Wildcat News

Principal Message

Thanks for a great start to a great year! A few reminders:

~ I am thrilled to share some exciting news—Washington Elementary has been named a 2025–26 Minnesota School of Excellence by the Minnesota Elementary School Principals’ Association (MESPA)! This is one of the most respected recognitions a school can receive in Minnesota. The program is based on six nationally recognized standards of effective schools: leadership, vision, student learning, adult learning culture, data-informed decision-making, and community engagement. Earning this honor requires a comprehensive one- to two-year process of self-study, strategic planning, and peer review, with the involvement of the entire school community.

This recognition is a powerful affirmation of our shared vision and commitment to excellence. Through intentional work, collaborative reflection, and forward-thinking planning, our school has dedicated itself to fostering leadership, equity, and growth. Being named a Minnesota School of Excellence highlights not only the high standards we uphold, but also the way we continue to build upon them for the future of our students. Thank you for your partnership and support in helping Washington Elementary achieve this honor. Together, we are making our school an inspiring place for every child to learn and grow.

~ Kindness Retreat: As you know, KINDNESS is our theme for this year, and one of the many ways we are helping this come alive is offering 4th graders and 5th graders a chance to participate in a Kindness Retreat. We need to secure 10 small group leaders (adults) for each retreat, and we need your help!! The 5th grade retreat is coming up next week already, Tuesday, September 9, and we are short adult facilitators. If you have any availability to possibly help with this, please consider signing up to help, even if you do NOT have a 4th or 5th grader. All of the information about the retreat can be found here, and the google form to sign up is embedded in that letter OR you can use this link. The 5th grade retreat is next Tuesday, September 9th, so we are in a bit of a time crunch to fill these spots! This is going to be awesome, so please, please, please consider facilitating!

~ Early Release Info: OUR FIRST TWO HOUR EARLY RELEASE DAY WILL BE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2025. The school day ends at 12:30 p.m. Please complete the following REGISTRATION to let us know your plans for your child or children on this day. Please fill out a separate registration for each child. We ask that you fill this form out for EACH Early Release because it is easier for us to track. Thank you for your cooperation.

~ Snack Cart: If you have not yet filled out the Snark Cart paperwork and returned it to school, please do ASAP. You may also sign up for the snack cart through your child's portal (see below). Starting on Monday, September 8, only students who are signed up for snack cart, OR who have requested a scholarship, will be allowed to take snack off the cart. Any questions please just call Washington (507-345-3059).

~ PTO Meeting: Washington's first PTO meeting of the 25-26 school year will be held Monday, September 8 at 6:00pm in the Washington Media Center. Please enter door #1 for the meeting. Child care will be available (we hope to anyway!!!), and we work really hard to meet no longer than 1 hour. You can also join virtually if that works better using this link. We hope to see you there!

~ School lunch: Parents are always welcome to each lunch with their child should this be of interest to anyone. If you hope to do this, please call Diane before 8:30am on the day you plan to eat AND please have exact change for the meal. The cost of an adult meal $5.25. Please either pay with cash (again, exact change is needed) or by check (made out to Mankato Area Public Schools). You can also bring a lunch with you to eat with your child if you'd prefer that to eating school lunch.

We cannot do what we do without the support we receive from each and every parent. Your partnership matters, so thank you in advance for your collaboration, teamwork, and support!

Go Wildcats!

Ann

Ann Haggerty

Washington Principal

ahagge1@isd77.org

John Zempel, Head Washington Daytime Custodian

What do the students at Washington call you?

Mr. John

How long have you worked for Mankato Area Public Schools?

Two Months

What is one of your favorite things about your job?

I’m a helper, so I love helping students and staff with whatever is the task at hand. I will help our kindergarteners open milk at lunch, fix a sink between classes, and scrub floors at the end of the day.

What is an interesting fact about you?

I’m a curious person and am always interested in learning new things. I have taken classes for crocheting, cooking, welding, and blacksmithing to list a few. I like to know how and why things work.

Tell us about your family.

My wife, Rochelle, and I have lived in Mankato since 2010. We have two children, Lou 7 and Marlowe 5. We have two dogs and two cats.

Where did you go to elementary school?

