Turtle Talk 12/16/2024

https://cdnsm5-ss3.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_2744/File/Calendars/Edited_2024-2025_School_Calendar_050724-WEB.pdf

Keep up the AWESOME attendance Turtles!

5th, 6th and 7th grade families: Please complete this RSVP if you are attending the Arts For Learning Presentation at 10 am on December 20th. Our students have been working hard on their spoken word performance and can't wait to WOW you with their math vocabulary and rhythmic rhymes! You can RSVP online or on the paper invite that was sent home last week.

REMINDER - Friday December 20th is a 12 noon dismissal. Schools and offices close at 12:00 pm and the YMCA is also closed for the Winter Break. We hope you have a wonderful break!

Hibernation Week: This week before Winter Break is a long tradition for Watershed teachers, students and community members. With the schoolwide spirit week, Watershed shows that outdoor learning is for everyone! We use this week to remind ourselves why Watershed's mission and vision is so important - that outdoor, environmental, project based education makes a difference in the lives of students.

MSDE report card: Watershed has once again proven to be a leader among schools in Baltimore County, earning 4-stars on the MSDE report card. These stars are a culmination of the hard work that students, staff and families do each and every day to ensure that Watershed is a school that we want to keep alive and thriving in Baltimore County! Way to go Turtles!

MSDE Expert Review Team: On February 5th and 6th, the Maryland State Department of Education is visiting Watershed to see math instruction. There will be opportunities for teachers, community members, parents/guardians and students to provide feedback. Look for the Turtle Talks in the New Year for opportunities to join in showing off the amazing things our Turtles do each and every day to the State of Maryland!

Looking ahead - the Unit 2 showcase is scheduled for Wednesday March 12! Remember parents/guardians, we need your help feedback for our speaking and listening standards. When you attend Unit 2 showcase, you partner with your child's teacher to ensure they are progressing through the standards!

REMINDER Cell phones: Did you know that the impact cell phones have on students is endangering them more than it is protecting them? Adolescents having cell phones may provide adults with a false sense of security around being able to contact their children as needed but the data, security, and brain impact of cell phones on the developing brain is a continued concern for psychologists and psychiatrists. Please read this article to learn more about the impact of cell phones on students and their developing brains. The school rule for cell phones is that they should be off and away. Students are not allowed to use their cell phones without teacher permission.

https://bcps.nutrislice.com/menu/bcps-weekly-menus

Tuesday the 17th is our last Trash Free Lunch of the year! We will weigh and save the non-compostable trash from each room. Why will we save it? Each class will have the opportunity to create a Hibernation Hovel to be judged by our 7th graders from the school's Green Team/Youth Climate Institute. This Watershed tradition is a part of our Hibernation Week events. How can you minimize trash? Refillable drink bottles is our number one tip for going green with ease. Thank you for your support this Tuesday, and every TFL each Tuesday.

Watershed is pleased to announce its intent to renew our Maryland Green School status this spring. The application involves providing examples of the hands-on, integrated environmental project-based curriculum, stewardship, and activism for which our Watershed Turtle educators and students are known. Learn more about Maryland Green Schools here: https://marylandgreenschools.org

Last chance to retrieve Lost & Found items is by the end of the school day on Friday, December 20th! Please, please check through the Lost & Found locker outside (near the chicken doors) before the end of Hibernation Week. Any items not reunited with a family will be donated so that our Lost & Found locker has a fresh start in the new year.

Ms. Lauren has created a plant propagation station in the Watershed front doorway. Plant cuttings are growing in the window and available for anyone to adopt a plant cutting and take it home. Families are also welcome to leave their own plant cuttings for others to take. If you are looking for a new houseplant, check out Ms. Lauren's display!

Watershed participates in Trex's plastic recycling program. There are 2 tall white containers in the front lobby to collect plastic bags and plastic wrap. Each week, a Watershed volunteer collects the plastic, weighs it, takes a picture of it and drops it off at a local grocery store for recycling. Watershed logs our plastic donations each week. So far this school year, Watershed has recycled 118 lbs. of plastic. If we reach our goal of recycling 1,000 lbs. of plastic by the end of August, Watershed would receive a composite bench for our campus made out of plastic bags like the ones that we have been recycling. Please help us reach our goal and bring your clean, dry, and food-free plastic to recycle at school. Thank you!

