May 2015 Principal`s Corner

Prospect Point Elementary
School
Principal’s Corner
May, 2015
The month of May will be very busy as we administer and complete numerous assessments with students in grades
K-5. The data from these assessments indicate the comprehensive learning that has taken place for each child
since the beginning of the school year. It also provides us with a baseline from which curriculum development and
instruction can begin in the fall. To follow what school events are occurring during the month of May, please visit
our school website at: http:resources.wwps.org/ prospectpoint.
OPEN ENROLLMENT & KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION ENDS: The two-week window for Kindergarten Registration and Open Enrollment for the 2015-16 school year officially ends on Friday, May 1st. Although the official period has drawn to a close, we will continue to accept applications and registrations as new
families move to the area, or existing families change residences between now and the start of the next school year.
BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE (BOGO) BOOK FAIR: The last day to take advantage of the specials during our
3-day Spring Scholastic Book Fair will be on Friday, May 1st from 8:00-2:00 pm in the library. Students have
enjoyed “shopping” during their regularly scheduled library times. All proceeds from the Book Fair support our
school library. Thank you for your support of reading!
ACCELERATED READER: During the month of April, AR (Accelerated Reader) students read a total of 1,156
books, totaling 12,810,798 words! Students will have one more chance to “spend” the points they have earned at
the last AR Store of the year on June 2nd.
WEAR BLUE FOR JUVENILE ARTHRITIS AWARENESS: Juvenile arthritis is the focus of “Wear Blue
Day” on May 1st. Former Prospect Point student and current 8th grader, Allison Wanichek, is continuing her mission to bring awareness to the public about Juvenile Arthritis. Afflicted with this condition four years ago, Allison
wants to share her message with other young people who may be experiencing similar symptoms of joint pain,
swelling, stiffness and loss of motion. This disease which affects over 300,000 children in the United States is a
difficult disease to diagnose in kids, and has no cure. Please join us in wearing BLUE on Friday, May 1st to help
increase awareness of this condition and help to support research for a cure.
BIKE/WALK TO SCHOOL DAY: Join us in supporting National Bike or Walk to School Day on Wednesday, May 6th! Bicycling or walking to school are great ways to incorporate physical activity into your child’s
day. Attached to this newsletter are Parent and Student Safety Guides of things you can do to ensure your child’s
bike ride or walk to and from school is a safe one.
OPEN HOUSE FOR FALL 2015 KINDERGARTNERS: Parents and students who are enrolled for Kindergarten entry in the Fall of 2015 are invited to attend the Kindergarten Open House scheduled from 3:00-4:00 pm on
Wednesday, May 6th in the kindergarten classrooms. This is an opportunity for parents and prospective kindergartners to visit the classroom areas, meet the teachers, and be introduced to other staff members who your child
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may have contact with next year. Mr. Gardea and others will be available to answer any questions families might
have regarding kindergarten schedules and curriculum. Students will take home a bag of activities they can work
on over the summer in anticipation of their new school year.
SNOW MAKEUP DAY: School will be in regular session on Friday, May 8th to make up for the snow day when
school was cancelled in December.
THANK-YOU TO MOMS: Where would all of us be today if we didn’t have mothers?! Although we officially
celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 10th, our thanks go out to Prospect Point moms and mothers everywhere
for all the big and little things they do EVERY single day!
PTA GENERAL MEETING: Please join us for the PTA General meeting on Tuesday, May 12th at 7:00 pm in
the school library.
SPRING PICTURE LAB: During the third and last Carnegie Picture Lab art project of the school year, students
will be learning about Diego Rivera, a Mexican muralist known for his large scale frescos that depicted the history of his native people. The hands-on classroom project will allow students to create an image using watercolors
on a surface of plaster on fiberboard. Their image will express something from their life history that has importance to them. Earlier in the year, students learned about the artists Georgia O’Keefe and Vincent Van Gogh.
