Wildcat News

April 24, 2025

Principal Message

Hello to all Washington families! A few things so you can stay in the know:

~ MCA Testing is wrapping up! Kudos to the kids for working hard, trying their best, and showing us what they know!

~ Save the Date: For those of you who like to plan ahead, the Washington Spring Picnic will be held on Thursday, May 22 from 5:00-6:30.

~ How is your at-home OKAY Campaign going??? Please help us keep this alive by engaging in this with your kiddo at home. Your support, your modeling, and your engagement really matters!!! Really. Like in a big way! AND...we still have a "gift" available to students who fill out the OKAY chart from home, so it's never too late to turn that in!

Thanks for your continued support of our work--your partnership matters to each child's growth and success!

Ann Haggerty

Washington Principal

ahagge1@isd77.org

Leader In Me Parent Survey

To the Families of our Students,

As you know, Washington Elementary is proud to be a Leader In Me School. We value using the 7 Habits as our leadership framework and value all this brings to our school community. Starting April 24, our school will be administering the Measurable Results Assessment (MRA), a Leader In Me survey and reporting system designed to provide insights into the progress of our school. In order to provide a holistic picture of what is going on in our school, the MRA includes three different surveys; 1) one completed by all school staff, 2) one completed by students in grades 4 & 5, and 3) one completed by the families of students in all grades. We hope you will participate so we can use the feedback to make our school an even better place for students and families. If you have any questions about the surveys or wish to see a list of questions, please contact the school’s front office.

FAMILY SURVEY

WHAT: Online survey completed by one member of each household. Survey typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Questions relate to the experiences you and your child have at our school. Answers are anonymous--to encourage people to be honest and open, no names and other identifying information will be collected.

WHEN: The survey is now available for you to take through May 8.

HOW: The survey can be taken from any computer, smartphone, or tablet with internet access. Simply click on this link.

STUDENT SURVEY: This survey will be completed by students in grades 4 & 5 on a computer at school. The survey typically takes 15-20 minutes to complete. Students privately answer questions about their attitudes and behaviors--and can skip questions and stop anytime they choose. Students who do not wish to participate in the survey, or whose parents choose to deny permission for their participation, will be provided with an appropriate alternative activity (e.g. quiet reading) while the surveys are being administered. If you have a child in grades 4 & 5 and DO NOT want them to participate in the MRA Student Survey, please let your child's teacher know and/or call the front office by Monday, April 28. Please know that your decision to deny permission will not impact your child’s grades or your relationship with any member of our school.

We appreciate your input and feedback!

Spring Music Concert Info

Mayo Clinic Wellness Week May 5-9

Donate Your Gently Used Wildcat Gear!

As we gear up for the Spring Picnic, the Washington PTO is planning a special Garage Sale of Wildcat Gear—and we need your help! We're collecting gently used Washington Wildcat spirit wear of all sizes to make it available to other families at affordable prices. It's a great way to support our school community, clear out those closets, and give your gear a second life!

Donations can be dropped off in the Washington Office. Just send them with your child OR bring them sometime when you are in our building. All proceeds from the sale will go directly to supporting PTO-sponsored activities and events.

Thank you for helping us spread the Wildcat spirit!

MAPS Employee Appreciation Week

In preparation for MAPS Employee Appreciation Week, happening May 5–9, we invite you to join us in thanking the incredible staff who make a difference in our schools every single day.

MAPS employees have a lasting impact on our students’ lives and continue to show up with devotion, determination, and dedication. Their commitment to inspiring creativity, empowering resiliency, and engaging our community is an essential part of what makes our district strong. If you would like to participate in showing appreciation please fill out this form.

We are so grateful for your continued partnership and support. Thank you for helping us celebrate the amazing people who serve MAPS every day!

2025-26 Calendar

The MAPS School Board adopted a revised 2025-2026 school calendar at the April 7 board meeting in order to provide additional time for construction in the summer of 2026. Here is a link to the adjusted calendar so families can plan accordingly.

Leader In Me Habit #6: SYNERGIZE

During the month of April, our entire school will focus on Habit #6: Synergize. As parents/guardians, your understanding and support of our leadership work in this habit is very appreciated! I have found this language and learning to benefit ALL, not just students!

Habit 6, Synergize, from "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People," emphasizes the power of collaboration and teamwork to achieve results that are greater than the sum of individual efforts, fostering creative solutions and stronger relationships.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of Habit 6:

The Core Idea: Synergy means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, achieved through creative cooperation and valuing differences.
Beyond "My Way": It's about moving beyond simply accepting or tolerating differences to truly valuing them and using them to create better solutions.
Synergy as a Process:It's not just an outcome, but a process of working together, sharing ideas, and building on each other's strengths.
Building Blocks of Synergy:
- Trust and Respect: A foundation of trust and respect is crucial for effective collaboration.
- Empathy and Open Communication: Actively listening and understanding different perspectives is key.
- Valuing Differences: Recognizing and appreciating diverse viewpoints and experiences.
- Creative Collaboration: Working together to find innovative solutions that are better than what any one person could come up with alone.
Examples of Synergy:
- A band playing together, where the music is greater than the sum of the individual instruments.
- A team of researchers collaborating on a project, where their combined knowledge leads to breakthroughs.
- A family working together to solve a problem, where their combined efforts lead to a better outcome.
How to Cultivate Synergy:
- Seek First to Understand: Listen empathetically to others' perspectives.
- Be Open to New Ideas: Be willing to consider different viewpoints and approaches.
- Build Trust and Rapport: Establish strong relationships with those you collaborate with.
- Focus on Shared Goals: Ensure everyone is working towards the same objectives.
- Embrace Differences: View differences as strengths, not weaknesses.
Benefits of Synergy:
- Better Solutions: Synergy leads to more creative and effective solutions.
- Stronger Relationships: Collaboration builds trust and strengthens relationships.
- Increased Motivation: Working together can be more engaging and motivating.
- Greater Results: Synergy can lead to significantly better outcomes