Willow Grove Elementary Connect Ed
Week of April 15th, 2024
Week of April 15th, 2024
FOUNDATION SPRING GALA
As you may know, our upcoming Spring Gala is just around the corner. This event is crucial in funding several programs at our school, such as art, music, P.E., impact teachers for every grade, technology, teacher stipends, Math Club, The Grizzly Gazette (in partnership with the PTA), Odyssey of the Mind, and much more. Your contributions truly make a difference in the educational experiences we are able to provide for our students.
I have already purchased my tickets for the gala and I am looking forward to seeing you there! Your presence and support mean the world to us.
Thank you once again for all that you do for our school community. Together, we can continue to create a nurturing and enriching environment for our Grizzlies.
Please see below for more information about how to buy tickets.
WILLOW GROVE VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
The Willow Grove Volunteer of the Year is nominated and voted on by teachers and staff. Congratulations to Willow Grove Foundation President, Melissa Stark, for being our Volunteer of the Year! We appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to our Grizzlies!
Thank you to all of our incredible volunteers for all that you do to make our school community such a special place to be!
MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICES POLICY
We realize some parents may choose to have their child carry a cell phone or wear a smartwatch to school for before/after school communication. To ensure these devices are not disruptive to teaching and learning, mobile communication devices shall be turned off during instructional time. Smartwatches may be worn and shall be turned off or placed in “school mode” during the instructional day. In addition, cell phones, smartwatches, and other mobile communication devices shall not be used in any manner which infringes on the privacy rights of any other person. When a student uses a mobile communication device or smartwatch in an unauthorized manner, the student may be disciplined, and a district employee may confiscate the device. The employee shall store the device securely until it is returned to the student or turned over to the principal or designee, as appropriate.
The district will not be responsible for a student’s mobile communication device or smartwatch which is brought on campus or to a school activity and is lost, stolen, or damaged. If your child needs to communicate with you during the school day, they will be given access to a school phone at an appropriate time.
PARENT EDUCATION WORKSHOP
Please see below for an upcoming parent workshop.
POSITIVITY PROJECT
Hi Grizzly Families, this week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm means you approach life with excitement and energy. You energize people around you.
Enthusiasm is the ability to bring life and excitement to different situations. It often leads to a higher level of involvement and engagement both for individuals and for groups. Those who demonstrate enthusiasm bring an energy and level of intensity to individual and group work. These people are often identified as early leaders and innovators as a result of their outward excitement about a task or project. Look for these people to recruit new group members and generate ideas.
For groups, enthusiasm can be directly tied to high levels of success, happiness, and achievement. Enthusiasm is contagious. One person’s enthusiasm can spark others to think, speak, and act with more energy and conviction. Groups that are enthusiastic about tasks are much more likely to spend longer periods of time in service to the group’s overall goals.
“If you have zest and enthusiasm, you attract zest and enthusiasm. Life does give back in kind.” -NORMAN VINCENT PEALE
UPCOMING EVENTS
4/19- Earth Day Celebration
4/22-4/26- Book Fair
4/24- Autism Awareness Day (wear blue)
4/26- Grizzly Book Talk
5/3- Friday Flag
5/4- Foundation Spring Gala
News from the PTA
PLEASE WELCOME THE 2024/2025 PTA EXECUTIVE BOARD!
Elections for the 2024/2025 PTA Executive Board were held at our Association meeting on Friday. Congratulations to all the members of next school year’s Executive Board!
Farnaz Farahani, President
Aly Wertheim, Secretary
Daron Yehezkel, Treasurer
Angela Glomski, VP of Programs
Naomi Nelson, VP of Marketing
Kathy Miyamoto, VP of Volunteers
Roanna Patterson, VP of Membership
Emily McDonald, Financial Secretary
Ladan Naghavian, Financial Reviewer
Queenie Kretz, Historian
Jennifer Berman, VP of Ways and Means
GRIZZLY PAW TILE EVENT IS ON THUR. APRIL 18TH @ THE HOT SPOT!
LITERATI BOOK FAIR IS ALMOST HERE!
RUN WILD with reading as the Story Safari Book Fair comes to our very own Willow Grove MPR from Monday, April 22-26th! Plan ahead by shopping at our school's online book fair here and make student wishlists!
