November Newsletter
Dates to Remember :
Thursday, November 1 Wreath sale begins
Friday, November 2 Harvest Ball 6:30 - 8:00
Monday, November 12 Veterans Day NO SCHOOL
Tues Nov. 13 – Tues Nov. 20 Library Book Fair
Tuesday, November 20 EARLY DISMISSAL 11:30
Wed Nov. 21 – Fri Nov 23 THANKSGIVING BREAK NO SCHOOL
Tuesday, November 27 Preschool Story Time 9:15 – 9:45
A BIG WELCOME BACK TO MRS. TRACH , returning to school today from family leave !
School Conferences are coming soon ! Teachers are scheduling meetings, watch backpacks for notices.
WREATH SALE
Our wreath and centerpiece sale begins on November 1 . All orders with payment must be received by November 16.
Plain wreaths will be $12, with a bow, $18
The centerpiece with 1 candle is $2, with 2 candles the price is $28.
Pick up at will be on November 29 from 3 – 5 pm and November 30 from 9 am – 1 pm .
Magazine Drive
Thank you for supporting the recent magazine drive. The top selling classrooms were tied! Mrs. Dow's and Miss Hall's 5 th grade classes will be treated to a pizza party. The top selling students schoolwide were: Daniel Blake, Zoe Pinkham and Molly Roberts. These students have each earned a free magazine subscription.
Pre-school Story Time
Woodside Library is pleased to announce the return of its Pre-school Story Time. The library is sponsoring this fun filled half hour in conjunction with the America Reads and Counts program in an attempt to introduce upcoming Kindergarten students to the Woodside family and the joys of reading. Each child attending this program must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Story time will be from 9:15-9:45 on the last Tuesday of each month in the library. The next story reading will take place Tuesday, November 27 th . We look forward to seeing many new faces.
Thanks and hope to see you soon!
Gina Stokes, Librarian
Upcoming Bookfair
Hello folks,
It's that wonderfully exciting time of year again, when the Woodside library opens its' doors to all our Woodside families and friends to experience the joy of browsing for books. It will be great fun for all, and I look forward to seeing you all there. The fair schedule is as follows:
November 13---12:45-3:05 pm
November 14---9:20-7 pm
November 15---9:20-3:05
November 16---9:20-3:05
November 19---9:20-7 pm
November 20---9:20-11:30 am
Please note: The fair will be closed each day from 11:45-12:45 to accommodate volunteer lunch breaks.
Nurse, Naomi Mullane , K-5 school counselor, Helene McGlauflin and social worker, Sara Eaton, have helped many families who struggle to establish a consistent morning routine. We would be happy to assist you at any time, just call Woodside at 725-1243. The following suggestions may be helpful.
The Importance of Morning Routines for Learning
This fall we sent home a list of ten “Healthy Practices that Help Children Learn.” In last month's newsletter the nurse focused on food and sleep. This month, we will highlight the importance of the morning routine for children.
Establishing a consistent, simple morning routine helps children begin their day in a calm, orderly manner which enables them to be “ready to learn” when they enter school. Keeping things calm in the morning is a challenge for most families in our busy age, but the following can make a difference:
*Be available, or be sure a caring adult is available, to assist your child in the morning. All children in elementary school (yes, even “big” fifth graders) need adult company in the morning to feel secure and connected before coming to school.
*Take care of as many things a possible the night before, such as packing backpacks, deciding on snacks (which are needed every day), laying out clothes, etc. Having less to do in the morning can take the pressure off those precious minutes.
*Get up in time to ensure that the morning is not rushed, so there is enough time for all the morning tasks to be done in a relaxed manner. Being harried creates stress for children, which then has to be reduced at school before they are ready to learn.
*Reduce or eliminate electronic screen time in the morning if possible. Getting children away from screens, which are overstimulating and riveting, enhances their ability to focus and concentrate on challenging tasks when they come to school.
*Teach your child to be on time for school. School begins at 8:55 here at Woodside, and even being late a few minutes can create stress and confusion for children. When they arrive with some time to spare, it enables them to get settled before learning.
Helene McGlauflin
ART HONORS
Congratulations to 3rd grade artists Elliot Bowie, Anna Manuel, Sabrina Paetow , and Jake Steinman who were honored in Augusta on October 10. First Lady, Karen Baldacci, hosted a Tea at Blaine House and presented the students with a certificate and medal. Artwork created by these students was included in the Maine Youth Excellence in Art Project, where artwork of students from around the state of Maine is displayed in the State House and Cross Office Building .
Mr. McPherson
DI NEWS:
Are you and your child interested in Destination Imagination? Woodside School is in search of a few parents who are interested in becoming Team Managers so a team or two can be formed at Woodside. There is a Team Manager training being offered at Brunswick High School on Thursday evening, November 15, 5:30 – 8:30 pm. Visit the DI link on the Woodside website for more information. You can also e-mail Dot Bowie bowied@link75.org if you have questions about the program.
EARTH CARE tips are here !
Last year the Woodside School recycling Program helped the Woodside Community to recycle approximately 1800 pounds of scrap paper. That amount is equal to the paper produced by ten trees. To celebrate our success, we planted 10 beautiful trees as a symbol of how our school helped the Earth. These trees are thriving at the far end of our playground. This year Woodside is happy to bring you EARTHCARE TIPS in each monthly newsletter. These tips will be things you can do at home, work, and in your daily family life. They are meant to help you join your children in the care of our Earth.
EARTHCARE TIPS for October:
If every household in the U.S. :
• replaced just one box of virgin fiber facial tissues (175 sheets) with 100% recycled ones, we could save 163, 000 trees.
• replaced just one roll of virgin fiber toilet paper (500) sheets with 100% recycled ones, we could save 423, 900 trees.
LOST AND FOUND
Our lost and found box is overflowing. Stop by the office and recover any jackets or sweaters that may be missing from your house.