September Newsletter (WRES)
Dear WRES Families,
Thank you so much for your support and partnership as we kick off this new school year! We have had a wonderful start, and our team is truly excited about all the amazing things coming up in September.
A few quick reminders from your WRES Admin Team:
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Transportation – We know transportation has been a concern during these first few weeks. While we don’t have direct control over transportation, we are committed to getting you answers as quickly as possible and will continue to advocate for our families.
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Arrival and Dismissal – Please follow the directions of the adults outside, even if their guidance differs from the arrows on the ground. Listening to staff makes the process smoother and faster for everyone.
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End-of-Day Transportation Changes – If your child’s dismissal plan needs to change, please call the front office no later than 2:30 p.m.. It becomes very difficult to manage changes after that time, as students and teachers are wrapping up their day. Also, please remain in your vehicle during pick-up. We cannot pull students out of the car rider line when families come directly into the front office at dismissal.
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Mark Your Calendars – Below you’ll find a list of important events happening in September. We hope to see you at many of them!
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Parents’ Bill of Rights Notice – Ohio has passed the Parents’ Bill of Rights, which confirms that parents and guardians have the right to make decisions about their child’s upbringing, education, and care. District policy requires us to share these rights with you and ask whether we may provide certain physical, mental, or behavioral health services to your child. Please complete the attached form and return it to your child’s principal. Click Here to Download: Annual Notice Parents Bill of Rights
Title 1 Parents Right to Know: You have the right to know about the teaching qualifications of your child’s classroom teacher in a school receiving Title I funds. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that any school district receiving Title I funds must notify parents of each student attending any school receiving Title I funds that they may request, and the district will provide the parents on request (and in a timely manner), information regarding the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers, including at a minimum, the following:
- Whether the teacher has met State qualification and licensing criteria for the grade levels and subject areas in which the teacher provides instruction;
- Whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through which State qualification or licensing criteria have been waived; and
- Whether the teacher is teaching in the field of discipline of the certification of the teacher;
- Whether your child is provided services by paraprofessionals and, if so, their qualifications.
- In addition, parents of participating children will be provided: Information on the level of achievement of their child(ren) on the required State academic assessments; and timely notice that the parent's child has been assigned, or has been taught for four or more consecutive weeks by, a teacher who does not meet applicable State certification or licensure requirements at the grade level and subject area in which the teacher has been assigned. For more information check our our RCS District Website: https://www.reyn.org/about-rcs/departments/human-capital-management/federal-notices
Thank you again for helping us start the year strong. We are so grateful for our WRES community!
Warmly,
Mrs. Fowler & Mr. Thornton
Beginning of the Year Testing
This week, our students will be completing their beginning-of-the-year assessments with NWEA MAP testing.
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Kindergarten – 3rd Grade: Reading and Math
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4th & 5th Grade: Reading, Math, and Science
In addition, our Kindergarten students will also begin the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA).
These assessments help us better understand where each child is starting the year and guide our instruction to best support their growth. Thank you for encouraging your child to do their best!
September 2025
- September 1st (Monday): No School/Labor Day
September 10th (Wednesday): Mumkin Sale Ends (Fundraiser)
September 16th (Tuesday): RCS Board of Education Meeting
September 23rd (Tuesday): PTO Meeting - Family Game Night
September 24th (Wednesday): No School/Teacher PD Day
September 25th (Thursday): Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Townhall (PBIS)
September 26th Friday): 3rd - 5th Grade Townhall (PBIS)
- September 26th (Friday): September PBIS Incentive (PBIS)
Kindergarten:
September Update: Our Kindergarteners have been working hard to get acclimated to school routines, and we are so proud of the progress they’ve already made! As we move into September, students will begin taking their NWEA MAP assessments in Reading and Math, as well as the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). We are excited to see where our students are starting so we can design meaningful lessons that meet the needs of every learner. These assessments help us better understand each child’s strengths and guide our instruction throughout the year.
First Grade:
Second Grade:
Welcome back, 2nd grade families! We are so excited to start the school year and see our students grow and learn.
Beginning-of-Year Assessments
This month, students will begin taking their NWEA MAP assessments to help us understand their starting points and plan meaningful instruction.
Curriculum Focus – 1st Quarter
Reading Focus:
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Be a Super Citizen
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Look Around and Explore!
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Meet in the Middle
Math Focus:
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Add and subtract within 20
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Work with equal groups of objects to build foundations for multiplication
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Understand place value
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Work with time and money
We are looking forward to a fantastic quarter full of learning, growth, and fun!
