Week of December 15

Final Blog of 2014!

A tremendous thank you to all our wonderful Willow Glen families, for providing us with the opportunity to work with your children every day.  We will continue to educate, nurture and guide your children in 2015!

A few tidbits from this past week...

• The students and staff enjoyed our first, all-school PBIS celebration on December 18th. Children gathered in their pajamas for some buddy reading in the library, and then came together as a school community to sing holiday/contemporary songs.  The favorite song of the event was clearly "Let it Go", from the movie Frozen!  Take a look at Twitter, as pictures were posted during the gathering.
• Students put the finishing touches on gifts for parents/caregivers.  They are excited to pass these gifts along to loved ones, during this season of giving.
• Today (Friday) was a fun-filled day for all.  Classroom festivities were centered on learning, friendship, and well yes...A few sweet treats!

The staff and I wish everyone a peaceful and joyous holiday season!

See you in 2015!

Week of November 17-21

Thank you  to all the parents who completed the Willow Glen Parent Survey!  Your feedback is important to us as we continuously seek ways to improve our school and district.

Arrival Clarifications:
We begin to welcome children into the building at 8:10 (bell), and instruction begins shortly thereafter.  The supervisors working the drive-through will be on duty until 8:10 or so. They are assigned to work with students immediately after the bell rings, so they need to transition into the school very quickly.  After 8:10, all students will need to enter the building through the front doors. 

Dismissal Clarifications:
Our school day officially ends at 3:10.  Please plan on seeing your child close to that time, whether you utilize the drive-through or pick up your child.  We will not be dismissing drive through children early, as we value instructional time with our students!

Have a great weekend!

Week of November 10

Thank you to all the parents who have already come to parent-teacher conferences..The teachers have enjoyed sharing important information with you regarding your son/daughter's growth.  Thank you also, for supporting our Book Fair.  We are looking forward to seeing more parents next week!

If you have not already completed the school survey, please consider doing so.  Your feedback is important to us!  You can access the survey from Willow Glen's website, in the upper left hand corner.

There have been great things happening in the classroom this past week, and many more meaningful learning experiences on the way.  Here are some highlights of "Classroom Happenings":

K4

This week the K4 worked very hard at recognizing the letter Bb and the sound it makes.  They came up with 25 words that start with Bb.  Next week, they will be working with the letter Tt for turkey!  They will make the cutest turkeys and learn about the First Thanksgiving.  Students will discuss what is the same, and what is different from our traditions, today.

K5

The kindergarten children are working hard in their reading groups as well as reading their bedtime books at home. They have learned two reading strategies to help them read;  Eagle Eyes and Lips the Fish. They have also been busy learning about their bodies and making healthy choices.

Grade 1

First graders are busy in their Daily Five literacy rotations.  Students are engaged in guided reading groups, writing, read to self, read to partner, computers, and word work.

Grade 2

In second grade the students are learning about animals. Some have backbones like mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians. Some do not,  like insects, spiders and octopuses. They are also learning how animals adapt to their environments. During writing and reading the students are enjoying the world of non-fiction stories about many different things.

Grade 3

In reading, the third graders are working on book series book clubs.  They are reading three books from the same book series and meeting in small groups to discuss thick questions, connections, main ideas and details, and make predictions from their texts.  In science, they are studying animal traits and learning the different characteristics of various vertebrates and invertebrates.

Week of November 3

Thank you to all the parents who came out for the WG Annual Fall Harvest Parade.  While there was a chill in the air, together with strong winds, the weather could not stop us from having a great time.  Our indoor parade, led by the SFHS drum line, was a huge success!
Be sure to follow me on Twitter, as I shared pictures of the afternoon!

Please consider joining us on November 13 at 9:00am for the next Parent Advisory Council Meeting.  We will be discussing how to build success with reading at home, and we will also be talking about PBIS.  This is a wonderful opportunity to further connect the home and school!

Looking forward to seeing everyone at Parent-Teacher conferences this coming week (and the following week)!

Week of October 27-31

Happy Fall Harvest Day!


