WHES Highlights
September 4, 2020
We will now include E-learning and in-person learning information in our Highlights each week to support families and students engaged in each avenue of instruction at WHES. This week's Highlights contain a plethora of new information including parking lot procedures, arrival and dismissal visuals, as well as Zearn webinars for parents. Please read through this information carefully to best support a smooth return to in-person learning beginning this week, as well as a successful continuation of E-learning for students, too.
We hope your family finds plenty of ways to enjoy the long weekend. Some extra rest for our hard-working Tornadoes might be needed, too! Thank you all for your support, teamwork, and communication with our teachers. We do not have adequate words to describe the excitement buzzing at Woodmen Hills in anticipation of our first round of students returning in-person in just a few days. See you soon, Tornadoes!
In continued partnership,
Bethany Stegman (Principal) & Carey Purkey (Assistant Principal)
Upcoming Dates
September 7th - No School; Labor Day
September 8th - Preschool, 1st, and 2nd grades return in-person
September 8th - half of Kindergarten returns (check the email from your child's teacher)
September 9th - half of Kindergarten returns (check the email from your child's teacher)
September 14th - 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades return in-person
September 25th - No School; Elementary Teacher Work Day
We have revamped and rejuvenated our E-learning process to kick off 2020-2021. Please see the document linked here and below with details regarding the logistics of E-learning at WHES. We urge families to review this information and check back as questions arise - we will keep this updated as we continue to learn and grow this fall.
Student Material Pick Up - Fridays
Any materials students need to access during E-learning will be available for pickup. This process will continue for students remaining on E-learning status once in-person learning resumes. Beginning Friday, September 4th, crates will be outside near the exterior gym door on Fridays from 7:00am-5:00pm. Tables will be set up with crates labeled with teacher names, with student files in each one. Parents should check their own student’s file by finding the last name on the label. Please use the hand sanitizer available and limit contact as much as possible. Specials teachers, interventionists, and service providers may also add materials for pick up in this system. All teachers will communicate any items needed for pickup with their families on a weekly basis. This system is for student material PICK UP ONLY and not to be utilized to turn in/drop off items - all work should be captured digitally and submitted online per teacher directions.
Zearn Math Information & Support
A message from Zearn:
Knowing how many adults will help with remote learning this year, we are launching new tools and materials designed to support all adults, whether they are parents, tutors, caregivers, or coordinators at community-based organizations.
To kick off this work, we are offering free virtual webinars for parents, caregivers, tutors or other adults supporting remote learning. The webinar includes an orientation to Zearn digital resources as well as critical steps to support remote learning with Zearn. Please feel free to share the below webinar registration links with parents, caregivers, tutors, and adults who are coordinating of remote learning:
Return Dates:
September 8th - Preschool and 1/2 of Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd grade
September 9th - 1/2 of Kindergarten
September 14th - 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade
A Glimpse Inside WHES
Arrival & Dismissal Locations
Arrival:
- Preschool students should arrive at their playground gate only.
- Kindergarten and 1st - 4th grades enter through the main entrance or the back entrance by the art room only.
- 5th grade enters at their pod.
- Kindergarten students will be escorted from the bus to their classroom.
- Visitors are not allowed in the building at this time. Please say goodbye in the Kiss & Go lane or on the sidewalk area.
Dismissal:
We will dismiss using a staggered system of 1 class from each grade level will dismiss on a 4 bell schedule. i.e. - one bell will ring at 3:36pm, one bell at 3:37pm, one bell at 3:38pm, and one bell at 3:39pm releasing one class from each grade level at each bell. Students will dismiss from their exterior door (see below). At the 3:40pm bell, all remaining students still packing up should dismiss at their exterior door.
- Preschool students will dismiss from their playground gate.
Kindergarten will dismiss from their exterior door at 3:25pm as a parent-pick up process only (no Kiss and Go). Older siblings can still pick up their Kindergartener, they will need to exit from their exterior door and meet their sibling outside the Kindergarten exterior door.
1st grade will dismiss from their exterior door by their hallway.
2nd grade will dismiss from the exterior door near the Kindergarten hallway.
3rd grade will dismiss from the exterior doors at either the main entrance or the exterior door near the art room.
4th grade will dismiss from the exterior doors at either the main entrance or the exterior door near the art room.
5th grade will dismiss directly from their pod at 3:40pm. These students should then exit school grounds and not re-enter the main building.
Students riding the bus can exit directly to the bus parking lot to load. Kindergarten students will be escorted to the bus.
Students attending Base 49 after school will meet staff in the outside, back courtyard area near their designated space (more to be shared by Base 49). Kindergarten students will be escorted to Base 49.
Kiss and Go / Parking Lot Procedures
Masks/Facial Coverings
At this time, masks/facial coverings are required for all staff and students (grades 1-12).
Students must wear a mask to access in-person learning in our classrooms.
Students must wear a mask from home and the mask should be labeled with their first and last name. If a student’s mask breaks or is lost during the day, we will provide a replacement, disposable mask.
Students will be able to unmask during snack, lunch, and recess, while safely distanced during these times.
Students will utilize a clip system (provided by WHES) to keep their mask safe with them during lunch, snack, recess, and outdoor PE class (see more PE information in the Specials section).