Many thanks to our Picture Lab Advocate Tiffany Jenes and our dedicated parent volunteers who work together to
bring art history into the classroom for our students. Diego Rivera grade level presentations are listed below:
Monday, May 11
10:00-11:00 am
2nd Grades
Wednesday, May 13
12:15-1:15 pm
1st Grades
Thursday, May 14
1:45-2:45 pm
Kindergarten
Monday, May 18
1:15-2:15 pm
3rd Grades
Tuesday, May 19
1:45-2:45 pm
5th Grades
Wednesday, May 20
11:00-12:00 noon
4th Grades
Thursday, TBD
12:45-1:45 pm
Multiage
EXTENDED DAY (HOMEWORK CLUB) ENDS: Our Extended Day program designed to provide additional
homework help for students in grades 3-5 after school will come to an end on Thursday, May 21st. Thanks to
ParaEducators Vicki Johnson and Juanita Butler, as well as student helpers from Wa-Hi, who have assisted our students in this after-school program.
MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY: There will be no school on Monday, May 25th in observance of the Memorial
Day Holiday.
SAFETY PATROL PICNIC: The 5th grade Safety Patrol Picnic sponsored by the Elks Lodge will be held on
Tuesday, May 26 at Fort Walla Walla. Barbecued hamburgers are on the menu for our students who have worked
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hard all year keeping the school crosswalk areas safe for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. Students will depart from
school at 9:30 am, and return to school at 2:00 pm.
LEARNING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LAP) ICE CREAM PARTY: A LAP Ice Cream Party is planned to
celebrate the learning and progress that K-3 LAP students have made this year in reading and math. The party for
1st-3rd grade LAP students will begin at 1:30 pm in the cafeteria on Tuesday, May 26th, followed by the LAP
Kindergarten ice cream party that will be held outside of the kindergarten classrooms. We are proud of the progress students have made at school and appreciate your support of LAP work at home.
FIELD TRIP TO TAMASTSLIKT CULTURAL INSTITUTE: Fifth grade students will be making a visit to
the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute on Wednesday, May 27th from 8:30 am—1:00 pm. Students are completing
their history unit on Native American history, and this trip will complete and enrich the learning that has already
occurred. Students will need to bring sack lunches from home or school on this field trip.
SPRING MILES CLUB ENDS: The official last day of Spring Miles Club will be on Thursday, May 28th.
Special thanks to Kara Schulke and our faithful parent volunteers for supervising this healthy and fun noon recess
activity for students.
“MAKE A SPLASH”: Mr. Parodi’s fifth grade students will be traveling to the Walla Walla Community College’s Water & Environmental Center for this year’s “Make a Splash” event on Thursday, May 28th. Buses will
depart from school at 9:15 am, and return to school at 1:45 pm. Students will need to bring sack lunches from
home or from school. This program is designed to allow 5th grade students to spend the day rotating through stations where they will learn from experts about macroinvertebrates, salmon life cycles, native plants, tribal first
foods, weather, and more.
HUMAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT: Fifth grade teachers will present the Human Growth and Development (HIV/AIDS) curriculum to students during the afternoons of May 28th through June 4th. Instruction on
each day will be from 1:45-2:45 pm, with the exception of Wednesday, June 3rd when it will occur one hour
earlier from 12:45-1:45 pm. If you wish to have your child opt out of this curriculum, please contact the school
office to sign a waiver form.
SQORD PROJECT: Fifth grade students, with parent permission, will be participating in the Sqord Program at
school. This program, funded by Providence St. Mary Foundation, is designed to promote greater health at an age
when research indicates activity levels tend to decline. Students will receive a Booster device to wear (similar to a
plastic watch), that will award Activity Points based on the intensity and duration of their physical activity.
Through this device, students can see their recorded points, participate in competitions with
their friends/classmates, earn medals and rewards. To learn more about this program, go to:
Sqord.com.