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September 15, 2024 Update for Families
September 15, 2024 Update for Families
Dear WMAES Families,
As we look ahead, we have several exciting events and important updates to share with you. Please take a moment to review the information below with your family.
We truly appreciate your continued partnership and support as we work together to make this school year a success!
Thank you for being an essential part of our WMAES community!
Warmest regards,
Nathan VanDuinen
Elementary Principal
Click Subscribe below at add our WMAES Family Calendar to any calendar app on the device of your choice. You can also click here to visit the calendar page and view information about subscribing.
Parking Lot GuidElines Reminder
Parking Lot GuidElines Reminder
At WMAES, we prioritize creating a safe and courteous parking lot environment and ensuring an orderly drop-off and pick-up process. Your support in following these guidelines sets an important example of cooperation, patience, and respect for our students. The success of this system relies on everyone adhering to these rules.
Guidelines:
Enter through the east drive only.
Exit through the west drive only.
Drive slowly and remain alert, watching for children who may emerge between cars.
If you need to leave your vehicle for any reason, park in a designated parking space.
During drop-off, use the inside lane (closest to the school) for dropping off students.
Drivers in the drop-off lane must remain in their vehicles and merge slowly into the outer lane after dropping off.
Drop off children on the inside lane, as close to the sidewalk as possible, and ensure they exit on the passenger (school) side.
The outside lane is reserved for continuous traffic flow.
Do not leave your vehicle unless it is in a designated parking space.
Whenever possible, carpool to reduce traffic volume.
Be patient! The parking lot accommodates many vehicles, which can lead to slow-moving traffic at times. Patience and cooperation are crucial for a smooth and safe process.
PowerSchool Parent Portal
PowerSchool Parent Portal
WMAES provides access to real-time information on grades and attendance via the PowerSchool Parent Portal accessible in any web browser and free PowerSchool Mobile app. If you’ve created an account in the past, you can continue using the username and password you established to see current school year information. If you need to reset the password for your parent portal account, go to the Parent Portal webpage for WMAES and click on “Forgot Username or Password?” If your family is new to WMAES this year or would like to create a new account, instructions for creating an account and linking students to it will be sent to you in the coming week. We encourage all families to take advantage of this convenient tool for monitoring your student’s progress.
Parent Portal Links
Browser Access to Parent Portal for WMAES:
https://powerschool.wma-es.com/public/
PowerSchool Parent and Student Resource Center:
https://www.powerschool.com/parent-student-resource-center/
PowerSchool Mobile on the App Store for Apple Devices:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/powerschool-mobile/id973741088
PowerSchool Mobile on Google Play for Android Devices:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.powerschool.portal&hl=en
WMAES Text Updates Opt-In
WMAES Text Updates Opt-In
Please refer to the information below for everything you need to know to sign up for text updates from WMAES. We look forward to being able to utilize texting as a convenient means of providing links to our newsletters, reminders about upcoming dates, weather-related closing notifications, and more. As shown in the flyer below, simply text Y or Yes to 67587 from a number you have on file with the office to get signed up. Coming soon, we will also be sending a one time opt-in message to all numbers on file who have not opted in to provide the option of doing so at that time.
SMS Text Opt-In Flyer 67587 Eng and Esp.pdf
Fall NWEA MAP Growth Testing
Fall NWEA MAP Growth Testing
At WMAES, we administer NWEA MAP Growth assessments to all students from young fives through fifth grade. These assessments take place during three testing windows—fall, winter, and spring—and are focused on both math and reading. The fall testing window for WMAES begins on September 16 for Grades TK-2 and September 23 for grades 3-5. As these dates approach, I want to offer a brief overview of how MAP Growth works and explain the essential purpose it serves in your child’s education.
What is MAP Growth?
MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive test, meaning the difficulty of questions adjusts based on your child’s responses. If they answer correctly, the next question becomes more challenging; if they answer incorrectly, the next question is easier. This allows the test to meet each student where they are and provide a personalized assessment of their current level of knowledge.
Why is it important?
MAP Growth is not a graded or evaluative test. It is used to gather important information about your child’s current learning level and helps teachers tailor instruction to their individual needs. The goal is not to assign a score but to better understand what your child is ready to learn next. This helps us provide the right support, challenges, and interventions to ensure each student is making progress.
