Our Mission
To challenge all students to achieve their full potential through engaging, responsive, educational experiences that inspire innovation, critical thinking, and collaboration.
In an effort to save paper, we will not be printing lunch menus this year. Please follow this link to know what is available for the day. Students will be given the choice of 3 entrees and need to make that decision upon arrival and stick with the decision when going through the line.
Important Upcoming Dates:
Washington School Start Time: 8:15
Washington School End Time: 3:10
October 3: Preschool vision screenings provided by Lions Club
October 4: Healthiest State Walk 2:15-3:00
October 5: PTO Meeting (all are invited to attend) 6:30-7:30
October 24 and 26: Conferences 3:30-7:30
October 27: No School for students or teachers
October 30: Professional Development- No school for students
Principal’s Weekly Press
Hello!
We had a short but busy week at Washington Elementary! Our students are doing an outstanding job of displaying kindness and respect, two foundational characteristics we are learning about in our Morning Meetings. Please ask your son or daughter about what they’re learning!
Here are a few notes for this week:
- We will hold our first Healthiest State Walk next week on Wednesday, October 4th, from 2:15 - 3:00. We are excited to walk together as an entire school community to promote physical and mental health. Please send good walking shoes with your son or daughter on that day. You are invited! Please join us for some or all of our walk- just sign in at the office so we know you’re there. Important: If your child’s dismissal plans will change, please notify the office at 641-257-6570.
- Washington Elementary will host courses presented by Learning Connection each Monday from 6:00 - 7:30. These courses are designed for parents and children 0-5 who are not yet registered for Kindergarten. For more information, follow them on Facebook at Charles City Learning Connection.
- One of our building goals this school year is to increase the number of students who are proficient in reading and writing. One of the best ways you can help support this goal at home is to read to and with your child and to listen to them read. As always, thank you for your support at home!
Joe Carney
Counselor's Connection
Hello families! It is hard to believe we are heading into October already! In classroom counseling, your students have been working hard on feeling identification. Over the next few weeks, we will work on coping with intense emotions. In order to cope with intense feelings and emotions, we need to be able to identify what we are feeling. One of the skills our students are learning that helps them cope with intense feelings and friendship troubles is using an “I Message.” Your students are practicing this skill each day in counseling during our circle time.
Another important thing we explore in October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. I will be sharing ideas for this here each week. One of the most important things to know is that when someone is mean, that doesn’t necessarily constitute bullying. Here is the definition of bullying that I like to share when talking with parents and the one I teach all kids.
Bullying is: The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online. Of course, your school staff and family are always here to help if you think your student is in fact being bullied repeatedly and intentionally. My mission is that all kids feel safe in our building, and we do our best to make that happen.
October 2, 2023 is World Day of Bullying Prevention®!
In light of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, I thought I would share a little bit about what this month is all about and tell you about a special day tomorrow, Monday, Oct 2, 2023From the Stomp Out Bullying Website: Kindness is the quality or state of being kind. It is so important. In the last few years, our world has endured such hate. We must get back to kindness. Give KINDNESS because you can. Do not judge. Learn other cultures because if you don’t you will never know what wonderful people can be in your life. Be RESPECTFUL to all people. Why? Because the world needs more people who are. And there is no one better to do this than ALL OF US!!
On this first day of October and throughout the whole month, students, schools, and communities all over the world go BLUE together against bullying. Wear your blue shirt on October 2nd and throughout the entire month of October and be sure to practice bullying prevention during World Bullying Prevention Month™.
I have attached my favorite video on empathy and kindness. I share this video every year with students. Please take a moment to share this video with your children.
#BeKind #BlueUpTogether
Sesame Street: Mark Ruffalo: Empathy
COSTUME EXCHANGE!!! Please mark your calendars for the first annual Halloween Costume Exchange on October 13, 2023!! More details to come! We hope it will take place after school at the Washington Gymnasium.
