Primary Letters

Principal's Message - Mrs. Judd

Read, Draw, Write: Developing Problem Solvers

In math, students are learning more than how to find the right answer. They are growing as mathematicians by developing the skills to think critically, make sense of problems, and explain their reasoning. One strategy that supports this growth is the Read, Draw, Write (RDW) method.

The RDW method provides students with a step by step approach to solving math problems. In the first step READ, the students carefully read the problem three times to identify what information is important, what they already know, and what the problem is asking. They may underline or highlight the key information. The goal is to understand the story before deciding how to solve it. Next, students DRAW, or show their work. At this stage, students may create a picture, diagram, number line, tape diagram or model to represent the problem. A drawing helps students to organize their thinking, make the math visual and represent their thinking. The last step is WRITE. In this step, students solve the problem and write an answer that explains their thinking. By reading carefully, drawing a model or picture, and writing to explain their thinking, children learn to make sense of mathematical situations rather than simply looking for an answer.

Families can encourage RDW at home too! Everyday experiences can be used to practice the method and strengthen math thinking. For example, during playtime, students could use toys, blocks, stuffed animals, etc. to solve problems involving addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. The RDW method helps children connect words, pictures, and numbers to math concepts.

As we enter November, we’ll celebrate American Education Week with our Parent Visitation Day on Tuesday, November 17th. Please refer to the schedule posted on the refrigerator door. We will also honor our community’s senior citizens at our annual Senior Citizen Luncheon on November 23rd, featuring class presentations and a delicious Thanksgiving meal sponsored by the PTO and local organizations. In addition, our Student Council is preparing to lead the yearly Food Drive, encouraging all students to participate in the spirit of giving. I am so thankful for your continued support, positive energy, and partnership. If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me.

Captain CARES One Ride at a Time

This month students continue to explore our school-wide theme, Adventure Park: Building CARES One Ride At A Time by visiting different destinations in our pretend park with our cartoon friends to learn how to grow cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy and self-regulation skills.

Our most recent destination was the Self-Control Speedway. Here Self-Control Sunny shared that sometimes on the speedway of life, the road isn’t always smooth. As “drivers” we can come to speedbumps. Speedbumps can be worries along our pathway that make us feel uncomfortable, scared or nervous. Other times there are bumps, hills or mountains in our pathway that we must deal with. Self-Control Sunny helped remind us to use self-control to stop, think and choose our actions when we come to a bump so that we move in a positive direction. In addition, students learned that problems can be different sizes and that not all problems have the same level of reaction so identifying the size of the problem helps us match our reactions making the ride of life a bit easier to travel.

Important Safety Message

As we work together to keep our school secure, please remember our visitor policy:

Stop at the Main Office First: Every guest including parents, guardians, volunteers, and family members must check in with Officer Joe or the front office to get a visitor badge before heading down any hallway.
Visible Badges Matter: Staff members are instructed to stop and direct any unbadged adults back to the main office.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, welcoming, and predictable environment for all of our children!

Grade 1 - Mrs. Moser

Math: Subtraction Strategies

We are learning different ways to solve subtraction problems using stories, pictures, and our fingers. Students are practicing taking away, figuring out how many are left, and drawing an organized math picture to show their thinking. For example, students might draw 8 circles and cross out 5 to show that 3 are left. These pictures help students make sense of subtraction and explain how they found their answers.

Home Connection: Practice subtraction during everyday activities! Ask your child, “We have 8 crackers, and you eat 5. How many are left?” or “There are 5 toys on the floor. If we put away 2, how many are still on the floor?” Encourage your child to draw an organized picture, such as circles or simple objects, and cross out what is taken away to find the answer.

Grade 3 - Mrs. Hosking

In Social Studies, students are exploring the essential question, “Where in the world is our community?” We are learning how the world is organized, from the seven continents and five oceans to countries, states, and local communities. Students will use maps and create a three-dimensional model of Earth to identify important geographic features, including the equator, prime meridian, and four hemispheres. We will also zoom in from a global perspective to locate countries in North America and explore how our state and community fit into the larger world. Through hands-on activities and map investigations, students are building their geographic knowledge and developing a deeper understanding of the connections between places and the world around us.

