WLC Newsletter

Woods Learning Center News September 03, 2010

Primary

We continue to work on learning rules and routines. Last week we started our science inquiry unit learning about types of wood and attributes of wood. This week we continued our study of wood and began the NWEA growth tests.

Upper Intermediate

Every other year as we begin to explore Western Expansion students participate in the Hacker Trail simulation. This simulation helps students understand the trials and struggles of travelers heading west, as well as their motives for taking such a risk. After some time “on the trail” we will take a break while students write their first re-search paper of the year, a group paper about the different tribes of Plains Indians. After the completion of the papers we will jump back into the simulation. Our class will attend the Game and Fish Expo Friday, Sept. 10. We began our journey through the science of the water cycle using the “Water Planet” Foss Science Kit. Students will also learn how water affects weather.

Middle School 6

Students logged into First Class, the District e-mail system, last week. They were excited to be able to exchange messages with their class-mates and teachers. This technology allows us options and flexibility with assignments and communication. It also presents some risks of abuse. We have reviewed expectations for responsible use. On Wednesday we took our annual 6th/7th/8th grade middle school trip to Casper Mountain for a day of outside learning and interaction. Moun-tain day activities have included geography, geology, science, writing, art, PE, and team build-ing. It is an important day that we always look forward to. Officer Bullard will again teach our students the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) curriculum. He will be with us for ten Thursdays from 10:45-11:30 starting on Sept. 2. Officer Bullard does an outstanding job and relates well to the students. We conducted experiments last week to determine the effect of slope on the rate a fire will spread. We graphed our results this week and considered other factors. Goals of the lesson were to help students to understand the need for controlling variables when conducting experiments and get students thinking like scientists.

Middle School 7/8

We have hit the ground running with our math groups, American history, French, science and English. Students have also had art, P.E., choir, and instrumental music. This can be a bit over-whelming, so please help your student with organization and dedicated homework time until they get back into the routine. Students have been asked to read at home for 10 minutes per day. Students were administered the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress tests this week. These are online tests that are required by the school district, and are given each fall and spring.

Elementary Spanish Program

Information about the status of the elementary Spanish program at Woods is included in to-day’s Friday folders. Please take time to read and consider the information. If you have thoughts or suggestions, please send a note in your child’s Friday folder or contact a member of the WLC staff.

Volunteer Opportunity—Movie Club

Volunteers are needed to help with the WLC after-school Movie Club Wednesday, Sept. 22. Volunteers are needed to make popcorn at 2:30. Others are needed at 3:30 to distribute popcorn and help monitor rooms where movies are being shown. Movies will end by around 5 p.m. Please contact intermediate teacher Kate Maes at Kathleen_Maes@natronaschools.org if you would like to help.

WLC Student Handbook and Directory

If you have not already done so, please complete the pink form (sent home last week) and return it Tuesday, Sept. 6. If the school does not receive these completed forms, student information will not be included in the directory.

From the Nurse’s Office

Hello Students and Parents: My goal is to keep everyone healthy and safe throughout the school year. Here are a few reminders for parents:

*If not already on file at WLC, I need a current copy of your child's immunization record by Sept. 17, at 8 a.m. The immunizations required:

* Five doses of diptheria/tetanus/pertussis

* Four doses of poliovirus vaccine

* Three doses of hepatitis B

* Two doses of measles/mumps/rubella

* Completed series of haemophilus infuenzae (Hib) vaccine

We are encouraging parents, before the new rule becomes effective:

* Two doses of varicella vaccine or history of chickenpox disease.

Upon entering 7th grade, a Tdap vaccination is required.

Please contact the Natrona County Health Department or your doctor if your child needs immunizations.

*If you have not already done so, please fill out the blue health information form so that we can be aware of allergies, illness, and medications.

*If your child needs to take medication at school, we need a signed doctor's order, and medication in the original bottle. Contact me if you need a medical permission form.

I hope everyone will have a safe, healthy and happy school year!
--Marla Rate, WLC School Nurse

Volunteers Needed for Staff Retreat Food

A few items are still needed for the WLC Staff Retreat Sept. 10 – 12. The food needs to be de-livered to the school no later than noon on Sept. 10. If interested in helping (counts as parent volunteer hours) please contact Lisa Tunison at 473-8088 or wytunison@bresnsn.net.

PTC Fundraiser

Earn funds for the WLC PTC while shopping at Safeway. Use your club card when making pur-chases between Aug. 14 and Sept. 17. Log onto backtoschool.escrips.com between Sept. 18 and Oct. 13 and select Woods as the school you support. Or bring the bottom of your receipt with the redemption code to the PTC mailbox at WLC.

Volunteer Opportunities

In an effort to provide parents opportunities to fulfill their parent volunteer hours and become involved in the school and community service projects organized by WLC, the newsletter will publish opportunities for them to volunteer their time. Opportunities both inside and outside school will enable inclusion of parents with a variety of schedules.

*Lunchroom/Playground Volunteers Parents are invited to eat lunch with their children and accompany them to the playground for recess.

*Staff Retreat Food Volunteers are needed to pre-pare/supply food for the annual staff retreat. Contact Lisa Tunison at 473-8088 or wytunison@bresnan.net.

*Movie Club Volunteers are needed to make/ distribute popcorn and help monitor rooms where movies are being shown Sept. 22. Con-tact Kate Maes at Kathleen_Maes@natronaschools.org

Bookfest & Feast

Raising Readers in Wyoming is holding a break-fast and fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 8:30 – 11 a.m. The event will be held at Dean Morgan Junior High School, 1440 S. Elm Street. Cost is $5 per family and will include breakfast, story time, raffle, door prizes, face painting, book characters and parent resource tables. Raising Readers in Wyoming encourages parents to read to their children by providing books as part of their well child doctor visits.

Healthy Life Series

Join Certified Naturopathic Practitioner and WLC parent Janet DeVoogd on Saturday Sept. 11, 10:30 a.m. – noon for A Healthy Start Back to School. Janet will teach you how to keep your family healthy the natural way. The series is held at the Natrona County Public Library.

Coming Events

Labor Day Monday, Sept. 6. School will not be in session.

After School Movie Club Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 3:30 p.m. WLC students and their families are invited to attend. Watch for additional information.

Fall Break Friday, Oct. 15. School will not be in session.

Box Tops for Education WLC is collecting Box Tops for Education labels that are redeemable for cash. Labels are on selected General Mills products. Save these labels and send them in to the WLC office.

Cash For Trash Fundraiser Schools collect empty laser and inkjet printer cartridges from students, parents, or any business and trade them for cash. Please send in any cartridges from your home or place of employment, or any other source you may know and send them in to the WLC office.

Aluminum Cans Recycling WLC is collecting aluminum cans as a fundraiser. If you would like to donate your cans to the school, please bag them and deposit them next to the receptacle north of the building in the parking lot. Students will place the cans in the receptacle.

Safeway/Albertsons Gift Cards Safeway and Albertsons gift cards are available at the WLC office in a variety of denominations. They can be used like cash to make purchases at Safeway and Albertson stores. This program is a fund-raiser for the Woods PTC. Please contact Mary O’Connor for more information.

Information Please

Look for the Woods Learning Center News weekly in your child’s Friday folder. If you have information to include, please leave it in Judy Neal’s box in the staff mailroom by 3:15 Thursdays, email her at judy_neal@natronaschools.org, or call her at 253-3900.