Wasmer Weekly Update

Wildcat Families,

We are officially into single digits away from the first day of school. We are beyond ready to welcome students back! Teachers came back to school on Wednesday and have actively been planning for the arrival of students. Our staff had spent the week understanding new systems in place to enhance our positive supports for students. (I will give you a hint: our mission is to teach and practice expectations in all areas of the school AND verbally praise your student as much as we can to show we notice! Who doesn't like to be noticed for doing or saying something positive?) We had many conversations on how love and structure go hand-in-hand. Our three main character traits this year are: being safe, respectful, and responsible. The other component to our time together was how to have an impact on your student's academic growth. We will be focussing on our work in Professional Learning Communities (PLC's) to hone in on grade-level standards, student data (how students perform on a task or assessment), and use district provided materials to collaborate as grade-level teams to take your student where he/she currently is and intentionally plan to promote growth. After all, it is EVERY STUDENT. EVERY DAY. A SUCCESS! We believe kids can!

HUGE congratulations to Mr. Neil Berger and Mrs. Kari Voss on earning their 25 year pins with our district. This year marks the 25th year of service for these loyal, compassionate, and enthusiastic teachers. You may recognize both of them as Mr. Berger teaches physical education (PE) and has a passion for teaching our youth many sports through his after school programs for 4th and 5th graders. Mr. Berger is also the person creating a positive environment for students as they enter the building each morning to his Wasmer playlist! Mrs. Voss teaches media and helps our students find a passion for reading and computer skills. Fun facts about Mrs. Voss--she attended Wasmer in her elementary years AND has been at Wasmer for all 25 years of her teaching career! Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!

There are some staff members that need a very special thank you!!

Custodians:

Our custodians have literally been working since the last day of school to ensure our school is in the very best shape for students to return in a few days. Over the summer, our custodian team has deep cleaned every single space in our building. They have made sure that each teacher has enough desks, chairs, and furniture to support students. In the meantime, they have helped to deliver teacher manuals and student workbooks to our teachers. You are superheros! If you see any of our custodians, please give them a high-five: EJ, Havyn, and Dayami!

Secretary:

Mrs. Maria Parra is without a doubt the glue behind our school. Maria has more than likely been the person you spoke to when you have called with any question. She knows all of the ins and outs for dates, registration information, supply lists, and so much more. Maria has ordered and delivered classroom materials to all staff to ensure each room is unique to the teacher, while also creating a welcoming environment. Mrs. Parra can answer questions related to Wasmer or our district. She has also been working hard on completing any registration items needed to make sure all students will be ready to begin on the first day. We notice you, Mrs. Parra and we are so thankful for you!

Nurse:

Over the summer, Mrs. Shannon Astudillo has been working to update all student records with information sent to the school in regards to a child's health. She has actively been monitoring what supports need to be in place for any dietary accommodations as well as any medical need a child may have. Thank you for getting physicals completed and having them faxed to the school. Mrs. Astudillo is on it and already making schedules to support individual student needs! THANK YOU!!

Academic Support Coach:

You know the saying that goes "teachers get summers off?" Well, not for this one! Mrs. Thorne has been planning for students since the second the last bell rang. She has read numerous researched based books to provide the very best professional development for our staff. Mrs. Thorne also organized time in July for teachers to come in and begin preparing lessons for our kids. You heard that right...we had teachers...in JULY with manuals open, sticky notes everywhere, lesson plans rolling, and conversations like you wouldn't believe. Thank you, Mrs. Thorne for keeping us up to date in our instructional practices. We know we will see great growth in our students because of your knowledge and ability to impact!

Wednesday, August 13th:

• First day of school for KINDERGARTEN students - 2.00pm dismissal
• Fueling Our Ride: Back to School Open House (1st-5th graders) This is the time to get important information from me and for your student to meet their teacher. Great opportunity to learn more about (Parent Teacher Association) PTA! Open house is 5.00-6.00pm.

Thursday, August 14th:

• First day of school for 1st-5th graders - 2.00pm dismissal

Friday, August 15th:

• 2.00pm dismissal for 1st-5th graders, NO SCHOOL FOR KINDERGARTEN
• Kindergarten Open House from 4.00-5.00pm. This is a time for you to meet your student's kindergarten teacher.

Monday, August 18th:

• All students will have a 3.05pm dismissal

Friday, August 22nd:

• 3rd grade students attend the State Fair (more information to come from 3rd grade teachers)

Wednesday, September 3rd:

• First Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting! We will be planning our vision for the upcoming school year! 6.30-7.30pm.

Monday, September 8th:

• Picture Day!

English Calendar

Spanish Calendar

Please email Miss Luber hluber@gips.org or Mrs. Westerby jhwesterby@gips.org if you would like to take advantage of free school supplies this school year! You can also call the school 308-385-5920 if you would like us to put together a book bag of school supplies for your student and then you may come pick them up!

Grades have different lists of recommended items for school supplies. Supplies are not a requirement to attend school and again, we have them for free if you reach out! See links below for the list:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

• Kindergarten, First Grade, & Second Grade
• Third, Fourth, & Fifth Grades

In addition to the school providing school supplies, please see these flyers for local businesses. How lucky are we to have community members supporting all kids?

Click here to see the August breakfast and lunch menu.

Reminder that both breakfast and lunch are free again this year!

• Please drop your student off at the front doors. If you wish to park, please use the stalls and obey state laws regarding school zones, crosswalks, and crossing guards.
• Free breakfast is served at 7:30 am every morning in the cafeteria until 7.55. If you student arrives after 7.55, they may get a grab-and-go breakfast to eat in the classroom until 8.15am.
• Students not eating breakfast will go to the gym until announcements at 7.55.
• Please have your student to school by 7.55 to ensure they have enough time to get either eat and put their backpacks away.
• Any students who are not in the classroom by 8.00am are marked tardy on Synergy.

• Please see the map below to know where to locate your student during dismissal.
• Please pull into one of the stalls and come to a complete stop. Your student will come to you. It is also acceptable to pull up to the curb outside of crosswalk areas. Please know that students may not be picked up in the middle of the street. All cars must be in a stall or pulled up adjacent to the curb, where your student can enter the car directly from the curbside.
• Please communicate clearly with your student his/her after school plan for pick-up on a daily basis to avoid confusion as to whether they are walking or whom they are riding home with.
• We ask older students to pick up their younger siblings on the south side of the building and then walk home or find their ride.

Please use this form to order any Wasmer shirts or sweatshirts. This will be a small fundraiser for our PTA!

We will pass out physical order forms at the open house with a QR code to use the online store, but will have the option to pay cash or check. We will not be giving change, so if you do plan to pay in cash, we will need the exact amount.

Physical Forms: due August 25th (so we have time to calculate)

Online Store: closes August 27th

**All items are estimated to be delivered the first week of September.

I would highly encourage doing the online order if possible!

Information needed for the online order form:

Student Name:

Student Grade:

Delivery: automatically set to be Wasmer's address

Click on the link below to order online.