The Wheatland News

Recognitions
January 2nd - Professional Learning Day
PTO

Recognitions

Congratulations to Mrs. Dugger, Mrs. Unruh, and Mrs. Rainey for receiving grants from The Foundation for Andover Schools!!! Grants were awarded by foundation members along with AHS Cheerleaders on November 18th. Mrs. Rainey’s grant included items to help students regulate emotions. Mrs. Dugger’s grant was to add some exciting stenciling to the asphalt on the playground for some engaging options outside. Mrs. Unruh’s grant was for adding some books with audio stories for better listening comprehension. Thank you to The Foundation for Andover Schools for all their support!! We appreciate you.

January 2nd - Professional Learning Day

Sometimes I am asked what learning takes place on a Professional Learning Day when students are not at school. Recently, the Professional Learning Committee finalized the agenda for Jan 2nd so I thought I would share some of what teachers will be doing.

To start, we will share Good Things just like students do each day in their classrooms. Ask your child what they shared recently as a Good Thing to spark a conversation. A team of staff will then share a review of the Capturing Kids’ Hearts procedures to make sure we are approaching it with fidelity.

There is information that the district is sharing with all schools in regard to health benefits, as well as a survey that staff are completing as the district works on Student Success Skills and what is needed in the future.

Staff will hear about global collaboration options and how those connections can lead to supporting our students and sparking curiosity in learning. We will talk about our academic focus on vocabulary and math fact fluency, including how we can best impact those areas. Finally, there are differentiated grade-level options for targeted learning relevant to their needs including curriculum resource study, review of student data, science of reading training, handwriting, and more.

PTO

This past month PTO gave a check to the school to begin the purchasing of items on the allocations list that was approved earlier in the year. It is with much appreciation that our PTO is so supportive of our students and staff. Thank you for all your dedication! It does not go unnoticed.

Nov. 17-Dec. 16 - StuCo Donation Drive for the Wichita Children's Home

Dec. 3 - WES Chess, 3:45-4:30pm in the library

Dec. 3 - PTO Giveback Night at Chipotle, 4:00-8:00pm

Dec. 8 - 5th Gr. PE Field Trip to The Sandbox, 9:00am-12:30pm

Dec. 16 - 4th & 5th Gr. StuCo members dropping off donations at WCH, 3:45-5:00pm

Dec. 17 - 4th Gr. Topeka Field Trip, 7:30am-5:00pm

Dec. 18 - 5th Gr. Band & Orchestra Concert, 1:30pm in the WES Gym

Dec. 18 - WES Chess, 3:45-4:30pm in the library

Dec. 19 - End of 2nd Quarter, Dismiss 2 hours early at 1:45pm

Dec. 20-Jan. 5 - No School (Winter Break)

Jan. 6 - School Resumes

Jan. 6 - 2nd Quarter Report Cards available to parents in PowerSchool

The holidays are here! The time of year when we give gifts, celebrate with friends and family, and rush around to get it all done. It's not uncommon to find yourself in need of a break from the overwhelming amount of fun (or chaos, however you choose to look at it). Here are a few tips for you and your family if you find yourself too busy to enjoy the season:

Make a plan for what to do if you feel stressed, sad or anxious. This could include calling a friend, going for a walk, or doing an activity you enjoy.
Prioritize “me” time. Schedule time for activities that make you feel good. It’s okay to need some time alone to recharge.
Practice self-care. Take time to relax, whether it’s a warm bath or a scenic drive.

Remember, you are your child's best role model. If they see you relaxing and enjoying the season, they will likely do the same.

Here are a few resources that I hope you’ll find helpful

This month in counseling class we’ll continue with Safer, Smarter Kids Lessons and take some time to enjoy some mindful activities like coloring, drawing, building, listening to music or reading. Here’s a little more information about the benefits of teaching students how to practice mindfulness. https://positivepsychology.com/mindfulness-for-children-kids-activities/

We want you to continue reading during Winter Break! Each student will receive a winter break reading BINGO card. Have fun reading over the break and return to the library by January 12 for a prize. Parent signature required.

Student Council is collecting items to donate to the Wichita Children's Home. They are collecting holiday gifts for teens and kids of all ages. WCH also appreciates any new household or personal hygiene items for kids 0 to 22 years old. During our December meeting, all StuCo students will take a field trip to the Children's Home to learn more about the facility and its mission to help kids in the area.

The December meeting for both 4th and 5th grade members will be on Tuesday, December 16th. Students will return to Wheatland at 5:25pm. Permission slips with more details will be sent home soon.

Contact Jenna Sprague with any questions regarding donations or schedule conflicts. (spraguej@usd385.org)

First Student, which provides the district’s transportation service, has rolled out a new, improved FirstView App. This new app will allow enhanced, real-time tracking capabilities for all transportation services. If you have the FirstView Classic app on your phone, please delete it and download the FirstView 1.0 app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You will need to use code D5F5F to access Andover’s information. If you have Transportation issues you can call First Student at (316) 247-1926.

Reporting Absences

If your student will be absent for any reason, you must notify the WES Office. Please email Claire at pruettc@usd385.org or call the office at (316) 218-4820 to report any absence. Simply notifying your student's teacher does not mean the message is received in the office and your student may be marked incorrectly. If your student will be absent for 4 or more days in a row, you must fill out a Pre-Planned Extended Absence Form and return it to your child's teacher.

Changes in Dismissal/Signing Out

If you need to make a change to your child's method of transportation after school, you must notify the office no later than 3:00PM. If possible, please try to keep changes to a minimum. Frequent changes cause confusion for students. If the office has not received notification of a change, your child will be sent home via the method they usually take. Additionally, if you are signing out your child at the end of the day, please do not pick up your student after 3:15PM if at all possible.