Category Archives: School

Wildwood/ARPS Important Dates

Featured

Posted on by

Welcome Wildwood STARS

  • August 28: New Family Night, 6:30pm
  • August 30: First day of School for students in grades 1-6
  • September 4: Labor Day, no school
  • September 5: First day of School for Kindergarten

  • September 20: Early Release Day (1:20 pm dismissal)

Important Links / Hiperenlaces importantes

Field Days, 6/21 (grd. 1-3) and 6/22 (grd. 4-6)

Posted on by
Two field days this year! Lower elementary will have field day on June 21 from 1:30 pm to 2:45 pm, and upper elementary will have field day on the last day of school, June 22nd from 10:00 am to 11:20 am.

Lower elementary field day (grades 1-3) will take place on Wednesday, June the 21 from 1:30pm to 2:45pm. Similar to last year, there will be water games. Therefore, the students will need to bring a change of clothes they don’t mind getting wet. At the end of the field day, we will be gathering by the wooden structure for frozen treats before everyone heads in to grab their things. Please start compiling a list of students who cannot have Popsicles due to dye or other reasons so I can have an alternative treat for them. If there are any questions, feel free to ask.

CLICK for SCHEDULE and RULES for Lower Elementary — First, Second, and Third Grades (Wednesday, June 21)

Upper elementary field day (grades 4-6) will be held on Thursday, June 22 (the last day of school) from 10:00am to 11:20am. It will be a culminating celebration for the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser 4th-6th grades participated in. See the schedule for games being played. Students will be informed of the event details as the day approaches, but start letting students know now to bring a change of clothes due to the water games. Also, please let me know if there are any students who cannot have Popsicles. Similar to last year, the plan is to give them to students once the event is over, and I want to make sure we have alternatives for those who can’t have them. Let me know if there’s any questions regarding anything, and I’ll answer as best as possible.

CLICK for SCHEDULE and RULES for Upper Elementary (grades 4th, 5th, and 6th) (Thursday, June 22)  

Thanks,
Vince

News from the WW Library (Feedback Requested!)

Posted on by
From the Wildwood Library: Wow! In 180 days our community has checked out 25,300 books!  Top-Circulation awards were given out at this week’s assembly.  Ms. Bing-Owen topped the charts with over 330 books checked out and in second place one of 5th graders, who checked out 290 books this year!
  • If you could spare an hour or so to help put away a few of those 25,000 books we would welcome the help please!  Please come on in (really!) or call 413-362-1424/ email: wellss@arps.org
Our Summer Reading Bingo Challenge is back!  Click here for details and student created summer reading lists!
Summer Reading programs at all the local libraries begin SOON.  Check www.joneslibrary.org for details!
We have had such a lovely school year here in the library!  I am sad to see such fun come to an end but my summer reading list is long and I can’t wait to begin reading some MCBA (Massachusetts Children’s Book Award) Mashup books!
Happy Reading!
Susan Wells

End-of-Year Picnic (w/ dunk tank!), 6/20

Posted on by

All students and families are invited to the Wildwood School End of Year Picnic!

WHEN: Tuesday, June 20, 2015 (rain date June 21)
TIME: 5:30 – 7:30pm
WHERE: Wildwood Playgrounds

WHAT TO BRING:

  • Your own family’s PICNIC DINNER and DRINKS
  • Your own REUSABLE FLATWARE, CUPS AND PLATES, we are trying to produce as little waste as possible. PGO will also have paper-goods for those who don’t bring their own from home.
  • BLANKETS/CHAIRS to sit on.
  • BUG REPELLANT is recommended.
  • Please CLEAN UP as you go!
  • ALL CHILDREN must be ACCOMPANIED by a parent, guardian or a responsible ADULT.

Wildwood Yearbook & Tees, order by Friday, June 9

Posted on by

Last Chance to order Wildwood T-shirts and 2017 Wildwood Yearbooks! Order forms were sent home with your student or can be found in the WW office.  Please be sure to return the forms and payment by Friday June 9th.

The 2016/17 Wildwood School Yearbook is filled with pictures of all the students and memories of this year at Wildwood, in beautiful full color!