Fourth Grade - Mrs. White

Fourth graders celebrated Unity Week by reflecting on kindness, acceptance, and coming together. Through our “Above the Line/Below the Line” activity, students explored helpful and hurtful behaviors and discussed how to be upstanders by speaking up, including others, and offering support. We also enjoyed a Unity Walk with first graders! Each student also created a kindness pledge with a colorful, signed drawing showing how they will put their pledge into action. Together, these pledges formed a border for our display, reminding us that small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Fifth Grade - Mrs. Della Ratta

WPS 5th grade students have voting on their minds! Connecticut’s Kid Governor, the award winning civics program, is in full swing in our 5th Grade Classrooms. Students began their study of state government by traveling around the room to “meet” the various members of Connecticut’s State Government. They also learned how a governor gets elected. Additionally, they studied the role of the three branches of government and how they “check” and “balance” each other’s power. The final step of the Kid Governor Program was each student researching and developing a platform that was meaningful to them. This year’s platforms were varied and fascinating. Some children wanted to end homelessness, while others wanted to stop bullying, help people during natural disasters, or eradicate the Spotted Lantern Fly. Their action steps were creative as well. The students planned fundraising dinners, poster contests, and websites in an effort to support their causes. Are you wondering who won? The fifth graders have spoken, and Jonah Szwejkowski (Ms. Pope’s Class) was chosen to proceed onward at the state level. His platform on AI safety was a favorite among his peers. Next week, the students are looking forward to going to the polls one more time to vote on our school level Kid Governor. The students love presenting their ideas and thinking critically before filling in their ballots. What a fun and engaging way to dive deep into civics!

Building Reading Stamina - Mrs. Ubaldi

Reading stamina is staying focused on your reading for a long period of time without getting too tired or giving up. Children need reading stamina, because spending longer periods of time reading means fewer interruptions and more time reading. As your child moves into higher grades, having reading stamina will help your child navigate longer texts and assignments. Using the following tips can help develop more stamina in your child.

Vary the way the reading is done. Parents can think about this in terms of having their child “read to himself, read to someone, and listen to reading." Some combination of the three should make up the reading time, especially for new or struggling readers.
Choose a spot in your home that is comfortable and encourages settling into a good book. Also, try to set a relatively consistent time for reading to happen. Try to make it part of your nightly routine. It’s hard to build a joy for reading when it is something that is being squeezed into that free moment.
Choose "just right" books. If your child is at a stage of being able to read alone, help him choose books that he is able to read independently. This means he should be able to read almost all of the words on the page. A good strategy to use is the “Five-Finger Rule.” Have your child read a page of text. If he has to work on 5 or more words on the page, the book is probably too hard. If your child will be reading with you, choose books that are lively and engaging, and if they are a little harder, you will be there to support them with that difficulty.
Set reasonable goals. Young children find it difficult to sit for long periods of time, even with the most engaging book. When starting out, limit book time to just a few minutes and work up from there. For elementary aged readers, consider starting with 10-15 minutes of reading time, and work up from there. Add a few minutes to your reading time every week or so. Your goal is to get to a minimum of twenty minutes of reading.
Celebrate progress, but don’t get too caught up on the number of minutes spent reading. Celebrate the time that is spent reading. Share your favorite parts of books, plan the next visit to the library, and share progress with other family members.

Math Games - Mr. Stacey

During conferences recently, I was asked how parents can support their child with math at home. One of the best, and I think easiest ways, is by playing games! Any kind of game makes for great family fun, and there is a wealth of math games out there. Here are some recommendations: Sum Swamp, Flip 4, Head Full of Numbers, Clumsy Thief, Zeus on the Loose, Prime Climb, Sumoku, ‘Smath. Sum Swamp, Zeus on the Loose, and Prime Climb are probably the most popular with my students. Similarly, a simple deck of cards offers many math games. Look up how to play Salute or War (both are great for addition and multiplication practice).

