Windham Elementary School Newsletter

December 13, 2019

Habits of Mind: “Safe, Responsible, Respectful, Ready to Learn”

Even with the warm temps and rain on Monday and Tuesday this week the early bus students were able to take advantage of the sticky snow and made a snowman during early morning recess.

Ice Skates

We are still searching for hockey skates adult size 9/9.5 or 8/8.5 for two students that still need skates for our trip to Vermont Academy on Thursday. If you have any skates that we can borrow for that day, we would be grateful!

Extra Layers

We have had a few students wear their jackets during school hours. Please consider having your student bring in a sweatshirt or sweater to leave here at school for the days when they find that the school temperature is not warm enough for a t-shirt or the item of clothing they decided to wear that day. Each student has a cubby or a hook that they can use to place this extra item of clothing. 

Breakfast items

We are nearing our final week of school before Winter Break and are in need of a few items to make sure we get through the final week of breakfast and the start of the new year in January.

Juice, Cream Cheese, Mini Bagels, Yogurt, Ketchup, Maple Syrup

Windham Elementary School Concert

Our full school holiday concert is Monday, December 16th at 6:30 PM. Please plan on having your students here at Windham Elementary School by 6:15 PM. 

Leland and Gray Joint Chorus Concert

Reminder that the 5th & 6th Windham Elementary school students have their joint chorus concert on Tuesday, December 17th. There will be a rehearsal in the L&G gym on Tuesday, December 17th from 3:30-4:30 PM. It is the ONLY joint rehearsal, so please attend.

If your student would like a ride back to the West Townshend store, Kate Ullman can drive up to four students there when the rehearsal is over at 4:30.  She would probably be there around 4:45. Please contact her at kullman@windhamcentral.org if you would like to set up this transportation option. 

Winter Weather Tips from School Nurse - Jorda Daigneault

Here we are at the beginning of winter weather! The fresh snowfall is so beautiful and fun to play in, however, being prepared to stay safe during these cold, brutal months will help us all endure and survive the winter. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have published tips to help us stay safe during winter.

What to wear

• Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Layers work well and will help keep children dry and warm. Warm socks, boots, gloves, mittens, warm coat, snow pants, and a hat.

• The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions. 

• Blankets, quilts, pillows, bumpers, sheepskins, and other loose bedding should be kept out of the infant’s sleeping environment because these items have been associated with suffocation deaths. 

Frostbite

• Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues become frozen. This occurs most often in fingers, toes, noses, ears, and exposed skin. The area will become pale, gray, blistered and will hurt, or become numb.

• If Frostbite occurs bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten parts in warm water (100 degrees F).

• Do NOT rub the area-this will further damage delicate tissues

• After a few minutes, dry and cover the child with clothing or blankets-give them something warm to drink.

• If numbness or discoloration continues, call your PCP.

Hypothermia

• Hypothermia develops when a child’s temperature falls below normal due to exposure to colder temperatures. 

• Shivering may set in, the child may become lethargic and clumsy. Speech may be impacted and be slurred

• If you suspect hypothermia take the child indoors, remove any wet clothing, wrapped in blankets and warm clothing, and call 911.

There is great information on the CDC.gov website search Preparing for a Winter Storm, and https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/news-features-and-safety-tips/Pages/AAP-Winter-Safety-Tips.aspx. 

Upcoming December Dates

December 16 - 

• Ceramics

• All- School Winter Concert at Windham Elementary School 6:30 PM

December 17 - 

• Grades 5 & 6 will see NEYT’s production of “Matilda” in Brattleboro. 

• 5th & 6th graders will be apart of the District Band & Chorus Concert at 7:00 PM in the Leland & Gray Dutton Gym - all are invited to attend! 

December 18 - 

• At 1:00 PM Kord will transport us to Valley Cares in Townshend to sing to the residents. It is a fun and heartwarming event that is enjoyed by both students and adults alike! All students will come home on the bus from Leland and Gray. Second bus kids will be a little early and the first bus kids (north end of town) will be a bit late. If you need your student to stay for after-school or you plan on picking up your student at Windham after school that day, please let me know.

December 19 - 

• Following lunch we will go skating at Vermont Academy, leaving at 12:30 PM by car. We will skate from 1-2 PM. The little ones that cannot skate hold onto the milk crates and skate around the rink. It is a fun time, but cold. Make sure they dress well that day.  Snow pants and gloves are a must as kids fall on the ice a lot. All students need skates and a helmet. Helmets can be a bike helmet if your student does not have a ski/skate helmet. I will send an email about driving availability as well as send home form that will ask about skate/helmet availability. If you need your student to stay for after-school or you plan on picking up your student at Windham after school that day, please let me know.

December 20 - 

• Holiday crafts will happen from 10 AM-12 PM this day. If you would like to do a craft with the students, please contact Cindy Kehoe at 874-7028. There are usually at least seven tables set up with different crafts, and the kids go from table to table making small gifts for the upcoming holidays. Even if you do not have a craft, you can come in and help at the tables. One year we had a mother come in and cook popcorn balls with the kids. That was a huge hit. Please be sure to let Cindy know the general idea of the craft you would like to do as well as what materials you are expecting the school to supply (ie Scissors, tape).

• The Windham Elementary Gift Exchange will happen after lunch. The students will select names on December 6th with Sara and will bring the name home with them. The idea is to keep the name a secret until our gift exchange. If you student forgets who they have, Sara will keep a record of the name selection and can help. The gifts should be in the price range of $5 or less.

December 23-January 1st - December Recess

Upcoming January Dates

January 2 - Happy New Year - School resumes

January 3 - Mighty Acorns for the K-1st graders

January 6 - School Board Meeting 9 AM at Windham Elementary School

January 8 - Winter Sports begins! For any students cross-country skiing at Wild Wings we have confirmed it will be $5 per trip.