 The Pray-Woodman Way August 20, 2010
Volume 17, Issue 1
11111 W 49th St N
Maize, KS 67101
(316) 721-0902
Karen Duling, Principal
Michael Dome, Asst. Principal |
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Important Dates
Mon. Aug. 30 - Band and Orchestra Instrument Display Night , 4-8 p.m., MSE cafeteria
(changed calendar date)
Tues. Aug. 31 - Band and Orchestra Instrument Display Night, 4-8 p.m., MCE cafeteria
Mon Sept 6 - Labor Day, NO SCHOOL
Wed. Sept. 15 - Conferences, 4-8 p.m.
Thurs. Sept. 16 - Conferences 12-8 p.m. - NO SCHOOL
Fri. Sept 17 - Conference Comp Day - NO SCHOOL
Tues. Sept. 28 - PWS Annual Read Night, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Fri. Oct. 15 - End of Term
Mon. Oct. 18 - Prof Dev Day
NO SCHOOL |
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Pray-Woodman Mission Statement is to:
Provide a positive and safe environment that will maximize each child's potential.
Ensure that every student reaches a high level of academic achievement as determined by state and national standards in all curricular areas.
Provide support to all members of the Pray-Woodman community.
Promote positive character development and lifelong learning.
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Principal's Notes | |
We have certainly hit the ground running for the 2010-2011 school year. The hallways are already buzzing with excitement!
I would like to introduce the teachers who are new to Pray-Woodman this year:
- Jennifer Ballinger (gifted facilitator) - from Maize Middle School
- Lenora Biggs (4th grade teacher) - from Wichita Public Schools
- Marney Hay (4th grade teacher) - from Wichita Public Schools
- Jennifer Manske (ESOL teacher) - from Maize Early Childhood Center
- Kelly Palmer (4th grade teacher) - former Maize grad, from Tulsa Public Schools
- Amy Whitson (Inter-related Special Education teacher) - from St. Peter Catholic School
We are very excited about the combination of experience and enthusiasm that comes from this new crop of teachers.
We have begun assessing all of our students in math and reading using the online Envision math assessment and the DIBELS screener (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills). The results will be shared with you at conferences on September 15th and 16th.
I would like to invite all of you to join the Parent Teacher Organization this year. The cost is $5 per family. Forms are available at www.usd266.com. If you are interested in helping us with staff appreciation or fundraising, please join us for the first PTO meeting on Tuesday, August 24th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Maize Middle School commons.
Looking forward to seeing you at conferences in September!
Karen Duling |
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Pray-Woodman eXtreme Reading (PWX) | |
Soon you will hear your children talking about "PWX" time at school. PWX stands for Pray-Woodman eXtreme Reading, our new tiered-intervention program. PWX will replace our former Reading Lab. Here's how it will work: Every class will have a half-hour per day devoted strictly to reading intervention. This thirty minutes will be above and beyond their core reading time. Students will be grouped according to ability level for intense remediation, on-level activities, or reading enrichment, depending on their reading level. The classroom teachers will receive additional support from the reading specialist, instructional para-professionals, and special education staff during their PWX time. We believe this will dramatically impact our school-wide reading achievement. |
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Counselors' Corner...by Dr. Wells and Joey Buresh |
As school counselors, one of our primary responsibilities is to help your child get the best education possible. A great education includes not only learning to read, write, and do math, but encompasses many other skills. This includes learning how to get along with other children, making good decisions, controlling anger, accepting responsibility and being aware of strengths and weaknesses.
We will be teaching approximately 8 classroom counseling activities in the classroom. Lessons are guided by National and Kansas State Standards for Counselors. Topics include concepts such as friendship, test taking skills, setting goals, responsibility, drug prevention, self concept, generosity, decision making, and conflict management.
Small groups are offered at the beginning of the year. A description of the groups offered will be sent home. If you feel your child would benefit, please sign and return the permission slip. Groups are usually made up of 6-8 students and meet 4-6 times. All groups are scheduled during non-academic time to optimize classroom learning time.
We also meet with students who are facing specific difficulties. If you have a particular concern about your child, please contact us to discuss the matter. Some situations that happen outside of school, may affect children at school. If we are aware of any special problems your child might be facing, we can provide support for your child and suggest resources if needed.
It is important to remember that when school personnel and parents work together it is a winning combination for children. All children deserve to be winners, and together, we can help this goal be realized. If we can be of any help to you, please email us jburesh@usd266.com (2nd & 3rd Grade) or bwells@usd266.com (4th & 5th Grade) or call the school at 721-0902.
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WEDNESDAY EARLY DISMISSAL FOR ALL STUDENTS THIS SCHOOL YEAR | |
Beginning this school year, all students will be dismissed early each Wednesday in order for teachers to have time to meet in their Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). During PLC time, teachers participate in discussing curriculum, instructional strategies, data review, state standards and more.
This past school year, students in grades 6-12 started their school day 30 minutes late every Wednesday morning. "With more and more of our professional development days and training time diminishing each year, PLC time is even more critical for our teaching staff to improve instruction and impact student learning," said Associate Superintendent Marsha Beard. By moving the PLC time to the end of the day, all grade levels will be able to participate during a scheduled time each week.