Sumoku and ‘Smath are like the game Scrabble but with numbers. Qwirkle is also like Scrabble but uses symbols and pictures instead of numbers. It is a great example of the other “math games” that use logic, reasoning, and problem solving instead of numbers. Though they won’t necessarily help your child with their math facts, these are still excellent ways to practice problem solving skills, which are critical to success in math. Some of my favorites include: Qwirkle, Ghost Blitz, Set, Blokus, Battle Sheep.

If any of these pique your interest, please let me know and I’m happy to loan you a game to try out at home!

Physical Education - Mr. Morgan

Our students receive Physical Education every third day. Over the first two months of school we have established classroom/gym routines and expectations. We have completed our icebreaker games and spent time challenging ourselves in a variety of cooperative games.

We are currently taking part in our October “Planktober” strength challenge. We started at 30 seconds and added an additional 30-60 seconds to each subsequent class. The end of October has planks reaching over 5 minutes in length. A plank is an isometric full body workout that strengthens all your major muscle groups with specific emphasis on your core/abdominals. Have your child demo a plank at home. They have become experts. Our entire school plans to end October celebrating together at a fun filled ‘Plank Assembly.’

Our younger students have spent time exploring how to move their bodies. Motor skills and movement patterns are the foundation for all future sports they might play. We do this in a manner that is encouraging and fun. There is not an emphasis on keeping score/winning. Students also have learned some new tag games that they have enjoyed.

Our older students have completed their kicking/soccer unit. They got to enjoy some time outside working on dribbling, passing, striking, and punting. Lead up games and small sided games allowed for all students to touch the ball during game play. We also introduced overhead throwing activities while using a football. Students worked on catching a ball while moving, throwing to an open target, and defending a pass attempt. Fun was had while playing ‘3 step football’ and ‘4 down football.’ Next up for all students are some terrific Halloween themed games.

Notes From the Nurse - Mrs. Hodge

As we approach the cooler weather, the prevalence of illness begins to rise. Viruses are common among children and are transmitted through the coughing or sneezing of people infected with them. People may also become infected by touching something with viral particles on it and then touching their mouths, noses, or eyes. It is important to review basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices such as:

Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or use the inside of your elbow
Do not share drinks or food

I enjoyed visiting each classroom for a quick lesson to review handwashing, covering our coughs and the importance of not sharing our food with our friends!

The following will help to develop a strong immune system to fight off illness:

Eat a balanced diet

Get enough sleep

Exercise regularly

PLEASE FOLLOW THE 24 HOUR GUIDELINES WHEN YOUR CHILD IS SICK:

A child must be free of fever (<100.4 F. ) for 24 hours (without medication to reduce the fever) before returning to school.
Children with Strep infection must be on antibiotics for a full 24 hours before returning to school.
Children with conjunctivitis or “pink eye” must be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school.
Children must be free of nausea and/or vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school.

Please remember to call or email the school nurse in the morning if your child will be absent.

INJURIES AND HOSPITAL/PHYSICIAN VISITS

All students who are injured, whether at home, school, or during athletic events, require written medical clearance from a physician when returning to school. The student must bring this paperwork to the health office prior to going to the classroom. Students with any temporary disability due to an injury who return to school with a cast, air/soft cast, splint, ace bandage wrap, arm sling, wheelchair, walker, crutches, cane or immobilizer or other assistive devices require a written note from the physician. This note should include:

Student’s ability to return/attend school.
Any restrictions related to sports, PE, lunch, classroom, recess, passing time to/from class, carrying backpack/books, or other related school activities.
Confirmation from the physician that the student has been properly instructed in the use of devices such as crutches, walkers, canes, wheelchairs, etc.
The date the student can resume full activity.
A physician’s note (stating any limitations/accommodations) is also required for the following: Surgery, concussion, hospitalization, and fracture/sprain.

