A VISION OF PRIDE AND EXCELLENCE

An Equal Opportunity Employer

A Message from Dr. Lau

I’m really happy to see the month of February come to an end. There was way too much snow and way too many snow days. It will be good to turn the corner and begin to look forward to spring.

As we begin to look forward to spring, I thought it may be a good time to provide a couple of quick updates on the work that will be happening at Westwood over the summer. Since November, we have been meeting with architects and builders to plan the summer work at Westwood. While the majority of the work should be completed in time for the start of the 2019-2020 school year, there will be some work that will continue after the students return in fall. The first project that will begin, in early to late spring, will be the relocation of the softball fields to the southwest corner of the Westwood property. Once this project begins, we will make sure that the worksite is secured and that there are safety measures in place to make sure none of our students are near the construction site.

The next phase of the project will begin on June 10th. During that phase of construction, Westwood will be experiencing major renovations to plumbing, heating and cooling, and electrical systems. In addition, our kitchen and commons area will undergo major renovations as well. As a result of this work, Westwood will be closed during the summer. We expect that office staff will be in the office area working, but the rest of the building will not be able to be used. Because of this, summer school offerings will be at Hemlock Creek Elementary School and West De Pere High School this year.

The third phase of the project is to build a playground for our 4-year-old Kindergarten classes and to upgrade the playground equipment for all the other grade levels. If you are interested in learning more about this project, representatives from Bray Architects and Miron Construction will be in attendance at the PTO meeting on March 4. The meeting begins at 6:00 and their portion will be done by 6:30. We will be meeting in the library.

Finally, beginning the 2019-2020 school year, the school start time and dismissal times will be changing by 10 minutes. Next year, the school day will begin at 8:40 am and end at 3:30 pm. This change is being done to accommodate and ease bussing and traffic congestion around all of our schools. We hope that with this change, we will be able to reduce the amount of traffic and create a safer environment for our students to get to and from school.

While there is much going on at Westwood, our focus continues to be and will always be on the learning experiences we are able to provide to your children. These changes will go a long way to help us achieve that mission. Have a wonderful March and keep hoping for spring.

Dr. Lau

MARCH NEWSLETTER 2019

DATES TO REMEMBER

March 1 PTO Game Night

March 4-8 Read Across America Week

March 4 PTO Meeting @ 6:00pm

March 7 K-5 Conferences 4:00-8:00pm

March 7 4K Conferences 3:30-8:00pm

March 8 4K Conferences 8:00-3:30pm

March 8 EARLY DISMISSAL @ 11:40

NO 4K / NO LUNCH

END OF TRI 1

March 8 PAJAMA DAY!

March 10 PTO Movie Day

March 12 4K to Happy Joe’s Pizza

March 13 Austin, Slattery, Kennedy to

Fallen Timbers

March 13 St. Baldricks @ the HS

March 15 Lokken, Schneider, VanLaanen

To Fallen Timbers

March 19 SPRING PICTURE DAY!

March 22 MS Acapella singers - 5th grade

March 22 EARLY DISMISSAL

NO 4K / NO LUNCH

March 25-29 SPRING BREAK

April 1 Classes Resume

Westwood Elementary School

A VISION OF PRIDE AND EXCELLENCE

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Early Dismissal on March 8 and 22. Dismissal @ 11:40. No Lunch and No 4K.

TWITTER: Follow us at www.twitter.com/WDPWestwood

What is Twitter? - Twitter is a FREE social networking and micro-blogging service that enables users to send and read messages known as “tweets.” Why should I follow? - The Westwood Elementary Twitter account will be providing updates about school closings, PTO meetings, school events, and much more!!! Getting Started! - Go to www.twitter.com and create an account! Then, just go to WDPWestwood and follow us! If you do not wish to create an account, you can still follow us at the web address listed above!

Food News Don’t forget that Westwood offers

breakfast each morning between 8:10

and 8:25 a.m. for the cost of $1.70.

Students must arrive prior to 8:25 to

eat breakfast. If you plan to eat lunch

with your student and would like to

order school lunch, you must order

before 9:00 a.m. Adult lunch is $3.80.

Thank you for your cooperation.

No breakfast served on late starts.

Parking and Dismissal

Over the past few weeks the office has received multiple complaints regarding the traffic in the front parking lot at dismissal. The complaints have included cars not parking in the right spots, cars stopping in the wrong spots, and inattentive driving while children are crossing the parking lot. Please exercise patience at the end of the day. We believe that when everyone is patient, the parking lot is cleared within 10 minutes after dismissal. The safety of our children is more important than the convenience of being the first out of the parking lot.

Spring Break

Classes will not be in

session

Monday, March 25

through

Friday, March 29.

Classes resume

Monday, April 1.

A VISION OF PRIDE AND EXCELLENCE

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Musical Side Note

Friday, March 22

The Middle School Acapella Singers will

be here to sing for the 5th grade from

Cartoon

Westwood Class Planning 2019-2020

Parent requests for classroom placements for the 2019-20 school year will be considered based on your child’s educational needs. Parent requests need to be submitted in writing to Dr. Lau by Friday, April 19th. As you work through your decision to request a teacher, please try to avoid asking your child’s present teacher to recommend a specific teacher. We are confident that we have an excellent staff. With your support, your child will be successful in any setting. Requests will be taken into consideration, but are not guaranteed. We work to make sure our classrooms are balanced as much as possible.

News Before/After School Program

Good News! If you are a parent in need of school-age

child care for the upcoming 2019-20 school year, the

Green Bay YMCA will begin registration in mid-April.

The YMCA has a before and after school child care

program located right at Westwood School for

children 5-12 years of age. The program runs from

7:00 a.m. until the start of school and then again from

the time of school dismissal until 6:00 p.m. If you’re

interested in this program or want more information,

please call the YMCA School-Age Office at 436-9675.

Summer Program Good News! The Green Bay YMCA begins registration

for their Summer School-Age Child Care (ages 5-12) and

Teen Adventure Program (ages 11-14) began on February

10, 2019. Weekly activities for both programs include

field trips, games, swimming, physical activity and much

more.

Call the YMCA at 436-9675 for more information.

Let your child(ren) experience the fun and excitement of

YMCA Summer Programs.

Music Notes All concerts are held in the Westwood Gymnasium

Second Grade will sing "Lemonade: A Fairy Tale" on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at 10:45am. Doors open at 10:30am. Fourth Grade will play songs on their recorders on Friday, May 3, 2019 at 9:00am. Doors open at 8:45. Third Grade will sing "Music of the Movies" on Friday, May 10, 2019 at 9:30am. Doors open at 9:15. Fifth Grade Band and Choir performs on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 6:30pm. Students should be here AT 6:15pm to put together their instrument and/or warm up their voices.

Spring Pictures

Spring Picture Day is scheduled for Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Mark your calendars!

A VISION OF PRIDE AND EXCELLENCE

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Developmental Screening

The West De Pere School District offers developmental screening for preschool-aged children. The

school district uses census data to mail out the Ages and Stages developmental questionnaires throughout

the year, asking parents to complete the questionnaire and return it promptly by mail. As the

questionnaires are returned, school professionals score them and provide written feedback to parents on

the general developmental readiness of their child(ren). In certain circumstances, the school district will

invite children to participate in an additional on-site screening.

If you would like to request a developmental questionnaire, please call the Department of Student

Services at 337-1393 ext. 8012.

Attention 5th Grade Parents Immunization Requirements for Students Entering 6th Grade

The Wisconsin Student Immunization law requires that all students entering the 6th grade receive a dose of Tdap vaccine. To be compliant with the school law, parents must provide their student’s school with proof of immunization or claim a waiver. 1. What is Tdap? Tdap is a vaccine that protects against Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (whooping cough). 2. What do Parents need to do? Have your child vaccinated with Tdap vaccine if he or she has not already received the vaccine or to claim a waiver for health, religious or personal convictions reasons. 3. Return the completed Student Immunization Record to your student’s school For more information about the Wisconsin Student Immunization Law, visit the Wisconsin immunization website at www.dhfs.state.wi.us/immunization. Please feel free to call our District Nurse if you have

any questions at (920) 337-1087 ext. 8031.

SUMMER SCHOOL 2019

The dates for the West De Pere 2019 Summer School Program are:

Wednesday, June 12th - Tuesday, July 2nd

Classes will be held at Hemlock Creek and West De Pere High School this summer due to the

referendum construction and upgrades.

Course offerings and registration information will be available online April 2nd.

Registration will open at 3:30 Tuesday, April, 9th and remain open until 3:30 Thursday, April 18th. All registrations and payments will be processed online & no late registrations will be accepted.

Go to www.wdpsd.com click on About the District, then Summer School tab for additional information and registration.

A VISION OF PRIDE AND EXCELLENCE

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Change of Address and

Phone Number

Please keep your address and telephone

numbers up to date in the school office. You

may notify us of a change in information by

sending a note with your child, or by calling the

office at 337-1087. In case of emergency, it is

vital that we are able to contact you.

Student Learning Celebration

Mark your calendars! Westwood will hold

their Student Author Celebration on

Thursday, April 11th in the multipurpose room

from 4:30 – 6:00. Students’ talents will be

on display through their published pieces of

writing and artwork. The PTO will also be

hosting the Scholastic Book Fair from

4:00-6:30. See you there!

Wisconsin Forward Exam Window Opens in March

From March 18 through May 3, Wisconsin students will once again be taking the Wisconsin Forward Exam. The

Wisconsin Forward is the test that schools are required to give to students in grades 3-8 and 10. Questions

on the Forward Exam will measure each student’s achievement relative to grade level in two areas: English

language arts and mathematics. In addition, a science test will be given to fourth and eighth grade students

and a social studies test will be administered to fourth, eighth and tenth grade students. All testing sessions

are online and untimed, so students can take breaks without their score being impacted. West De Pere schools will be administering the Forward over the course of the entire window. Our aim is to

give students the time and support they need to complete each portion of the test to the best of their

ability. Parents and students can be confident that teachers and school personnel will have student welfare as

their top priority. Parents seeking to know more about the Forward Exam can visit the Wisconsin Department

of Public Instruction website (http://dpi.wi.gov/assessment/forward). Additional questions about the

Wisconsin Forward Exam can be directed to building principals or Joe Feldhausen, Teaching and Learning

Coordinator at 337-1393 extension 8035.

Kids with cancer need us…

Please join the Westwood Team for the 13th Annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation Benefit by raising

funds and shaving your head in support of those children currently battling cancer. The event will

be held this year at West De Pere High School on April 13th, 2019 from 12:00-4:00pm.

To join our team please visit this website and click on “Join Me”:

https://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/TeamWestwood2019

Any questions please email Erin Hunter ehunter@wdpsd.com

A VISION OF PRIDE AND EXCELLENCE

An Equal Opportunity Employer

Lost & Found

Please be sure to label your child’s clothing and other

possessions. This makes it so much easier to return

lost items to their rightful owner. Please encourage

your student to take a look at the many items already

in our Lost and Found. They may be surprised to find

something that belongs to them!

Student Fees 2018-19

We are still collecting student fees for all

students (4K-5) whose parents have not

paid, or have not received an approved fee

waiver. Please make checks payable to

West De Pere School District. Thank you.

Open Enrollment February 4 – April 30, 2019

Wisconsin’s public school enrollment program allows parents to apply for their children to attend school districts other than the one in which they live. Open enrollment application dates for the 2019-2020 school year are February 4 – April 30. If you have moved out of the district, and wish for your child to remain at the West De Pere Schools, please pick up an Open Enrollment information and Change of Address form at the school office or at the District Office. By state law, the April 30 deadline cannot be extended. The State will not allow any exceptions to this timeline.

For more information, please visit the open enrollment website (below) or pick up a brochure from the school office. http://dpi.wi.gov/open-enrollment. Please note the underscore between sms and psctoc.

4K and 5K

Registration for 2019-20

The School District of West De Pere recently held

registration for children who are planning to attend 4K

or Kindergarten in the fall of 2019. If you missed the

Registration, and your child does not attend our 4K

Program, please register your child as soon as possible

at your school of residence: Hemlock Creek Elementary

School or Westwood Elementary School. To be eligible

for enrollment, your child must turn 4 (4K) or 5 (K)

years of age on or before September 1, 2019, and live

in the West De Pere School District.

Westwood Mission Statement

Home, School, Community working together will create a quality educational program for our children. We strive to create a learning environment that is safe, challenging and supportive. Together we empower our students to develop sound academic skills, positive self-esteem, and personal responsibility. In this way we prepare them to become meaningful members of society

The Start Time for Westwood

Elementary will be changing for the 2019-20 school year. We

will begin our day at 8:40 and end at 3:30 next year.

Supervision will begin at 8:20 which means drop-off will begin

at 8:20 as well.

Volunteer Background Checks

If you would like to be a volunteer in the classrooms or go on fieldtrips, please complete a volunteer application form that includes a background check. These are available in the school office. An approved background check must be on file before you can work with students. Any background checks approved in 2015-2018 are still valid. You do not need to apply again for this year. Volunteer background forms for this year will not be processed after March 15, 2019. Parent volunteers help to make Westwood Elementary a great place for our students each day.