WOODSIDE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
February 2008
CALENDAR EVENTS
Mon Feb 11 – Romeo's Night (Benefit Woodside) 5 - 9 pm
Tues Feb 12 – Partnership Mtg Woodside Library 6:00 pm
Wed Feb 13 – MAMS Mtg Re: Language for Gr 5 & 6 Parents 6:30 pm
Mon Feb 18 –22 WINTER BREAK NO SCHOOL
Tues Feb 26 – Preschool Storytime Library 9:15 am
Fri Feb 29 – Read Across America Day
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FRIDAY'S Chowder Dinner is Cancelled due to tomorrows weather forecast –
DESSERT AUCTION will be a school day silent auction! Stop in and place your bid. Desserts will be on display in the lobby
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THANKS TO THE TOPSHAM GRANGE
Woodside sends sincere thanks for the 70 dictionaries recently donated to our third grade students. The students were extremely excited to be receiving such a wonderful, lifelong gift. They also really enjoyed learning about the Topsham Grange and practicing with their new dictionaries.
We are thrilled to hear that this will be an annual gift to Woodside School . We are honored by the thoughtfulness, generosity and community support. It was the perfect gift for our third graders.
Let's Talk, An Evening for Parents about Parenting
On Thursday, March 6, from 6:30-7:30 in the Woodside Library, our mental health/health team will be offering an evening of question/answers and discussion for parents about parenting. Helene McGlauflin, school counselor, Sara Eaton, school social worker and Naomi Mullane, school nurse will be hosting this evening, available to answer any questions you might have about parenting, and facilitate discussion.
The idea for the evening grew out of a discussion with the parent partnership. Keep an eye out for a forthcoming flier reminding you of the date and time, and giving you an opportunity to write down and submit or bring a parenting question, that you can place in a basket anonymously for the evening discussion.
Hope to see you there! Helene, Sara and Naomi
Openings in Family Focus Daycare Program
Family Focus is very excited to announce the expansion of the Before and After School Care program. This change is to meet family need, as there has been a waiting list for daycare in Topsham. Family Focus has hired a second experienced site assistant to work with David and Ashlie here at the Woodside site. This will maintain the ratio of one adult for every thirteen children during the morning and afternoon sessions.
Contact Sheila Youmans, Director at 386-1662 at ext, 105 or David Craig, Woodside Program Manager at 607-1301 to inquire about openings, hours of operation or rates.
Third Graders Use Local Resource to Build Literacy and Science Skills
Third grade students in Michele Aronson's class at Woodside Elementary School and Gayle Toolin' s class at Bowdoin Central School are participating in a pen pal project that links the two 3rd grade classrooms and the Cathance River Ecology Center . The project goes beyond the typical pen pal letter exchange format.
Earlier this fall, the two classes gathered at the Cathance River Ecology Center to participate in learning centers and develop new friendships. The day began with a morning meeting that offered students the opportunity to build confidence and create a team approach to their learning. Next, they participated in a literacy workshop where they read and wrote non-fiction pieces about Maine animals. Students also hiked to a variety of habitats on the preserve, including stream, bog, and woodland, where they made observations. By the end of the day, the students enthusiastically partnered up as future pen pals.
Back in the classrooms, the students were anxious to keep up communication with each other and were extremely motivated to compose letters. They willingly reviewed correct letter organization and thought deeply about the content of their writing. This activity provided an opportunity for students to practice using their voice in writing well organized pieces.
This winter, the two classrooms met again to re-establish their relationships and to learn more about their environment. In addition to reading about the winter solstice and how animals adapt to the changing seasons, the students also hiked through the snow to observe the stream and the surrounding woodlands. They discussed the changes they had observed and compared them to their previous observations.
This year long interdisciplinary project offers these budding writers/scientists the opportunity for independent practice through literacy and science centers in an off campus setting right in their community. It also provides an authentic reason for writing once back in the classrooms. Developing and maintaining new friendships with peers, who will eventually become classmates at the Middle School, is significant both affectively and academically.
Middle School Students Hosting Red Cross Blood Drive
A Mt. Ararat Middle School student has asked us to share this letter with our families.
Dear Woodside Elementary School ,
Have you ever wanted to save a life? Did you know that one blood donation of one pint could save three lives? On April 2, 2008, our 6 th grade health class is sponsoring a blood drive for the American Red Cross. Our goal is to collect 100 pints of blood to save 300 lives.
