April 19, 2010

New Announcements:

·         Important Upcoming Dates : 

April 16-23	Walt Disney Book Fair
April 22	WDPTA Book Fair / Pinewood Derby Night, 6:30-8:30, Library
April 27-May 6	STAR Testing for Grades 2-5
April 29	Sweet Tomatoes (in Pleasanton) WD Night

 

 

·         Disney Night at the Ballpark: One of the things I enjoy most about our community is the community building that happens here. These events give our students, families, and staff an opportunity to spend time together outside of the walls of our normal school day. If you believe the old African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child," it becomes more important to make sure we "build the village."  Among the community building activities that happens here regularly are the Family Fun NIghts sponsored by our PTA. Last Friday, we had our first ever Disney Night at the Ballpark as we went to the Oakland A's vs. Baltimore Orioles game. We had our own section in the stands, had our school name displayed on the large Diamond Vision screen, and our students even made it to the big screen for showing their spirit. I invite you to view a short video clip of our first annual Disney Night at the Ballpark.  Thank you to Chad Stephens and WDPTA for organizing this fun event!

 

·         Star Testing - April 27 - May 6
 
The following are some tips on how to help prepare your child for the upcoming STAR test:
 

1. Make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep each night
2. Make sure that your child eats a well-balanced breakfast (including proteins) before coming to school.
3. Please do not schedule any appointments for your child during the testing days.
4. Eliminate any unnecessary stress as much as possible. A worry-free mind helps students be successful.
5. Communicate to your child that STAR testing is a time  to “show what you know!”

Quiet campus 8:40 am – 10:30 am each day. Tardy students must stay in the office once testing has started.

·         Pebble Place Drop-off & Pick-up: We will no longer have staff supervision back in the Pebble Place turn around. Pebble Place is NOT designed as a vehicle drop off or pick up of students; parents are directed to drop off and pick up children with their vehicles in the front parking lot and using the passenger loading area on Pine Valley Road. Parents and students who walk to school may continue to use Pebble Place as a pedestrian entrance/exit to our campus. Thank you for putting our childrens’ safety as our number one priority.

·         Class Placements for 2010-11:  The teachers and I will work together soon to create balanced classes for next year. If you have questions regarding how we create class assignments, download and read the FAQ sheet. If you would like to submit a Student Information Sheet based on your child’s learning needs, download and submit the Student Information Sheet to the front office by May 10. I ask that NO specific teacher requests or classmate requests are made. The teachers and I will review every form and do all we can to consider your feedback in our placements. You can also pick up a Student Information Sheet in the front office.

 

·         We Need School Site Council Candidates: We will be conducting elections for five (5) School Site Council members. The members will join 5 staff members (including me as the principal) in comprising our site council, an advisory group who will oversee the expenditures of our categorical funds each year. As a site council member, you will be exposed to school data and will participate in creating strategic plans to revise and create new programs that will make Walt Disney Elementary even a better place for ALL students. If you are interested in nominating yourself as a candidate, please contact me by Friday, April 30 and provide a short blurb of who you are and why you would like to serve on our school site council. The blurb will be used on the ballot that will be distributed to our community in our upcoming election.

 

·         Spirit Day this Friday, April 23: Our student council and PTA are sponsoring this Friday’s spirit day. All students and staff (and parents) are invited to show their WD school spirit by wearing spirit wear this Friday. If you do not have spirit wear, you can wear our school colors (blue and gold).

 

 

 

Recurring Announcements:
         

 

·         Free & Reduced Lunch:  we have all felt the crunch of our recent economy in one way or another. Our school district does offer school lunch service on a free and/or reduced fee basis for families who qualify. I invite families to consider this option as a nutritious lunch makes a big difference in our children’s day. Visit this website below to download the application, and return it to the Disney office. All applications and information are kept confidential.

·         Summer Enrichment Program :  as many of our families may have already heard during conferences with teachers, our district will not have an intervention summer program for elementary students (except for some cases of special education and English learners). However, enrichment summer school will continue. To see what classes are available, go to the K-4 district summer programs website where you can also sign up your child(ren). Online registration opens on March 24.