Order deadline: June 9th
Cost: $8 (families may request a confidential free copy)
View Order Form (also in backpacks): WW Yearbook ORDER FORM 2017 (1)

The Wildwood Yearbook is a parent produced, all volunteer project.

Multicultural Fair, We’re ONE WEEK Away

Posted on by

Mark your calendar for the 2017 Wildwood Multicultural Fair! Come celebrate our cultural diversity!

Where: behind Wildwood Elementary School
Date: Thursday, June 8th (rain date: Thursday, June 15th)
Time: 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Events: potluck dinner, fashion show, performances, crafts, and games

What to bring:

  1. A dish to share (without nuts!!!). A form will be provided at the Welcome Table so you can list the ingredients.
  2. Drinks for your family (water will be provided)
  3. Reusable plates, cups, napkins, and utensils for eating in order to reduce waste.
  4. A blanket or mat to sit on
We’re still looking for any last minute Wildwood students willing to perform or be part of the fashion show!

Questions or to volunteer: contact Becky Miller at wildwoodelementarypgo@gmail.com

Wildwood Staff Appreciation, Food Drop-off

Posted on by

If you’ve volunteered to donate food, items can be dropped off on June 1st before 7:45am (or on the 31st as long as items are labeled and placed in the staff refrigerator). Nonperishable items labeled “Staff Breakfast” can be dropped off anytime in the office. Still in need of donations for Staff Breakfast (click here to view remaining needs).

Thanks in advance to all who are able to pitch in.

Incoming PGO Officers, thanks in advance!

Posted on by

Thanks to those who attended Wednesday’s PGO meeting, and a very special thanks to those parents stepping up into PGO leadership. As Dr. Morris expressed in his weekly newsletter, “You do amazing work on behalf of our students and your support means so much to the all of our faculty, staff and administrators.”

Co-Chairs: Kerry Crosby and Sheilah Jones
Treasurer: Toni Cunningham
Volunteer Coordinator: Becky Miller
Fundraising Coordinator: Irene Dujovne
Secretary: Lisa Berry
Blog Communications: Anita Rao
Yearbook: Susan Wells and Jenny Haugsjaahabink
School Directory: Susan Wells and Jenny Haugsjaahabink
Class Parent Liason: Becky Gahan

Kindergarten Sing-along, June 2 from 5:30-7 pm

Posted on by

Wildwood kindergarten families…Please join us for an end of the year dinner (potluck) and sing-along on Friday, June 2 from 5:30 pm – 7 pm.

Each family is asked to bring one dish to share. If your last name starts with A – R please bring a main dish or salad and if your last name starts with S – Z please bring a dessert or fruit to share. In addition, you are asked to bring your own cups, plates, napkins, and silverware to reduce waste. Water will be provided for drinking.

WildwoodPGO Meeting – Wednesday May 24, 6:00-7:30pm

Posted on by

Come learn about Project Based Learning at the next Wildwood PGO Meeting
Tuesday, May 24, 2017  6:00pm-7:30pm

  • 6pm  PGO meeting in the Library – Hear about open PGO positions for next year. We need You!
  • 6:30pm  Nick will present on the implementation of Project Based Learning in Grades K-6 and the impact it will have on your children.  Come find out about this exciting journey into hands-on, problem-based, in-depth learning.
  • 7-7:30pm  Meet & Greet 

View Flyer in English

View Flyer in Spanish

Teacher/Staff Appreciation Breakfast, Volunteers Needed!

Posted on by
Wildwood teachers/staff are really appreciative of this annual event. Please help us make it a success.

Lots of ways to pitch in (donation of food, picking something up that is already paid for, or setting up or cleaning up). Click on the link below and see if one fits you: Click to Sign Up

Our annual staff appreciation breakfast will be held on June 1st beginning at 7:45am in the staff lounge.  We are looking for donations of breakfast items and volunteers to set-up, serve and clean-up.

Thank you,
PGO

MCAS Testing Dates

Posted on by

MCAS testing has begun. Remaining test dates as follows:

  • ELA MCAS: Grade 6 on May 2.
  • Math MCAS: Grade 5–May 11, 12; Grade 6–May 18,19; Grades 3 and 4–May 23,24.
  • Science MCAS: Grade 5–May 16 and 17.

