Welcome to the Walker News Blog!
Each month we'll share with you the newest updates about all of the great things going on here at Walker School. We hope you find this space informative!
A note from our Principal
The school year is off to a great start! Students and teachers have been busy building relationships, establishing classroom routines and getting started with academics! In our continued effort to keep all of our students safe please review the important information below regarding Arrival and Dismissal Procedures.
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL Students not eating breakfast should not arrive to school before 8:15 a.m. The first bell rings at 8:25 and the tardy bell at 8:30. We strongly suggest that students arrive no earlier than 10 minutes before the bell. There is no supervision before or after school. It is the parent’s responsibility to provide supervision at these times. Parents picking their children up after school are requested to wait outside . PLEASE…. select a designated meeting place outside, to limit additional hallway traffic at dismissal. Car drop-off and car pick-up is available for ALL parents. The car drop off and car pick-up area is on the north end of the school in the parking lot. PLEASE DO NOT DROP/PICK UP YOUR CHILD IN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING! Parents needing to speak with their child’s classroom teacher after school, must first obtain a visitors pass from in the office. Please schedule an appointment directly with the teacher, for other times during the school day. CAR DROP OFF Cars should pull into the drop off line and stay in a single file line right next to the side walk. We ask that you pull all the way forward to allow as many cars into the drop off area as possible. See Map for car drop off zone and directions. Beginning at 8:15 a.m. there will be a teacher outside to supervise the car drop off area. All students will need to exit the car, follow the sidewalk to the playground and will line up with their class. Students will not be allowed to go inside unless they are eating breakfast or shelters are open. To ensure the safety of our students, we ask that you do not go around other cars and wait till the car line moves through to exit. For the safety of all, please do not get out of your car. If you need to assist your child, we ask that you park in the parking lot and walk your child into the school. CAR PICK UP Car pick up runs differently than in the morning. To allow more cars to be in the Car pick up line, we line up in the opposite direction (clockwise). See Map for car drop off zone and directions. Cars should pull into the pick up line and stay in a single file line right next to the side walk. We ask that you pull all the way forward to allow as many cars into the drop off area as possible. Teachers will be supervising the car pick up area beginning at 3:30 p.m. and will only allow students to go to your car when you are located by the sidewalk. The office will send home a large visor card with your last name written as soon as you indicate that you will be using the car pick up as noted on your End of the Day Form. We ask that you clearly display this card on your driver side visor to assist us in getting students picked up as quickly and efficiently as possible. News from Our Classrooms
TEAM PERSISTENCE
This month, Team Persistence enjoyed unboxing and using many new materials from Donors Choose! Donors are able to select projects they’d like to support - every dollar helps provide great resources for classrooms! We recently received a new whiteboard teacher table, Logitech Crayons, a dollhouse, outdoor STEM materials and a deck box to store them, and a play market!
TEAM RESPECT
This month has been a busy one for the little Super Heroes of Team Respect. We focused on learning about ourselves and the power we hold to make this world (our team) a better place. By understanding our own role in the class community, we can feel more like we belong and it gives our good choices a more personal purpose. Mrs. Zieger and Mrs.Gleason have been busy assessing what everyone already knows so we make sure not to miss a thing.
TEAM INTEGRITY
In Integrity we have been spending the first few weeks to get to know each other and build a team community. Collaborating and working well in groups is a goal we have in our class. We have played games like hula hoop jump, marshmallow/noodle challenge, and a cup building challenge just to name a few!
TEAM DIVERSITY
Team Diversity is working hard on developing writing skills and speaking publicly. The students are excited to share their stories during our Author's Chair. During their reading, the students are practicing using expression and speaking clearly when reading to an audience. The audience is working on giving feedback, both a compliment and a suggestion. They are having a great time sharing their writing. Great job team!
TEAM EXCELLENCE EAST
Excellence East started the year with a Shark Tank competition. Students worked in groups to create a new product that would benefit the world. They had to work on creating a pitch and selling their product to the "sharks" aka teachers.
TEAM EXCELLENCE WEST
Excellence West students have settled nicely into the new school year! Along with academics, we have worked to develop our learning community. This includes setting expectations and participating in many team building activities. We have had paper chain challenges, newspaper fashion shows and even worked to fit through a note card! These skills will help us work as collaborative teams during throughout the school year.
TEAM ENDURANCE
This month we continued to learn the routines and expectations of our classroom and Walker Elementary School! We also began our Fall math and reading MAPs tests. Team Endurance really seems to enjoy learning new things and already making amazing progress! Finally a few notes from a few Specials and Clubs
SEL (Social Emotional Learning)
So far this month in SEL (Social Emotional Learning) students have been reviewing our Peace Corners and Zones of Regulation. We are having fun playing games and doing activities that help us practice identifying our feelings and ways we can calm down. We will soon be reviewing the Peace Corner calm down tools and how they are expected to be used. Keep an eye out on Seesaw to see activities :) Ask your child about the Zones of Regulation and how they feel in each of them, and ask how your child can use calm down skills at home!
Tech Class
This year during your child's technology time we'll work on using our iPad as a creative tool. We will dive into some beginner computer coding and work on sharing our learning in Seesaw. If you have not yet connected to your child's Seesaw class please do so soon. If you need more information regarding connecting to Seesaw please reach out to your child's classroom teacher.
3rd Grade Junior Coaches
3rd grade Junior Coaches had their first meeting today and they are very excited to start this week! Each recess they will choose, prepare, and run a structured game during Persistence and Respects’s lunch recess. This week they decided to run the game “Red light, Green light.” They choose this game to promote self control and sportsmanship, which are our two success skills this month at Walker Elementary!
Student Ambassadors
Meet the Walker School Ambassadors! Walker is excited to start a new fall club where students are working to serve as school ambassadors. An ambassador plays a critical role in sharing all the great things our school has to offer. With one of our goals being to increase community partnerships, are ambassadors will be working hard to train and prepare for greeting all Walker guests during our events this year. Any students interested in joining are encouraged to speak with Ms. Bruno.
SEL Family Resource Library
The SEL Family Resource Library is open! This is a new resource located in our school foyer that is open to all families who are looking to work on social emotional learning skills at home. The library has books that can be checked out and brought home to read with your child (social emotional learning games are coming soon!). A companion website has been created to provide activities that relate to each story and social skill focus. Topics include: Understanding Myself, Managing Myself, Respecting Others, Building Relationships, and Making Decisions. Follow the bulletin board prompts above the library in the foyer to see how you can check out some fun resources for home! |