May is Asian Pacific Islander Desi American and Jewish American Heritage Month

Each month we recognize the accomplishments that various cultures and people have contributed to our community, our country, and the world. As an International Studies Magnet School is not only our responsibility but also our mission to create a space that recognizes and honors the interconnectedness of cultures and the Wiley Community. 

 

Parent Survey closed May 12

 

Thank you to everyone who completed the family survey. Survey responses will be reviewed, compiled by the district, and then shared with Wiley by the end of the school year. We will use this information to better serve all Wiley families in the new school year. Results will be shared with the PTA administrative team and the PTA body at a later date. The last time we checked we had over 240 responses from families and approximately 40 families away from reaching our goal of 100%.  We will use this information to address the needs of our Wiley community. Final numbers will be provided this week and if we are close enough to our goal, Ms. Ware and I will rock crazy-dyed hair for the 5th-grade Kickball game. Thank you again for your participation and dedication to ensuring that Wiley continues to be a great space. 

Quarterly Review, Wednesday, May 17

 

We will be hosting our quarterly review on Wednesday, May 17 at 7:45 am. This event will be held before school and lasts approximately an hour 7:45 - 8:45. This is an open invitation and a great opportunity to hear about the amazing work that has been going on with the Math, Literacy, SEL, and Global committees at Wiley. We will discuss progress toward our school-wide goals and next steps as we close the year. A platform for questions and the information provided will be shared after the meeting as time will be limited with arrival beginning at 8:45. For more details or questions feel free to contact me at tavery@wcpss.net. 

3 - 5  End of Grade (EOG) Testing May 31 - June 2nd 

We will begin EOG testing on May 31 for third through fifth-grade students. It is not our intention to make this a stressful time of year so we will do our best to help you prepare your child to bring relax and bring their best self to testing. Please begin to check your calendars to ensure that your child is present during this time as their attendance is important and makeups are required to be scheduled up until the last day. This becomes a juggling act given all other end-of-the-year events and we do not want our makeup schedule to disrupt events already planned.  

Field Day June  6 

Coach Lavanway has graciously agreed to provide our students with a Field Day on June 6. This event will occur by grade levels during their normal language and elective block. At this time, Mr. Lavanway has not requested volunteers as this will be considered a modified version of what might be considered a traditional field day. Stay tuned for more details as Mr. Lavanway prepares for this event. 

COVID-19 case reporting no longer required 

Schools and families are no longer required to report positive COVID-19 cases after May 11. The COVID-19 dashboard will also no longer be updated. This change is related to the end of the COVID-19 federal public health emergency. Families are no longer required to disclose a Covid illness when returning to school. 

Wiley Playground Afterschool 

 

As the weather continues to warm and our families enjoy our playground area we ask that all families make sure that they keep a close eye on their children. We love that our families are able to gather on the playground after school to strengthen relationships and build community but it is imperative that this includes keeping a watchful eye on your child. Students should be with a responsible adult at all times during dismissal and directly following dismissal, to ensure that all children are safe and accounted for after school. Per policy, school visitors, including parents and guardians are expected to comply with all applicable school rules and Board policies, and as a result, Ms. Ware has compiled a list of suggestions and expectations linked above to make sure that we keep children on campus safe and a place that we can all enjoy. Thank you in advance for helping us in this endeavor. 

Counselor’s Corner w/ Mrs. O

Thriving through Difficult Times with Hope and Optimism

May is Mental Health Month.  We need to encourage conversation, de-stigmatize mental health challenges, and offer insights into supporting the social and emotional aspects of ourselves and our children. I hope you find this article useful. 

Kids and teens have been stressed.  The pandemic has taken its toll and no doubt parents feel that too.  Several parents have observed behavioral changes in their children including poor sleeping and eating habits, increased irritability, moodiness, anger, non-compliance, and anxieties manifesting in many ways.

