Message from the Principal
To Our Cook-Wiss Families,
Happy 2013! We hope everyone enjoyed a restful holiday break. Now the focus will shift to PSSA testing, which begins the week of March 11. Our primary goal is to improve our overall literacy scores. We don't mean to minimize the importance of math, but our focus should be where we need to see the most gains--reading. Please read high-interest books with your child on a regular basis. Be sure they understand the concepts in the stories to improve their reading comprehension. Ask the questions "how" and "why" to ensure that your child really understands what is happening in the stories and articles they read. Include non-fiction in their choices, since the new Common Core Standards place a strong emphasis on reading expository text. Encourage this practice because a great deal of research shows that children who are reading on grade level by the end of the 3rd grade have the greatest chance at academic success throughout their lifetime.
Karen Thomas, Principal
Please check out these links for information on how to talk to your children about the horrible event at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
**Parents, please take a minute to read this note about school closings in inclement weather.*
Dear Cook-Wissahickon Families:
We have some exciting news to pass on to you:
1. Mrs. Yoder in K-1 was awarded a grant to purchase iPads for her classroom.
2. Once again this year we have been awarded a grant to send students to The Outdoor School in Horsham in early March for a 3-day, 2-night environmental science camping experience. This grant has been severly limited this year, so we are extremely grateful to have been awarded these scholarships, which will be used to send all of our 5th grade students.
3. The School Reform Commission formally approved the resolution for the school to allow the Wissahickon Sustainability Council (our Green Committee) to use a $41,065 grant to install a native Pennsylvania meadow in our front yard. This meadow area will be prepped and planted over the next few months. Part of the area will contain our new outdoor classroom. We are truly grateful to have parents who go well above and beyond on behalf our students and school community. Special thanks to Jeanne Ortiz, Lisa Lobitz Ashenfelter, and Kelly Erb for their hard work and dedication to this project.
4. Cook-Wissahickon is the grateful recipient of a $225 Target gift card thanks to the efforts of parents and staff who continued to post on behalf of our school this summer. The card will be used by our Counseling staff to provide for the needs of students in crisis.
Thank you
Karen Thomas
Principal, Cook-Wissahickon School
School News
Click here to find out about the "Winter Concert"
Dear Parents:
We are excited to be a part of the "Philadelphia Campaign for Healthier Schools" again this year, working together to decrease the unhealthy foods in our school, promote healthier food choices, and to increase physical activity and exercise.
To reach our goals we need your support!
1. Healthy Snacks: If you pack snacks and drinks for your child, please pack healthy ones. If your child buys snacks at the corner store, talk about making healthier choices. Healthy choices are: fruits and vegetables, whole grain crackers, granola bars, low-fat string cheese, low-fat yogurt. Healthy Drinks: water, low-fat milk, 100% fruit juice.
3. Healthy Classroom Celebrations: If you would like to bring in a treat for your child's birthday or classroom party, please make it healthy. Healthy Treats: fruit salad, vegetables and dressing, juice, popcorn. Non-Food Treats: Fun games to play, small prizes (pencils, erasers, stickers), a movie or book for the classroom.
We welcome your ideas to help us become a healthier school. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact the office to join our school's Wellness Council.
Thank you for your support and we look forward to a healthy school year!
Sincerely,
The Wellness Council
To view Cook-Wissahickon's monthly calendar click here.
Kindergarten Registration
School registration hours are 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Children must be 5 years old by September 1st.
Please see the school district's website for complete information on kindergarten registration. Click here.
New Student Registration
Documents parents should bring:
- Child's birth certificate
- Child's previous report card
- Immunization records
- Proof of address: one of the following items
- Utility bill (gas or electric)
- PA driver’s license
- PA vehicle registration
- Pay stub with address of employer & employee
Cook-Wissahickon's Recyling List
We are recycling the following items:
- Cell Phones
- Ink Cartridges
- Kashi Cereal Wrappers/Boxes
- Bare Naked Granola Bags
- Ritz Toasted Chip Bags
Nabisco Cookie Wrappers Mars Candy Wrappers
Examples:
- Oreo 100 Calorie Packs Skittles
- Fig Newtons Starburst
- Mini Oreos Snickers
- Double Stuff Twix
- Nuttter Butter M & Ms
- Chips Ahoy
Any Energy, Cereal or Fiber Juice Pouches
Bar Wrappers with Silver Lining Examples:
Examples: Capri Sun
Balance Bars Honest Tea
Granola Kool-Aid
Quaker Oats
Clif Bars
Please send the clean empty wrappers into school. The 8th graders will sort and send the wrappers to be created into something new!
All money raised by recycling will be put toward 8th grade graduation fees.