The next round of Pokémon Club will be for 4th and 5th grade students. The club will take place on Mondays (January 13, 27, and February 3 and 10) from 3:15-4:30 . The Pokémon club will run in 4-week cycles. The purpose of Pokémon club is to learn how to play the card game using math, reading and problem-solving skills. Students do not need Pokémon cards to participate. The club will be open to the first 10 students using the signup genius link below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C49AAAB2EA3FC1-46594247-4th6th

In the Science Club we will be using the scientific method to explore phenomena and create things. This year science club will be separated by grade level; 3rd-5th grade will be held November 12th-February 11th and 6th-7th will be February 18th-May13th. The times will be Tuesdays 3:15-4:15 pm. 3rd-5th will focus on things such as creating slime, making volcanoes and egg drops using parachutes. While 6th-7th grade will be exploring the science disciplines such as biology, physics, etc. and designing their own experiments. If you are interested in signing your student up for Science Club please use this Sign-Up Genius.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D44AAA82EA7F9C52-52628656-science#/

As we approach the holiday season, we want to take a moment to reflect on all the incredible learning and growth happening in our classrooms. From hands-on projects to thoughtful discussions, our Watershed Turtles are engaging in meaningful experiences that inspire curiosity, creativity, and connection. Their enthusiasm for learning—and the support you provide at home—truly make our school a special place.

Looking ahead, we are excited for Hibernation Week, a cherished time when we come together as a community to pause, reflect, and prepare for the winter break. This tradition encourages us all to embrace a quieter pace, savor moments of rest, and reconnect with family and friends. All while learning about the hibernation patterns of our animal friends!

The Board of Watershed Public Charter School wishes you a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, love, and togetherness. Thank you for being part of our vibrant community and for all you do to support your child’s education.

See you in the New Year!

Thank you for your continued patience and support as we await final approval of the electrical permit and inspection for the temporary classroom trailers for 5th Grade. Our contractor expects to receive the electrical permit and schedule the final inspection any day now. Once this final step is complete and occupancy is granted, we are ready to quickly transition the remaining items and begin using the new classroom space without delay.

We deeply appreciate the flexibility and understanding of our 5th-grade community as we approach the finish line for this project.

In addition, we are actively working on the next phase of our facilities expansion. We are in the process of applying for and navigating building permits for the middle school modular classrooms project, with construction anticipated to begin in February 2025.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to enhance our campus to meet the needs of our growing school community.

We are nearing the completion of the elevator repairs. Last week, the Maryland State Elevator and Escalator Safety Office approved a variance related to the height of a beam above the elevator shaft. Drywall and painting work is scheduled for December 16 and 17, with the installation of the new elevator door frames and doors planned for Winter Break. We deeply appreciate the continued patience and understanding of the Watershed community throughout this project.

Thank you again to everyone who placed a Watershed yard sign at your home this fall and winter to help the school promote our lottery application & open houses. If you have a yard sign, please plan to return it to the front office between January 2-10.

Ideas/Questions/Concerns Contact us at PTO@watershedpto.org

Thank you to all of the Watershed families who were able to join us for the December PTO Meeting on December 3rd—our first in-person meeting of the year! We had so much fun getting to see everyone in person (and virtually 😉), sharing all the latest PTO news, and having a blast at Family Game Night. You can find the meeting minutes for the December PTO Meeting HERE.

Be sure to join us virtually on Tuesday, January 7th for the January PTO Meeting. meet.google.com/uvx-zqmz-rcd

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us at Family Game Night on December 3rd. It was a wonderful evening filled with fun, as we played Bingo for Books, enjoyed watching the community connect through friendly competition, and shared delicious pizza and snacks.

We also want to thank the committee members for their planning, their ideas and their time. A special thank you goes out to the PTO volunteers and middle school students who were available to play games with the younger students during the PTO meeting!

“The wind more boisterously by me blows, and each succeeding day now longer grows.”

– Claude McKay

Winter is coming, and the PTO’s Hospitality Committee is hosting a Hot Cocoa Playdate for students after dismissal on December 19th. We’ll have hot cocoa (with a dairy-free option) outside by the playground. Grab some cocoa and hang out with us or take it with you as you go. Students must be accompanied by an adult.

Students who ride vans after school will be recognized with a small take-away gift and at 4pm, we’ll bring hot cocoa to The Y for students who attend that program.

**This event will be weather permitting.

Our annual dance is coming back this year, on Friday, January 17th (Snow Date Friday 1/31) at Chadwick Elementary School from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. This year’s theme will be “dancing through the decades!” Come dressed in your favorite attire from the 1950s-1990s and be ready to swing or cha-cha slide! Tickets can be purchased here for $5 per family. The dance committee is also looking for a few volunteers to assist with this event. Check out the Sign-up Genius to assist!

The next Dance Committee Meeting will take place via google meet tonight, Monday, December 16th at 6pm. Join us to help with planning and making this the event of the year!

