westmere elementary newsletter - Guilderland Central School District
westmere elementary newsletter - Guilderland Central School District westmere elementary newsletter - Guilderland Central School District
Here’s how to help your child develop intrinsic motivation: Start with their interests. Before they work on a project, have them think about what they want to learn. Help your child share what they are learning. Give positive feedback and also encourage them to praise themselves for a job well done. “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more.” Thomas A. Edison Reprinted with permission from November 2013 issue of Parents make the difference! (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright 2013. VOTER APPROVAL District to seek voter approval for building improvements On Thursday, November 14, Guilderland Central School District residents will head to the polls to decide on two proposed building projects totaling $18.2 million. If approved by voters, the projects will address various necessary internal and external building improvements district-wide. Proposition 1, in the amount of $17,324,650, calls for upgrades to aging infrastructure in the district’s seven school buildings and improvements for safety, security and technology systems district-wide. CHILD’S HOMEWORK Homework gives your child an opportunity to practice the skills she is learning in school. But did you realize that it also teaches important life lessons? When your child completes homework on their own, they learn: Responsibility. Your child learns the importance of fulfilling their obligations. They also learn to hold themselves accountable for their mistakes and successes. Perseverance. Most parents want to protect their kids from frustration. However, making your child’s life easier now will only make it harder in the future. Time management. Learning how to manage their time in order to get their homework finished is on the most valuable skills your child can learn. Initiative. Homework can help your child learn how to be self-motivated. When they choose to complete spelling assignments a few days before they are due, they are showing initiative. Reprinted with permission from the October 2013 issue of Parents make the difference! (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright 2013. Proposition 2, in the amount of $846,300, includes renovations and upgrades to the high school auditorium and calls for the replacement of wooden light tower poles on the high school football field/track. Note: The passage of the smaller proposition is contingent upon the passage of the larger proposition. The projects going before voters will enable GCSD to continue to provide safe and well-maintained facilities to support student learning and achievement, and will address many of the district’s long-range needs. The proposed $17,324,650 building project (Proposition 1) includes the following components: $14,032,950 for renovations to electrical, heating and ventilation, roofing, plumbing and site systems throughout the district’s seven school buildings. $1,483,000 devoted to safety and security improvements centered around effectively controlling visitor access and enhancing classroom security. $1,808,700 for technology infrastructure and program upgrades to enhance instructional opportunities for students. The proposed $846,300 building project (Proposition 2) includes the following components: $553,800 for renovations and upgrades to the high school auditorium $292,500 for high school football field/track light pole replacement Polls will be open on November 14 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at all elementary schools. How will the proposed projects affect my taxes? For district residents owning a home or property with an assessed value of $246,500 (the median assessment in the
Town of Guilderland), the estimated tax increase per year for the proposed projects based on current information is: • Proposition #1: $65 (26.1 cents/$1,000 assessed value) • Proposition #2: $3 (1.3 cents/$1,000 assessed value) • Total for Propositions #1 & #2: $68 (27.4 cents/$1,000 assessed value) parents. They can be reassured that the district now has a quick, easy and reliable method of mass communication between our schools and home in the event of a true emergency.” For more information, please visit www.guilderlandschools.org and click on the “Building Project Referendum” Web icon. Also, a special edition district newsletter is being prepared which outlines the proposed projects in greater detail. The newsletter will be sent to all district residents in early November. ONE CALL NOW District introduces new emergency telephone notification system for parents: One Call Now Beginning in the new school year, Guilderland Central School District officials will be able to contact all district parents in case of emergency with just a push of a button through the One Call Now telephone alert system. This is the first time the district has partnered with such a company to provide nearly instantaneous telephone notification in the event of school closings and delays, early dismissals, or other emergency situations. All GCSD parents with student currently registered in school have already been automatically entered into the One Call Now calling system based contact information contained in the district’s student management system, School Tool. Parents do not need to sign-up for this service. Parents should know that the One Call Now system will only be used in case of school closures, delays or other serious emergencies. Parents will not receive phone calls about fundraisers or other school events that do not impact the regularly scheduled school day. A test run of the service took place last spring, when a power outage at Lynnwood Elementary forced an unexpected closure at the school. Using the One Call Now system, the district was able to deliver more than 1,500 messages about the closure to school parents and staff. The majority of those messages were received by users within the first 15 minutes of distribution. “One Call Now is an investment in the safety and security of our students and schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Wiles. “With nearly 5,000 students in seven school buildings, the system also provides peace of mind for our
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Town of <strong>Guilderland</strong>), the estimated tax increase per year<br />
for the proposed projects based on current information is:<br />
• Proposition #1: $65 (26.1 cents/$1,000 assessed<br />
value)<br />
• Proposition #2: $3 (1.3 cents/$1,000 assessed<br />
value)<br />
• Total for Propositions #1 & #2: $68 (27.4<br />
cents/$1,000 assessed value)<br />
parents. They can be reassured that the district now has a<br />
quick, easy and reliable method of mass communication<br />
between our schools and home in the event of a true<br />
emergency.”<br />
For more information, please visit<br />
www.guilderlandschools.org and click on the “Building<br />
Project Referendum” Web icon. Also, a special edition<br />
district <strong>newsletter</strong> is being prepared which outlines the<br />
proposed projects in greater detail. The <strong>newsletter</strong> will be<br />
sent to all district residents in early November.<br />
ONE CALL NOW<br />
<strong>District</strong> introduces new emergency telephone<br />
notification system for parents: One Call Now<br />
Beginning in the new school year, <strong>Guilderland</strong> <strong>Central</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> officials will be able to contact all district<br />
parents in case of emergency with just a push of a button<br />
through the One Call Now telephone alert system. This is<br />
the first time the district has partnered with such a<br />
company to provide nearly instantaneous telephone<br />
notification in the event of school closings and delays,<br />
early dismissals, or other emergency situations.<br />
All GCSD parents with student currently registered in<br />
school have already been automatically entered into the<br />
One Call Now calling system based contact information<br />
contained in the district’s student management system,<br />
<strong>School</strong> Tool. Parents do not need to sign-up for this<br />
service.<br />
Parents should know that the One Call Now system will<br />
only be used in case of school closures, delays or other<br />
serious emergencies. Parents will not receive phone calls<br />
about fundraisers or other school events that do not impact<br />
the regularly scheduled school day.<br />
A test run of the service took place last spring, when a<br />
power outage at Lynnwood Elementary forced an<br />
unexpected closure at the school. Using the One Call Now<br />
system, the district was able to deliver more than 1,500<br />
messages about the closure to school parents and staff.<br />
The majority of those messages were received by users<br />
within the first 15 minutes of distribution.<br />
“One Call Now is an investment in the safety and security<br />
of our students and schools,” said Superintendent Dr.<br />
Wiles. “With nearly 5,000 students in seven school<br />
buildings, the system also provides peace of mind for our
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