EAST WARD COUGAR NEWS - Jan '26

Good afternoon Cougar Community!

I hope everyone enjoyed their winter breaks and holidays. Happy New Year, EW! As we begin a new year together, author Melody Beattie reminds us, “The new year stands before us like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written.” Now that we are back at school, we return to the important work of learning—writing this next chapter with curiosity, effort, and care for one another.

In the weeks to come, we will be conducting our iReady Winter Benchmark Assessments. We benchmark our students three times a year and use the data to ensure each student is progressing in their learning. We also utilize a block of time called MTSS to provide targeted interventions that support the growth of all learners.

Next month, caregivers will be able to log into infinite Campus to view their children's iReady benchmark scores. We use this and other data to work with students. As a reminder, if you have questions, there is a great deal of information that can be accessed at iReady Family Center- https://i-readycentral.com/familycenter/. I recommend caregivers become as familiar with this fun educational tool. You can also email your child’s teacher if you have additional questions.

We are excited to invite you to our 4th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on

Monday, January 19, 2026, from 9:00-10:30 AM at East Ward Elementary School.

This special event is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together to honor Dr. King’s legacy through service and giving. As you look through your pantries,

cabinets and drawers, we encourage you to consider donating items to help make this

event a success. Please be sure to check the flyer that went home before winter break and

is attached to this message for more details. Thank you for your continued generosity and

support—we look forward to sharing this meaningful day together!

I am excited to share an opportunity for our students to participate in the 2026 Litter Hawk Youth Award Program, funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and administered by Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. This statewide initiative invites students in grades K–6 to promote cleaner communities through posters, essays, and videos aligned with this year’s theme: “Celebrate America250 – Keep It Beautiful!”

The submission period runs from October 31, 2025 through January 31, 2026, with an awards ceremony scheduled at the Pennsylvania State Capitol on April 2, 2026. Winning entries will be displayed throughout April. Learn more at the link below or towards the bottom of this Cougar News. Litter Hawk Youth Award Program - Keep PA Beautiful

New student registration for the 2026-2027 school year will open mid-January! Parents can access the applications and registration information on the registration website. Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis with any applications for the current school year being given priority. Due to the volume of applications received, it can take 4-5 weeks for applications for the 2026-2027 to be reviewed and for caregivers to receive a response from Central Registration. If you have a child entering kindergarten next year, please consider starting the process. If you have any questions, please call our main office. We are planning to hold our kindergarten screening in late April- early May.

There are many heritage and history “months” throughout the year that highlight various communities, such as Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15–October 15), Black History Month (February), Women’s History Month (March), and Jewish American and Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (May), to name a few. Please let me know if you have suggestions, ideas, or would like to be involved in supporting activities that engage our students in learning more.

Valentine’s Day is February 14. Often in schools, children exchange Valentine’s cards with their classmates. I am sure your child’s teacher will be sharing more information as we get closer to the day, but I wanted to share a bit of background for any new families to EW. Valentines are often sold in stores and are (more affordable at dollar stores or Five Below). The cards are typically sold in sets, with enough for an entire class. While cards can also be made by children, please know that they do not need to be anything fancy. Sometimes cards are sold with candy; however, I ask that you do not purchase cards with candy in order to align with our Wellness Policy. Classes may have a party where students exchange cards. If you have any questions about this day or need assistance, please let me know.

Thank you for your support, encouragement, and involvement of all things East Ward!

Your Proud Principal,

Nick Argonish

Congratulations to our December Cougars of the Month!!!

Respectable, Responsible, Safe and Kind

We always talk at East Ward about how everyone matters. Showing empathy, kindness, and including others puts our words into action. By ensuring that everyone feels included and welcome at our school, we help to demonstrate that they do matter and that they are valued.

• Point out the feelings of others as you read books or talk about your day. Help students imagine how they might feel if they were in a similar situation.
• Ask students questions like "what might you need if you were that character/person? How would you want to be treated?"
• Encourage students to ask questions about our differences. Sometimes students are afraid to talk about noticed differences because they're under the impression that it's bad or negative. There's nothing wrong with respectfully asking questions. It's how we learn more about each other and practice respect.
• When asking about their day, ask questions like "who did you include today?" or "how did you show kindness today?" Our focus and attention shows what is worthy of focus and attention.

Counseling lessons this month align with the social-emotional topic of empathy/kindness in an effort to have consistent language and focus across the school day. You'll find linked the take-away note that will be posted to Class Dojo after each lesson.

K - Size of the Problem

1st - Inclusion

2nd - No lesson this month!

3rd - Kindness

4th - Shark Tank/Entrepreneurship

5th - Teasing

Hot Cocoa Breath: Pretend you're holding a mug of hot cocoa/hot chocolate. First, breathe in the delicious scent through your nose. Then, do a nice, long breath out through your mouth to cool down the cocoa. Then, drink it!

