CONTACT US IDEA Walzem 6445 Walzem Rd. San Antonio, TX 78239 210-239-4600 www.ideapublicschools.org
_____________________ Ryane Burke Principal, Academy Crystal Arreaola (K-1) Assistant Principal of Instruction Christopher Mayes (2-3) Assistant Principal of Instruction Alicia Ramirez Assistant Principal of Operations Te’Nesha Austin-Jackson Academic Counselor
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Dear Families On behalf of our Walzem Academy Team and Family, we would like to wish you all a very happy holiday. However, you celebrate, we hope you enjoy a time of joy, peace and lots of love and togetherness. Excited for the week ahead all the way through Thursday -- looking for perfect attendance this Thursday! And then we will see all Walzem Wolves back in school after break, on Monday, January 9th! No School – Holiday Break No school Friday, Dec. 23rd – Jan. 8th.
AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDENCE Kinder: 96.49% First Grade: 97.48% Second Grade: 97.54% Third Grade: 97.69% Fourth Grade: 97.69% Scholars who achieve perfect attendance during the week are awarded a token and the opportunity to select a prize from the Treasure Tower. We have a high expectation and aspiration for perfect student attendance! Bringing your scholar to school every day helps ensure his or her success at IDEA, college, and beyond! STUDENT SHOUT OUTS! Kinder Star Student: Victoria Islas Core Value: Mauricio Alvarado First Grade Star Student: Jorge Jacobo Core Value: Breanna Sanchez Second Grade Star Student: Ashyia Ramsey Core Value: Nariyah Rendon Third Grade Star Student: Julia DeLeon Core Value: Edwin Mireles Fourth Grade Star Student: Alex Thorpe Core Value: Abigail Martinez
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS Upcoming Group Photos Walzem Wolves, DO YOU WANT A FREE SPIRIT SHIRT? All you have to do is REFER A FRIEND to apply to IDEA Walzem for the upcoming school year. You will refer the friend through the link below. We will call them and if they apply your child gets a free shirt. To maximize your chances of getting a shirt refer as many friends as possible. Follow the link below and start referring friends to IDEA Walzem for the 2017-2018 school year! http://tinyurl.com/h4sfset Upcoming Parent/Scholar Lunch Kinder – Thursday, Dec. 22
December 19th, 2016 Parking at the Culebra Meat Market Our neighbor Culebra Meat Market has asked us to inform families that noncustomers will no longer be able to park in their parking lot to come and pick up students after school. They will begin towing cars starting January 1, 2017 and want to make sure everyone is aware. The Culebra Meat Market has been a supporting neighbor since we opened up IDEA Walzem. We want to be respectful neighbors and honor their request. If you currently park there to pick up students in the afternoon, we ask that you refrain from doing so as we move into the new year. ARZone/Hotspot & the Holiday Break AR and Hotspot software will be available during the Holiday break, from Dec. 23rd – Jan. 8th to use at home! All students are encouraged to spend time reading books at their “just right” level, take AR quizzes, and log into their hotspot software over the break. Prizes will be awarded over the break so keep a close watch on DOJO. Fliers will be sent home this week with students. Respect is the Answer What can we do to prevent bullying? Respect is the answer. Everyone believes they should be treated with respect. Each of us can take the first step of treating others with the respect they deserve—at home, in school and in our communities. To make our family stronger we need to focus on respecting each other. That means keeping our hands and feet to ourselves, standing up for each other, and treating each other with kindness. A Respect Contract was sent home Friday the 16th and we ask that parents review it with their scholars, sign it, and have the scholars return it Monday. Thank you very much for your time and dedication in making our Team & Family stronger.
IDEA Walzem Academy 6445 Walzem Rd. San Antonio, TX 78239 (210) 239-4600 www.ideapublicschools.org
IDEA WALZEM ACADEMY: STEPS FOR PARENTS WITH QUESTIONS & CONCERNS
STEP 1: Email, call, or Dojo message your homeroom teacher or subject teacher
STEP 2: Call or email the Grade Team Leader
STEP 3: Email an Administrator
___________________________________________________________________________________ ADDITIONAL REMINDERS Uniforms Monday- Thursday: -Shirt: Tucked in IDEA embroidered polo -Pants: Dickie’s flat front khakis -Shoes: All black shores; black laces; white socks -Belt: Plain black belt Uniforms Friday: -Shirt: Tucked in IDEA spirit shirt or college shirt. -Pants: Jeans (no holes, studs, designs, jeggings/skinny jeans) -Shoes: All black shoes; black laces; white socks -Belt: Plain black belt. Students who are not in proper uniform will receive a call home. IMPORTANT NOTE: Friday Dress – Students may either wear the complete Friday dress OR wear their MondayThursday dress, but not a combination of the two (i.e. Students cannot wear blue jeans and their IDEA polo).
Recess Expectations Parents please review these recess expectations with your scholar(s) as students who do not meet expectations will be sat out and lose recess privileges: 1. Keep hands and feet to yourselves 2. Do not leave designated area without permission 3. Follow directions on the first time given Staying Hydrated During Recess We ask that parents send water bottles for their children to drink during recess. This will help all kids get hydrated without losing fun recess time. Student Drop Off: 7:15AM – 7:45 AM *Students arriving after 7:45 AM are marked tardy.
