Wildcat News

April 10, 2025

Principal Message

Hello to all! I hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather that has come our way!

A few things so you can stay in the know:

~ MCA Testing is upon us! This will begin at Washington, in earnest, on Monday, April 14th. Students in grades 3, 4 & 5 will test in both reading and in math. It's such an exciting opportunity for students to show what they have learned throughout the course of the year. We continue to see an upward trajectory in our Washington student data, and I have no doubt that this trend will continue, particularly when students believe in themselves, put forth their best effort, and approach this time with a positive attitude.

Your help, as parents, matters. Here are some thoughts: SLEEP (this one really matters), ENCOURAGEMENT (your belief in your kiddo and stating this to them helps), sharing a POSITIVE ATTITUDE with your child about these assessments, and a message about students just DOING THEIR BEST is appreciated! Thank you for being the partners we need for student success!

~ Washington PTO Meeting will be held on Monday, April 14 at 6:00 in the Media Center. Here is the virtual link. Please join us if you are able. We're a fun group, we provide child care, AND we work really hard to keep our meetings to an hour or less.

~ No School on Friday, April 18 due to the Good Friday holiday.

~ Save the Date: For those of you who like to plan ahead, the Washington Spring Picnic will be held on Thursday, May 22 from 5:00-6:30.

~ Lice: We again need to report that we are seeing an uptick in lice cases. Please remind your child(ren) that we never share hats, combs, or hair things.

~ How is your at-home OKAY Campaign going??? Please help us keep this alive by engaging in this with your kiddo at home. Your support, your modeling, and your engagement really matters!!! Really. Like in a big way! AND...we still have a "gift" available to students who fill out the OKAY chart from home, so it's never too late to turn that in!

Thanks for your continued support of our work--your partnership matters to each child's growth and success!

Ann Haggerty

Washington Principal

ahagge1@isd77.org

Kickstart Your Child's Journey – Enroll in Kindergarten Today!

By enrolling early, your family will receive important updates and information to help prepare for your child’s kindergarten experience. Did you know you can register all children in your household, even if they are not yet entering kindergarten? Registering your children allows your family to receive information about upcoming events tailored to their age.

Get started today!
Visit isd77.org/enroll to complete the registration process. Once enrolled, your child’s school will keep you informed about upcoming events and next steps.

📅 Save the Date: Kindergarten Connection – April 10

Have questions or need assistance enrolling a child? Call Central Registration at 507-387-2125. Welcome to MAPS!

Leader In Me Habit #6: SYNERGIZE

During the month of April, our entire school will focus on Habit #6: Synergize. As parents/guardians, your understanding and support of our leadership work in this habit is very appreciated! I have found this language and learning to benefit ALL, not just students!

Habit 6, Synergize, from "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," emphasizes the power of collaboration and teamwork to achieve results that are greater than the sum of individual efforts, fostering creative solutions and stronger relationships.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of Habit 6:

The Core Idea: Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, achieved through creative cooperation and valuing differences.
Beyond "My Way": It's about moving beyond simply accepting or tolerating differences to truly valuing them and using them to create better solutions.
Synergy as a Process:It's not just an outcome, but a process of working together, sharing ideas, and building on each other's strengths.
Building Blocks of Synergy:
- Trust and Respect: A foundation of trust and respect is crucial for effective collaboration.
- Empathy and Open Communication: Actively listening and understanding different perspectives is key.
- Valuing Differences: Recognizing and appreciating diverse viewpoints and experiences.
- Creative Collaboration: Working together to find innovative solutions that are better than what any one person could come up with alone.
Examples of Synergy:
- A band playing together, where the music is greater than the sum of the individual instruments.
- A team of researchers collaborating on a project, where their combined knowledge leads to breakthroughs.
- A family working together to solve a problem, where their combined efforts lead to a better outcome.
How to Cultivate Synergy:
- Seek First to Understand: Listen empathetically to others' perspectives.
- Be Open to New Ideas: Be willing to consider different viewpoints and approaches.
- Build Trust and Rapport: Establish strong relationships with those you collaborate with.
- Focus on Shared Goals: Ensure everyone is working towards the same objectives.
- Embrace Differences: View differences as strengths, not weaknesses.
Benefits of Synergy:
- Better Solutions: Synergy leads to more creative and effective solutions.
- Stronger Relationships: Collaboration builds trust and strengthens relationships.
- Increased Motivation: Working together can be more engaging and motivating.
- Greater Results: Synergy can lead to significantly better outcomes