Page 4 - Moorpark - Moorpark Unified School District

Wildcat News
Paw Print
Volume 1, Issue 2
November 2015
Walnut Canyon Elementary
Arts and Technology Magnet
280 Casey Road
Moorpark, CA 93021
Office
805/517-1722
Principal
Theresa Garner
[email protected]
Office Manager
Gina Jurick
[email protected]
School Hours
Monday – Thursday
Grades 4-5
8:15 am – 2:35 pm
Grades K-3
8:30 am – 2:35 pm
Friday
Grades K-5
8:30 am– 1:05 pm
www.mrpk.org/Walnut
Dear Families,
Can you believe it is already November? We have had a busy year so far, and I
am afraid we are just getting started. Our fourth annual Harvest Festival was a
huge success. With the help of an amazing and
dedicated PTA, families enjoyed a night of great food,
games, dancing, and trunk-or-treating. Thanks to all the
generous donations, the silent auction was a profitable
event for Walnut Canyon, bringing in more than
$9,000. I would like to thank those volunteers who put
in numerous hours of their time to make this event a
night to remember.
I was glad to see so many parents in attendance at
parent-teacher conferences. We know students are
more successful at school when families are involved
with their child’s education process. It is important to
keep home-to-school communication open. Email is
the fastest way to get in contact with teachers; families
are encouraged to contact teachers with any questions
or concerns.
RtI (Response to Instruction/intervention) groups are up and running, Monday
through Thursday. Walnut Canyon is fortunate to have an amazing staff to
support differentiated instruction. During RtI, students are grouped based on
instructional needs. This allows for struggling students to receive extra support
in a small group setting with the help of the classroom teacher and/or the
instructional aide. When asking your child about their school day, be sure to ask
about RtI time. In addition to RtI time, this year Walnut Canyon is implementing
a school wide enrichment time at the end of each day, Monday through Friday.
All activities during enrichment time are rooted in literacy: reading, writing,
continued on next page
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Principal’s letter
Page
Page 2
2
continued
listening, and speaking. Because students may move to different classrooms during
this time, we are asking that parents who have to pick students up early from
school not pick up between 1:50 and 2:30 p.m.
We had our first disaster drill on October 15th. The staff and students of Walnut
Canyon simulated what would happen in the aftermath of a large earthquake. Of
course we hope we never have to experience this in real life, the reality is we live in
California and must be prepared. If you have not already done so, please make sure
your child has an up-to-date emergency kit. Along that note, thank you for your
patience when asked to sign in and out through the office. In the event of an
emergency, it is important that we know who is on campus at all times.
Walnut Canyon’s character trait for November is
RESPECT, the act of showing people they are important
by the way you treat them. Respect means that a person
has and shows a positive regard for and appreciates the
worth of others. It also encompasses the attitudes and
behaviors when one has a high opinion of someone or
something. Respect involves a decision to obey the rules
or directives that are put in place. Demonstrating respect
is a life skill that is essential for success in every facet of
life. We can teach our students to be respectful by
helping them to be considerate and to have manners.
Thank you again for all your support in making Walnut
Canyon a great place to be!
Sincerely,
Theresa Garner, Principal
Student Absences
When students are absent for illness or doctor visits, please supply the school
with a doctor’s note whenever possible. The note is used as support to verify
your child’s absence to the state.
Lunch Drop Off
Page
2
Lunches dropped off for students will be sent to the
cafeteria for students to pick up at their lunch hour. If a
student does not have a lunch waiting for them, they
will buy from the cafeteria. Parent’s, please be sure to
put your child’s name and room number on their
lunch when dropped off. Also, be aware that the
District has implemented a “no soft drink” policy at the
elementary school level.
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Page
Page 3
3
Head Lice
Head lice are a nuisance, but they are not
associated with any disease. Current
research shows that lice are most often
spread through prolonged head to head
contact at home, during sleepovers, and
at campouts rather than at
school. MUSD’s lice policy aligns with
neighboring districts and is based on the
recommendations from major medical groups for the management of lice at
school. Students found with live (crawling) lice will be sent home. Once the
student has been treated, he/she can return to school after being checked by the
school nurse. If some nits (eggs) remain, the student may return to his/her
class.
The school staff will maintain the privacy of students identified as having head
lice, and we ask that our parents do the same.
Do you know what signs to watch for? Learn more about head lice here:
http://headfirstlicelessons.org/
Parking Safety
Before School – Curbside student drop off should be a
quick exit. Please pull all the way forward and drop off
