Discover expert insights about online security and how to protect your digital life. Learn tips to create strong passwords across all of your accounts; strategies to enhance privacy settings on your social media platforms; and insights on using your browser's incognito mode to safeguard your online history. https://wcsdpa.onlinesafetyhub.io/parent/articles/protecting-your-digital-life-1
This Week’s Math Moment: Fractions with Dominoes! 🎲➗
Dominoes aren’t just for games—they’re perfect for exploring fractions in a way that’s hands-on and visual! Use the dots on each domino to build, compare, and simplify fractions in a fun and stress-free way.
This activity can grow with your child:
🔸 Younger learners can practice identifying and simplifying fractions
🔸 Older students can add, subtract, or even write equations using the values they create
🔸 Try turning it into a fraction memory match or sorting challenge!
All you need is a domino set and some curious math minds.
Make fractions make sense—one dot at a time! 🌟
Stay tuned for next week’s activity for more hands-on math fun at home!
2025 SUN Bucks Program Information
The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), or SUN Bucks Program, was authorized by Congress in 2022. The program, through participating agencies, provides $40 per summer month per child to families with eligible school-age children to buy groceries. The Pennsylvania Departments of Human Services (DHS) and Education (PDE) are jointly responsible for overseeing the SUN Bucks program in Pennsylvania, under the guidance of the USDA.
Each household will receive a $120 SUN Bucks benefit per eligible child, equivalent to $40 per month for June-August. SUN Bucks benefits are issued at the household level. DHS follows a hierarchy of where benefits are issued: the family’s state EBT card (ACCESS) if available, otherwise the family’s previously-issued SUN Bucks EBT card if available, otherwise a new SUN Bucks EBT card.
Most families will not need to apply for 2025 SUN Bucks since the bulk of eligible students are captured automatically by 1) being eligible for free/reduced meals at NSLP/SBP schools, or 2) if they didn’t attend an NSLP/SBP school, by being on the state’s direct-certified list and of compulsory school age.
Families with questions about whether their child is automatically eligible or if they need to apply should use the Eligibility Navigator tool on the DHS website. The self-guided series of questions tells the family if a child is automatically eligible, not eligible, or if they should apply for SUN Bucks. Please review the resources below for more information on the SUN Bucks Program.
- DHS SUN Bucks website – https://www.dhs.pa.gov/sunbucks
- DHS Statewide Customer Service Center – (877) 395-8930, or (215) 560-7226 in Philadelphia
- SUN Bucks family flyers (found at the bottom of the DHS SUN Bucks website)
- CAO locator: https://www.dhs.pa.gov/services/assistance/pages/cao-contact.aspx
- Summer EBT Income Eligibility Guidelines: https://bestpractices.nokidhungry.org/resource/sebt-income-eligibilityguidelines
- Pre-recorded FAQ line for families – (877) 762-1575
Reminder: Kindergarten Roundup is right around the corner for WAEC!
The final WCSD Kindergarten Roundup session will be this Tuesday, May 27th, at Warren Area Elementary Center from 2:00-6:00 PM.
Each elementary school will host a Kindergarten Roundup session so interested parents can meet with various people to learn more about kindergarten and complete helpful screenings. Please see the flyer below or the Registration tab on the district webpage: https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration for more information.
If you know someone else with a child ready for kindergarten, please share the information with them.
Weekly Math Fun: Measurement Mix! 📏🔍
This week, turn simple household items into math tools with a fun, hands-on activity that explores length, comparison, and units of measure! Whether your child is using crayons or measuring tape, they’ll build important math concepts through active exploration.
Extend the Learning:
🧮 Estimation Practice – Before measuring, ask your child to guess how many objects long the line will be. Were they close? What might affect their estimate?
🔄 Try New Objects – Switch it up by using different non-standard units: LEGO bricks, spoons, toy cars—anything that fits the line!
📊 Record & Compare – Create a chart with the name of each object and how many it took to measure the line. Which item gave the most accurate result?