Valley Gives & Brown Envelope Fundraiser, May 2

Posted on by

The 4th annual Valley Gives Day is THIS WEEK! valleygives-2

This 24-hour online giving day allows people throughout the Pioneer Valley and beyond to support hundreds of local nonprofits, including our very own Wildwood School. Don’t delay, support Wildwood PGO today!

Donate via brown envelope or online at: https://valley-gives.org/designee/wildwood-parent-guardian-organization

With your help the PGO can continue to support our students in ways that are as diverse as the population we serve. We strive to ensure that all children have what they need to thrive while also providing our amazing educators with basic tools for their classrooms. With your help the PGO can continue to support our students in ways that are as diverse as the population we serve. But we can’t do it without you! Check it out:

  • $850 ensures every 6th Grade student can participate in the Morse Hill field trip
  • $700 pays for a visiting author
  • $500 supports Art room clay supplies for the year
  • $200 will pay for a Sewing Machine for the Art Room
  • $125 supports a Staff Appreciation Breakfast
  • $120 buys Soil Testing probes for a 2nd Grade Soil Investigation science unit
  • $100 Pays for Moby Max curriculum software licenses for 5th Graders
  • $100 Can assist the school to submit mini grants for unique learning opportunities for children
  • $50 Will help every child to attend class field trips in the community
  • $20 Contributes to teacher classroom supplies so all children have access to pencils and paper
  • $10 helps to ensure that each child can have a snack every day

Our school will be stronger with help from you. Please donate what you can today and dig deep this spring. Thank you!

That Volunteer Opportunity May Require a Background Check

Posted on by
We welcome all talents and abilities! To learn more about fun, unique and exciting volunteer opportunities at Wildwood, visit our Volunteering and Contributing page

CORI Background Check: If school or PGO volunteer opportunities bring you into contact with students at Wildwood ES or on a field trip, you must have a CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) check on file. This includes all field trip chaperones and classroom volunteers (e.g. grandparents, aunts & uncles, adult siblings). CORI checks must be done on individual volunteers every three years and are valid for all schools within our district. If you would like to check to see if you are current on your CORI status, please call Sasha in the Central Office at 362-1810.

To request a CORI check, bring your current driver’s license into the Main Office at Wildwood or to the district’s Central Office (located at the middle school) for photocopying and complete the required application well in advance of any volunteer obligations. Questions about the CORI process can be directed to the Wildwood Main Office or Sasha in the Central Office.

MCAS Testing Dates

Posted on by

MCAS testing has begun.

Grades 3 and 4 have their ELA MCAS on April 25, 26 and 27. Grade 6 will take their ELA MCAS on April 28 and May 2. Grade 5 tested on April 4-6.

Math MCAS dates are as follows: Grade 5–May 11, 12, Grade 6–May 18,19 Grades 3 and 4–May 23,24. The fifth grade also has MCAS Science tests on May 16 and 17.

Family Math Night – April 6, 2017

Posted on by

Wildwood Elementary School Presents a Title 1 and PGO sponsored school-wide math event.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

5:45-7:30 pm*

“Play and Take” Math Games

Pizza dinner in the cafeteria: 5:45-6:15

Math games in rooms around school: 6:15-7:15

Grand prize raffle in the cafeteria: 7:15-7:30

*Buses will pick up at entrance (and drop off after the event):

Boulders @ 5:15,   North Village @ 5:25,   Village Park @ 5:35,    Olympia Oaks @ 5:40

Please RSVP for the event.

View English Flyer

View Spanish Flyer

SEPAC Meeting 3/20

Posted on by
Please consider attending an informal meeting to connect with others. A light dinner will be provided, so an RSVP would be helpful! 
When:  Monday, March 20th 6:00pm-7:00pm
Where:  Amherst Regional Middle School, Professional Development Room
From 6:00 pm-6:30 pm:  We will have an opportunity to connect with some candidates running for school committee.
From 6:30 pm-7:00 pm:  We will continue to explore ways we can support each other in the community.  Dr. Brady and SEPAC board will also be in attendance.
Again, please RSVP if possible to sepac@arps.org or 413-687-4255.
____________________________

Invitación de la Junta Consultiva de Padres de Educación Especial

Por favor, considere asistir a una reunión informal para conectar con los demás. Se ofrecerá una cena ligera, por lo que una confirmación de su asistencia sería de gran ayuda!

