71 Wolcott Rd., West Hartford, CT 06110

Vol. 30, Issue 12. 02/23/2017

From the Principal’s Desk:

I have to admit, I find magazine questionnaires entertaining, especially during long waits at my dentist’s office. I

wonder about those self-proclaimed experts who write surveys claiming to predict the longevity of my marriage, to

accurately rate my style savvy, or to diagnose my organizational flaws. I decided to try my hand at writing my own

questionnaire. I call this questionnaire The Report Card Reaction Rater. Points are added or subtracted as indicated

for every statement that accurately describes your reaction to your child’s report card:

1. You let your child know how proud you are of his/her hard work this marking period. (add 17 points) ___

2. You pay your child a dollar for every satisfactory grade. (subtract 21 points) ___

3. You discuss goals for improvement with your child. (add 16 points)___

4. You ban dessert because your child’s spelling does not meet grade level expectations for this marking

period (subtract 17 points) ___

5. You call other parents to compare your children’s report card grades. (subtract 27 points) ___

6. You bring your questions about the report card to the parent/ teacher conference to better understand your

child’s learning strengths and challenges. (add 28 points) ___

7. You plan strategies with your child’s teacher to support your child’s learning at home. (add 32 points) ___

8. You compute your score on this survey without the use of a calculator! (add 10 bonus points) ___

Total: ___

Scoring guide:

Any negative number: No dessert for the rest of the month!

0-32: There’s a ray of hope.

35-58: There’s light at the end of tunnel.

59 or higher: Congratulations! Your report card reaction is rated in the superior range. I don’t know what that

means exactly- but I do know this: Your reaction to your child’s report card matters a great deal.

We look forward to sharing and celebrating your children’s growth and hard work during parent/ teacher

conferences the week of March 6. Until then, enjoy the lovely weather we’ve been having!

Lynn

February

Dates to Remember

2/24 Family Game Night 6:30 pm

2/27 Chess Club 3:20 pm

Homework Center 3:30 pm

Cub Scouts Pack 169 Meeting 6:30 pm

2/28 Artist in Residence

Zumba 6:30 pm

Brave Girls 4th and 5th Grade 3:20 pm

Homework Center 3:30 pm

Attention Incoming Kindergarteners

If you have a child who will be eligible to enter Kindergarten in the Fall of 2017, please call the

school office at 860-561-2300 as soon as possible so that we may add your information to our

incoming Kindergarten list.

Reminder to 5th Grade Parents

Within the next few days, you will receive a notice regarding middle school elective course

selection. The course selection process is an important step in cultivating student interests and your

choices will help us to plan programs appropriately based on your child’s specific interests.

For your convenience, we are making it possible for you to respond on-line via the

link: www.whps.org/transition-survey or by paper and pencil (returned to your child's current

elementary school teacher). Regardless of method, please make selections by Friday, February 24,

2017. For questions, please feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher or Sharon Snow, our

curriculum specialist.

Screening Test for Grade 5 to 6 Math Placement

Grade 5 students will participate in a math placement screening which will be administered during

the week of March 13. The factors considered for math placement in middle school next year include

the following: student performance on the placement screening, current progress in Grade 5

mathematics, motivation, and use of higher order thinking skills. Parents/guardians will be notified

by letter during the first week of June regarding sixth grade math placement recommendations.

Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any questions regarding the upcoming math

placement screening.

Conference Week Schedule

Monday, March 6th………8:30-3:20

Tuesday, March 7th……... 8:30-1:30

Wednesday, March 8th…. 8:30- 2:00

Thursday, March 9th……. 8:30- 1:30

Friday, March 10th ……... 8:30- 1:30

Wednesday Salad Bar

WOLCOTT SCHOOL NEEDS YOU! The weekly salad bar was begun at the elementary

schools by Nutrition Services, and is enjoyed by students and staff alike. We need the

support of parent volunteers, to maintain this healthful and enjoyable initiative.

Coverage is needed each Wednesday from 11:00 am to 1:45 pm. Please sign up for one

or multiple times.

Please contact the office to sign up or if you have questions. Thank you!

Cafeteria News:

Students love having parents and grandparents visit during lunchtime. It’s a wonderful

opportunity to enjoy conversation and quality time together. Our policy is evolving

about how to make this time safe and positive for all. We are asking that visitors not

invite their children’s friends to have lunch at the visitor table. There are two reasons

for this policy:

1. Some children have allergies or food restrictions, and when visitors bring pizzas or

other food to share this becomes a problem.