💬 Ask Thinking Questions –
•“Why might your measurement change if you use different objects?”
•“When might it be important to use a ruler instead of other items?”
This activity builds number sense and introduces key concepts in estimation, measurement, and precision—all with tools you already have at home.
Stay tuned for next week’s post, where we’ll explore another way to make math fun and meaningful in everyday moments! 🧠✨
Reminder: Kindergarten Roundup is right around the corner for YES!
The next WCSD Kindergarten Roundup session will be this Tuesday, May 20th, at Youngsville Elementary School from 2:00-6:00 PM.
Each elementary school will host a Kindergarten Roundup session so interested parents can meet with various people to learn more about kindergarten and complete helpful screenings. Please see the flyer below or the Registration tab on the district webpage: https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration for more information and the schedule of the last session at WAEC
If you know someone else with a child ready for kindergarten, please share the information with them.
Weekly Math Fun: Fractions with Homemade Playdough! 🧂➗🎨
This week, bring math into the kitchen with a hands-on fraction activity your child will love—making playdough! Measuring ingredients offers the perfect opportunity to explore whole, half, and quarter measurements in a real-world setting.
Math Learning in the Kitchen:
🍴 Practice Equivalent Fractions – Use different measuring cups to build one whole.
🧠 Build Number Sense – Talk through what it means to double or halve a recipe.
🥣 Compare Quantities – Ask questions like, “Which ingredient do we use the most of?” or “How much more salt than cream of tartar?”
🖐 Reinforce Math Vocabulary – Use terms like cup, half, quarter, double, and equal parts while mixing and measuring.
Once the playdough is ready, shape it into numbers, fractions, or math symbols to keep the learning going!
Stay tuned for next week's post, where we’ll explore another creative and practical way to practice math at home! ✨📏
Reminder: Kindergarten Roundup is right around the corner for EES!
The next WCSD Kindergarten Roundup session will be this Monday, May 12th, at Eisenhower Elementary School from 2:00-6:00 PM.
Each elementary school will host a Kindergarten Roundup session so interested parents can meet with various people to learn more about kindergarten and complete helpful screenings. Please see the flyer below or the Registration tab on the district webpage: https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration for more information and the schedule of sessions at YES and WAEC
If you know someone else with a child ready for kindergarten, please share the information with them.
Weekly Math Fun: Fact Fluency Memory Match! 🧠🎲
This week, make math fun and interactive with Fact Fluency Memory Match! This game turns math fact practice into an engaging challenge that builds confidence and speed.
Ways to Extend the Learning:
✔️ Make it multi-step – Match a problem to two cards (e.g., 6 × 7 = 42 and 42 ÷ 6 = 7). ✔️ Incorporate word problems – Write a math fact on one card and a short word problem that matches on another. ✔️ Try fractions & decimals – Match ½ to 0.5 or ¾ to 75% for an extra challenge. ✔️ Increase the difficulty – Instead of direct answers, match a fact with an equivalent expression (e.g., 3 × 4 to 6 × 2).
With endless variations, this game keeps math exciting for all ages! Stay tuned for next week’s post, where we’ll introduce another creative way to build math skills at home! 🔢✨
Reminder: Kindergarten Roundup is right around the corner for SAES!
The first Kindergarten Roundup session will be this Monday, May 5th, at Sheffield Area Elementary School from 2:00-6:00 PM.
Each elementary school will host a Kindergarten Roundup session so interested parents can meet with various people to learn more about kindergarten and complete helpful screenings. Please see the flyer below or the Registration tab on the district webpage: https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration for more information and the schedule of sessions at EES, YES, and WAEC
If you know someone else with a child ready for kindergarten, please share the information with them.
Navigating Social Media and Gaming Apps Safely
Age recommendations alone are insufficient to ensure your child has a positive experience with social media apps and online games.