after the crosswalk whenever possible. Some students
may need a little extra time to exit the car, perhaps
because of car seat configurations, backpacks in trunk,
an extra kiss goodbye, etc… In those circumstances,
please pull into one of the designated parking spots or
pull to the far end of the curb, around the curve.
After School – PLEASE BE PATIENT! Please
come into the parking lot with the understanding that it takes more than a few minutes
to exit more than 400 students after school. Because all grades have a universal
dismissal time, everyone is getting into their cars and trying to exit the lot at the same
time. School dismissal is 2:35 which means most students will just be leaving their
classrooms at that time. I have noticed that on average, the parking lot will clear out
approximately ten minutes after students arrive in the lower lot. Please be considerate
and obey all traffic rules. If you prefer to meet your child at the curb, please park in a
designated parking spot. For curbside pickup, please remain in your car and be
prepared to pull forward as other cars exit.
As usual, there is no student drop off or pickup in the upper lot. In addition,
pedestrians must use designated ramps and walkways when entering or exiting
the lot.
Page
3
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Page
Page 4
4
Perfect Attendance
Please note that Walnut Canyon does not recognize perfect attendance at the end of
the school year. While it is important for your child to attend school every day, we
do not want to encourage students to come to school when they are sick. Health and
safety are more important than attendance. If your child has a fever (students must be
fever free 24 hours before returning to school) or is vomiting, please keep them home
until they are well enough to return to school. Overall, this will improve attendance
for everyone as students are less likely to spread germs to others.
Congratulations To Our…
Student Of The Month awards are for students
in grades 3, 4 and 5th grade for October:
Andrew Lazaro Ruiz, Sophia Devassy,
McKenzie Standage, Robert Perez, Calix
Navarrete, Ava Monheim, Jerry Stoa, Aidan
Elkins.
Character Trait r ecognizes students in grades
Kindergarten through 2nd grade for
demonstrating strength and extra effort in
character building. “HELPFUL”: Catalina
Rodriguez, River Kritzer, Lucas Miller, Dafne
Soto, Sage McGovern, Tiara Tejeda, Harrison
Friedman, Madison Burns.
2nd Grade Camping Day
The hot weather did not deter the excitement of the 2nd graders as they continued the
tradition of “Camping Day”. Ms. Tooley initiated the event years ago when the 2 nd
grade teachers found out how few had actually been camping. Our Specialists: Mr.
Fischer, Mr. Walsh, Ms. Austin, and Ms. Christman facilitated the event with acting,
singing, and reading camp stories. The day celebrated the story of Henry and Mudge
and the Starry Night by Cynthia Rylant. Students learned about constellations and
the wonders of nature. Learning about the differences between rural and urban life is
also a standard in second grade. The 2nd grade teachers would like to acknowledge
our families who donated their time and camping equipment. Thanks to all for a
Great Day!
Page
4
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Page
Page 5
5
Skulls and Bones Presentation
On October 22nd, room 9 was treated to a Skulls and Bones presentation put on by
Rebecca Stein and her parents. While participating in this hands on activity, students
rotated thru several stations and learned about different hand and skull bone
structures. They used this information as a tool to help reinforce their knowledge of
the skeletal system.
A great big Thank you to the following individuals for putting on such a wonderful
educational presentation for our students in room 9:
Rebecca Stein, Pr ofessor and Chair , Anthr opology Depar tment, Los Angeles
Valley College
Philip Stein, Pr ofessor emer itus, Anthr opology Depar tment, Pier ce College
Carol Stein, Chief of Occupational Ther apy (r etir ed), Gr eater Los Angeles
Veteran's Administration (VA) Healthcare System
Page
5
Heather Brown 818.325.5336 or [email protected]
Advertising in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by Walnut Canyon Elementary, PTA or MUSD.
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
DECEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER
2
Holiday Student Store
4
Report Cards Go Home
A/R - Birthday Book Club
7
Mistletoe Sales Begin
9
Holiday Student Store
14
Mistletoe Delivery Begins
16
Holiday Student Store
Canyons DUE
Page
6
18
Wildcat Assembly
21-30
No School-Winter Break
Page
Page 6
6
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Page
Page 7
7
PTA President
Arshia Rios
PTA Email
[email protected]
Website
www.WalnutCanyonPTA.org
Harvest Festival
What an amazing night full of treats, games, dancing and more! We hope that
everyone had a fantastic time at our annual Harvest Festival. A HUMONGOUS
THANK YOU to all the volunteers who helped to make this event such a success!
Whether you decorated a “trunk” for Trunk or Treat, helped turn the Kindergarten
playground into a Spooky Dance Party, or donated items for the many baskets at the
Silent Auction – YOU made a difference and we can’t thank you enough!
Congratulations to the winners of the costume contest

