Washington Elementary
April 2026
April
April is a special time of year—flowers are beginning to bloom, the days are getting longer, and our students are showing just how much they’ve grown over the school year. Just like the plants in our yards and gardens, our students have been nurturing their learning all year, and this month gives them a chance to shine.
We have several important assessments happening this month. Success on these tests depends on many things, including your support at home. Students do best when they get plenty of sleep, eat nutritious meals, and have access to engaging learning materials presented in a variety of ways. Our students have been working hard to understand and apply grade-level skills, and we are excited to see their growth.
- Grades 3–5: NSCAS Reading tests start April 13th and Math tests begin April 20th.
- Grade 5: NSCAS Science test will begin April 7th.
- All students: DIBELS assessment on April 28th, which measures students’ ability to fluently read grade-level materials.
As April brings new growth in nature, we are reminded of the growth happening every day in our classrooms. Thank you for encouraging your child and celebrating their learning this month!
Seeds of Change
Dear Families,
Happy April! As we usher in a new month at Washington, we are focusing on “Planting Seeds of Character”. Just like the flowers and gardens many of us are starting this spring, we are helping our students plant important seeds that will help them grow into young men and women of strong character.
We ended March with learning how to:
- Accept Consequences
- See Correction as a Positive Thing
We’re kicking off April by learning how to:
- Make Sincere Apologies
We are teaching students that everyone makes mistakes. But It’s what we do after the mistake that really matters! When we accept the natural consequences of our choices, listen to gentle correction, and care enough to fix what we’ve hurt, we show true strength and kindness.
In our classroom lessons and in some of my Guidance lessons, students are learning:
How to make a sincere apology that includes what happened, how it made someone feel, and how they will make it better (“I’m sorry I knocked over your blocks. I know that made you feel sad. Next time I’ll be more careful.”)
Why accepting consequences helps us learn and grow instead of feeling angry or unfair
That correction from teachers or parents is a sign that someone cares about us and wants us to become our very best
These “seeds” may feel small right now, but they grow into big, beautiful character traits: responsibility, humility, empathy, and integrity.
Parents, you can help these seeds grow at home, too!
When your child makes a mistake, gently guide them to accept the consequence and think about how to fix it. Put words to what happened.
Practice sincere apologies together using the simple formula: What I did → How it made you feel → How I’ll make it better.
Celebrate when your child shows responsibility or courage after a tough moment; growth is worth cheering for!
I love that we get to work together to help our students become caring, responsible, and resilient young people. I’m so proud of the character I see growing in each one of them every day!
~Mrs. Simmons
Washington Elementary
Email: kmorrison@nppsd.org
Website: https://www.nppsd.org/o/washington
Location: 600 West 3rd Street, North Platte, NE, USA
Phone: (308)535-7142
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NPwashingtonwildcats