November 2013

South Western School District

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 child’s 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 child’s

school. These data points at the elementary level include PSSA results in reading, writing, sci-

ence, and math, the academic growth of the school’s students based on PSSA results over time,

and attendance rates.

Individual schools will be using this information to communicate, compare, and analyze perfor-

mance indicators as related to student achievement to encourage best practices in teaching ap-

proaches 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 633-

4890, or you can refer to the South Western School District’s website at http://

www.swsd.k12.pa.us/ or the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s website at http://

www.pde.state.pa.us.

Sincerely,

Brian M. Cromer

Principal

Inside this issue:

Common Core 2

School Counselor 4

Grade 4 Poetry 5

Specialists 7

Handbook Highlights 8

Market Basket 11

Dates to Remember 12

West Manheim Newsletter

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

“A Tradition of Excellence.”

We’re on the web at:

swsd.k12.pa.us

West Manheim Facebook

West Manheim Website

West Manheim Twitter

Page 2 West Manheim Newsletter

Page 3 November

Page 4 West Manheim Newsletter

Page 5 November

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. Culp’s class

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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. Culp’s class

November

HuNting season May flOwer Visitors fEast Memories Barely any sun lEaves haRvest by Jadon in Mr. Olewiler’s class

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 Smith’s 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. Culp’s Class

Thankful

Things I love Huge turkey Apples and pie Nation Kindness Family United States Love By

Hannah in Mr.

Olewiler’s

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 Aumen’s class

Page 6 West Manheim Newsletter

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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 Smith’s class

Fall

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 Smith’s 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 Aumen’s class

Page 7 November

Music “Notes” By Mrs. Evelan

As part of the school district’s 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 be-

tween 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

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 To-

gether Succeed Together” library theme, family members of

West Manheim teachers and current and former West Man-

heim “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!

http://www.eveningsun.com/local/ci_24398242/guest-

readers-hit-books-south-western-students

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 work-

ing on their hand-eye

coordination as well during our

rolling, throwing and

catching unit. We will be starting

parachute and

scooter activities.

Fitness Forum By Miss Hull

Answers from Art By Mrs. Shaub

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 fol-

lowing students who had their work selected for this

honor at the end of last school year.

Marua Aragon Brooke Ridenour

Aiden Glaser Emma Filipovits

Mackenzie Carr Greg Patton

Hannah Maloney Alexis Schmidt

Evan Grove Tori Keefauver

Page 8 West Manheim Newsletter

KITCHEN TIDBITS

Deposits/payments for student’s 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 cred-it the proper account.

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.

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 dis-

trict 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.

Page 9 November

II. ATTENDANCE

Educational Travel ~ From page 15 of the Elementary Handbook

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 guide-

lines 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 en-

hancing 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.

Page 10 West Manheim Newsletter

WEST MANHEIM COMMUNITY TOY DRIVE

West Manheim Elementary School is collecting toys for the less fortunate. All donations are dis-

tributed 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.]

FEED—A—FRIEND, COMMUNITY FOOD COLLECTION

West Manheim will once again be participating in the Feed-A-Friend Mara-

thon that takes place in December. Local radio stations will hold the Mara-

thon to collect nonperishable food to help out those in OUR community go-

ing 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.

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.

HELP WANTED

PICTURE RE-TAKE DAY—WEDNESDAY, 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, No-

vember 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 Sep-

tember, 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.

Page 11 November

NOVEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS

LOOKING AHEAD

DECEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER

December—4 WM PTO Market Day Pick up 7-8 PM

School Board Reorganization Meeting, 6:30 PM,

Admin.

Elementary Report Cards Distributed

December

December—6 Spirit Day—Wear WM T-shirt or Blue and Yellow

After School Bowling, 2:30 PM

December—10-12 WM Shoppers’ Room

December—10 WM PTO Poinsettia Pick up, 5:30-7 PM

WM PTO Meeting 6:30 PM

December—11 Spirit Day—Wear Project Harmony T-shirt or

Black and White

December—13 After School Bowling, 2:30 PM

December—16 Grade 5 Holiday Concert, Band, Chorus,

Orchestra, 7-8 PM

December—18 School Board Meeting, 7 PM, Admin.

December—20 Spirit Day—Decorate yourself for winter

After School Bowling, 2:30 PM

December—23 through January—1 SCHOOLS CLOSED

Page 12 West Manheim Newsletter

November - 1 WM PTO Book Fair

Spirit Day—Wear Red for Red Ribbon Week

YMCA After School Bowling

YMCA After School Swim

November—3 Daylight Saving Time Ends (turning clocks back)

November—4-15 Toy Drive Begins

November—5 Spirit Day—Wear Red, White, and Blue-Election

Day

November—6 Picture Retake Day 8-10 AM

November—7 Spirit Day—Dress for thd 1950’s-50th day of

school

November—8 YMCA After School Bowling

YMCA After School Swim-Last Day

November—11 Spirit Day—Wear Red, White, and Blue-Veteran’s

Day

WM PTO Poinsettia Sale Begins

November—12 WM PTO Mtg., 6:30-7:30 PM

November—15 YMCA After School Bowling

Toy Drive Ends

November—20 Spirit Day—Wear 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

November—22 Spirit Day—Wear West Manheim T-shirt or Blue

and Yellow

YMCA After School Bowling

WM PTO Poinsettia Sale Ends

November—26 Spirit Day—Wear West Manheim T-shirt or Blue

and Yellow

Early Dismissal, Grades K-12,

Elementary dismisses at 11:45 AM

November—27 through December—2 SCHOOLS CLOSED