West Manheim Newsletter

Dear West Manheim Parents/Guardians,

What is the Pennsylvania School Performance Profile? How can parents use this information? What does the School Performance Profile mean for my child? These may be questions that you have based on information you have heard in the news over the past few weeks. The PA School Performance Profile is designed to serve several purposes for a school district: Provide a building level score for educators Provide parents with performance measures for their childs school, neighboring schools, and schools across the state Inform the public of the academic performance measures of each district and school in Pennsylvania Provide a tool to inform goal setting, planning, and resource allocation to improve student achievement in a school Many sources of data are used to determine the PA School Performance Profile for your childs school. These data points at the elementary level include PSSA results in reading, writing, science, and math, the academic growth of the schools students based on PSSA results over time, and attendance rates. Individual schools will be using this information to communicate, compare, and analyze performance indicators as related to student achievement to encourage best practices in teaching approaches and strategies. Parents can use this profile information to examine the performance of their local school/district. South Western School District is pleased to share that each of its six schools performed extremely well and received excellent PA School Performance Profile scores. At West Manheim Elementary School, our building level academic score was a 90.6 out of 100 possible points. This score shows significant evidence that West Manheim exceeded the standard for PA Academic Growth. Based on this information, we will continue to strive for increased student achievement in all areas, with a major focus on math, reading, writing, and science. We will continue to meet the needs of all our students through team planning and collaboration and well-planned instruction for our students in all grade levels. To learn more about the PA School Performance Profile, please contact me at any time at 6334890, or you can refer to the South Western School Districts website at http:// www.swsd.k12.pa.us/ or the Pennsylvania Department of Educations website at http:// www.pde.state.pa.us.

South Western School District

November 2013

Inside this issue:

Common Core School Counselor Grade 4 Poetry Specialists Handbook Highlights Market Basket Dates to Remember

2 4 5 7 8 11 12

West Manheim Elementary School 2000 Baltimore Pike Hanover, PA 17331 Phone: 717-633-4890 Fax: 717-637-2011 Office hours: 7 AM-3:30 PM
West Manheim Website

West Manheim Facebook

West Manheim Twitter

Sincerely,

Brian M. Cromer Principal

A Tradition of Excellence.
Were on the web at: swsd.k12.pa.us

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Thanksgiving Times to remember Having fun A lot of food November Kids watch a Thanksgiving parade Stuffing Giving thanks It always has a football game on Visitors at your house It always has lot of pies Next day there is a lot of shopping Games By Shannon in Mrs. Culps class Hay Rides Horses Apples Yeah we all say! Rough ride I love hay rides! Decorations around the neighborhood Eekk I say when we go past scary decorations! Sweets By Grace in Mrs. Culps Class Thankful Things I love Huge turkey Apples and pie Nation Kindness Family United States Love By Hannah
in Mr. Olewilers class

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November HuNting season May flOwer Visitors fEast Memories Barely any sun lEaves haRvest by Jadon in Mr. Olewilers class

G R A D E 4 P O E T R Y

Thanksgiving T urkey H aving fun playing in leaves A pple pie N ice good weather K indness in the kitchen S avoring applesauce G ive thanks to everyone I ce cream V elvet cake I m thankful for N ice food G ravy on potatoes By Delaney in Miss Smiths class

Pumpkins Pie is good with it Used for many things Mushy on the inside Put it in the oven if you like pie hot Kindly greet people with it It can be made into jack-o-lanterns Nice as a decoration So good! By Phoenix in Mrs. Culps class

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Football F all is time for sports O val shaped bal O ffense in the open T ouchdown six points B all is a fumble A wesome play L aces on the ball L egs running a touchdown! By Jacob in Miss Smiths class Fall

G R A D E 4 P O E T R Y

F all the leaves go to the ground A ll of us are happy with cheer L ight and warm from the fire L ove of family for the holiday Sabrina in Miss Smiths class

FALL Family gathers together Apple pie is passed around Leaf pile jumping is always a must Leaves are colorful shades of red, orange, yellow, black, and brown. By Forrest in Miss Aumens class

Leaves Leaves change into different colors like red, yellow, orange, and brown Everyone gets ready for Fall All the leaves start to fall lightly to the ground Very many leaves are raked up to make leaf piles Everyone jumps into huge colorful piles Sometimes I look up at the falling leaves that dance in the sky. By Tori in Miss Aumens class

