Take One Home Today! - IA DNR’s Trees for Kids Seedlings Grant Recipients

Great news!  Willowwind School is a recent grant recipient of pollinator seedlings thanks to Iowa DNR’s Trees for Kids Seedlings Programs.  Yesterday, K-6 students planted various seedlings around Willowwind’s campus.  Ask your child where they planted seedlings! As a part of the grant requirements, students are encouraged to take a seedling and plant at home.  Beginning Wednesday afternoon through Friday afternoon, you will find baskets of seedlings in the Front Entry Way where each PreK-6 student is encouraged to choose one seedling to take home.  There are four varieties of pollinators to choose from (Arrowwood, Buttonbush, Chokecherry, Serviceberry).  Please take one as well as the seedling's corresponding informational planting sheet which tells you more about the species and where would be good place to plant  Please Note:  The Iowa DNR recommends soaking the seedlings roots for 4-8 hours prior to planting. Finally, to show Iowa DNR how our school’s seedlings were put to good use, we encourage you to take a picture of your family planting and caring for the seedling and share the picture via email with your child’s classroom teacher.

Drivers Needed: Hickory Hill Service Learning Field Trip - 5.10

The K-6 students are looking forward to a field trip to Hickory Hill Park the morning of Wednesday, May 10, 2017. We will be working with friends of Hickory Hill to help remove invasive garlic mustard from the park. Students will also enjoy some fun outdoor games and a picnic lunch at the park with their partner families.

We will need parent volunteers to drive us there and we would love parents who are available to stay and help us identify and pick garlic mustard.  If you can help by driving students but aren't able to stay for the trip, we would appreciate that as well.  We will leave school at 8:45 and return at 12:30.  Please use this spreadsheet to volunteer as a driver or chaperone.

Each child will need to dress appropriately for the unpredictable Iowa weather. Wearing layers allows us to adjust as the day progresses and comfortable hiking shoes are essential. Long pants and long sleeves are helpful to protect skin from plants. We may be muddy, so please plan accordingly. Students will also need a snack, a water bottle and a big lunch in order to have energy for the day. Any extra items in backpacks will only be extra weight for them to carry, so please consider reorganizing backpacks in preparation for this day.

Field Trip Fee Needed: WW Field Day @ Camp Tanager - 5.22

We are excited to announce that this year, on Monday, May 22nd, Willowwind's annual End of School Year Field Day will take place at Camp Tanager outside Mount Vernon, Iowa.  Here K-6 students will participate in a day of fun grouping together with their classmates and Partner Families.  Throughout the day, your child will enjoy a variety of interactive, team-building activities such as 9 Square, Capture the Flag, team relays, team challenges, and archery.  Students will leave Willowwind at 8:30and return to school around 3:00.

This wonderful opportunity can't come to life without your support.  To cover the cost of travel (via school bus) and camp admission we are asking parents to help assist in the cost for this event.  By Monday, May 15th please drop off $10 per child to your child's classroom teacher.  If you are interested in donating additional money to support the cost of this event and to ensure that all K-6 students can join in the fun please let your child's classroom teacher know.  Your support is incredibly appreciated.  If this cost creates a burden for your family please let your child's classroom teacher or our Head of School know so we can be of assistance.

In preparing for our visit to Camp Tanager, students will still need to bring their snacks, lunches, and water bottles.  Comfy clothing, layers, and tennis shoes are encouraged.  Please be sure your child has applied sunscreen at the start of the school day.  K-6 teachers, will have Willowwind-supplied sunscreen on hand to reapply during the day.

A Busy Monday!

I am blogging this afternoon to let you know how proud I am of your child and their ability to be incredibly flexible on what proved to be a crazy Monday - much busier than usual Mondays.

