💬 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.
🕰️ Testing Tip #4: Arrive on Time
Punctuality helps students start the day grounded and prepared.
Being late can create stress or cause your child to miss important directions. Try leaving 10 minutes earlier than usual during testing weeks to give yourself a buffer for unexpected delays.⏰🚸
📅 Testing Tip #3: Keep Routines Calm
A smooth morning can set the tone for the whole day.
Lay out clothes, pack bags, and prep lunch or snacks the night before. Keep the atmosphere calm—turn on music, give extra time for getting ready, and keep things positive. Avoid conflict or rushing, which can raise anxiety levels.
🌞🧘 Less chaos = more confidence.
Attention Parents: Wishing everyone a Happy Easter! Enjoy this time with your family and friends! Students are off school starting tomorrow, Thursday, 4/17-Monday, 4/21.
Our PSSA testing starts when we return from Easter break on Tuesday, 4/22. Here's the PSSA testing schedule again below:
ELA: April 22-24
Math: April 28-29
Science 5th grade only: April 30-May 1
🥣 State Testing Tip #2: Fuel Up!
A healthy breakfast = a strong start.
All WCSD students can receive a free breakfast. Encourage your child to eat breakfast each morning to help them stay full and focused during testing. 🥚🍎🥣
Why: Whole grains, fruit, and protein help kids stay focused during long testing sessions.
🥚🍌🥣 A well-fed brain is a powerful one!
📚 State Testing Tip #1: Rest is Best!
Encourage a full night of sleep—ideally 8–10 hours—for at least a week before testing.
A well-rested brain is more focused, less anxious, and better able to retain information. Start winding down earlier in the evenings by limiting screens, using calming routines like reading or quiet music, and keeping bedtimes consistent—even on weekends.
Why: A steady sleep schedule helps your child feel alert and ready to learn—not just on test day, but every day!
Just a reminder: There is No School for students on Thursday, April 17th - Monday, April 21st.
🎯 Getting Ready for State Testing: How You Can Help!
Over the next week, we’ll be sharing quick tips to help your child feel confident, focused, and ready for state assessments. These small, simple habits—like a good night’s sleep or a healthy breakfast—can make a big difference!
Each post will include a practical tip you can use at home to support your child before, during, and after testing days.
Let’s work together to make this a positive experience for all students! 💪📚
Weekly Math Fun: Backyard Geometry Adventure! 🌿📏
When the weather warms up, take learning outdoors with a Backyard Geometry Adventure! Exploring math in nature helps children see how shapes, measurements, and patterns exist all around them.
Math in Nature:
🔹 Shapes & Patterns – Recognizing geometric shapes in leaves, flowers, and tree rings helps kids develop spatial awareness.
📏 Measurement & Comparison – Using rulers or measuring tapes strengthens real-world math skills like estimating length and height.
📐 Perimeter & Area – Measuring outdoor spaces makes abstract concepts more concrete and hands-on.
🔺 Angles & Symmetry – Observing angles in tree branches, spider webs, or fences builds geometry understanding in a fun way.
This activity connects math and science, sparking curiosity while reinforcing key math skills.
Stay tuned for more creative ways to bring math into everyday experiences! 🌞📊
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Please click the link to see the upcoming dates for PSSAs and Keystones. Please note which test(s) your child will be taking based on their grade level and current course load. https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/2985/WCSD/3540991/Overview_of_Assessment_Calendar_2024.2025.pdf
Attention Parents: At Parent Drop-Off in the front of the building in the mornings, we have noticed recently some parents going around other vehicles to drop off their children. We ask that you please be patient and wait for the parent in front of you rather than pulling around other cars to drop off your child as we also have students riding vans being dropped off at the front of the building. Also, no vehicles should be taking a left at the stop sign during school hours. An abundance of caution and patience will ensure that all of our students arrive to school safely. Thank you for your help!
Attention Parents: On Monday, April 14th, we will be practicing our Spring Lockdown Drill. We do not know the time of this drill. Please be patient with us as we practice this important drill! Thank you!
Attention Parents: Please see the attached flyer for our Ice Cream Social/Basket Raffle tomorrow night from 6-8! We hope to see you there!
https://5il.co/3d7kz
Weekly Math Fun: Math + Art = Creativity at Home! 🎨➕📐
This week, combine math and creativity with fun, low-prep art activities!
Exploring math through art helps kids develop spatial awareness, pattern recognition, and measurement skills while expressing themselves creatively.
Math Concepts in Art:
🖼 Symmetry & Reflections – Folding, painting, and cutting help children recognize mirror images and balance.
🔺 Geometric Shapes & Patterns – Drawing, cutting, and arranging shapes reinforce patterning, tessellations, and sequencing.
📏 Measurement & Fractions – Comparing lengths and dividing paper into equal parts strengthens real-world math understanding.
📦 3D Geometry – Creating cubes, cones, and pyramids introduces concepts of volume and spatial reasoning.
Encourage kids to explore math through hands-on creativity and discover how numbers and patterns appear in art.
Stay tuned for next week’s activity, where we’ll bring more math into everyday fun! 🎭📊✨
🌧️ April Showers Bring Extra JiJi Hours! 🐧
Rainy days are perfect for cozy learning time at home! This April, take advantage of the extra indoor time by spending just 30 extra minutes a week with JiJi and ST Math.
That small investment of time can make a big impact on your child’s math growth and confidence!
✔ Strengthens problem-solving skills ✔ Builds perseverance ✔ Supports classroom learning
So, while the rain falls outside, help the learning bloom inside—with JiJi by your side! ☔📈
Attention Parents: Information on Kindergarten Registration is available on the district website. Please click on the click below for more information on how to register an upcoming kindergartner! We will have information coming out soon on Kindergarten Round Up! We'll keep you posted!
https://www.wcsdpa.org/o/wcsd/page/registration
Attention Parents: Transportation just informed us that Y15 will be picking up students a little late this morning due to a broken door. A bus should be on their way soon!
Attention K-2 Parents: We want to apologize; we had an unexpected delay in printing out our report cards for grades K-2. They will be sent home tomorrow, and we appreciate your patience and understanding. Please be sure to ask your K-2 child for their report card tomorrow afternoon!
Weekly Math Fun: Skip Counting in Motion! 🚀🎶
This week, make math active and engaging with a skip counting workout! Movement-based math helps kids recognize patterns, strengthen mental math skills, and improve number fluency—perfect for all ages!
How This Builds Math Skills:
🔥 Reinforces Multiplication & Division – Helps kids see number relationships in an interactive way. ⏩ Improves Fluency – Faster recall of number sequences makes problem-solving easier. 🏦 Applies to Everyday Math – Skip counting is useful for counting money, telling time, and measuring distances.
Ways to Adapt for Older Students (Up to Grade 5):
🔢 Multiplication & Division Prep – Skip counting lays the groundwork for multiplication facts and division strategies. Challenge kids to count backward to reinforce division concepts. 🎯 Higher Number Patterns – Instead of 2s, 5s, or 10s, try counting by 12s, 25s, or even 50s for an extra challenge. ⏳ Timed Challenges – Have students race against a timer to see how quickly they can count to 100 by a given number.
Fun Ways to Move & Count:
🎵 Rhythmic Counting – Clap, stomp, or jump to the beat while skip counting. 🏃 Active Challenges – Try counting by 3s while doing jumping jacks or hopscotch. 🕺 Dance & Count – Create movements that match the number patterns for a fun twist!
Picture Day is on Tuesday, April 1st! Please send your child with their best smiles and outfits on this day!
Also, the deadline to order yearbooks is on April 7th! Don't wait to order your copy, we are working to have another great yearbook this year!