I will begin checking our student’s hearing in November.

REACH Parents or Guardians:

Please be aware that the State of Connecticut requires all children who are enrolled in preschool and childcare centers to receive the Flu vaccine each year between August 1 through December 31, 2026. Children need to receive 2 doses to be considered to be completely vaccinated. If your child has not received any of the vaccine, please send in proof of their first shot and let me know when their second dose will be given. If you have not already done so, please provide the documentation that your child has received this vaccine or if they are medically exempt. Please send in proof of vaccination or documentation of medical exemptions prior to December 22, 2026.

Library - Mrs. Belanger

Welcome to a new school year in the library! The year is off to a wonderful start, with students eagerly discovering books they love, checking them out, and continuing their reading adventures at home. We are thrilled to share that, so far, WPS students have checked out over 1,000 books!

Here is a look at what our readers have been up to across the grade levels:

Kindergarten & 1st Grade: Our youngest readers have been diving into captivating storytimes each week! They are exploring fun read alouds and exploring brand-new picture books that spark their imagination, build early literacy skills, and foster a lifelong love of reading.
2nd Grade: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: Second graders are entering a world of pure imagination! As they journey through Willy Wonka's mysterious factory alongside Charlie Bucket, students are enjoying vivid descriptions, eccentric characters, and valuable lessons about humor, humility, and kindness.
3rd Grade: Wishtree by Katherine Applegate: Third graders are listening to a heartwarming story told from the unique perspective of Red, a wise old oak tree. Students are engaging with powerful themes of friendship, community, acceptance, and the importance of welcoming others with an open heart.
4th Grade: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown: Fourth graders are following the fascinating journey of Roz, a robot who wakes up stranded on a remote island. Students are loving the exciting blend of nature and technology as Roz learns to adapt, survive, and build an unexpected family with the island’s wildlife.
5th Grade: The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau: Fifth graders are unraveling a thrilling post-apocalyptic mystery set in an underground city whose power grid is failing. Students are immersing themselves in high-stakes problem-solving, teamwork, and suspense as the main characters search for clues to save their people.

Thank you for encouraging your children to read every day at home. We look forward to many more exciting literary adventures this year!

Trip to the Fire House

WPS students had an exciting visit to the Washington Firehouse, where hands-on learning stations brought emergency services to life. They explored an ambulance, police car and the many aspects of the firehouse. Firefighters demonstrated their uniforms, gear, and rescue tools, even letting students try spraying a real fire hose. Students also discovered how pulley systems help move heavy equipment, using one to move an ATV! The visit was both fun and educational, giving students a new appreciation for the important work of our local first responders. A heartfelt thank-you to all the firefighters, police officers, and emergency personnel for sharing their time, expertise, and dedication to keeping our community safe.

Unity Day

Washington Primary School celebrated Unity Day on October 21st. The day celebrated how kindness, acceptance, and inclusion build true commUNITY. Staff and students wore orange to show a shared commitment to creating a school where everyone feels valued and respected. Students and staff explored unity through activities like The Wrinkled Heart and Acts Above and Below the Line. In addition, each student contributed a kindness pledge to the “Be the ‘I’ in KIND” display in our cafeteria. To celebrate and solidify commitments, staff and families joined in a walk along the River Walk filling the pathway with shades of orange.

Upcoming Events

October 30 - Spirit Day - Dress in Spirit Wear or school colors

November 2 - Makerspace trip to Gunn Library - Grade 5P

November 3 - No School - Professional Development

November 4 - Vision Screenings

November 6 - Photo Retakes

November 9 - Makerspace trip to Gunn Library - Grade 4

November 11 - NO SCHOOL - Veteran's Day

November 16 - Makerspace trip to Gunn Library - Grade 3

November 17 - Parent Visitation (more information to follow)

November 23 - Senior Luncheon

November 25-27 - Thanksgiving Recess

November 30 - Makerspace trip to Gunn Library - Grade 2