WILLARD CENTRAL ELEMENTARY

Willard Central Students are Heart Smart!

willardcentral — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:33:28 +0000

I have been so excited about what we have been doing in P.E. the last 2 weeks! Your child has quite possibly mentioned participating in the Heart Obstacle Course sometime over the past two weeks. Basically this course is composed of many pieces of equipment that includes large tunnels, mats, hula hoops, scooters, archways, jump ropes, hurdles, and playground balls laid out on the gym floor symbolizing the blood flow through the heart, lungs, and rest of the body. Students are the blood that flows through the obstacle course and are required to do various exercises while on their journey. It is a fantastic way to teach about the cardiovascular system while giving the students a great workout.

After discussing the basic function of the cardiovascular system the first week we went a step further and talked about heart disease and stroke last week. We explained the negative effects of poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and smoking on this system and added a few details to the obstacle course to represent those negative effects. Plaque in the arteries was represented by yellow butcher paper in the aorta and arteries leading to the brain and rest of the body. We used red cones in the area of the brain to represent clots leading to a stroke. The addition that got the most attention from the students was the fog machine near the lungs representing smoking and its negative effects.

This is such an important unit to teach since heart disease is the #1 leading killer among Americans today and stroke is the #3 leading killer. Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions, with one in every three children overweight or obese. If the current lifestyle trends continue, 75% of Americans will be overweight or obese by 2015! Personally I desire a better future of health for our children and I know you do to.

The American Heart Association is responsible for the promotion of heart health through various ways. The American Heart Association has provided over $44 million to research relating to children born with a heart defect, advocates at the federal and state levels for physical education and nutrition wellness in schools, and provide CPR courses for middle and high school students so that they can react during emergencies. One of the most successful programs is Jump Rope for Heart. This is something that we have been apart of for many years at Willard Central Elementary. This program increases students’ knowledge of how to take care of their hearts and how they work, honors those in the community who have been affected by heart disease and stroke, and raises funds to support the American Heart Association’s efforts to create healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Next week your child will be bringing home an envelope and information about Jump Rope for Heart and how they can help save lives. My hope is that by partnering together we will motivate, encourage, and inspire our children to make an impact by living healthier lives and being apart of raising funds for those affected by heart disease. I will be sending emails throughout the next three weeks keeping you updated on the details of this event.

Thank you,

Luciana Brown
Physical Education Teacher
Willard Central Elementary
(417) 831-4440 ext. 16
lbrown@willard.k12.mo.us

Learning is in the Air

willardcentral — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:50:52 +0000

While students enjoyed a 3 day weekend, teachers were busy working on examining the new Common Core State Standards on Monday. District Instructional Coaches and teacher leaders at each grade level facilitated activities to break down these new education standards. It was a busy day of learning and growing for our teachers as we transition to these standards over the next 2 years. You can find out more about the Common Core State Standards that have been adopted by 45 states by visiting the following link. http://www.corestandards.org/

Our students have continued to strengthen their understanding of the brain and how it works by learning about our brain’s chemicals during Community Time. So far, students have learned about Adrenaline and Serotonin. Through our Brain Gym and Brain-Based Learning activities during Community Time, we are learning about strategies and healthy food choices to optimize brain function. Students are enjoying learning about these topics and we are enjoying watching them grow! A first grade student commented that the book a teacher read aloud really released Serotonin in their brain and left them with a peaceful feeling. (Additionally, another 1st grade student said his mom’s delicious apple pork chops really increased his adrenaline!) You can see Brain-Based Learning and Brain Gym activities in action each Wednesday and Thursday morning at Community Time at 8:25.

January PTO Newsletter

willardcentral — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:59:47 +0000

Holiday Cheer

willardcentral — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:40:53 +0000

Willard Central got in to the holiday season starting last Friday with our Winter PTO Parties. Thanks to all of the parents for their support in the holiday parties. A good time was had by all! On Tuesday, the 4th grade students shared their music program, “More than Winter”, to a packed house. They did a wonderful job spreading some holiday cheer for the season. Thank you Mrs. Chatman and the 4th grade singers for a memorable performance.

We kicked off the Christmas Break with a few of our favorite things on Wednesday. Students and staff wore their pajamas to school and “cozied” in at Community Time for a read aloud. Retired engineer, Mr. Larry Phillips, served as our conductor as we shared the Christmas classic, The Polar Express. Mr. Phillips did such an amazing job that not even a school mouse could be heard during the story! Students were then treated to hot cocoa and marshmallows in their classrooms as they enjoyed read-ins with their classrooms.