UPCOMING SCHOOL COUNSELING DATE:
Coffee with the Counselor-
Oct 17, 2023.
Mrs. Thomson
A Note from PE
Get ready to walk, Charles City Community School District!
Physical activity is one of the most important things all Iowa kids can do to
stay healthy both physically and mentally – and walking is a great way to get moving while connecting with their classmates and teachers. I’m pleased to announce that the entire Charles CIty Community School District will be participating in the Healthiest State 13th Annual Walk on October 4, joining thousands of other Iowans statewide. Charles City Community School District will host a 30-minute walk at each of the school sites. The event’s theme “#WhyIWalk” encourages participants to get out and
walk for 30 minutes for whatever motivates them. Whether you walk to clear your mind, connect with family, for daily exercise, or just to take a work break, it is important to stay active. Our participation in the Healthiest State Walk shows our devotion to prioritizing our well-being, staying connected with each other, and remaining healthy. The Healthiest State is encouraging Iowans to participate on social media with the hashtags #WhyIWalk and #HSIWalk2023 during the Annual Walk. Learn more at IowaHealthiestState.com/Walk. The Annual Walk also serves as a kick-off to Healthiest State Month, happening throughout October, encouraging Iowans to practice the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Choices Count! habits. Learn more: IowaHealthiestState.com/5210.
Together we can help Iowa become the healthiest state in the nation!
Sincerely,
Charles City Community School Districts Physical Education Department
A Note from Library
Kindergarten:“If you Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff
If a hungry mouse shows up while you are playing outside, you might offer him a cookie. Before you know it the Mouse will be asking for more and more. This book is the first in the If You Give... series. Students will find all of the “c” letters and complete a coloring activity.
First Grade: “The Hair of Zoe Fleefenbacher Goes to School” by Laurie Halse Anderson
Kindergarten: Students will listen to an entertaining read aloud called “Leaf Trouble” by Jonathan Emmett. Pip the squirrel does not understand why the leaves are changing color and falling from the trees. After listening, students will practice writing the letters B and D as well as color leaves according to the letter on each one, Bb and Dd.
1st Grade: “Fall Mixed Up” by Bob Raczka. Fall is all mixed up in this silly book. We will discuss what is wrong with the story as we read the book and look at the pictures. If we have time we will create lists of words that rhyme with words in the story.
Mrs. Yaddof
A Note from Art
Kindergarten and 1st grade students will begin their Line Pumpkin Project. Line is an Element of Art. -Ms. Hamm
Nurse's Nook
It is that time of year where we would like to educate our families on some of the common childhood illnesses, when to stay home, and let you know when it is safe for them to return to school.
Strep throat: This is caused by a bacteria that requires an antibiotic treatment prescribed by a doctor. Symptoms include sore throat, red throat, swollen tonsils, fever, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Student’s can return safely to school after taking an antibiotic for 24 hours and fever free without the use of Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
Influenza: This is caused by a virus called influenza. Influenza is a respiratory virus that infects the nose, throat, and lungs. This is not the “stomach flu.” Symptoms of influenza include cough, fever, body aches, feeling tired, headache, and runny/stuffy nose. The best way to protect yourself from Students can return to school when their symptoms improve, are fever free 24 hours, and able to participate normally at school.
COVID-19: This is caused by the coronavirus. Symptoms include cough, stuffy/runny nose, fever, sore throat, loss of taste of smell, body aches, headache, and feeling tired. Students can return to school 5 days after the onset of symptoms with symptoms improved, able to participate normally, remain fever free, and must be able to wear a mask days 6-10. If your student is unable to wear a mask on days 6-10, they may return to school on day 11. There is a vaccination for COVID-19 for anyone 6 months of age and older. Please check with your doctor or pharmacist to see if you or your child need the vaccine.
If you have any questions please contact health services.influenza is to get vaccinated. The vaccine is available to anyone 6 months of age and older. -Nurse Bethany