Cuándo: Lunes, 20 de marzo 6:00 pm-7:00 pm
Dónde: Amherst Regional Middle School, Salón de Desarrollo Profesional

De 6:00 pm -6:30 pm: Tendremos la oportunidad de conectar con algunos candidatos que corren para el Comité Escolar.

De 6:30 pm-7:00 pm: Continuaremos explorando maneras en que podemos apoyarnos mutuamente en la comunidad. El Dr. Brady y la junta de SEPAC también estarán presentes.

Una vez más, por favor confirme su asistencia si es posible sepac@arps.org o 413-687-4255.

Town Meeting School Vote (1/30)

Posted on by
On Monday, January 30 at 7pm, the Amherst Town Meeting will vote on Article 1. Petition “Bond Authorization for Co-located Elementary School Project on Wildwood site“
To see if the Town of Amherst will appropriate, transfer from available funds and/or borrow $66,369,000 to be expended under the direction of the School Building Committee to construct, originally equip and furnish two co-located elementary schools on the Wildwood site to educate all Amherst students in grades 2-6, including the cost of architectural design, project management and other incidental and related costs, as well as demolition of the existing building and other necessary site improvements, which school facility shall have an anticipated useful life as an educational facility for the instruction of school children of at least 50 years, and for which the Town may be eligible for a School construction grant from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (“MSBA”), and to meet this appropriation, the Treasurer, with the approval of the Select Board, is authorized to borrow said amount under and pursuant to Chapter 44, Section 7(1) of the Massachusetts General Laws or pursuant to any other enabling authority, and to issue bonds or notes of the Town therefor. The MSBA’s grant program is a non-entitlement, discretionary program based on need, as determined by the MSBA, and any project costs the Town incurs in excess of any grant approved by and received from the MSBA shall be the sole responsibility of the Town. Any grant that the Town of Amherst may receive from the MSBA for the Project shall not exceed the lessor of (1) 68.34 percent (%) of eligible, approved project costs, as determined by the MSBA, or (2) the total maximum grant amount determined by the MSBA
Certified petitions and statements are available on the Town Meeting’s website: http://www.amherstma.gov/790/Town-Meeting

Superintendent Search Survey (deadline extended to 1/30)

Posted on by
NOTE: The deadline to complete the survey has been extended to Monday, January 30 at 12 Noon.

FROM: Eric Nakajima, Chair of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee and Anastasia Ordonez, Chair of the Union 26 School Committee

RE: Survey Regarding Superintendent Search

The Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools are in the process of seeking a permanent Superintendent of Schools to serve our communities.  A contractor, Ray and Associates, Inc., will support this process and conduct the national search.  Feedback from all stakeholder groups is essential to ensure we invite candidates who reflect the qualities and characteristics most valued by our communities.

Community members are invited to complete the online survey available here.  Results of the survey will be compiled by Ray and Associates, Inc. and shared with the Amherst-Pelham Regional and Union 26 School Committees.

 DE: Eric Nakajima, Presidente del Comité Escolar Regional de Amherst-Pelham y Anastasia Ordóñez, Presidenta del Comité Escolar de la Unión 26

RE: Encuesta sobre la búsqueda del superintendente

Las Escuelas Regionales de Amherst, Pelham y Amherst-Pelham están en proceso de buscar un Superintendente de Escuelas Permanente para servir a nuestras comunidades. Un contratista, Ray and Associates, Inc., apoyará este proceso y llevar a cabo la búsqueda a nivel nacional. La retroalimentación de todos los grupos de interesados es esencial para asegurar que invitamos a candidatos que reflejen las cualidades y características más valoradas por nuestras comunidades.

Los miembros de la comunidad están invitados a completar la encuesta en línea disponible aquí. Los resultados de la encuesta serán compilados por Ray and Associates, Inc. y compartidos con los Comités Regionales de Amherst-Pelham y Unión 26. La fecha límite para completar la encuesta es 12:00 p.m. el lunes, 30 de enero de 2017.