Wilson District Newsletter

Happy Holidays Wilson Wildcats!!

The season of charity and kindness is upon us. As we enter the month of December, there are so many families facing challenging times in this tough economic climate, so consider a small act of kindness this season.

One option is to:

Support the annual toy drive with our local firefighters, another is to make a canned food donation to the local Food Bank or spend an hour serving the homeless at a shelter.

I encourage each of you to set goals within the areas of Home and Family, Hobbies and Recreation, Community and Service, and lastly Education and Career during this holiday season.

As a district we continue to lead by example and are committed to make a difference in our greater community. I wish you all a safe and blessed holiday season and I will see you all in the New Year.

December is a short month but a busy yet magical one for us at Wilson Primary School. We have the middle of the year assessments and several holiday events planned within the short 3 weeks. Students are buzzing with excitement about the upcoming Holiday Party, Sing Along, just to name a few.

The word “Believe” is often used and seen during the month of December, but at our school, it is the anchor word which we use daily. Because we believe in our students, they are successful and empowered. Because we believe in our teachers and staff, our school thrives. Because we believe in our families and communities, we can build a positive learning environment for our students. We are grateful for everyone who is a part of our community who believes in our school.

The photos are just an example of how we are a community here at the Primary School. Our PreK and 1st grade classes put on an amazing Thanksgiving parade with homemade floats while the rest of the school and family members waved and cheered as they paraded around campus. The students loved learning about how the Macy’s Parade is organized, what details are involved in putting on a parade, and what to do at a parade. The family involvement of making these beautiful floats was outstanding! Thank you for your support!

Enjoy this holiday season and believe in the magic of Wilson!

Mrs. Wojcicki

As we begin December, I look back to think how quickly this school year has gone so far. We want to welcome our new Assistant Principal, Mr. Kevin Bulger and new P.E. teacher, Mr. Justin Stewart to WES.

As the holiday season approaches, please give your child the gift of extra time. Put an I.O.U. for a special event or activity in their stocking. When students are asked to write about a memorable event in their lives, it isn't a special gift they usually choose to write about, but a particular experience they have had with someone special.

This is a great time to review the first part of the year and make plans for the next. Looking at your child’s school attendance should be part of this important process.

Did your child attend school every day unless they were sick or there was a family emergency?

· If so, congratulations! Let them know you’re proud of their strong attendance. Help them keep up the good work for the rest of the year and beyond. Strong attendance is one predictor of success in school.

· If not:

· Remind your child that regular school attendance is a priority.

· Emphasize the need for rest, nutrition, and exercise to stay healthy and stay in school.

· Consider the reasons you take your child out of school. Can you make some appointments outside school hours?

We have many exciting activities happening around WES. Winter sports, basketball, football, and cheer are in full swing. Please see our website for dates and times of games.

Important Dates:

1st Quarter Awards – December 1st

Santa Pictures – December 4th

Quarter 2 Benchmarks December 4th – December 20th

Winter Concert – December 6th

Breakfast with Santa – December 20th

Classroom Holiday Celebration – December 22nd

Winter Break – December 25th – January 5th

In-Service No School for Students – January 8th

Classes Resume – January 9th

In conclusion, I hope that each one of you have a safe and joyful holiday season and take time to enjoy your family.

Happy Holidays, Blessings, and Best Wishes,

Capturing Hearts and Changing Minds

Demetra Baxter-Oliver, PhD

Talise Berry

HUMAN RESOURCES: BE MINDFUL ABOUT HOLIDAYS

Smart Talk

Laizer Kornwasser

Updated Tue November 12, 2019

Q. Should we celebrate holidays at work?

A. During December, a common greeting heard by many employees in the United States is,“Happy Holidays.” There are millions of Americans who don't celebrate a holiday in December, either due to not having a religious affiliation, or because their religious holiday(s) is/are observed during a different time of the year.

Additionally, there are those who celebrate a holiday in December; however, they find this time of year to be traumatic, and/or a tremendous source of stress.

For some, depression tends to increase during the holidays, stemming from financial stress, family issues, a surge in demands, and/or being unable to manage expectations. Common family issues that frequently complicate the holidays include recent loss, illness, abuse, or divorce. As such, it is our responsibility to ensure that no one feels excluded or pressured to participate in holiday workplace festivities. As a workplace leader, how can you support this?

• Be collaborative: Ask your staff how they'd prefer to celebrate (or not) the holidays at work this year.
• Be inclusive: Make all workplace holiday parties non-denominational.
• Be compassionate: Approach employees who are undergoing or have undergone difficult family situations with empathy and compassion.
• Be sensitive: Consider the audience you are addressing when discussing any holiday plans. Moderate what you share regarding your personal holiday preparations, especially if they are more extravagant, including attending large family gatherings or luxury excursions. Don't press others about their holiday plans, unless you are certain that they are openly sharing this information with other employees.
• Be appreciative: Use the end of the year to show appreciation.

In summary, while it may be common practice to wish employees a “Happy Holiday” during December, please be mindful that there are some who do not consider this time of year to be “happy,” and others who do not consider it a “holiday.”

https://www.hmenews.com/article/human-resources-be-mindful-about-holidays

Child Find, a component of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), enables states to locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities, aged birth through 21, who need early intervention or special education services. Special education services are available for children of any age (birth through 21 years). Wilson School District is responsible for locating, identifying, evaluating, and serving all children with disabilities (ages 3-21) and referring children ages 0-3 to AzEIP for evaluation and appropriate services. AzEIP is the Arizona Early Intervention Program for infants and toddlers. Wilson provides free and appropriate public education that includes special education and related services to children at public expense, under public supervision and direction without charge to parents. For all school-age students who are new to the district, the classroom teacher will complete screening activities within 45 days of enrollment. If any concerns are noted, the child will be referred for help. Parents who have concerns regarding their child’s education may contact the Special Education Department at Wilson, (602) 683-2400, ext. 4205.

Are you currently experiencing temporary living arrangements due to eviction, job loss or a traumatic event? Wilson School District offers services to families through the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act. Services such as enrollment and immunization assistance, uniforms or school supplies, community referrals and in some cases, transportation can be available. Your family may qualify due to living with another family or friend due to financial hardship or living in a shelter, transitional housing, or motel. Please contact your school office or Mariana Melendrez at 602-683-2515, ext 6002 for more information about this program.

Excellence in education

Website: https://www.wsd.k12.az.us/
Location: 3025 East Fillmore Street, Phoenix, AZ, USA
Phone: (602) 681-2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilsonSchoolDistrictNo7