January 31, 2020
Dear P.A.W.S. Families,
Today the P.A.W.S. Report Cards and Progress Notes will be mailed home to you. The teachers have been collecting data all year and have gathered their information to share with you via the mid-year reports. If you have any questions about the Report Cards or Progress Notes, please be sure to reach out to your child’s classroom teacher, specialists, or to me. We will be glad to support you and answer any questions.
As the days and weeks get busy for you and your family, please remember to reach out to your child’s classroom teacher to keep her well informed of any changes in your child’s routine or home experiences. A change in your child’s typical routine can create many ripple effects for your child and he/she may not know exactly how to manage or respond to the feelings they have about these changes. If we know what’s going on at home, such as a pet or relative dying, a parent going away on a business trip, the nanny quitting, or the family experiencing unrest, chaos or a variety of stressors, then we can be better prepared to support your child in the classroom. It is important to share this information with your child’s teacher or with Terry our school psychologist or with me. We are available to support you during challenging times. We want to reassure you that any sensitive information that you share will be held in confidence.
We are excited for all that is coming up on the horizon for all of our students as they gain momentum in their learning during the second half of the school year. Our rising kindergarteners and their families have the transition to elementary school to get ready for and there are several helpful tips in this update to keep you informed.
There is a link to the Winter Newsletter form the school nurse for your review: WPS School Nurse Winter Newsletter
As always, thank you all for your continued support! Your positive participation, partnership, and care helps to make P.A.W.S. its very best!
Sincerely,
‘Becca Z.
Getting Ready for Kindergarten – The “Cliff Notes” Version of Upcoming Events
February Vacation Week – 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Project Launch
Getting Ready for Kindergarten – The “Cliff Notes” Version of Upcoming Events:
Friday, January 31 – Kindergarten Round Up at PAWS 12:30PM -2:30 PM
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Parents drop off kindergarten registration paperwork at PAWS anytime between 12:30-2:30
Tuesday, February 4 – Special Education Transition to Kindergarten Information Night – LINK to Sign-up to Attend @ Fiske School Library 6:00-7:00 PM
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Parents of students with IEPs are invited to attend a presentation in the Fiske School Library, about the specialized Special Education process involved in transitioning students with IEPs from PAWS to the Elementary schools. Director of Student Services, Sarah Orlov will be there along with representatives from PAWS and the elementary schools, to help provide information and answer questions.
Thursday, February 6 – General Education Transition to Kindergarten Information Night – LINK to Sign-up to Attend @ Fiske School Library 6:00-7:00 PM
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This presentation is being offered to all PAWS parents with rising kindergarten students. We will meet in the Fiske School Library, and I will provide information about the upcoming kindergarten events coming at each elementary school and I will answer questions about the transition to kindergarten in general.
Wednesday, February 12 – Kindergarten Round-up 1 at the Sprague School 3:00-6:00PM
– Kindergarten registration paperwork drop-off location for the general public
Saturday, March 7 – Kindergarten Round-up 2 at the Sprague School 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon
– Kindergarten registration paperwork drop-off location for the general public
Kindergarten Round-Up Dates:
January 30 – Kindergarten Round-Up at PAWS: 12:30-2:30
The Kindergarten RoundUp scheduled on February 5, has been changed to: Wednesday, February 12th, from 3:00 – 6:00 pm at the Sprague School. Details are below for both RoundUp dates:
For Children 5 years of age on or before August 31st, 2020:
Please bring registration forms and required documents to the RoundUp.
Check our website for additional information: www.wellesleyps.org
Valentine’s/Friendship Day
Each year on or around February 14th, children are invited to exchange Valentine’s Day or Friendship Day cards with their classmates and teachers. Some families call this tradition St. Valentine’s Day and other families call it Friendship Day.
On February 14th, each child traditionally brings in a little card with a note of friendship or kind words to give to the other children and teachers in his/her class. If you decide to have your child participate in this tradition, please be sure to make a card for EVERY student in the class. Also, be sure you do not send any food items (no candy or sweets) as we will not be able to send food items home due to dietary restrictions and food allergies. Only send cards, or if you’d like, you may include small non-food gifts like stickers, pencils, tattoos, bubbles, etc.
Each classroom teacher will provide you with a list of the children’s names in your child’s class along with the specific instructions for her classroom Valentine’s Day/Friendship Day exchange. If you need assistance with accessing cards or would like some construction paper to make your own cards at home, please contact your child’s teacher, ‘Becca or Nurse Ann and we will provide you with supplies.
Everyone is invited to wear something Red, Pink or Purple on Valentine’s Day, February 14th!
February Vacation Week – 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Project Launch
I am looking for an army of volunteers to help tackle a huge project at PAWS during the February vacation week. Please click on the LINK if you or someone you know has a few hours to donate to a big PAWS project as I endeavor to begin the work on setting up our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Project. Please click on this LINK for more information about how you can help.
Parent and Family Thank You!
A big thank you to all of the wonderful parents and children who helped with set up and clean up at the Winter Carnival last Sunday in the Fiske gym. It is always fun to see the children and families spending time together, playing games and enjoying an opportunity to be unplugged for a while. Thank you to several Key Club members from the Wellesley High School who helped with set up, game facilitation, and clean up!
Many thanks to Mitali Bixby for sending in the faculty and staff appreciation gifts for January! The teachers were so surprised and tickled to find little notes and gifts wrapped with ribbon in their mailboxes! Your extra effort to make their day special goes a long way. Thank you!
I am sending a warm thank you to former PAWS parent Rose Nolan, for her help and support in leading the January Binder Making Workshop! At the end of the workshop I heard one parent say, “I had been meaning to attend this workshop for a while and I am SO glad I finally made it! This was great!” Thank you, Rose, for making a difference and for sharing your tips, experience, and wisdom with us! We look forward to welcoming you back again next year!
Friday, January 31 – Report Cards and Progress Notes Mailed Home
Friday, January 31 – P.A.W.S. Kindergarten Round-Up
Tuesday, February 4 – Special Education Transition to Kindergarten Information Session LINK
Thursday, February 6 – General Education Transition to Kindergarten Information Session LINK
Wednesday, February 12 – Kindergarten Round Up at Sprague
Thursday, February 13 – Tea with ‘Becca
Friday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day/Friendship Day, Wear something Red, Pink or Purple to School
February 17 -21 – No School for February Vacation Week
February 18, 19, 20 – 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Project – Volunteers Needed LINK
Monday, March 2 – Read Across America Day!
Tuesday, March 31 – Early Release Day for Parent/Teacher Conferences