On Thursday, April 25th from 5-6:30 PM in the Willow Grove MPR, we will have our Book Fair Family Night where parents and students can shop. Teacher wishlists will be available if families want to fulfill them. Miss Huckleberry will be doing a reading as well as signing and selling copies of her books exclusively that night. EcoVivarium will be providing animal presentations and encounters for families to enjoy!
To make this event possible, we need volunteers so please sign up here. Thanks in advance for making this event a ROARING literary success!
Your Book Fair Chairs,
Lindsey Mueller and Kelly Elass
STEAM NIGHT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
STEAM Night is coming back to Willow Grove, a joint event hosted by the PTA and Educational Foundation! Mark your calendars for this awesome event for Thursday May 23rd from 5:30 to 7:30pm.
The PTA will have STEM exhibits, presentations, and hands-on displays in the Quad, white the Educational Foundation will proudly represent students' artwork in the MPR, and showcase their work from the art program they fund.
PTA is looking for parents to run STEM booths that provide hands-on experiences and learning for the students! If you are interested in setting up a booth, or would like to volunteer at the event, please contact our STEAM Night Chair, Prabal Datta at: pdatta39@gmail.com
LET’S CELEBRATE EARTH DAY!
Students are invited to join us on Friday April 19th during their lunch recess for a fun scavenger hunt to celebrate Earth Day!
News from the Willow Grove Educational Foundation
WHY YOUR SPRING GALA ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Willow Grove Parents- Your attendance and fundraising support 100% funds the following programs: art, music, P.E., impact teachers for every grade, IXL, RazzKids, BrainPop, technology, teacher stipends, Math Club, The Grizzly Gazette (in partnership with the PTA), Odyssey of the Mind, and much more!
So please don’t miss out! Our annual Spring Gala, will take place on Saturday, May 4th, 2024 @ the Del Sur Ranch House. Our Great Gatsby 1920s themed event will be a night to remember! Come enjoy amazing food from Chef Adam Webb, DJ Danny will be providing music for a night of dancing, come bid in our silent auction!!
WE ARE FORGOING A LIVE AUCTION THIS YEAR- EXTRA TIME FOR MINGLING, DANCING, and SILENT AUCTION BROWSING!
This is our last fundraiser event of the school year and is always an incredible night!! Buy tickets today on our website:
https://www.willowgrovefoundation.org/spring-gala-2024
Thank you to our wonderful event chairs Michelle Becker & Alli Cox, for their hard work & planning!
Thank you to our 2024 Great Gatsby Spring Gala sponsors- The Cain Talia Bernal Group, The Datta Family, The Berry Family, Colonial Life, The Johal Family, Alexander George DDS, The Vieux Family, Revel Stark of Innovative Capital, The Middlebrook Family, The DaSilva Family, Dreamscape Dental, Eva Jackson!
LOOKING FOR AUCTION ITEMS
Interested in donating an item for our silent auction? We are seeking items to include in our silent auction- please email WGEF Vice President, Trina Serrano at Trinacserrano@gmail.com.
LOOKING FOR SPONSORS!
Interested in being a sponsor for our event? We have sponsorship opportunities available at every level- please email WGEF President, Melissa Stark at MelissaStark00@gmail.com.
CALLING ALL GRIZZLY ARTISTS!!!
STEAM night is approaching, and the Willow Grove Educational Foundation’s art program is looking to feature YOU! Submit your design for this year’s STEAM night banner (featuring all the aspects of STEAM) by May 6 to sarah.gribbin.grant@gmail.com to enter the school-wide competition. All ages and grades are welcome to join the call for this year’s resident artist(s)! The winner will be announced by May 13th and their design will be printed on the banner welcoming everyone to STEAM night in the WG lobby. Happy designing and GOOD LUCK!
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Show Me the Grizzlies
This week's artwork is from McKenna in 4th grade!
Ready to show the Willow Grove community your art skills? Each week a unique grizzly drawing will be featured in the ConnectEd. Simply take a picture of your child's artwork and email to jmelton@powayusd.com. Click here to view a sample video of how to draw a grizzly bear.
Grizzly Document Den
Principal, Willow Grove Elementary School
14727 Via Azul, San Diego, CA 92127
(858) 674-6300
https://willowgrove.powayusd.com/
Instagram:@willowgrovegrizzlies