Happy New Year Walnut Ridge Families!
I hope that you enjoyed your holiday and week off from school. There are already many great things to share about 2019 and wonderful events to look forward to! So here they are, in no particular order:
1) Parent Surveys going out on January 11!
Please be on the look-out this Friday for parent surveys. Many of our faculty members will be sending you online surveys as a way to better engage in reflective practices and improve their work as educators. If you have an opportunity, please fill out the surveys and know that your opinions and suggestions are valued and appreciated!
2) Trip to Price Chopper – February 5
Our annual field trip to Price Chopper is coming up on February 5th. This is a great way to culminate our Grocery Unit in our classrooms. More information will be forthcoming, but be ready for some really wonderful photos on our website and Instagram page from this event and don’t forget to ask your children about their experience when they come home on February 5th!
3) CTE Trip to VTHS – February 7
Last year, all of our WR students took a field trip to Vernon Township High School where they had the opportunity to play in centers themed around our 9 HS CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs. Those programs are: Allied Health, CFM, Computer Science, Cosmetology, Engineering, Graphic Design, Hospitality Management, Marketing, and Music Production. The centers will be run by the HS students in those respective programs and each WR student will have the opportunity to play in each of the centers. This was very successful last year and we are happy to be making the trip again this year! More information will be forthcoming in your child’s folder.
4) Valentine’s Day Ice Cream Social – February 13
Our annual Valentine’s Day Ice Cream Social is coming up. The AM session’s time will be from 11:15-12:00 and the PM session will be from 2:30 – 3:15. See our flyer HERE and be sure to click on the Sign-Up Genius link within the flyer or CLICK HERE (to access it directly) to sign up to bring something. Also, please return the form with your RSVP so that we can plan to have your visitor’s badge ready when you arrive.
5) Cross Country Skiing Field Trip – March 1
Our students will be learning to cross country ski and will be taking a field trip to the National Winter Activity Center on March 1! Be on the look-out for more information in your child’s folder in the coming weeks about this. Students will be sized for boots and skis (which will all be provided by the NWAC free of charge!) and they will also provide jackets and snow pants for the day for students who need it. NWAC will be coming to size students for skis and boots and also give them a preliminary lesson on Monday, February 25. (This is cross country skiing so it will all be on a flat surface and there will be MANY certified ski instructors to help our students during the event) This is going to be a lot of fun! More information to come!!
6) “Monthly Mel” begins on Friday
From now until the end of the school year, Mel will be distributing important information regarding student safety laws on the second Friday of each month. This coming Friday, January 11 will be the first “Monthly Mel” date. Please stop by his table outside at the entrance of our building at pick-up or drop-off time to get important information about this month’s topic: CAR SEATS!
7) WRAP wins award!!
As you know, our WRAP fundraiser for cookie dough was a huge success. (So much in fact, that I now need to go on a diet). I am very proud to announce, however, that JustFundraising.com has recognized WRAP’s cookie dough fundraiser as the “Fundraiser of the Month” and has gifted WRAP $100!! Check out the photo and article HERE! Way to go WRAP!
8) Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon – coming today!!
Didn’t I just say that after the last fundraiser I need to go on a diet. Well, not so fast, because here comes the next WRAP fundraiser — Auntie Anne’s and Cinnabon! YUM. Look for the form in your child’s folder today. All forms will need to be returned to school by February 1. Happy selling and thanks to WRAP for organizing this!
9) Moving Up Ceremony
Thanks to those of you who replied to my previous request for feedback on having the Moving Up Ceremony at St. Francis. After reading your comments and opinions, we have decided to have the ceremony here at The Walnut Ridge School rather than hold the ceremony in an outside venue. We will plan to have a morning ceremony for the AM students and an afternoon ceremony for the PM students. Save the date – Tuesday, June 4. More to details will be coming as the date approaches.
10) March is Registration Month/Touring Tuesdays
Believe it or not, we are already starting to plan for September 2019! If you would like to register your child for Preschool next year, please plan to do so by making an appointment with Ms. DiCarlo – jdicarlo@vtsd.com. Also, during the month of March each Tuesday will be Touring Tuesday! This means if you’d like a tour of our school and our classrooms you can make an appointment with me and I will show you around. Please tell any of your friends that might be interested that might not have children currently in WR and I will tour them as well. Just email me at jpiccirillo@vtsd.com for an appointment!
11) Instagram Photos
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Thank you and I look forward to seeing many of you at these events over the next few weeks!
Sincerely,
Joseph S. Piccirillo, Principal