Most Original – Gresham Sowa

Best Costume – Diego and Sante Felix
To our hard working custodians, we couldn’t have made this evening happen without
you. From helping us move and set up tables bright and early in the morning to
helping us move everything back late into the night. Your support of our school is
extraordinary and we appreciate all that you do!
Congratulations to the winners of Trunk or Treat

1st place – Pirate Skeleton,
Arrigoni Family, right

2nd place – Jurassic Goat,
Tennenhouse Family

3rd place – Dia de los
Muertos, Reyes Family,
below
Page
7
continued on next page
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Page
Page 8
8
Harvest Festival continued
A special shout out to all of the many people and places that contributed donations to
the overall success of our Harvest Festival.
All of our magnificent teachers and staff
The hardworking families that went out and helped bring in all these donations
Page
8
Pizza and More
Moorpark Country Club
El Sancho Loco Mexican Grill
Platinum Sports and Gym
Starbucks
Elvenstar
Complete Electric, Inc.
Moorpark High School
Otterbox
Z Ultimate Karate
Waters Ranches
Santa Barbara Polo Club
Hearts of Jade
Iceoplex
Taiwan Plant Company
Sharks Swimming
LEGO
Thairapy Salon
Scooters Jungle
Sharon Geiger
Somis Nut House
Brianna Acosta
Citrus Carpet Cleaning
Dr Borquez
Andys Automotive
Massage Envy
Firestone Vineyard
Goaline Fitness
The Magic Castle
Hypnotherapy by Shannon Long
The Reagan Library
Facial by Reba
Gondola Paradiso
Kristin Malloy
Island Packers
The Dance Company
Underwood Family Farms
Pizza Man Dan’s
www.Tack Zone.com
Petco
MB2
Lindsey at Ellamar Photography
Woodranch
Moorpark Zoo
The Dugout
Pinots Palette
In-N-Out
CardioBarre
SkyHigh
P!ay Hair Lounge
Ventura County K9 Search and Rescue
Marcia at Eudio Salon
Moorpark Police Department
Bellissimo Day Spa and Boutique
Santa Barbara Zoo
Oasis Salon
The Laugh Factory
Cooner Wire Company
The Los Angeles Dodgers
The Anaheim Angels
November 2015
Walnut Canyon Newsletter
Page 9
Harvest Festival continued
continued on next page
November 2015
Harvest Festival continued
Walnut Canyon Newsletter
Page 10
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Page
Page 11
11
Fall Fundraiser is a success!
A BIG thank you to everyone who supported the Fall Fundraiser. We know that
selling magazines, wrapping paper and more is not always easy, but with everyone’s
help, we are pleased to announce that we reached our goal! This is an important
event for our school because the money raised provides much needed financial
support for our teachers, students and Specialists throughout the year. Many students
received small prizes throughout the week as they turned in their orders and students
selling 12+ items had a blast at the DJ Glow Party!
Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Who knew a pumpkin could turn into so many creative masterpieces?!
Congratulations to the winning classrooms - Ms. Loe’s monkey and all her bananas
and Mrs. Navarro’s classroom Yoda. All of the pumpkins were amazing!!
continued on next page
Page
11
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Pumpkin Decorating Contest continued
Page
12
Page
Page 12
12
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Page
Page 13
13
Holiday Student Store and Mistletoe Sales
The Student Store will be open for Holiday shopping December 2, December 9th and
December 16th. 1st -5th graders can shop during their lunchtime and TK and
Kindergartners will have a special modified shopping opportunity during their recess.
This is a great chance for our students to use their manners while shopping and learn
about spending their own money. Special items will be available during the holiday
season.
Starting December 7th, PTA will begin selling Mistletoe for $5. Information will be
sent home to place orders, so be on the lookout. Mistletoe will be delivered to
students on December 14th.
If you are interested in volunteering at the Student Store, click on this link http://
www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0444adaa2aabff2-student or visit our PTA website at
www.WalnutCanyonPTA.org and sign up!
On behalf of the PTA, we hope that all of our Walnut Canyon families
have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!
We are here for YOU – if you have questions, concerns or just want to find
out how you can get involved
Follow us on facebook at Facebook/com/groups/WCPTA
Page
13
Email us at [email protected]
Check out our website at www.WalnutCanyonPTA.org
November
November 2015
2015
Weathersfield
Elementary
Newsletter
Walnut Canyon
Newsletter
Page
Page 14
14
Box Tops
THE RESULTS ARE IN...

The grade that has turned in the most box tops so far is - THE
KINDERGARTENERS!!!

The class that has turned in the most box tops so far is - ROOM 4, MS.
DINGMAN'S CLASS!!!
Please continue to cut out and turn in those Box Tops! The next deadline to get your
box tops in will be December 11th.
Remember... the class that turns in the most Box Tops by the end of the year, will
receive a prize! And NEW this year, the grade that turns in the most Box Tops will
also receive a prize!
Thank you to all who have participated! Your Walnut Canyon PTA appreciates you!!
BOX TOP TOTALS
totals
KINDER
872
FIRST
332
100
300
500
700
900
1100
1300 1500+
SECOND 551
THIRD
625
FOURTH 519
FIFTH
343
3242
total
Calling all Wildcats Don’t forget
Fridays are Spirit Day!
Wear your favorite
Walnut Canyon shirt!
Page
14