IDEA Walzem Academy 6445 Walzem Rd. San Antonio, TX 78239 (210) 239-4600 www.ideapublicschools.org
Grade Team Updates KINDER CORNER Hello parents! This is the last week of school before the winter break, but there is still a lot of learning going on! Please ensure that your child is in school daily. Daily attendance drawings will be held in every classroom and a prize given to a lucky student! This Thursday from 2:30-3:30 kinder classes will be having winter fun during classroom parties. A little fun before the long winter break. There will be homework this week. Please ensure that your scholar is doing homework daily. Wishing you a wonderful and safe winter break, and look forward to seeing you all in the new year! Grade Team Leader: Mrs. Barnes
[email protected] ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
FIRST GRADE CORNER First Grade Families, This is our last week until our winter break! That means we need to finish the year strong with our instruction and prepare for a joyful week, which will include our homeroom holiday party (Thursday, December 22nd 2:30-3:30pm). The first grade team is asking that each student donate at least $2 to help purchase pizza and snacks by this Wednesday, December 21st. The money donation is instead of food donations, so any little bit helps! We are also asking for volunteers to help in the room. Please reach out to your child's homeroom teacher for details. Every year, we like to do a book exchange with the students. Each homeroom will start accepting donations of pre-wrapped books (new or gently used) until December 22nd. Donating a book teaches children that giving gifts feels just as good as receiving gifts! The book exchange will take place during the holiday party. Your child will receive a lifework packet to complete over winter break and can earn extra dojo points for completion! Grade Team Leader: Ms. Acuna
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SECOND GRADE CORNER Hello 2nd Grade Wolves, As we go into our last week of school for 2016, we are striving to make our attendance a priority. Please help our scholars be successful by being on time to school and present every day. Every day a scholar is absent, they lose at least 1 lesson's worth of information in Reading, Language and Math. We want to help our scholar's achieve their goals, and that is not possible without your support! Please do not forget our Home Room Holiday Parties are this Thursday, December 22nd from 2:30-3:30. Please reach out to your scholar's home room teacher for specifics. Our entire 2nd grade team would like to wish you a blessed and restful Holiday Break with your loved ones. Can't wait to see our scholars in the New Year! Grade Team Leader: Mrs. Morales
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IDEA Walzem Academy 6445 Walzem Rd. San Antonio, TX 78239 (210) 239-4600 www.ideapublicschools.org
THIRD GRADE CORNER Dear Third Grade Families, We are almost halfway through this school year! We have a very exciting week planned! Reminders and Events: -On Thursday the 22nd, we will have our classroom holiday parties from 2:30-3:30! Please be sure to mark your calendars! We don't want your scholar to miss out! If you would like to donate snacks or volunteer to come and help in the classroom during that time, please let your homeroom teacher know. :) Also, if you are able to bring anything that is individually wrapped, that makes distribution much easier. -This week your scholar will only have a reading log for lifework. Also, please check your scholar's backpack for their Christmas Lifework on Wednesday! -Students will wear full uniform next week. We hope you have a wonderful week! Go Wolves! Sincerely, The 3rd Grade Team Grade Team Leader: Mrs. Mahoney
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FOURTH GRADE CORNER Homeroom Winter Celebrations! On Thursday, December 22nd 4th grade will be having Winter Celebrations from 2:30 – 3:45 p.m. We will be reading Polar Express and then watching the film so we can do a book to movie comparison. Students will enjoy hot chocolate and snacks during our celebration. We are currently seeking donations of individually wrapped cookies and chips. Each homeroom has approximately 30 students. Students must have a Dojo average of 80% or higher for the month of December to receive their “golden ticket” to attend. Winter Break Lifework: Students will be receiving their Winter break lifework on December 20th. Please ensure your child completes their Winter break lifework before returning to school on January 9th. Any students who return with incomplete Winter break lifework will have West Wing until it is complete. Uniform reminders: As the weather gets colder, we know you will want to keep your child warm. We ask that if your child wears an undershirt that it is all white and any jackets worn inside the school building be the IDEA jacket. Winter break is December 23rd – January 8th. Sincerely, The 4th Grade Team Grade Team Leader: Mrs. Solano
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IDEA Walzem Academy 6445 Walzem Rd. San Antonio, TX 78239 (210) 239-4600 www.ideapublicschools.org
PARENT RESOURCE CORNER There's an African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child". The Wolf Pack is asking you to be a part of the village that will raise our children. Whether it be an hour of your time or a suggestion, the Wolf Pack is asking for parents to volunteer and get involved. If you are a volunteer or interested in volunteering, please contact LaToya Clark by text at 210-550-7457 or by email at
[email protected] -------------------------------Sometimes we all need assistance whether it be getting through the holidays, paying bills or finding new work opportunities. The link below will provide you with information regarding a number of organizations that assist with giving gifts for the holidays, helping with household expenses, getting out of debt and working from home. http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html/san_antonio_free_christmas_and.html -------------------------------I know internet can be expensive and my job has a program that not many may know of called Access from AT&T that provides internet at $5 or $10 a month for those who qualify. The link below provides information regarding the program. A representative can be reached at: English Spanish
855.220.5211 855.220.5225
https://www.att.com/shop/internet/access/#/ Thank you.
IDEA Walzem Academy 6445 Walzem Rd. San Antonio, TX 78239 (210) 239-4600 www.ideapublicschools.org