I grew up in Spirit Lake, Iowa and attended public school there.

Anything else you would like to share with families?

Our children are the center of our world. Everything I do here is to make the school a safer, kinder, and cleaner place to be.

The purpose of Title I, Part A under the Federal ESEA Act is to supplement services to students to help them learn what they need to know to be successful on high academic standards. Washington is a Title I school, meaning we receive additional funding to provide supplemental interventions or services to students.

Dear Student Caregivers,

At Mankato Area Public Schools, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are of the utmost importance. To ensure our preparedness for various emergency situations, we will be conducting a safety drill known as "Lockdown" at the end of next week.

Purpose of the Drill: “Lockdown” is designed to prepare students and staff for an exceedingly rare circumstance - when an intruder enters the school premises. During this drill, teachers will follow specific safety protocols, including locking classroom doors, turning off lights, moving individuals away from windows and doors, not opening doors, instructing students to remain silent, and ensuring that students remain out of sight.

Opt-Out Option: We want to inform you that, as per Minnesota Statute 121A.038, parents have the option to opt their student(s) out of this required safety drill. If you choose to opt your student out, please notify the school office, and they will help you with the details of this. You will be able to pick up your student(s) 30 minutes before the drill begins and return them 30 minutes after it is completed. This absence will be excused, and no adverse actions will be taken due to their absence.

Special Considerations: If your student has experienced violence or trauma that participating in this drill might reactivate, we kindly request that you notify the school office. We are committed to providing the necessary support and accommodations to ensure the emotional well-being of our students.

Our Commitment to Safety: Rest assured that these drills are conducted with the utmost care and attention to safety. Our staff is well-trained to oversee the process, and our primary goal is to equip both students and staff with the knowledge and skills to respond effectively in emergency situations.

We sincerely hope that we never have to put this training into practice, but preparedness is an essential aspect of ensuring the safety of our school community.

Contact Information: Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the lockdown or our school's safety procedures, please feel free to contact me, Ann Haggerty, at 507-345-3059. We are here to address any inquiries you may have and to work together to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for our students.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Ann Haggerty, Principal

Washington Elementary

Mankato Area Public Schools

Courtney, our Reading Corps tutor, rescued a homeless dog from the shelter. Such a kind thing to do!

Miles helped Weston come into school on the 2nd day when he was feeling a bit sad.

Love the Kindness gear! :-)

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. We've seen some great teamwork that led to a small increase in consistent attendance last year, and we believe that together, we can make an even bigger impact this school year.

Our main focus is on making sure every student is present and ready to learn. Regular attendance is key to your child's success, and as a school, we've set two clear goals for the 2025-26 school year:

Goal #1: Increase consistent student attendance to 92%.

Goal #2: Decrease the number of students who are chronically absent from 45 to 30 or fewer.

In simple terms, Chronically Absent means: a student missing 17 or more school days. This number is based on the federal government's standard of missing 10% or more of the school year.

The Importance of Every Day & Why it Matters

Learning is cumulative. Missing a single day of instruction can create gaps in understanding that are difficult to overcome.
Social and emotional development. Being at school helps students build friendships, learn social skills, and feel like a valued part of the school community.
Building good habits. Consistent routines, like getting to school on time, teach children responsibility and discipline—skills they will use for a lifetime.

We know that achieving these goals is a team effort, and we need your help. Here are some simple, yet powerful, ways you can support your child's attendance:

Prioritize school attendance. Schedule family trips and vacations during school breaks, not during the school year.
Schedule appointments wisely. If possible, book doctor and dentist appointments for after school hours or on non-school days. If your child must miss school for an appointment, have them return to school as soon as it's over.
Create a consistent routine. A predictable schedule for bedtime and waking up helps ensure your child is well-rested and ready to start the day on time.
Make sure they're prepared. Pack backpacks, lay out clothes, and prepare lunches the night before to reduce morning stress and delays.
Communicate with us! If your child is sick, please call the school office to let us know. We understand that some absences are unavoidable, and we want to work with you to support your child's health and learning.

Together, we can make this the best school year yet for our students. Every day your child is here, they are building a brighter future for themselves. We are so proud to partner with you and look forward to celebrating our progress throughout the year. Thank you for your commitment to our students and our school.