Click here for the schedule of 2010-11 school starting and ending times. Buses will continue to run on the same tiered system. On Wednesdays, students will be transported home as soon as school is dismissed. Please plan accordingly for supervision of students who will arrive home earlier on those days. Pick- up and delivery locations for students being transported by school vehicle will be determined at the time of enrollment. Only one pick-up and drop off location will be allowed at residential addresses or day care provider addresses within school district boundaries.
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Nurse's Corner...by Darlene McCulley |
ALL student medication, including over-the-counter drugs, must be administered in the nurse's office under the supervision of the school nurse and are to be sent in the original container labeled with the student's name.
If at all possible, medication needs to be given prior to coming to school or after returning home from school under parent supervision. The initial dose of medication must be given by the parent/guardian to determine if the student will have an adverse reaction.
It is the parent's responsibility to assure that the medication brought to school is the correct dosage prescribed and listed on the bottle.
A completed Request for Administration of Medication form MUST be filled out for each medication the student will be taking at school Forms can be downloaded on the PWS website or are available in the office.
K.A.R. 28-1-20 defines immunizations required for any individual who attends school or a childcare program operated by a school. There are changes in requirements for immunizations for the upcoming school year. Please carefully review the requirements by clicking the following link: 2010-2011 immunization requirements.
The usual number of doses required are listed; however there are exceptional circumstances that could alter the number of doses a child needs. If you have questions about your child's immunization status, contact your child's primary care provider or local health department. |
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Beginning of the Year Reminders |
∗School Hours are from 8:35-3:45. Buses unload and students are allowed to go to their classrooms at 8:25. Students are counted tardy until 9:35. After that time, it counts as a half-day absence. EVERY WEDNESDAY IS EARLY RELEASE. STUDENTS ARE DISMISSED AT 3:05.
∗After school pick up: Please plan on arriving no earlier than 3:35 p.m. Pick up your child at the access road on the north side. Please DO NOT park in the east parking lot unless you come in to pick up your child as it is a safety concern for children to walk through the buses to find your car. The west parking lot is ONLY for students requiring special transportation.
∗If your schedule requires you to bring your child to school before 8:15, please make other arrangements. Latchkey is offered through the YMCA.
∗If you have changes in your child's regular transportation arrangements, please write a note to the teacher. If you are unable to write a note, please call the office before 3:15 p.m.
∗Please call the office before 9:15 if your child is going to be absent or late. You may request homework until 11:15. Homework will be available after 3:00 p.m.
∗All outside exits to the building are locked by 8:35 a.m. including the west doors. If you arrive during the school day, our ENTRANCE IS ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING. Please use the buzzer by the INSIDE west door. We will release the door. ALL visitors and volunteers much check in at the office and are asked to wear a visitor sticker.
*When you arrive to pick up your child at the end of the day, we appreciate you waiting in the hall by the office or meet at the classroom at dismissal time. This will minimize disruption to the classroom.
*The Kansas School Safety Hotline (1-877-626-8203) became operative August 1, 1999, for use by students, parents, and community members in anonymously reporting any impending school violence. |
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IMPORTANT CALENDAR CHANGE |
Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts in the district, the Parent/Teacher conferences originally scheduled for
September 22-24 have moved up one week to
September 15-17. The schedule will be as follows:
Wednesday, September 15 - P/T conferences, 4-8 p.m.,
No school for Pre K - Kindergarten classes
Thursday, September 16 - P/T conferences, 12-8 p.m.,
No school Pre K-12
Friday, September 17 - Conference comp day,
No school Pre K-12
If the change in schedule causes a significant hardship for
you or your family, please contact your child's building principal as soon as possible. |
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Volunteer Background Check |
Volunteers play an important and valuable role in the Maize School District. Students, teachers, staff, parents and the community benefit from the work of individuals who freely share their talents and resources. Last year the Maize Board of Education adopted a new policy which requires background checks on volunteers who work in the elementary schools on a regular basis. These checks are done by National Screening Bureau (NatSB). NatSB provides the district with secure, confidential, multi-jurisdiction checks in a timely manner.
Individuals who plan to volunteer may start the background check process by clicking here to complete the application. Individuals can also go to any elementary school website and click on "Volunteer Background Check Application". The form can either be filled out online at home or online in any of the school offices. Volunteers who work in more than one building only need to fill out one application for the district, not each building. Applicants can request a copy of the check when it is completed. If you completed a background check last year, you will still need to complete the application this school year as well. Background checks are conducted on an annual basis. If you have questions about the background check process, contact Karen Duling, principal, at 721-0902. |
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Band and Orchestra Display Nights |
Attention 5th grade families interested in information about orchestra and band this year. Due to a scheduling conflict one of the instrument display dates has had to be changed.
The correct dates and times are as follows:
Monday, Aug. 30th - 4-8 pm at Maize South Elementary (Starkey Music will display) and Tuesday, August 31st, 4-8 pm at Maize Central Elementary (Senseney Music will display).
Maize orchestra and band teachers will be available to answer parents' questions at these displays. Families can come to either or both displays, no matter which school their student attends. We will send more info home with your student, but we wanted to give you advance notice about this important date change. Thank you. |
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August - Friendship & Compassion
Friendship - a friend is a person who knows me and still likes me.
Compassion - is about kind & thoughtful and showing sympathy & concern. |
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