This event will start at Mt. Ararat Middle School at 3:30 pm and go through 8:00 pm. This will be held in our cafeteria. There will be free refreshments after your donation. Daycare will be provided if you need it. The whole process will only take an hour of your time.
You can help by spreading the word and donating blood. Donators need to be 17 or older and must be 110 pounds or over.
Signed, Danielle Krause, Mt. Ararat Middle School Student
Earth Care Tip For February:
Change a Light- Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
They are more costly in the beginning, but can save you as much as $45.00 each over the life of the bulb because they last much longer, use less than a third of the energy, and give you the same amount of light. If you plan to put them on a dimmer circuit or in the outdoors porch light, make sure to purchase one specifically designed for that purpose. Also be sure to dispose of them safely.
Congratulations to the Fifth Grade Math Meet Team!
Submitted by Courtney Hall
A group of fifth graders, Dan Pelletier, Isabel Mickunas, Courtney Hall, Erin Daily, Chris Giroux, and Steven Johnson all attended a math meet in Portland . At this math meet there are three rounds, and the problems are challenging. In between each round we get a break. The first round is arithmetic. The second round is geometry. The last round we do as a team. We all have to work together to get the answers. We are proud to say we came in 7th out of 36 fifth grade teams.
IS IT A COLD OR THE FLU?
Dear Parents:
We have one confirmed case of influenza in the 5th grade. Children are more likely to spread the flu than others since they are in close contact in school and daycare. The "flu" is spread by respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Often is it hard to tell if your child has a cold or the flu. Influenza usually presents with a sudden onset, fever, exhaustion, head and muscle aches and chills. Some children have only some of the symptoms, others have all of them. Your child's doctor can confirm the diagnosis with a test. Children with the flu or flu-like symptoms should stay home and rest, drink plenty of fluids and not return to school until they are fever free for a 24 hour period without Tylenol or ibuprofen, and can manage their cough and nasal secretions independently and feel well enough to participate in the school day.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at 725-1243.
Sincerely,
Naomi Mullane
school nurse
Romeos Pizza Night !
February 11, 5pm – 9pm is the night Romeos donates 20% of all orders to the Woodside School . Don't forget to help our school and get an evening off from cooking. Call 729-1919 to order.
Partnership Update
The Woodside Parent / Teacher Partnership met on Tuesday, January 8, 2008, at 6:00 p.m. at Woodside School . Ten members were in attendance. The group met Helene McGlauflin, Guidance Counselor and Sara Eaton, School Social Worker and learned about the array of mental health services at Woodside School . Parents had an opportunity to ask questions and propose ideas for future parent education nights.
The Partnership reviewed recent happenings at Woodside School . Topics of celebrations included our Hunger Prevention donations of baby items, a full clothes closet of donations to students, a very successful chorus concert, a successful Board meeting at Woodside, Jason Gibbons from the Harlem Rockets Basketball Team presenting to K-2, our preschool story time and the playground committee.
*The Sock Hop was postponed to April.
*Please mark the next Romeo's date: February 11th, 5:00-9:00 p.m. - Ordering dinner from Romeo's - 20% proceeds goes to Woodside School .
*Fundraising profits reviewed to date:
-K Friendship Bracelets - $782.55 to date
-K Card Sales - $215.00
-Winter Concert - $120.11 (donations only)
*The Partnership reviewed a request from the Woodside Special Programs to purchase wet suits for the student aquatic program. The Partnership eagerly supported this purchase.
* A new school store is in the works and will be run by 5th grade. Small school supplies and embroidered school logo clothing will be for sale. Start date to be set.
*5th Grade used book sale to resume this winter. Date to be set.
*Hold the date: Evening in Tuscany Dinner - Fri. Mar. 21 - to benefit the Partnership Fund. Please join us!
Next Partnership Meeting: February 12, 2008, 6-7:30 p.m., Woodside Library - all are welcome! Dr. Wilhelm, Superintendent will join us to provide an update on Consolidation. Please come with any questions you might have.
Midcoast Hunger Prevention Partnership
Thank you for all of last month's donations. February will be our collection of canned goods, pasta, spaghetti sauce and other staples. We are happy to be helping our greater community.