There are ways to feel better.  If major changes are noticed, look for how frequently and when they occur, and consult a therapist who can suggest effective interventions.  Additionally, here are some ideas to try at home:

1. Model calm

Children and teens pick up stress levels in their parents. So the more calm a parent can be, the more they're reassuring their child.  

2. Focus on what's working

Shift focus from your child's worrisome behavior by paying attention to what's going right and reinforce it.  Try saying things like "You look really upset, but you talked about it, you stayed calm, and you asked for what you needed."  

3. Create soothing spaces

 A cozy space where your child feels safe and can regroup is a healthy way of dealing with stress and anxiety.  

4. Support kids' friendships

Connections to friends are important for kids' psychological development.

5. Have open and honest conversations

When children are sad or upset, the best gift parents can give them is time. Sit with them and give them time; time to wait and listen to what they have to say. And be honest when talking with your child no matter what their age. That might mean admitting you don't know the answer to a question and offering to look it up together.  

6. Build a hopeful vision of the future

Being honest and direct is actually a way of teaching your child to feel hopeful. Hope isn't about pretending that everything's okay; it's about recognizing that things can be very difficult and that in the midst of all of that, we can still find ways to grow as individuals and as a family.

As always, I am here to help. Please let me know if I can assist you further. I can be reached at school or via email at nomonte@wcpss.net

Cecilia Rawlins Fund

 

The Cecilia Rawlins Fund, named for a beloved former Wiley principal, serves the Wiley community by addressing hunger and other critical needs for Wiley students and families. CRF funds the Backpack Buddies program at Wiley, which ensures all students have food resources when not at school, currently supporting more than 50 Wiley students. We supplement that program with direct food assistance to families during winter and summer breaks. We also provide one-time financial assistance for families experiencing emergency needs such as housing, utilities, and transportation. Meeting all of these needs requires approximately $40,000 per year.

 

We rely on generous support from donors to achieve this mission. If you are able, please consider donating to CRF either as a one-time donation or as an ongoing, monthly 'sponsor.'  Donate here. We are a completely volunteer-run organization. If our mission speaks to you, and you are interested in getting involved, please reach out to the CRF Board at ceciliarawlinsfund@gmail.com.

Wiley Talent Show 

 

We’ve got talent, yes we do, we’ve got talent, how about you?! This year’s talent show was an awe-inspiring display of singing, dancing, music, poetry, and dramatic performances. A HUGE thank you to all those who shared their talents, the volunteers who made the show happen, and the audience who kept the cheers coming.

Wiley Band 

 

2nd - 4th-grade families - now is the time to consider joining the Wiley Band for the 2023-24 school year! All 3rd - 5th grade students are eligible to join the band.

The Wiley Beginning Band meets in the music room on Monday and Wednesday mornings before school (8-9am). Visit this site to learn more and fill out an interest form, and all are welcome to attend the Spring Band Concert on Wednesday, May 24th at 6 pm in the Wiley Learning Commons to see the band in action!

Questions, Comments, Concerns 

Do you have a Question, Comment, or Concern? If so, fill out the form attached above and someone will get back to you within the week, if necessary. 

Preguntas, Comentarios, Inquietudes

¿Tiene alguna pregunta, comentario o preocupación? Si es así, complete el formulario adjunto arriba y alguien se comunicará con usted dentro de la semana, si es necesario. 

Upcoming Dates

 

May 17            Wiley Quarterly Review 7:45 am 

 

May 19            Kickball Game  10 am  -12 am 

 

May 24            Spring Band Concert at Wiley (Beginning, Continuing, and Alumni) 6 pm 

 

May 26            School-day Concert for 2nd-5th Grades (Beginning and Continuing Band) 

                        10:30 am - 11 am 

 

May 29             Memorial Day Holiday

 

June 6              Field Day  (During Grade Level electives) 

 

May 31 - 2         3- 5 EOG testing Begins

June 8               5th Grade Promotion Ceremony  9:30 am 

 

June 9                Last Day of School