Today, October 31, will be our annual Fall Harvest Day Parade.  It will begin at 2:00pm.  Please visit the Willow Glen Website for a parade route.  Looking forward to seeing many of you there! 

Classroom Highlights:  (Notice that celebrating writing seems to be a theme this week!)

K5 -
K5 has been learning all about pumpkins. In math, they have been counting and learning how to write numbers.  Students continue to read and write daily during our Daily 5 literacy time.

Grade 1 -
Children have been working on revising, editing and publishing their personal narrative (small moment) stories.  They are looking forward to our upcoming writers celebration.  First graders have also been working on words, words, words!  They are noticing spelling patterns and word chunks that are helping them become even better readers and writers.

Grade 2 -
Second graders just celebrated their small moment stories.  They are starting to create Non-fiction books. Some of the topics include baseball, weather, cacti and bats. The students are very excited about being the experts on their topics. They will even include an author's page and tell us all about themselves.

Grade 3 -
Third graders have been writing up a storm.  They just had our first Author Celebration for our personal narrative writing.  The students really enjoyed learning about a true event that happened in each other's lives. They are now learning how to state an opinion and support it with reasons and examples so that theycan write an organized opinion piece. In science they have been learning a lot about the parts of a plant and what those parts do to help the plant survive.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child's education...And as always, remember to read!



Week of October 6

This week, I'd like to share with you some classroom highlights...

K4 - Students enjoyed sorting apples by color this week.  They were each able to sample 3 types of apples, and then graphed the kinds that they liked the best.  Additionally, children used apples to make patterns, and wrote a "spin off" class book after reading Dr. Seuss's "Ten Apples On Top." K4 students learned the word "apple" begins with the letter A
K5 - The children discussed fire safety, which included a visit from the St. Francis Fire Department.  Also, they have been talking and learning about the signs of Fall. In math they are learning about patterns and shapes. K5 students are enjoying writers workshop and jumping into the Daily 5, which they are doing a great job in!
Grade 1 - This week, first graders have been focusing on short /i/ word families, along with identifying cause and effect while reading.  They are also continuing to work on handwriting, small moment stories and learning about living and non-living things.
Grade 2 - Second graders have settled in nicely to the Daily 5 and into writer's workshop.  They are continuing to learn more about PBIS, and have earned many leaves to fill up our school tree!
Grade 3 -  In math, students are just starting a new chapter on addition and subtraction. They will also be working on number stories.  In writing, third graders are nearing the end of their personal narrative and working on revision, by adding in author's craft and elaboration.  In reading, children are working on connecting characters, reading with expression and adjusting rate, increasing our vocab by understanding idioms, and engaging in collaborative conversations about poems.

I hope that these classroom highlights provided you with an opportunity to learn more about what is happening in your child/s classroom, as well as what is happening across the school!

Week of September 29

Welcome to October!

 

 

First, a message from the City of St. Francis...

 

The railroad will be closing the crossing on St. Francis Avenue beginning October 6, 2014.  Signage is posted near the crossing to alert drivers of the closure.  If all goes as planned, St. Francis Avenue will be reopened October 10, 2014. 

 

At Willow Glen...

Nearly all fall assessments have been wrapped up.  Teachers are using this data to inform their instruction, and identify students in need of reading and math intervention.  If your son/daughter was identified for these services, you may have already received a letter.  We have 3 outstanding interventionists working at Willow Glen:  Char Skenedore, Laura Frombach and Sara Bailey.  These ladies are all certified teachers and are eager to begin supporting children!

MAP assessment results will be sent home during the week of October 13.  If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.

Our Literacy Framework is fully functioning at every grade level.  Be sure to ask your child about their experiences with Word Work, Guided Reading Groups, Computer Time, Writing, and Independent Reading.  This is a research-based, balanced approach to literacy instruction.

 

Coming Soon...

"Grade Level Highlights"

Each week, I will share highlights from grade levels.  You will hear about things that children are learning in their classrooms.  It is nice to see what is happening at your own grade level, as well as learn about what might be ahead!

