Surprise December Field Trip - Drivers Needed

Each year, it has been a Kindergarten tradition, to travel to Oaknoll Retirement Community (on the west side of Iowa City) monthly to read with their citizens.  It is a very special opportunity as young and old both love the chance to connect and read.  Just last week, I recieved the most wonderful email from the Volunteer Coordinator at Oaknoll Retirement Community.  While she was inquiring to see if we were interested in beginning our 2nd semester reading program with them (yes!), she was also wondering if we wanted to come in December for a holiday story time.  Apparently, the citizens have been asking all Summer & Fall for our return.

So with that, we are left with a wonderful last minute opportunity to travel to Oaknoll Retirement Community NEXT Wednesday, December 21st.  To make this happen, I am looking for parent drivers.  Please sign up HERE if you are able to drive.  I did mention to Brianna, the Volunteer Coordinator, that given its last minute nature I may not be able to get drivers.  I am hopeful we can make this event work.  We would prepare to leave Willowwind around 10:15 to be at Oaknoll, parked, and ready to read at 11:00.

I'd also like to combine this opportunity with our preplanned trip to the Iowa City Public Library.  Upon conclusion of our Oaknoll trip, I'd like to travel downtown, park at the Sheraton ramp, and spend part of our afternoon at the library where we will eat lunch and check out books before Winter Break.  Following this portion of the trip, I'd imagine we'd return to Willowwind around 2:00 at the latest.

I am hopeful to make this dual field trip happen.  Please sign up above if you can drive, and don't forget to leave your child's booster seat and library card next Wednesday.  Many thanks for your last minute help in making this fun opportunity a reality.

Authors' Cocoa Jimmy Jack's Lunch Special!

We encourage you to join your child at the Old Capitol Town Center as they present original writings at our annual Authors' Cocoa on Tuesday, December 20th.  Please see classroom blogs for more information.  To celebrate their hard work, we also encourage you to meet your child downtown for lunch (11:30-12:30).  Interested in taking your child out to eat during this hour? In honor of Authors' Cocoa, Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack (located in the Old Capitol Town Center and a restaurant owned by two Willowwind families) is donating $2 of each lunch meal ordered on December 20th directly to Willowwind.  Simply mention "Willowwind School" to be sure Willowwind receives the donation.  Just let your child's classroom teacher know that you plan to go out to eat.  Thank you for your support and thank you Jimmy Jack's for the wonderful Authors' Cocoa partnership.

A Msg from Wolf Cafe - Volunteers Needed

Hi parents, it's The Wolf Cafe! One of the reasons the restaurants who support us can give us such good prices on our food is by asking us to pick up our catering, rather than delivering it to Willowwind. We are looking for your help.  We are hoping you can sign up for picking up food from our partner restaurants (Jimmy Jack's, Pancheros, Z'Mariks, and The Wedge) for serving. If you have signed up, you will pick up our food from our caterers and deliver it to Willowwind School at 11:15 AM. A link for the sign up sheet is below. Thanks for helping! As a thank you for your help, we invite you to join us for a free lunch on the day you pick up. If you prefer, your free meal can be given to your child or donated to another student or teacher. 

Wolf Cafe Pick Up schedule

Sincerely,

Wolf Cafe

P.S. from Rachel: I'll email you a reminder and directions for pick up the day before you're scheduled. Thank you so much for your help! 

Authors' Cocoa 2016

Willowwind is pleased to announce our annual Authors' Cocoa, now in a new location! This event is a celebration of our students as writers. Read carefully below for information regarding the changed location and expanded audience for the event. Each student will share the stage with their partner family and read an original piece of writing for the entire Willowwind community and beyond!  In addition, in allowing us to plan accordingly, please RSVP your child's attendance at school for this day (Tuesday, December 20th) by this Friday, December 9th. You are invited to come and listen to our wonderful poetry, stories, and songs. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the hour in which their child is presenting their original writing.  Have time in your schedule to attend all?  We encourage parents to stay as long as they are able to provide our students with an authentic audience for presenting. Who: Willowwind Friends in Grades K-6 What: Sharing Writing When:  Tuesday, December 20, 10:30 – 11:30 AM and 12:30 – 1:30 PM               Please click here to find your child’s presentation time. Where: Old Capitol Town Center, near T’Spoons Coffee Shop Why: To share our love for reading and writing with you.  Enjoy hassle-free parking and a great public location for our annual celebration of Willowwind authors. We are excited to share our students’ writing with the wider community. Come early to purchase a warm drink from T’Spoons to sip while you enjoy listening to our students share their work. There will be a reserved seating area near the coffee shop for Willowwind families.  Students will travel to the mall with their class on the city bus. Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their child(ren) between 11:30 – 12:30 PM at the mall. Please let your child's teacher know if you'll be joining your child for lunch or taking them to enjoy lunch together at an area restaurant. In honor of our student authors, Jimmy Jack's Rib Shack in Old Capitol Town Center will be generously donating a portion of purchases made between 11:30 - 12:30 on December 20 to Willowwind!  Students may also bring a sack lunch and eat with their teacher and class.  Cocoa for students will be served immediately following the conclusion of the 12:30 presentation. Children may leave with parents after cocoa if they check out with the classroom teacher. Teachers will chaperone students back to Willowwind on the city bus for regular 3:15 pick up or ASP.  We are in need of parent volunteers to help with moving sound equipment to and from the mall, set up and tear down of the space, and to assist with serving cocoa. A Willowwind classroom teacher will be on site the morning of the event to assist with set up needs.  Click HERE to sign up to help. Thank you for your ongoing support of our students’ growth as writers and performers. We appreciate you!