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Music Notes

By Mrs. Evelan

Fitness Forum

By Miss Hull

As part of the school districts music curriculum, the fourth grade students at West Manheim are completing a unit in music class about the soprano recorder. The students are learning to read the music, rhythms and dynamics and to play the instrument in the proper way. During the past few weeks, the fourth grade students began a program called Recorder Karate! The students are assigned a song to practice between music classes. When the students return to music class, they must play the song. If they are successful, the students earn a colorful belt to tie onto the bell of their recorder. Stop by the music hallway to see how our students are progressing through this program. Fourth grade students should bring their recorder to each music class so that they may test for their next belt. There are several links on my website that will aid the students in practicing at home! Feel free to explore these sites with your child. http://westmanheimmusic.weebly.com/recorders.html Password: pony

Students in grades 3-5 have been working on developing their hand-eye coordination during our tennis unit. We are wrapping up our unit by playing cooperative four square tennis. Students in K-2 have been working on their hand-eye coordination as well during our rolling, throwing and catching unit. We will be starting parachute and scooter activities.

Answers from Art

By Mrs. Shaub

Library Links

By Mrs. Fisher

On Thursday, October 24th, each classroom was visited by a special guest reader for our annual Mustang Stampede. With a purposeful connection to our Families that Read Together Succeed Together library theme, family members of West Manheim teachers and current and former West Manheim family members read aloud fun picture books which were perhaps old family favorites. Our readers were also asked to share the importance of reading at home with family to help build background knowledge and higher level vocabulary and to model what fluent reading sounds like. J What an inspiring way to promote lifelong reading and learning! Check out the Evening Sun article listed below to see more about this awesome shared reading experience!

Next time you visit West Manheim be sure to check out the framed artwork that is hanging in our lobby. These selections will remain on display throughout this school year. Please join me in congratulating the following students who had their work selected for this honor at the end of last school year. Marua Aragon Aiden Glaser Mackenzie Carr Hannah Maloney Brooke Ridenour Emma Filipovits Greg Patton Alexis Schmidt Tori Keefauver

http://www.eveningsun.com/local/ci_24398242/guestreaders-hit-books-south-western-students

Evan Grove

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EARLY DISMISSAL PLEASE NOTE

On November 26, 2013, we will dismiss at 11:45 AM. Please make arrangements for this early dismissal day/time for elementary students.

KITCHEN TIDBITS
Deposits/payments for students accounts that are sent into school should have the student's first and last name (no nicknames) on the envelope so that the proper account is credited. No name, a nickname, or just a first name of a student makes it difficult for the cashier to credit the account properly. Please label your deposit/payment envelopes so that we can be certain to credit the proper account.

HANDBOOK HIGHLIGHTS
III. EMERGENCIES ~ From page 16 of the Elementary Handbook If a student is to be notified of an emergency situation for which he is to be excused, please call the school office. Do not take the student out of school without properly notifying the office.

Students should be prepared ahead of time to know where they would go in the event of an early dismissal. Parents will complete a form detailing these plans and return to school at the start of the school year.

In case of inclement weather or impassable road conditions, please check the district website or listen to radio stations WHVR 1280 AM, WSBA 910 AM, WBAL 1090AM, WGET
1320 AM, WLAN 1390 AM, WPOC 93.1 FM, BOB 94.9 FM, WYCR 98.5 FM, WARM 103 FM, WGTY 107.7 FM or view local television stations: WGAL-TV 8, WHP-CBS 21, WHTM-TV 27, OR WPMT FOX 43 for school closings. Parents may also sign up to receive automatic communication from

some of the television stations directly, such as WGAL-8. Please do not call the radio stations or school as it is essential that telephone lines be open for emergency use. Announcements will be made before 7 a.m. whenever possible or whenever it is determined to close school early.

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II. ATTENDANCE Educational Travel ~ From page 15 of the Elementary Handbook

