NEWS FROM WES

From Principal Maggie Mills ~ February 5, 2023 ~ #15

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Upcoming Events

Wednesday, February 8th: Healthy Relationships Project Info Session for Parents 5-6PM
February 20th-24th: No School, February Vacation Week
Wednesday, March 1st: Monthly two hour delayed opening
Monday, March 6th: No School, Teacher In-service
Tuesday, March 7th: No School, Town Meeting Day
Friday, March 10th: End of trimester two
Friday, March 10th: Last Ski Runners day for grades 1-4
Tuesday, March 28th: Report cards distributed

For the complete WES events calendar, click here.

For individual classroom news and events click here.

For all WCSU school board and committee meetings, click here.

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Words From Ms. Mills

Dear WES Families,

I would like to address the issue of school safety. As many of you know, Woodstock Elementary dealt with a potential threat heard on a school bus during the week of January 22nd. I want to make clear to everyone in our community that this threat was taken seriously and responded to as soon as staff became aware of it. The threat was assessed and determined to be not credible. There were no weapons found on school property. Although the threat was not credible, we have put a safety plan in place.

In each of the seven years that I have been principal at Woodstock Elementary, students have said concerning things. Every year, students bring things to school that they should not. Each time this happens, the situation is examined closely to determine intent and potential for harm. Usually there is no ill intent, but on the rare occasions that there is, steps are taken to get the student the help they need and ensure that the school community is safe. We have three core rules at WES. “We are safe” is the first one. I take my responsibility for safety extremely seriously. It is humbling to be entrusted with school safety each day.

I have heard concerns from many in our community about the communication provided regarding this potential threat and the school’s response. I, and the WCSU leadership team, have heard this feedback and are examining our communication protocols going forward in light of our legal responsibility to maintain student confidentiality. I understand the importance of clear communication and will look for ways to improve in this regard.

There is no question that this is a particularly challenging moment for our school community. I say “our school community” because education is a partnership. When the school mission and vision statements were rewritten in 2021, we intentionally used the word community in each statement (see below). In challenging times, your partnership is needed more than ever. I hope you will consider leaning in to support one another, our staff, and our school community for the benefit of all our children.

How can families be partners at WES?

Ask teachers what donations they need
Read teacher emails, blogs, and newsletters
Work with your child on their learning at home
Write a positive note or email to a staff member
Volunteer at recess (sign up with cstubbs@wcsu.net)
Volunteer in a classroom
Volunteer to clean or tidy an area of the school
Sign up for and attend conferences
Attend school events (back to school night, curriculum night, coffee with the principal, PTO meetings, concerts, classroom field trips and celebrations, craft nights, etc.)
Sign up to substitute in the building
Volunteer with annual PTO events (wespto@wcsu.net)
Serve on the school board

I deeply value our community, and I know we can strengthen it together. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions, suggestions, or concerns.

Sincerely,

Maggie Mills

Principal

WES Vision Statement: The Woodstock Elementary School community cultivates compassionate, empowered learners.

WES Mission Statement: The WES community provides a strong foundation and fosters perseverance and belonging.

KC the Kindness Cat was found around WES this week!

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IMPORTANT: NEW DISMISSAL CHANGE PROCEDURE

Starting Monday, February 13th, we will be using a system called PickUp Patrol to help us track dismissals. PickUp Patrol (PUP) will save us a great deal of time here in the office and reduce classroom interruptions while providing you with a convenient way to make changes to your children’s dismissal plans.

Most importantly, it will help us ensure that our students are safely dismissed to their correct after-school destinations.

Use the PUP web app for:

ATTENDANCE: Notify the school office when your child will be absent, arriving late or leaving early.

DISMISSAL CHANGES: Submit changes to your child’s regular dismissal plans.

For example:

Your child normally rides the bus, but is getting picked up today.
Your child usually goes to aftercare, but is leaving early for an appointment.

How it works:

Your child's regular dismissal plan is entered into the system. This is called their Default Plan. Then whenever you have a change to the Default Plan, you’ll submit it through the PUP app. When the change is submitted, the school will be notified and your child’s teacher will relay the change to them.

Getting started:

REGISTER: On Wednesday, February 8th, you will receive a registration email with a link to set up your account.

The web app is free to parents and you can use it from your smartphone or computer.
For easy access, follow the instructions in your registration email for how to add it to your phone’s home screen (PUP is not accessed through the app stores).

ENTER DEFAULT PLANS: Once you register, log into your PickUp Patrol account by Monday, February 13th to confirm your child’s default dismissal plan. It’s important that you complete this step so that we can accurately dismiss your children.

Notes, emails or phone calls will be accepted for changes for the next few weeks, but starting Monday February 27th, all changes should be submitted through PickUp Patrol.

Thank you for using PUP to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all our students. If you have any questions, please first check the PUP FAQ page. If you still need help, contact us here in the office at thecker@wcsu.net.

Healthy Relationships Project Parent Info Night

Healthy Relationships Project
Parent Info Night
Wednesday 2/8/23 from 5-6 PM in the WES Library
Come learn more about the programs that we teach as a part of our Wellness curriculum at WES; We Care and Care For Kids. This programming is consistent with federal and state health education standards and based on research and best practices for promoting safety. Lessons are delivered each school year to build on content and skills learned in previous years. In partnership with WISE of the Upper Valley, we will give a summary of the programs and engage in meaningful conversation with families. Hope to see you there.

American Heart Association Challenge

On Friday, Nick Strance from the Vermont chapter of the American Heart Association led an assembly for our school about heart health. We recognized heart heroes in our school community and shared ways kids can keep their hearts healthy. Nick previewed the AHA challenge our students will be invited to participate in. More information about the challenge can be found here and will be sent home shortly.