For more detailed information about MAP Growth, you can explore A Family Guide to MAP Growth. Additionally, NWEA provides an extensive Family Toolkit with resources to help families understand MAP Growth and support their children.
If you’re looking for ways to help your child prepare, visit Student Resources and select the appropriate grade level range for helpful tools.
NWEA MAP Growth offers us an invaluable tool for understanding where each student is in their learning journey, helping us plan instruction that meets their unique needs. I hope this information clarifies the role of the test and how it supports our commitment to the success of all students at WMAES.
Welcoming fall with the DeerInWater Family
Welcoming fall with the DeerInWater Family
📅 When: September 19
🕔 Time: 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Join us on campus to celebrate the changing of seasons with activities led by a WMAES, Potawatomi family. Activities will include a plant walk around campus, crafting, seed exchange, and harvest meal. As an Indigenous family, the DeerInWaters hope to share a part of their culture and connection to the land.
Meet the DeerInWaters!
We are the DeerInWater family! We have three kiddos who attend WMAES and have been part of this awesome school community for three years. We are a mixed heritage family, identifying most closely with our Potawatomi and Cherokee cultures. We have lived all across the US, but have returned to Potwatomi homelands here in West Michigan and absolutely love it here! In our free time, you can find us gardening, playing at the beach, and spending time in the community.
RSVP and find more information at the link below:
https://forms.gle/X72kjC4iCtfqNqiBA
Dollar No Uniform Day September 27
Dollar No Uniform Day September 27
Popcorn Day September 27
Popcorn Day September 27
The WMAES Parent Team has once again made it possible for us to host a popcorn sale for students Friday, September 29. Bags of popcorn are 50 cents. Families will still be able to sponsor an entire class for a donation of $10. Students are able to purchase multiple bags of popcorn if desired.
Picture Day – October 2
Picture Day – October 2
Mark your calendars! Picture Day is coming up on October 2. Ordering information will be sent home soon, so keep an eye out for those details.
On Picture Day, students may wear school-appropriate clothing of their choice and do not need to wear school uniform tops or other uniform items.
We look forward to seeing all those smiling faces on Picture Day!
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up soon! Mark your calendars for the evenings of October 9 (virtual) and October 10 (in-person). We look forward to connecting with you to discuss your student's progress and continue partnering in their education. Sign-up information will be shared soon.
Also, please note there will be no school for students on Friday, October 11.
Treats on the Trail October 24 - Candy Donations Appreciated
Treats on the Trail October 24 - Candy Donations Appreciated
We’re looking forward to one of our favorite annual community events, Treats on the Trails. Treats on the Trails provides a fun, safe trick-or-treating experience for families on the beautiful trails at WMAES. Donations of bags of individually wrapped candy in support of the event are greatly appreciated. Candy donations can be dropped off in either the elementary or secondary office.
Families can begin entering the trails at 5:00. Costumes for students are encouraged but not required. Costumes must be appropriate for school (e.g. no weapons, blood, etc.). We encourage families to bring a bag or bucket for each child that will be receiving candy. We hope you’ll join us for this fun family event!
important details and reminders:
important details and reminders:
Families can begin entering the trails this evening at 5:00.
The last opportunity to begin the trail is at 6:00.
Costumes for students are encouraged but not required. Costumes must be appropriate for school (e.g. no weapons, blood, etc.).
We encourage families to bring a bag or bucket for each child that will be receiving candy.
After completing the trail, stop by the cafeteria to visit the Scholastic Book Fair and some of our community partners.
Candy Donations Needed for Treats on the Trail!
Candy Donations Needed for Treats on the Trail!
Help make our Treats on the Trail event a success! We greatly appreciate your support. We are looking for donations of bags of individually wrapped candy, which can be dropped off at any of the main offices.
Thank you for helping make this event special for our students!
September Menus
September Menus
WMAES Sept BREAKFAST 2024 .pdfWMAES Sept LUNCH 2024 .pdf
Uniform Online Ordering
Uniform Online Ordering
Purchase uniform apparel any time from the convenience of home with free shipping.
Online Uniform Store Link: WMAES Apparel
You can also enter the URL https://wmaesapparel.secure-decoration.com/ in any browser to access the store.
A convenient printable format of Important dates for the 2024-25 school year can be found below
A convenient printable format of Important dates for the 2024-25 school year can be found below
WMAES Families Calendar List 24-25.docxPage updated
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