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We believe learning is an experience that is not limited to the confines of a school building. Thus travel by a student of an educational nature and/or attendance at educational functions other than school will be considered legitimate excused absence from school if they are properly planned and effected. Cooperative attempts to enhance the educational value of the experience are to be made between the school, parents, and student. The following are guidelines for dealing with this matter. A. The student must have maintained a regular pattern of attendance. B. The request should be made on a form available in each school office at least one week in advance of the absence. Parents are responsible for securing this form. C. The parents, student, and administrator must agree on the provisions for enhancing the educational experience. The purpose of attending will be needed for those travel experiences relating to an educational function. D. The student must be accompanied by his/her parent/guardian or another adult approved by the administration. E. Educational travel absences will be limited to not more than two occasions per academic year that shall not exceed a total of 5 school days. F. Special arrangements for educational travel which is expected to exceed 5 school days must be made with the principal. Educational travel is discouraged the first 10 days of school. Educational travel requests will be denied during the PSSA testing during the PSSA testing days listed below: Grades 3, 4 & 5 PSSA Reading & Math on March 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 2014. Grade 5 PSSA Writing on April 1, 2, 3, 2014 Grade 4 PSSA Science on April 29, 30, 2014 G. An absence shall not be marked excused until provisions are completed. This shall be within one week of return unless otherwise specified.

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PICTURE RE-TAKE DAYWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6

If your child was absent on our picture day in September, a picture package envelope was sent home to you last week. Please send the envelope to school with your child on Wednesday, November 6, our Picture Re-take Day. If your child had pictures taken but you were not satisfied with the photos, you must return the entire package with a note explaining what the problem is and that you would like a re-take. If your child is new to our building since our Picture Day in September, you would have received a picture package envelope last week. If you wish to purchase the school picture, return the picture envelope on Wednesday, November 6. Please have your child ready for a photograph to be taken on Wednesday, November 6.

FEEDAFRIEND, COMMUNITY FOOD COLLECTION

West Manheim will once again be participating in the Feed-A-Friend Marathon that takes place in December. Local radio stations will hold the Marathon to collect nonperishable food to help out those in OUR community going through rough times. Students and staff may purchase non-perishable food items or they may make a monetary donation ($1.00 will equal 3 canned food items). Donations will be accepted in school from December 4 through December 6.

HELP WANTED
Do you enjoy working with children? Do you have a little spare time to share with your school district? South Western School District is In need of Para Educators. Para Educators work with students in all grade levels under the supervision and guidance of the classroom teacher. If this sounds like something that interests you, please stop by our Administrative Offices at 225 Bowman Rd. to complete an employment application.

WEST MANHEIM COMMUNITY TOY DRIVE

West Manheim Elementary School is collecting toys for the less fortunate. All donations are distributed within the Hanover area. Please send any slightly used toys to school November 1st 15th, 2013. Dolls, trucks, cars or toys for all ages are welcome. Games and puzzles need to have all pieces. [Please, no stuffed animals, no toy guns or violent toys.]

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NOVEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

November - 1 WM PTO Book Fair Spirit DayWear Red for Red Ribbon Week YMCA After School Bowling YMCA After School Swim November3 Daylight Saving Time Ends (turning clocks back) December4

LOOKING AHEAD DECEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER

WM PTO Market Day Pick up 7-8 PM School Board Reorganization Meeting, 6:30 PM, Admin. Elementary Report Cards Distributed December December6 Spirit DayWear WM T-shirt or Blue and Yellow After School Bowling, 2:30 PM December10-12 WM Shoppers Room December10 WM PTO Poinsettia Pick up, 5:30-7 PM WM PTO Meeting 6:30 PM December11 Spirit DayWear Project Harmony T-shirt or Black and White After School Bowling, 2:30 PM Grade 5 Holiday Concert, Band, Chorus, Orchestra, 7-8 PM School Board Meeting, 7 PM, Admin. Spirit DayDecorate yourself for winter After School Bowling, 2:30 PM December23 through January1 SCHOOLS CLOSED

November4-15 Toy Drive Begins November5 November6 November7 November8 Spirit DayWear Red, White, and Blue-Election Day Picture Retake Day 8-10 AM Spirit DayDress for thd 1950s-50th day of school YMCA After School Bowling YMCA After School Swim-Last Day November11 Spirit DayWear Red, White, and Blue-Veterans Day WM PTO Poinsettia Sale Begins November12 November15 WM PTO Mtg., 6:30-7:30 PM YMCA After School Bowling Toy Drive Ends November20 Spirit DayWear Project Harmony T-shirt or black and white End of First Marking Period, Grades K-5 only School Board Mtg., at Admin. Office, 7 PM November22 Spirit DayWear West Manheim T-shirt or Blue and Yellow YMCA After School Bowling WM PTO Poinsettia Sale Ends November26 Spirit DayWear West Manheim T-shirt or Blue and Yellow Early Dismissal, Grades K-12, Elementary dismisses at 11:45 AM November27 through December2 SCHOOLS CLOSED December18 December20 December13 December16