During my Prep Times and Lunch today, I had scheduled a number of meetings where the meetings' timing wouldn't interrupt the flow and routine of your child's school day.  Like happens often in life...the best laid plans often get thrown to the waste side at the last minute.  Due to unexpected, but understandable circumstances, a large chunk of my Prep Times were cancelled for today leaving me scrambling to come up with coverage in the student classroom.  In teaching, changes in scheduling happen often, and usually students are none the wiser as teachers adapt and change at the ready.  Today was different given the prescheduled meetings and it truly took a village to "raise" the Kindergarten classroom today.  Today, your child interacted with a variety of WW teachers, staff, and even parents who accommodated our classroom needs when class schedules (my Prep schedule) shifted.  On top of that, I had to leave Willowwind early to be with my little guy who was picked up early from school by my husband who had to return to work himself in the afternoon for his own prescheduled afternoon meetings.  When it rains it pours, I guess...

I have never been more proud of our children.  They handled the changes and  transitioned well and understood that routine was off and their ability to "roll with it" was needed.  Routine is essential for all children (and even adults) and your child proved that they are able to be flexible when moments in the day ask for it.  The craziness of the day afford students extra time to play together both in Centers and Outside Recess given the beautiful day.

It was definitely a crazy day (especially scheduling wise for "us" adults), but your child did not seemed phased by the craziness.  My bucket is full knowing I can rely on your child to take charge when routine is out the window.  Because of the craziness of our day, we did not fill folders and will do so tomorrow.

Please give your child a big thanks for me.  We will be sure to celebrate tomorrow.  Let me know if you have questions.

Specials Update - Mar/April

Each month, Specials teachers will be providing updates to give you a peek into the progress your child is making in Specials classes.  If you ever have questions about your child within a particular class please feel free to email that teacher directly.  They are always available and happy to help.

Music w/ Ms. Katherine

katherinea@willowwind.org

Visit Ms. Katherine's website for monthly updates.

http://willowwindmusic.weebly.com/

Art w/ Mr. Ryan

ryanb@willowwind.org
Visit mr. Ryan's website for monthly updates.
www.ryanbentzinger.com/teaching/

Español w/ Ms. Ximena
ximenac@willowwind.org
We are almost at the end of the school year and the kids are doing a great job in Spanish class! I am always gratified and excited by what the students can accomplish in a relatively short period of time.  Their enthusiasm for learning Spanish makes it a pleasure to work with them.

Since my last note, we have continued to learn more vocabulary about shapes. Also, this month we added the topic “La ropa” (the clothes) and have practiced the vocabulary every day with the question: What are you wearing today? among other activities. Perhaps, you have heard about the song “Gorro, Camisa, y Pantalones”. It is a funny and catchy song about clothes and the kids love it!  Also, this month we read the books “Froggy se viste” by Jonathan London and “Pino se viste solo” by Gabriela Keselman.

Next month, we are going to start the unit: “Las Vocales” (The vowels).  The kids are going to practice the vowels sounds and words that start with each vowel.

Also, we are going to do an Easter bunny activity and they are going to practice few Spanish words about Easter.

Phy Ed w/ Ms. Susan

susant@willowwind.org

Badminton Unit:  My philosophy is that Physical Education should promote the learning domains and provide a positive learning environment where the students feel comfortable regardless of their ability. Through making our program paced and fun I will be able to incorporate different teaching styles so that those students of all levels feel comfortable and increase their badminton skills. I feel that Physical Education should encourage students to take their new abilities and love for physical activity outside of their school where they will be able to use the skills that they have learned in school to play either at a competitive or a recreational level.

All students will be able to play a functional game of badminton employing basic skills, rules and strategies.  Badminton is a lifetime activity which includes enhancing social skills and motor skills.

Unit Objectives:

1. After sufficient instruction and practice time all students will be able to move to the shuttlecock and execute a shot demonstrating proper form and an acceptable level of accuracy.
2. After sufficient instruction and practice time all students will be able to execute and underhand serve demonstrating proper form and acceptable level of success.
3. After reviewing verbal explanation, students will demonstrate knowledge of basic rules of badminton by verbal communication and demonstration.
4. Students will be able to understand and apply rules of badminton.
5. Students will know basic strategies/tactics for singles play.
6. Students will be able to display sportsmanship and values of fair play, communicate with others, be a good player, and display a positive attitude.