 

 

 



Week of September 22

Thank you to all the parents that attended the PTO meeting on Wednesday, and the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) meeting on Thursday night!

At both events, information was shared on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. 

Our Gator Goals are:

• Be Responsible
• Be Respectful
• Be Safe
• Be a Leaner

Students have been practicing expected behavior in the hallways, cafeteria bathrooms,
drive-thru and in the classrooms.  Recognitions/Acknowledgements are given to individual students for displaying the expected behaviors..GATOR GOTCHA'S!  Additionally, whole classrooms are awarded leaves for showing great hallway behavior.  Our schoolwide goal is to fill up a tree with fall leaves...This will involve a special whole-school celebration!

Fall assessments are winding down. These assessments provide us with important data to meet your child' needs.  You will be receiving MAP data during the week of October 6.  Please feel free to contact your child's teacher if you have any questions regarding the results.

Enjoy your day and remember to read!!!!

State and District Report Cards Released

Dear Willow Glen Families,

In September, 2014 the Department of Public Instruction released district report cards to help parents and students compare districts across the state using common criteria in the areas of: Student Achievement, Student Growth, Closing Gaps, and Post-Secondary Readiness. These report cards are set for public release today.

St. Francis uses the report card as one measure to evaluate the success of individual schools and of the district.  Please visit the DPI Report Card Web Site for further explanation of these report cards.

The staff and students at Willow Glen have much to celebrate, with the release of the school report card.  Due to the staff's dedication to children, commitment to professional growth, and focus on student needs and achievement, we are proud to say that Willow Glen School EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS!  We thank our families for their continued support of the learning that occurs in classrooms every day.

Willow Glen's data over the years is as follows:
2011-2012     66.8  Meets Expectations  
2012-2013     70.3  Meets Expectations
2013-2014     76.7  Exceeds Expectations

Across the District...Both Deer Creek and St. Francis High School "Meet Expectations".  As a school system, we all have been working the last several years to ensure all students are learning,all students are growing, and our schools continue becoming kinder and compassionate places for all to learn and grow. We all are part of this vital endeavor.

We also know it is our positive relationships with our students, parents and community that will continue defining the SFSD as a place to be. 

Welcome to the 2014-2015 School Year!

Congratulations on a successful first week! Your students have been absolutely wonderful! They are skillfully following routines, showing respect and care for one another, and bringing positive attitudes and smiles each day.

As you may know through newletters and Open House, we are embarking on PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports). We've already begun talking to students about what this means, and they're making us proud.

You, parents, are our partners in helping our students have the best year possible. We will keep our Willow Glen website updated with useful information throughout the year. We will also communicate with you through this Blog, as well as through Twitter.

Wishing everyone a continued great launch into the 2014-2015!

Week of June 9

It's hard to believe that this is the last post of the school year.  We have much to celebrate as we reflect on the last 9 months.  Our students at Willow Glen continue to shine on State tests in the area of mathematics, and we are making steady gains in reading, as well.  Classroom libraries are brimming with books that are representative of titles and topics, that the children have asked for, and the libraries are balanced between fiction and non-fiction.  The Daily 5 Literacy Framework that we use to structure the reading block, has provided us with the opportunity to include more technology in the classrooms, as well as broaden choices for word work.  As a school community, we are proud of our students, teachers and parents.  WILLOW GLEN IS AN AWESOME PLACE TO BE!

This week we came together as a school/district, to wish our retirees well as they enter a new phase in their lives.  We will dearly miss the following exceptional educators who gave so much of themselves for our children:
Ellen Erceg, K4 and Early Childhood
Mary Pat Grafwallner, Special Education
Karen Kulig, Speech and Language Pathologist
Mary Maslowski, Para Professional
Donna Payment, Grade 2
Kathy Reeves, Grade 2

We will be welcoming several new staff members next year, and I look forward to sharing more information with you in the August newsletter!

Thank you for all you have done this school year to support your child' learning.  We value the home/school partnership, and look forward to continuing the strong relationships that we have built. 

Have a wonderful summer with your family!