Dr. Katie Rastetter, School Counselor

krastetter@dasd.org

610-269-8282 ex 23040

Monday, January 5: School Re-Opens

Friday, January 9: Spirit Day

Monday, January 19: School Closed - MLK Day

Friday, January 23: Pizza Bingo: 6:30 PM-8:30 PM

Monday, January 26: Early Chorus Rehearsal 🎤 8:00 AM

Wednesday, January 28: Spirit Day

Tuesday, February 3: Early Chorus Rehearsal 🎤 8:00 AM

Hello Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the New Year! Let's stay healthy this winter. Please remind your children to wash their hands frequently and to cover their mouths and noses when they sneeze or cough. If your child shows any cold or flu symptoms, please keep them home to rest and recover. Please make sure your child is bundled up with hats, gloves, and layers they can remove as needed. A coat is a must for recess and outdoor activities. Staying hydrated is very important! Please provide your child with a water bottle to drink throughout the day. A nutritious breakfast and snacks of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains provide the energy needed for a productive school day. Thank you for your support in keeping our school community safe and healthy. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the school nurse’s office.

Warm Regards,

Nurse Jill and Nurse Brii

Is your child already enthusiastic about rhyming games, Scrabble, anagrams, or Pig Latin? Try adding a new kind of word game to your collection: riddles!

What is gray, has four legs, big ears, a tail, and a trunk? A mouse going on vacation!

Riddles are an excellent way for kids to learn how to really listen to the sounds of words, understand that some words have more than one meaning, and how to manipulate words. Riddles also help build a rich vocabulary and strengthen reading comprehension. And finally, riddles are familiar and fun – a good incentive for thinking about words and reading. Here’s how to get started with riddles:

Riddle Books

There are lots of wonderful riddle books (visit http://www.readingrockets.org/articles/books/c369). Dive into one and just start reading some of the riddles out loud – the questions and the answers. Talk about the structure of the riddle (question/answer) and why the answers make silly sense if you understand the multiple meanings of the words. Share your thinking about the word play to help your child understand the riddle more clearly. Riddle books are especially entertaining for family trips or long drives, and can inspire original riddle-making by parents and kids alike.

Homonym fun

Homonyms – words that sound the same but have different meanings – provide a great opportunity for word fun. Say a word out loud, and see if your child can generate more than one meaning for the word.

For example:

ball: a round object used in games ball: a fancy party

moose: the animal with antlers mousse: a chocolate dessert

Word Meaning and context

Show your child how to figure out what a word means by thinking about the words around it. For example, the word “school” can refer to your child’s classroom or a group of fish. Once your child becomes aware of the double meaning of “school” he can start to appreciate or even invent riddles like this:

Why are fish so smart? Because they swim in schools!

For more information on teaching kids about riddles, take a look at this article:

www.ReadingRockets.org/article/28315

• Dine & Donate @ Panera January 16th @ 4:00 PM-8:00 PM

• Want a break from cooking on a Friday night and holding out on Pizza for Pizza Bingo the following Friday? We have a solution for you! Visit Panera from 4-8 PM on January 16th and find something for everyone! 20% of sales benefit East Ward. Ordering online? Use code Fund4U

• SAVE THE DATE for Pizza Bingo: January 23, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at East Ward

• A favorite East Ward event of the year is coming up! Save the date for Pizza Bingo on Friday, 1/23/26. We will continue the tradition of pizza, bingo games, prizes, and community fun! You won’t want to miss it. Look out for more information soon!

• Pizza Bingo: January 23, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM at East Ward

• One of our favorite East Ward events is right around the corner. Students and families can play bingo to win fun elementary school-aged prizes, eat delicious pizza from Jads, and indulge their sweet cravings at our bake sale. Bingo begins at 6:30 with doors opening at 6 PM for registration and seating.

• Volunteers are needed to run this event smoothly. Please sign up below if you can spare some time to support the HSA. We will also be gathering baked good donations for our bake sale. Homemade optional, but very much appreciated.

  https://tinyurl.com/PB26Volunteer

To Register: https://tinyurl.com/pizzabingo2026

To Volunteer/Donate Baked Goods: https://tinyurl.com/PB26Volunteer

★ It’s time to start ordering yearbooks! The East Ward yearbook is a beautiful display of our entire student population. Beyond picture day photos, we capture home and school events, classroom highlights, and more. It truly is special, and always in high demand. Be sure to order yours early for discount pricing!

★ Limited quantities will be available based on pre-orders.

★ Pre-Order before January 31st for a discounted price: $25

★ Cost on February 1st - March 31st: $28

★ Orders can be placed here: https://tinyurl.com/EWYearbook26

★ Do you love volunteering at East Ward and supporting our East Ward community as much as we do?

★ Do you have ideas or skills you’d love to see come to life at our events?

★ Do you enjoy being connected to teachers and the administration? Have you considered joining the Home and School Association Board?

★ Now is the time to start thinking about it!

○ We will have a few board positions opening up for the 26-27 school year, and the HSA would love to connect with amazing caregivers like yourselves!

○ If you are considering joining the board, please email us @ eastward.hsa@gmail.com.

Email: ewinfo@dasd.org
Website: https://ew.dasd.org/
Location: 435 Washington Ave, Downingtown, PA 19335, USA
Phone: 610-269-8282
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dasdew
Twitter: @dasd_ew