eWilson Hill Herald e-Version
April 2008 Volume VIII Issue 8 Patricia Reeder, Principal preeder@worthington.k12.oh.us
Wilson Hill 2020: Creating Tomorrow for ALL Children
Work progresses on planning for the future of Wilson Hill. Our staff has spent time compiling information from our community and researching best practices associated with many ideas. As we move toward the beginning of the fourth quarter of this year, we have created infrastructure plans for implementation in August that will support future changes. After investigating the research on 21st century learning environments, we have found that having a school with more flexibility in structure and technology is crucial. Additionally, we’ve found that to enhance our existing school culture, we want to provide a wider range of opportunities for our students to contribute to the school and community. Lastly, we’ve decided it is necessary to inventory current instructional resources and commit budget monies to insure that we have the materials necessary to meet the wide range of student academic needs. Staff work teams are addressing specific strategies and tasks in the areas of:: • Physical environment • Technology implementation • Curricular resources • Culture and climate Please plan on attending the April 1 PTO meeting to receive a more detailed update.
Special Needs Support Group
If you are a parent of a child on an IEP you are invited to the Worthington School District Special Needs Support Group on Tuesday, April 8, from 7:00 P. M. to 8:30 P. M. at the Worthington Education Center, 200 East Wilson Bridge Road in the lunch room. Dr. Lynne Hamelburg will be speaking on "Special Education Update."
Great Resources for Great Parents/Kids
From Wilson Hill Counselor, Jennifer Hegerty Free Behavior and Chore Charts for you to download and use right now! Go to http://www.freebehaviorcharts.com/charts/. They only create high-quality, free behavior charts that are easy to use and that are popular with kids. These charts have been used successfully in the classroom or at home and children have loved them! Each child is different though, so test them out and see which one(s) work best for each particular child. You can even invite them over to the computer with you and have them pick the style they want to try. This can help them take ownership of their experience with the behavior charts and help them be more committed to following through with them. The black and white behavior charts are ideal for photocopying - especially in the classroom and for saving ink. They're also very popular with children because they can color them in. So if you use the same behavior chart 5 days in a row, the kids can make it look different each day. The colorful charts are perfect for laminating and using over and over with the appropriate marker. When the chart has been filled, just wipe it off with a damp cloth and you're ready to use it again. Other sites to check out: Encourage Kids Charts With Easy Child encouragement system Kids earn privileges by being good. www.EncourageSoftware.com Kids Chore Charts Online Chore Management and Parent Controlled Email for Kids. www.kablinga.com Child Behavior Problems? Strategies to improve your child's behaviors: from toddlers to teens. Good-Child-Guide.com Children Behavior Kids behavior issues, phases, & tactics to help parents prevail. www.Parents.com Kidshealth.org Great resources on parenting and kids’ health questions and there is a kids section too! www.kidshealth.org Active Parenting Parent Resources Looking for more active parenting resources? Sign up for an e-newsletter, take a parenting quiz or an online parenting class, and join a parenting forum all at your fingertips. http://www.activeparenting.com/parents.htm Jen Hegerty’s School Counselor Website. Check out recommended books and information on helping your child grow and develop. www.hegerty.com/jennifer
TWHS Play
On Thursday, April 3, all Wilson Hill students will attend the annual theater performance. at TWHS. Students in AM kindergarten, Mrs. Kosanovich’s K+, grades 3,4,5 will attend in the morning and students in grades 1, 2, 6 and Mrs. Malley’s K+ class will attend in the afternoon.
April Word of the Month: Commitment
Commitment means making a pledge to do something or promote something that is important to you or others. The police and fire fighters make a commitment to serve the community and keep them safe. Teachers make a commitment to instruct children and help them learn. Students make a commitment to follow school rules and learn at school. As a part of being excellent to each other, what is your commitment going to be? Here are some resources from the Partners for Character and Citizenship web site: Picture Books: Burton, Virginia Lee. Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel. 1939. Gliori, Debi. No Matter What. 1999. Rylant, Cynthia. The Old Woman Who Named Things. 1996. Seuss, Dr. Horton Hatches the Egg. 1940. Smith, Will. Just the Two of Us. 2001. Zolotow, Charlotte. Do You Know What I'll Do? 2000. Juvenile Fiction: Eige, Lillian. Dangling. 2001. Gardiner, John Reynolds. Stone Fox. 1980. Greene, Stephanie. Owen Foote: Soccer Star. 1998. Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. Shiloh. 1991. Paterson, Katherine. Lyddie. 1991. (also in video, VC J LYD)
Author Visit
On Thursday, April 17, Wilson Hill is pleased to host a visit from author/illustrator, Patricia Polacco. Parents are invited to attend the presentations with their child(ren) and share this wonderful experience. The schedule for the day is as follows: • 8:45-9:30 K,1,2 • 10:00-10:45 3,4 • 1:00-2:00 5.6 All presentations will be held in the cafeteria.
Wilson Hill School Calendar April 2008
Monday Tuesday
1 7:00 PTO
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3 All school attendance at play at TWHS
Friday
4 1:15 Early release for records
Saturday
5
7 PM Kindergarten visitation
8 PM Kindergarten visitation
9
14 Progress reports go home 6:30 3rd grade music program
15 PM Kindergarten visitation
16
10 10:00 Student Council 11:00 KMS music presentation for grades 3-6 17 Patrcia Polacco Author visit
11 6th grade to JABiztown 1:15 Older/youngers
12 Wilson Hill Auction at Rush Creek 6-9 19
18 9:00 4th grades to TWHS for Columbus Symphony presentation 25 Student Council PJ/stuffed animal day
21 PM Kindergarten visitation
22 7:00 5th grade music program
23 7:00 4th grade music program
24
26
28 Grades 3-6 OAT Reading 3:00 PTO minigrant deadline
29 Grades 3-6 OAT Math
30 Grade 4 OAT Writing Grade 5 OAT Science
1 Grade 5 OAT Social Studies