Week of June 2

There are many awesome things happening at Willow Glen, as we wind down the school year...Culminating field trips, celebrations of learning, and excitement to be prepared for the next grade level!

Remember the Hot Dog lunch on June 12th.  This is always a great event for parents, caregivers and students!   If you'd like more information on this, please contact the school office.

In an effort to stay connected with families, WG now has a Twitter account.  Please access the link on our home page and start to follow us.  I will post pictures and highlights, as they unfold.

Enjoy the beautiful weather!

Week of May 26

I hope that everyone has/had an enjoyable Memorial Day weekend with family and friends! All students and staff continue to work hard and are focused on finishing strong...

Classroom Highlights:

K4 - The children recently visited the farm.  They are making books on baby farm animals.

K5 - The caterpillars hatched and turned into beautiful butterflies!  The students learned about metamorphosis and incorporated this experience into reading and writing.

Grade 1 - The first graders are immersed in poetry and are ready to publish their masterpieces.

Grade 2 - The children are wrapping up a year-long study of animals and their habitats.  They will be enjoying a trip to the Zoo, this week!

Grade 3 - Third graders are engaged in collaborative work on social issues, such as divorce, loss, bullying, self-esteem, homelessness, poverty and child labor. 

The signs of summer are everywhere...Bask in the beautiful weather!

Week of May 19

PBIS is coming to Willow Glen!

This past week, a team of teachers spent time learning about the Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS).

What is the purpose of PBIS? 
PBIS creates a more positive environment for students and staff by establishing clear expectations for students and taking active steps in teaching, modeling and reinforcing appropriate behaviors school wide.  Wisconsin schools have been implementing PBIS since the Fall of 2006, with rapid growth in the number of trained PBIS schools in Wisconsin occurring within the last two years. As of January 15, 2012, over 872 schools in 192 districts in Wisconsin have attended PBIS training.

The WG PBIS Team is developing a structure that meets the needs of our students.  We are identifying areas/environments in our school where the most behavior challenges arise, and then planning lessons to use with the students in the fall, as a means of teaching appropriate behavior. The focus will be on rewarding positive behavior, that stems from the experience of being explicitly taught the school expectations.  Feel free to visit the PBIS Wisconsin Network, for more information.  We will be talking a lot more about this, next year! 

New Staff ...

As mentioned in the May/June newsletter, we have begun the search for teachers at the second grade level.  Mrs. Reeves and Mrs. Payment are both retiring, and will be dearly missed. 
In just 2 weeks time, we received 150 applicants for these vacancies.  Interviews will occur next week, with a recommendation to the Board of Education at the beginning of June.  I have no doubt that with the applicant pool as strong as it is, we will be bringing forth exceptional candidates.

Please remember that May 22 is a half-day for students! 


 

Week of May 12

Thank you so much to all who attended our Fine Arts Night!  It was a huge success, with “standing room only” for the musical portion of the evening.  Mrs. Marsh, Art Teacher, and Mr. Shanafelt, Music Teacher, do amazing things with our children every day…This was a culminating celebration of learning for students in grades K5/1.  Additionally, a special note of appreciation to our Music Boosters for sponsoring the hot dog dinner.  This group supports our music program in many ways! 

Classroom highlights are similar to what was described in my previous blog.  Students are working hard to finish the school year strong!

Lastly, a warm thank you to our PTO for showing the staff how much they are appreciated.  The luncheon was enjoyed by all.  Our staff works tirelessly to meet the needs of all students at Willow Glen.  They love what they do each day, and this is clearly evident in the relationships that they build with students.  Willow Glen has AMAZING teachers…And students!

Enjoy the lovely weather and Happy Mother’s Day!

PREVIEW

Week of May 5-9

Happy Month of May!

As we enjoy some of the warmth of the springtime air, students are engaged in assessments that are utilized to capture academic growth from fall to spring.  Students in K5-3 will be participating in MAP assessments, benchmark reading assessments, writing and math assessments.  This data provides the teachers with valuable information that will assist them in identifying  students’ needs for the remainder of the school year, as well as for next year.  It also serves as a tool for our school to evaluate the effectiveness of our programs and instruction.