At this time, face shields are not a mask alternative and should only be worn in conjunction with face masks.
In almost all cases where students are unable or choose not to wear a mask, we will provide school-based E-learning options. This E-learning will occur virtually for students from home, and will include synchronous and asynchronous learning engagements and opportunities.
In the very limited number of cases where our obligation to an individual student requires in-person learning without a mask, we will depend on individualized learning plans or an alternative/exemption process to provide consistent, equitable accommodations.
School Supply Lists
Specials Schedule
Specials will occur daily, on a 6-day rotating basis. Students will have the same special for 6 school days in a row (i.e. art for 6 school days, then PE for 6 school days) This allows for student materials specific to specials classes to only be utilized for a single cohort/class per grade level at a time.
Art, Music, PBL, and Technology will deliver instruction in individual classrooms to ensure cohorts are not accessing shared learning spaces amongst many students all day long.
PE classes will occur outside (weather permitting) or in the gym. If classes are occurring outside, this will allow students to remove their mask during the time of aerobic exercise AND WHILE students are adequately distanced.
All materials for specials classes will only be used with single cohorts. (For example - a set of paint materials will be used daily with the same 1st grade class/cohort, then thoroughly cleaned prior to being used with a different 1st grade class/cohort when the specials class rotation changes after 8 school days.)
Specials teachers will also support E-learning, delivering content via Schoology, and students will engage with Art, Music, Physical Education, and Technology. Students should engage with specials on a rotating-basis, following either the 6-day specials rotation schedule or their own schedule that is family-directed. The content provided in specials Schoology courses is designed to be self-paced throughout the entire quarter.
A Message from our School Nurse
If your student has a rescue medication (inhalers, epi-pens) they can be sent in along with their orders/action plans in a plastic bag labeled for the health room when you drop off your child's school supplies.
Our Health Room staff will be available for medication drop off for students needing controlled, daily medication to be kept/given at school. A physician's note must accompany all medication students may/will need at school. That form is linked here. Please email our School Nurse, Shelly Duran, at sduran@d49.org, to schedule a medication drop off.
More information can be found here - D49 Nursing Services.
Annual Forms to Complete
Annual Family Emergency Contact Form (linked here) - please complete one form per family
Annual Health Information (linked here) - please complete one form per student at WHES
Nutrition Services
We are pleased to announce School District 49 will provide meals at no cost for all learners through December. This is an official extension of the service that began at the outset of E49 this spring, which is fully supported by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. D49 will continue to offer grab-and-go meals for families who choose to learn remotely.
We will provide grab-and-go meals from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Monday through Friday at the following locations through Sept. 11 (excluding Sept. 4 and 7):
- Horizon Middle School - 1750 Piros Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80915
- Skyview Middle School - 6350 Windom Peak Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80923
- Falcon High School - 10255 Lambert Rd, Peyton, CO 80831
Starting Sept. 14, families who choose remote learning will soon have the opportunity to order meals ahead of time at the nutrition services webpage and to select the most convenient pick up location. Families with students at multiple schools may pick up all meals at the school of your choice. We will be sending out the reservation website information soon.
And a reminder, We will not be offering meal service Friday, Sept. 4, and Monday, Sept. 7, due to the Labor Day holiday.
Free & Reduced Lunch Meal Program Information
All D49 families are welcome to apply for the federally assisted free and reduced meal program. Many who apply are surprised to discover they qualify. The free and reduced-price meal program provides more than healthy meals for qualifying students, it provides much needed funds for school districts, and can provide many other benefits to your family as well!
New to District 49? Register and apply online by clicking the link to PaySchools Central
Returning for school year 20-21? Update your D49 PaySchools meal account and re-apply by clicking here. Families must apply annually.
*Paper copies of the application can be picked up and turned in at school as well.
Military & Family Life Counseling (MFLC) Information
You can also visit https://www.d49.org/Page/7638 for more information.
PTA Information
First General Meeting
Thank you to all who attended our first general meeting. The minutes for the meeting are available on Memberhub under the files tab. We will be holding an Executive meeting for our Board Members and Committee Chairs on September 14th at 5pm on Zoom.
Become a Member
We welcome all parents, teachers and community members to attend our meetings. However, if you would like a vote or the ability to bring ideas to the board you must be a member. Please follow this link https://woodmenhillspta.new.memberhub.store/store to renew or purchase your membership and join Memberhub. Memberhub will be our primary communication platform. We encourage you to sign up, purchase spirit wear, start conversations and stay up to date on events and services that are important to you.
Committee Sign Up
As a PTA we are dependent on our volunteers to contribute to our goals and events. We have amazing volunteers who will be leading our committees and now we are looking for volunteers to fill our committees. Sign up to join our committees here https://bit.ly/WHESPTACommitteeSignUp
Upcoming Events
September 14 - Executive Meeting
If you have any issues, please reach out to us at woodmenelempta@gmail.com
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/woodmenhillspta
PowerSchool Parent Portal
Woodmen Hills Elementary School
Assistant Principal: Carey Purkey
Dean of Students: Cheryl Curry
Counselor: Sherese Taylor
Website: www.d49.org/woodmenhills
Location: 8308 Del Rio Road, Peyton, CO 80831
Phone: 719-495-5500