Third Grade:
The Wolf Pack - Third Grade News
Welcome to third grade! In reading, we are starting Module 1 and learning about realistic fiction and how authors make characters interesting. In math, we are working on rounding to the nearest ten and hundred within 1,000, and adding and subtracting within 1,000. In social studies, we will study geography. In science, we will learn about life science. Students will also take beginning-of-the-year MAP tests in reading and math. Our state reading test will be in October. This year, we are working on building independence, responsibility, and increasing reading stamina. Families can help by encouraging daily reading, practicing math facts, and giving children small responsibilities at home. Students may bring one daily snack, but please remember to avoid items that could cause allergy concerns. We are excited for a great start to the year!
Third Grade Goals for the Year
This year in third grade, our focus is on both academics and personal growth. Some of our key goals include:
Becoming stronger readers by building stamina, fluency, and comprehension.
Growing as mathematicians by mastering place value, fact fluency, and problem-solving.
Developing writing skills through organized, complete, and detailed writing.
Building independence and responsibility in learning and daily routines.
Working as a community by practicing respect, collaboration, and teamwork.
We look forward to working together to help each child grow and succeed this year!
Fourth Grade:
The fourth grade teachers are so excited for this year! We will be spending the first few days getting to know each other with fun activities. Expectations will be reviewed and practiced in the classroom and other areas of the school.
In Language Arts, we will be kicking off HMH. HMH (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) curriculum is a comprehensive educational program designed for K-12 students, focusing on various subjects including literacy, mathematics, science, and social studies.
The students will be learning about place value in math for the first few weeks of school. They will learn to read and write numbers in a variety of ways up through the millions.
As we move into September, our 4th grade team will be reviewing students’ beginning-of-the-year testing data. This information helps us identify strengths and areas for growth, and it will guide our instruction to best support every student’s success.
Fifth Grade:
Welcome 5th Grade Families!
Below is a link to a packet of the important information you need for your 5th grade student, including details about their teachers, schedules, communication, expectations, and more. Please review the materials carefully and keep them handy as a reference throughout the year!
Unified Arts (Specials):
Maker's Education (Innovation):
- Kindergarten & First - working to construct shapes and stable structures.
- Second & Third - beginning concepts of bridge building and the effects of the environment around it
- Fourth & Fifth - working on indoor gardening and hydroponics
Physical Education:
For the first month of school, all students will be working on activities focusing on collaboration, communication, the importance of following rules, and being safe in gym class. Games and activities that your students may mention include Spin the Pin Tag, Parachute, Pizza Tag, and Pirate Ships.
Library:
Students will be working on staff & student introductions (Getting to Know You Activities), how to care for books, reading a variety of books out loud as a class, & enjoying interactive activities focused on literacy and writing.
Gifted & Talented Resources:
Many Gifted and Talented (GT) students experience their development asynchronously. Neurotypical students generally go through the stages of development in similar orders and pacing. However, GT students experience a high level of development in one area while another lags. This can manifest itself in many ways. For example, a student may have a grasp of adult-like concepts, but not yet have the social emotional development to process these big ideas.
Students experiencing asynchronous development may understand their school work at levels beyond their grade, but, they don’t see the use in doing it. They may be able to create amazing stories light years above their peers, but not have the fine motor skills to write them. These discrepancies in development can also manifest socially, as a student may understand sarcasm, but not that there is an appropriate time to use it. Often, the more pronounced the giftedness, the more asynchronous the development. This can lead to stress for your student both in the classroom and outside.
For more information on asynchronous development read:
https://www.sengifted.org/post/asynchronous-development
https://my-little-poppies.com/asynchronous-development-and-the-gifted-child/
PBIS:
What is PBIS?
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an evidence-based, tiered framework designed to support students' behavior, academics, social-emotional growth, and mental health. When implemented consistently, PBIS helps improve school climate, boosts student success, and builds strong social-emotional skills.
PBIS at WRES – Show a PAWS-itive Attitude Everyday!
Our PAWS Matrix is used throughout the building to teach and reinforce expected behaviors.
Students can earn PAWS Points and PAWS Tickets by demonstrating positive behavior aligned with our PAWS expectations. These points allow students to participate in fun PBIS events throughout the year—rewarding their efforts and reinforcing a strong, respectful school community.
Together, we’re creating a positive learning environment where every student can succeed!
2025 Heroes for Heroes 5K Race Registration is Open!
Race Date: September 7, 2025
Race Website: http://racepenguin.com/events/heroesforheroes/
Location: Civic Park 6800 Daugherty Dr
Description: 5K Obstacle Course where 1 to 2 person teams or individuals will compete together running an obstacle course. There is also an option for a traditional 5K paved course that participants can run, walk, jog or use a stroller.