Classroom Highlights…

K4 – The children will be busy making Mother’s Day gifts (sh…), and waiting for their seeds to grow.  They will also be learning about the farm, in preparation for an upcoming field trip.

K5 – Students are completing their “Write for a Reason” unit.  They are producing opinion pieces on movies, books and restaurant reviews.  IN math, they are learning about time, and engaging in story problems.  They are also learning about Earth Day and springtime!

Grade 1 – First graders are busy learning about fractions, as well as reviewing previously taught material.  They are enjoying writing poetry!

Grade 2 – The children were involved in a field trip to The Milwaukee Art Museum.  They are learning about the arts and writing reflections on their experience.  In math, they are learning about fractions and measurement.  Their Health unit is covering how germs make people sick.  Lots going on in Grade 2!!!

Grade 3 – Students continue to be involved in reading, math and writing activities that will prepare them to be successful in 4^th grade.  They enjoyed their visit to Deer Creek, and had an opportunity to meet Mr. Powell and some of the staff!

Please remember that if you haven’t taken the school survey, there is still time!  The window ends at 11:00pm tonight.  Your feedback is very important to us!

Parent Surveys

Please take a moment to log on to the Willow Glen website main page and follow the link to the PARENT SURVEY.  Your input is very important to us as we focus on continuous improvement in our schools. Thank you in advance for your responses!

PTO MEETING AGENDA

April 16, 2014

PTO Meeting

Agenda

1.       Call meeting to order/Pledge of Allegiance

2.       Minutes  - Stephanie Kuczynski

3.       Treasurer’s Report/Proposed Budget Approval/New Fund Request Process– Chris Piper

4.       Fund Raising update –Holly Hopton

5.       School District Report: School Survey Report -Dr. Thomsen

6.       Elections  - Openings for Secretary and Social Media & Marketing Director

7.       Principal’s Report

8.       Scholarships

9.       Teacher Appreciation Lunch - May 8

10.   Meeting Dates for PTO 2014-2015 - proposed  9/24, 12/4, 4/15- awaiting approval from school administration

11.   Old Business

12.   New Business

13.   Adjourn

PTO meeting

PTO MEETING

PTO MEETING WEDNESDAY APRIL 16th in the WILLOW GLEN LIBRARY

The Willow Glen/Deer Creek PTO would like to cordially invite you join us tomorrow night in the Willow Glen library.  There will be updates on the year so far as well as information regarding the PTO plans for moving forward as an integral partner with the St. Francis Schools.

April Update

Week of April 14th

Students are enjoying the warmer weather!  They are involved in a whole school, springtime activity, in which they are learning about the life of Jackie Robinson.  Stop in and take a look at the time line in the main hallway!

A few classroom highlights…

K5 students are finishing their “Writing for a Reason Books”.  They are also busy looking for signs of spring, and practicing working with number stories. 

Grade 1 children are enjoying reading books about the life of Jackie Robinson.  They are learning about space, and completing their persuasive writing pieces.

Grade 2 students are learning that “Drugs are Dangerous” in Health class.  They recently participated in the “Zoo to You” program, which was sponsored by our wonderful PTO.  

Remember…No school on Friday!  Enjoy the time with your children!

Week of April 7

Play Ball!

The students at Willow Glen are continuing with classroom activities that were highlighted in last week’s Principal Blog.  The writing that children are producing, and the literature that they are interacting with, is engaging and  impressive.  Additionally, in celebration of the opening of the Major League Baseball Season, our students are embarking on a school wide activity.  Much like our Martin Luther King, Jr. whole-school timeline, prepared in January, children will be enjoying non-fiction reading materials on Jackie Robinson.  The culminating project will be a timeline along the main hallway of the building.  Please stop by and see it…I will let you know when it is complete!

Father/Daughter Dance

This evening, the PTO will be sponsoring the first, ever Father/Daughter Dance.  The event will be held at Deer Creek for 6-8pm.  Please contact Holly Hopton, PTO President, for more information.  This is a wonderful opportunity to dads and daughters to spend an evening together, and share in the spirit of joyous parent/child relationships!