Following our ABC model (safe Access, clear Boundaries, and open Communication) will help keep your child safe online.
https://wcsdpa.onlinesafetyhub.io/parent/articles/navigating-social-media-and-gaming-apps-safely
Due to pending Severe Weather all after school activities have been cancelled for today, 4/29/2025.
Weekly Math Fun: Weather Graphing Fun! ☀️📊
This week, turn weather observations into a hands-on graphing activity! Tracking the weather helps kids build skills in data collection, pattern recognition, and statistics while making learning fun and relevant.
Math Connections:
🌦 Data Organization – Creating a chart reinforces how to categorize and track information over time.
📉 Graphing Skills – Recording daily weather builds an understanding of bar graphs, line plots, or pictographs.
🔎 Pattern Recognition – Discussing trends in the data helps develop critical thinking.
💡 Prediction & Probability – Kids can use their observations to make predictions about upcoming weather patterns.
Try extending the activity by comparing temperatures, tracking wind speeds, or exploring seasonal weather trends. Stay tuned for next week's activity, where we'll bring more math into real-world experiences! 🌎📏✨
Kindergarten Roundup
Each elementary school will host a Kindergarten Roundup session so interested parents can meet with various people to learn more about kindergarten and complete helpful screenings. Please see the flyer below for more information or the Registration tab on the district webpage: https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration.
🎉 Testing Tip #7: Celebrate Effort
Celebrate your child’s effort with positive reinforcement.
After each testing day, celebrate your child’s hard work! You don’t need big rewards—a favorite snack, a game night, or a hand-written note can go a long way. Reinforcing effort helps kids stay motivated and feel proud of their progress, no matter the outcome. 🎉🍪👏
👏🎉 Your encouragement makes a big difference!
Sign-ups for the 21st Century summer SPARK program are now open. Transportation will be provided!!! Please use the QR Code located on the attached flyer or access the sign-up link via the Warren County School District 21st Century page. Any student entering grades 6- 8 in the fall of 2025 is eligible. A separate post shows the details for grades K-5.
https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/nita-m-lowey-21st-century-community-learning-centers
The 21st Century Elementary program is BACK and so is transportation!!! Sign-ups for summer are now open using the QR Code on the attached flyer or access the sign-up link via the Warren County School District 21st Century page. Any student entering grades K - 5 in the fall of 2025 is eligible. A separate post will be made for students in grades 6-8.
https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/nita-m-lowey-21st-century-community-learning-centers
📵 Testing Tip #6: Limit Nighttime Screens
Try to limit screen time the night before a test to help your child wind down and fall asleep more easily.
Blue light affects sleep quality and screen time can overstimulate the brain.
Turn off TVs, tablets, and phones at least 30–60 minutes before bed.
Encourage quiet activities like drawing, puzzles, journaling, or reading to help your child wind down.📱🚫💤
Weekly Math Fun: DIY Flashcards for Practice & Play! 🧠✨
This week, make math more interactive with DIY math flashcards! These simple, customizable cards are a powerful tool for building fluency, confidence, and speed with key math facts.
Ideas to Boost the Fun:
🃏 Switch It Up – Use flashcards for more than just math facts! Try them for fractions, decimals, or even word problems.
⏱ Game Mode – Set a timer and see how many cards your child can solve in a minute. Try to beat their high score each day!
🎲 Math War – Flip two cards and see who gets the higher value—or who solves it faster!
💬 Explain It – After answering, ask your child to explain how they solved the problem to deepen understanding.
Flashcards are a quick and easy way to fit meaningful math practice into busy days—and they can be tailored to any skill level.
Stay tuned for next week's post, where we’ll explore another creative way to support math learning at home! 🔢🏠
💬 Testing Tip #5: Encourage, Don’t Pressure
A simple “You’ve got this!” can go a long way. Reassure your child that effort matters more than perfection. 💪💬
Say things like “I’m proud of your hard work” or “Just do your best.” Avoid placing too much importance on the score. Emphasize effort, persistence, and progress over perfection.
