August 2026 PreK-4 Newsletter

Click here to read this newsletter in your preferred language.

Haz clic aquí para leer este boletín informativo en tu idioma preferido.

သင်နှစ်သက်ရာ ဘာသာစကားဖြင့် ဤသတင်းလွှာကို ဖတ်ရှုရန် ဤနေရာကို နှိပ်ပါ။

The elementary office is open most days from 8 AM to 3 PM for your enrollment and educational needs.

Windom Elementary has updated our space on the Windom Area Schools website. Check the Parent Hub for information about attendance, registration, school supplies, lunch menus, calendars, and more! Everything you need to know about Windom Eleementary is in the Parent Hub!

https://www.windom.k12.mn.us/

Free Breakfast and Lunch-The Summer Foodservice Program is served at Windom Area Elementary. Free meals will be served to people age 18 and younger through August 14. See the district Website or click here for more information. During the school year, all students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch.

Mark Your Calendars- Elementary Entrance conferences will be September 1 and 2. You will receive a link to sign up for a time that is convenient for you in your Welcome Packet. NOTE that school pictures will be taken during entrance conferences. Ordering information is in your Welcome Packet.

Supply lists will be in your Welcome Packet as well as on our district Website under "Elementary" and "Parent Hub".

If routines like meal times, bed times, reading together, or acting respectfully have slipped over the summer, now is a good time to start bringing those back. Routines help students feel confident and prepared for their day. Routines also help kids know what is expected in social situations like how to eat appropriately or read a book from front to back, left to right, top to bottom. Working on routines now will help your child feel more prepared for school.

Positive talk about school is also a way to prepare students to come back to school. Younger students and students with higher anxiety benefit from positive talk about things that are new or may be overwhelming. Remind them about friends they'll see, how amazing and nice their teacher will be, the great food, or how they'll see Mr. B and he'll want a high-five or hug! Try not to share your struggles with math or unkind friends during this time. Students should focus on all they good they will do.

Kids don't need to do worksheets and online learning to academically prepare to come back to school. They can help you read recipes, count money for buying things, figure out how much time until an activity, read books, write a letter, or even do chores. These types of activities stimulate the brain and start to remind them that they already know SO MUCH.

You can also use bigger vocabulary. Call objects by their actual name (banana instead of "nanner"). Talk about the schedule of activities, car parts, and places around town. Instead of "hard", say "difficult". When you talk and use bigger vocabulary, it builds background knowledge and helps them connect ideas which helps your child to learn later.

Help your child be independent. They should be able to use the restroom by themselves including wiping, pulling pants up, and washing hands. Students in first grade and beyond should know how to tie their own shoes and practice this often. Students should know how to eat with a fork and spoon and how to clean up if food falls off their plate or onto the floor. Independence is very important in school because teachers are trying to teach academics and don't always have time to help with things students should be able to do alone.

If your child has had free screen time over the summer, now is the time to start cutting back. Increased screen time decreases attention, patience, and social skills. Start cutting back now to help your child withdraw from the screen over time. Mealtimes, 1 hour before bed, and 1 hour after waking up should be screen free. Kids shoudl balance screen time with active play like running, tumbling, throwing a ball, etc. After one hour of screen time, kids should complete 1 hour or more of active engagement.

Here are some fun and engaging activities to try this summer with preschoolers and even kindergarteners to help prevent the "summer slide" and increase literacy skills in our young learners.

https://fun-a-day.com/summer-literacy-activities-for-preschoolers/

Also, don't forget to elevate your language. Move beyond everyday language and incorporate more academic language into your conversations. For example, instead of saying, "Come eat," you could say, "It's time to eat. I made you a delicious dinner."

• Visit the Public Library: Local libraries host incredible, free summer reading programs with rewards and fun community events.

• Nature Scavenger Hunts: Turn a neighborhood walk into a science expedition. Look for specific leaves, bugs, or rock types.

• The "Boredom" Jar: Sit down with your child and write 20 quick activities (e.g., "build a blanket fort," " sidewalk chalk art," "Lego challenge") on slips of paper. When they say they're bored, they pull a slip!

• Use Technology Wisely Balance screen time with offline activities like writing and outdoor play. Audiobooks are also a great way to provide access to stories and vocabulary they may not be able to read by themselves.

• Expand Literacy Beyond Books Read menus, online articles, or recipes together. Play board games, puzzles, and even charades; these all involve reading and critical thinking. Games like Scrabble, Jr. Boggle, or Mad Libs are fun ways to practice vocabulary and spelling.

In an effort to best serve our students in a safe, productive, and positive environment, there have been a few small updates to our Elementary Student Handbook. One addition is water bottles should be clear and will be kept in lockers this year. Additionally, we no-longer allow fast food to be delivered to school for lunch. Please review the handbook and remind your child of any important information.

Look for Windom Area School District-ISD177

Most current information can be found on our website: https://www.windom.k12.mn.us/

Are you connected with your child's Seesaw? Most information about upcoming events is shared there. Ask your child's teacher for a link.