school guidelines, the student will not be permitted to wear it at school or for the parade.
No full or partial face masks or face paint will be allowed. Our younger students have been scared by many masks and for safety reasons, we need to be able to fully identify our students on sight.
Students will only be given 10 minutes to get “dressed” in costumes and will not be excused to the bathroom. Please plan for easy items/costumes to add to their regular outfits.
Makeup/costume items should not be worn all day as it is a disruption to the classroom.
Violent themed costumes are not appropriate for school and better left for home. This includes, but is not limited to: scary clowns, horror movie characters, fake blood, threatening/intimidating costumes, etc. When in doubt, check ahead. Any costumes of this nature will not be permitted and students will be asked to leave the costume in the bag.
Board policy clearly prohibits look alike weapons such as toy guns, knives, swords, or other threatening objects. These items are not allowed at school at any time, for any reason, and Halloween is no exception.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Times
Please note that Washington staff does not begin providing supervision until 7:25 am before school and supervision ends at 3:00 pm after school. When students arrive at school earlier or stay at school later, they are on the playground without adult supervision. Please make every effort to ensure students are arriving after supervision starts and picked up before supervision ends. The safety of our students is important to us and we want to make sure that, if they aren’t with us, they are with you!
Clean Coat Club
Last year, Washington received a washer and dryer to help support our families. We plan to use this resource in many different ways, one being a Clean Coat Club. As we enter the cold months, students are coming to school with jackets. Teachers will have the opportunity to take jackets that need a wash and launder them during the school day and return them to students by either recess or the end of the day. Please let us know if you do not wish to have your child's coat laundered!
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR...
In order to promote a healthy environment at school for your children, we ask that you be particularly alert to the beginning signs of illness in your child. Keeping them home during an illness until they are completely well will help prevent spread of illness to others in the school. The following are some symptoms to watch for:
- Thick mucus from the nose
- Persistent, productive cough or persistent sneezing
- Fever of 100.0 or higher
- Toothache or tenderness
- Nausea or vomitting or diarrhea
- Swelling of jaw
- Excessive Drowsiness
- Red eyes or discharge from eyes or ears, earache
- Sore throat
- Persistent abdominal discomfort
- Any rash that is not normal
If your child has any of these symptoms at school, you may be contacted. You will be expected to make arrangements to pick your child up from school as soon as possible. An emergency telephone number where parents can be reached either at home or work must be on file at the school. Please update any number changes or corrections via the parent portal. Children may not return to school within 24 hours of a fever. To assist us in providing the best possible care for your child at school, please keep us informed of any changes in your child’s healthstatus-including medication changes, allergies, etc., by contact our school health office: Marni Noldin via email marni.noldin@oshkosh.k12.wi.us.
Check It Out!!
There is now a Box Tops App! No more clipping! Just download the app, select Washington and scan your receipt. Could there be any easier of a way to earn money for our school?!
2019 Salvation Army Sign Up