The middle school committee is still meeting and working hard to plan some exciting things for our 6th & 7th graders. It’s not too late to sign up and get involved. Sign up here to join the fun! Our next meeting will be held Tuesday,12/17, at 6pm. Don’t miss it! Join using the meeting code: meet.google.com/wpd-hhcy-rcm

Mark your calendars for December 19th! 6th & 7th graders are invited to join us at Pikesville Bowlero for a middle school meet up from 6:00-8:30 pm. The deadline to purchase tickets has been extended through today, December 16. Purchase your $20 ticket & RSVP here by December 16th to strike out! Your ticket includes a lane, shoes, pizza, drink and arcade card. Tickets are non-refundable.

Pikesville Bowlero, 1723 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208

The PTO’s annual Double Good popcorn fundraiser came to a close on Sunday after an exciting sale. In just 4 days, together we sold $14,652 in popcorn, which means the PTO will receive $7,326!

We are blown away by everyone's support and the outcome! Thank you so much for your participation in this exciting fundraiser!

We’d like to give a shoutout to our top three sellers and recipients of the Amazon egift cards!
1st place: Tylan Lawson
2nd place: Davion Williams
3rd place: Zoë Debolt

Additionally, storefronts that sold at least $150 worth of popcorn were entered into a raffle to win one of three $25 Amazon egift cards. To find out who the three lucky winners are, you can watch this video: Raffle winners.mp4

Thank you again to all our participants. This year’s Double Good fundraiser was a huge success and we appreciate the role they played in it!

This past Wednesday, December 11th we held our December restaurant fundraising event at Peace A Pizza in Catonsville from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. 20% of the purchases went to the Watershed PTO. Thank you so much to all the families who participated!

Do you love helping out at your child’s school? Want to potentially win a raffle in the process?! Sign up for a school volunteer opportunity through the SignUp Genius link below, and you'll be entered into a monthly raffle for a chance to win a gift card! The winner will be drawn at each PTO meeting, starting with December's winner, who will be announced at the January PTO meeting. Each month's raffle is separate, so the more you sign up, the more chances you have to win! December entries are open now!

Let’s come together and make a difference in our school community—sign up today!

👉 https://tinyurl.com/Watershed-School-Volunteer

Remember how fun PE was when you were a kid in school? We have a chance for you to relive that magic! Ms. Corona has requested a volunteer who would assist in specific units and help set-up special PE events. If you are able to volunteer for either or both of these requests or have questions before committing, please send an email to DeannaPatterson07@gmail.com. You can view a more detailed description for the role of Watershed Helper here: https://forms.gle/YEeRreRqLEywqKE5A

The PTO is currently looking for enthusiastic members of our community to lead after-school clubs. We’re excited to offer Parent/Caregiver Led Clubs for Watershed students, and we’d love for you to share your talents, skills, or hobbies! If you're interested in running an after-school club, please check out the details here. For any questions, feel free to contact us at president@watershedpto.org.

As the new year approaches, we still have a few committees that are in need of chairs. Sign up to chair and play a key role in shaping these events—your support can make all the difference in ensuring their success.

Committees that still need chairs:

Election Committee Chair (February 1st - April 1st)

Spring Dance Committee Chair (April 1st - May 23)

If you are interested in leading any of these committees or want to learn more before committing please send an email to president@watershedpto.org.

It’s that time of year already! The winter holidays are quickly approaching, and we know many of you are starting to think about meaningful ways to show appreciation for our wonderful teachers and staff. To help you with gift ideas, we’ve compiled a list of their favorite things and interests, which you can view here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eIh6TC-yefh5goG2JjErlDO2M4yeWEX4

Room Reps are also collecting for class gifts now! If you haven't yet been in contact with your Room Rep., or you're not getting their emails, please fill out the google form linked for your child's homeroom class on the Contact List below! You can also email them directly.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/116gcy9o_q4CwP6b01FHnj7yjZTuNNvbiX96qj8m6VA8/edit?usp=sharing

Let’s work together to spread some holiday cheer and show our gratitude for the incredible work our teachers and staff do every day!

The PTO Executive Board would like to thank everyone for your involvement in our PTO events and programs this fall. We appreciate our volunteers and recognize that what we accomplish is because of the support of our membership. We wish you a peaceful and fun winter break that creates fond memories. We look forward to working with you in the upcoming year! We will be back with our PTO emails in the new year on January 5, 2025!

Did you know that the Watershed PTO has a linktree? Visit https://linktr.ee/watershedpto to find an up to date list of all our links including the Fall Fest RSVP, Room Rep Contact Information, volunteer sign-ups, our Mabel’s Labels fundraiser, and more!