2. Some children may feel excluded if they are not chosen to sit with their friend and

special visitor.

Thanks for helping to keep our children safe and feeling great!

March 2017 Events

Friday, March 3 from 9:30am to 10:30am

Coffee & Conversation" at Panera in Bishops Corner

The first Friday of the month, parents of children receiving special education services meet for coffee

and a chance to talk & make new friends in a casual setting. We generally meet in the back of the

restaurant.

Wednesday, March 22 at 7pm

Spring/Summer Recreational Programs & The Care Card Program

Come learn about exciting opportunities for your student receiving special education services!

1. Everything Recreation! Learn about ALL the recreational activities available for your student including summer camps. We will have representatives from various groups & organizations on hand to answer your questions and even register your students right then and there!

2. The West Hartford Police will be introducing the Care Card! CareCards will help first responders properly assist children (and adults) with special needs. The cards can be carried or worn by an individual as an ID card and when needed will alert first responders if an individual is non-verbal, has diabetes, seizures, autism, etc. It will also link to a database that includes all information which may be too sensitive or private to be physically on the card, but will be accessible when needed by first responder.

Location: Sedgwick Middle School, 128 Sedgwick Road, West Hartford (Enter through Wardwell Rd

entrance)

Ongoing

Membership Drive

It’s always the right time to join West Hartford SEPTO! Please register online

atwww.whsepto.org/membership.html

www.WHSEPTO.org

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One School...One Book Theme: Self-Control

Book: Mustache by Mac Barnett

Teachers are reading Mustache to their classes

to develop the theme of Self-Control. King

Duncan is terribly handsome, but a terrible

king. His kingdom is in ruins, and when his

subjects appeal for help, he only builds more

tributes to his handsome face. His subjects are

finally ready to stand up for themselves, and

they have just the plan to get out of this hairy

situation.

Enjoy a conversation about this hilarious book

with your children at the dinner table. Here

are some questions to get the conversation

going:

Why is Duncan a terrible leader?

Why did the people draw mustaches?

Pre-orders for Signed, Personalized Books

by Jarrett Krosoczka are Now Open

Through Feb 28th!

New York Times best-selling

author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka will be

visiting grades K-5 on Tuesday, March 21,

2017. Please see the digital flyer for more

information and for the pre-order form.

West Hartford Public Schools

Mentor Program

Notice to All Community Members

Create a Future. Be a Mentor.

Who mentored you? Pass it On.

Please take a moment to think about the mentors in your life. Who mentored you - a team

coach, teacher, concerned neighbor, or another caring adult? Consider paying it forward and

continue the legacy by becoming a mentor in the West Hartford Public Schools Mentor

Program.

An hour a week spent encouraging a student can make a difference in a young person’s life;

that adds up to just 24 hours of support for a young person during the course of the school

year. And you will be amazed by how much you will personally gain from this experience.

Please use the link below to complete a mentor application

today. http://www.whps.org/uploaded/Offices/Curriculum_Instruction_and_Assessment/Ment

or/Mentor_Application.pdf

To learn more about mentoring and how YOU can make a difference in the life of a West

Hartford Public School student, join us for the...

Spring New Mentor Workshop

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Conard High School – Rm. 169

110 Beechwood Road

West Hartford, CT

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Refreshments will be served)

Guest Speaker: Dr. Susan Weinberger, President, Mentor Consulting Group

To sign up for the March 14 New Mentor Workshop, please contact Carol Wilkas, West Hartford

Public Schools, District Mentor Coordinator, at 860-231-6009.

The Family Resource Center presents

Early Learning Playgroup at Wolcott School

A program for children ages birth through four accompanied by a

parent or caregiver. Join us for crafts, stories, songs, snack and fun!

No charge to attend.

We meet Thursday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.

Spring 2017 Playgroup

February 23

March 2

March 9

March 16

March 23

April 6

April 20

April 27

* No Session 3/30

For more information call the Family Resource Center at 860-929-5575

Early Learning Playgroup at Wolcott School in West Hartford is funded in part by

the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. The Family Resource Center is a program of the Bridge Family

Center.