Have a great weekend!  Go Badgers!

Updates

Approaching a New Month…

Dear Readers,

I was experiencing some technical difficulties in updating the Willow Glen Blog.  These have been resolved, and we are up and running again.  Continue to look for weekly school postings.  This information serves as a tool for being apprised of K-3 happenings!

Thanks for your patience J

Laurie Pogorzelski

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Thank you to all parents who participated in parent teacher conferences these past 2 weeks.  Parent-teacher conferences are an opportunity to establish better communication between parents and teachers.  Through the grading and reporting process, you were provided with information about your child’s progress, and had a venue to ask questions and learn more about grade level programming.  We hope that you found this to be a rewarding experience.

Classroom News

K4 – The students will be starting a new unit in “Transportation”.  They will also be asked to sign-in when they enter the classroom each day.  This serves as authentic  practice in writing their first names…An important K4 skill!!!!

K5 – The kindergartners finished their second “All About” book.  They are working hard at publishing these books, using the computers.

Grade 1 – First graders are beginning a new unit on Space.  They will also be starting fairy tales and preparing persuasive book reviews, aligned to the genre.

Grade 2 – Students are busy publishing their persuasive papers and are ready to learn about saving and spending in Social Studies.

Grade 3 – Third graders completed the process of sharing their book reviews.  They will be learning about biographies in the coming weeks.

Once again, the staff appreciates the wonderful partnerships that they have formed with each of you.  Working together benefits our students, and sends a message that we all care and love our kids!  

Spring Ahead!

As we set our clocks ahead, we are reminded of another sign of springtime.  The warmer temperatures, busy playgrounds, and schools functioning at optimum levels, are additional pieces in the equation that our school year has hit it's stride. 

Classroom Highlights...
K4 - The children will begin bringing books home this month, as part of their take-home book program.  This system is introduced in K4 and is expanded upon as the children get older.
K5 - Students are continuing to write "How To" books.  The writing and illustrations are to be treasured!
Grade 1 - First graders are learning some early geometry skills in math, and engaging in creating persuasive writing pieces. 
Grade 2 - The students recently completed their science and writing projects...Stop by sometime and see the published pieces proudly displayed in the hallways!
Grade 3 - The children are off and blogging!  The next time you see a third grader, ask about their fairy tales and book reviews!

Enjoy the nice weather, and looking forward to seeing everyone at conferences next week!

A Special Week Ahead

WILLOW GLEN CELEBRATES READING!

2014 Read Across America Day is Monday, March 3

Get ready to grab your hat and read with the Cat in the Hat during the week of  March 3, 2014 for the 17th annual Read Across America Week. The Seussical celebration will kick off a week of reading across the nation as students, parents, and community members gather together to share their love of reading.












Special Events at Willow Glen Include:
Monday          Fox in Socks/Crazy Socks Day
Tuesday         Grade Level Color Day
                       K4 - Orange, K5 - Yellow, 1st - Blue, 2nd - Red, 3rd - Green
Wednesday    Shirts with Blurts Day
                       GREEN EGGS AND HAM BREAKFAST (free) 7:30-8:10am
Thursday        Curl up with a good book/PJ Day
Friday             School Spirit Wear/Colors Day (black and red)

In other news...
Classroom Happenings:

K4 - The students learned about dental health and will be enjoying a visit from a dentist next week.  They will also be starting their Take-Home Book Program.

K5 - Kindergartners are beginning to write "How To" books.  Parents, look for some very informative pieces to be coming your way soon!

Grade 1 - First Graders will be immersed in some timeless classics by Theodore Geisel, Dr.  Seuss. They will also be starting their persuasive writing pieces.  They will also be learning about matter, in science class.

Grade 2 - The children are learning how to write realistic fiction.   They will be creating stories that include characters, problems and solutions.

Grade 3 - Third Graders are wrapping up their fractured fairytale unit, and will begin reading fables.  Their computer skills are continuing to grow, as they are learning how to blog!

We are looking forward to seeing everyone on Wednesday, March 5 at our Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast!

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