Have a blessed and wonderful Christmas with family and friends and we will see you in the New Year!

Click to view slideshow.

National Grant Winners!

willardcentral — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 01:51:28 +0000

We often share that Willard Teachers and schools are excellent and this week this claim was backed with proof. Congratulations to Willard Central 2nd Grade Teachers for receiving the Leavey Award for Excellence in Private Enterprise Education. Through this endowment, the Freedoms Foundation Organization at Valley Forge honors educators for their innovative efforts to help young people better understand the the function and benefits of America’s private enterprise system. This year, 12 projects across the nation were recognized for their efforts. Joining the likes of colleges and universities and secondary mathematics and science trade schools, was our very own Willard Central Elementary 2nd grade team with the “Willard Central Tiger Cafe”. For the past 2 years, Mrs. Archdale, Mrs. Hockman and Mrs. Pyle have made economics concepts and math come to life with the Tiger Cafe. Students visit with loan officers from local banks and local restaurant owners on how to set up and run their own business. Then, students develop their business plan, apply for positions, create menus and set up their restaurants for friends and families to enjoy at school. Students fill positions including restaurant manager, cooks, hosts, wait staff and clearing tables. Students then use their earnings to repay their business loan and the profits to purchase instructional materials for their classroom. This year, the students were able to purchase tablet computers for their classrooms.

In honor of their efforts, Mrs. Pyle, Mrs. Archdale and Mrs. Hockman have been awarded $7500 for these efforts. Additionally, they will also receive a 4 day trip to Philadelphia, PA for the awards celebration and a guided tour of historic Philadelphia.

To learn more about the Tiger Cafe and see pictures of our students and teachers in action, you can visit our school’s blog at http://willardcentralparents.wordpress.com/2011/04/29/2nd-grade-cafe-2/ We are looking forward to another great Tiger Cafe this year. You will want to RSVP early this year! I think the guest list will fill up quickly!

And the Winner is….

willardcentral — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:19:54 +0000

Congratulations to Ava for winning the iPod Touch from our Family Reading Night activities. Thanks again to all of our families for their support in reading The Lemonade War with us! Our students are ready to begin the next Family Book Club!

5th Annual Family Reading Night

willardcentral — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 04:25:37 +0000

Willard Central celebrated our love of reading this week with our 5th Annual Family Book Club. We started the week by having a Skype conversation with Jacqueline Davies, author of The Lemonade War. The students enjoyed getting to ask the author questions about the book and her writing. On Thursday evening, students and their families came to WC to enjoy literacy activities, our WC lemonade stand and the chance to win an iPod Touch. Congratulations to the WC girls for winning our Lemonade War by selling the most lemonade at our Family Reading Night. Thank you to our students and families for raising $167 for the WCCF at our lemonade stand. It was a wonderful week celebrating a love of reading with a great story. I am already looking forward to the 6th Annual Family Book Club.

Click to view slideshow.

Family Reading Night

willardcentral — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:05:41 +0000

Celebrating our Hard Work

willardcentral — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 14:31:26 +0000

The PTO fundraiser through Mr. Z’s was a huge success this year. Thank you to all of the students, parents and families for supporting our school! This hard work paid off for many students with some exciting activities. Students selling over 50 items earned a free nights stay for their family at CastleRock Water Park. Students who sold 30 items earned a pizza lunch away from school while riding in style in a limousine. For selling 20 items, students had the opportunity to silly string the principal (and spend the next day in detention!). Students selling 10 items enjoyed a fun Friday night at school with the Mr. Z’s Party with games and inflatables. All of these efforts raised about $12,000 for our school! The time, energy and investments in our students and school is greatly appreciated.

Click to view slideshow.

Bus Driver Appreciation

willardcentral — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 22:53:09 +0000

WC also honored the men and women who safely serve our students daily with a warm breakfast for our bus drivers on Friday. Our Transportation Department is a vital part of the school team. Bus drivers are the first and last face our students see from school each day. We appreciate you keeping our students safe and sound and for taking the time to care for them as individuals and not merely passengers. Thank you to our 3rd grade teachers for taking the time to spoil our bus drivers with these treats.