WNewS: Elementary School - November 2023

November, 2023

WNewS Welcome to WNewS!

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We hope you enjoy seeing what our WNS Jets are up to. As aways, please do not hesitate to reach out if we can be of assistance.

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Designed to give you a glimpse of what’s going on at WNS as you make the important decision of which school feels right for your family.

~ WNS Admission Team

WNS: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Hear from faculty, past and current parents, and alumni students about what makes WNS the magical place that is it.

K Each afternoon, our kindergarteners engage in project time in small groups. So far during small groups, we have discussed hair, anatomy, and sculpting. These small groups allow for kids to get their ideas out with greater ease in an intimate setting compared to whole group discussions. One such group has emerged and there were squeals of delight - the Sewing Group!

Together, they discussed what it means to design a pillow or an article of clothing and how they can put their personality into their garments. Sewing is an excellent activity for this age group. It taps into creativity and measuring, and strengthens fine motor skills used elsewhere in the curriculum. The children are thrilled they get to do real life sewing with real life (safe) needles!

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November, 2023

WNewS After establishing routines and expectations, and building community, first graders officially began their reading/writing and math groups! Our differentiated groups are flexible and dynamic. From emerging to extending, we meet every child where they are and stretch them beyond. Our first-grade writers worked hard on their small-moment stories.

1st

Students added to their stories by making their pictures more detailed and their words more descriptive. They were encouraged to read their stories back to add details such as "What did it feel like? What did it smell like?" Each student had the opportunity to share their story with a classmate and later with their grownups!

2nd

Second graders are continuing to explore their identities. They discussed identity markers - the things that make us who we are.

Some identity markers that they came up with were: gender, race, ethnicity, neurodiversity, family structure, hobbies, and interests, just to name a few!

They created identity maps with various identity markers that make us all unique and special.

As the identity exploration goes on, students will continue to add more identity markers to their maps!

Third grade kicked off their first social studies unit focusing on the Tongva Tribe - the Indigenous people native to Los Angeles. Students shared their existing knowledge and there is a lot of curiosity circling around of what they don't know, yet!

So far, students have learned about the Tongva's way of life and how they were very intentional about every plant, animal, and resource they used. We are excited to visit and explore some of the plants and resources that were so important to the Tongva on our field trip to the Ballona Discover Park later this month. This interdisciplinary unit weaves in multiple disciplines as students explore the world of Tongva.

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3rd

Last year’s 3rd grade class at the Ballona Discovery Park

November, 2023

WNewS WNS students are part of a special community, and one of the ways we keep our community connected is through our buddy program.

4th

Our fourth graders had the opportunity to meet with their ECC (Early Childhood Center) buddies twice already, where they enjoyed engaging in various hands-on activities. This is a great opportunity for our 4th graders to act as leaders with their buddies while creating core memories together. There is a lot of love and even more cuteness happening when these two age groups collide!

5th

Our 5th graders have started their work on building executive functioning skills through a program called Managing Me, which consists of a series of modules developed by a team of educators, including a psychologist, a doctor, expert teachers, and a PhD level researcher.

This course was added to our curriculum because we experienced that 5th graders may struggle in this area, as they start managing multiple classes, organizing a heavier school workload, and navigating multiple deadlines.

Managing Me helps our students get to know themselves better as learners and work to put new habits in place that make them more focused, effective, and engaged students.

Each class focuses on a different skill or habit that will help students become more proficient at managing not only their schoolwork, but their lives overall.

Parenting Tip of the Month Family Mindfulness Children are uniquely suited to benefit from mindfulness practices. Habits formed early in life will inform behaviors in adulthood, and with mindfulness, we have the opportunity to give our children the habit of being peaceful, kind, and accepting.

One of the best things you can do for your child is to model healthy adulthood. When you model mindfulness, it benefits both you and your child. Being more present to your own and your child’s state of mind will only make your family closer. How? Develop one to three mindfulness practices that fit your family culture. These can be any activity that slows you down and allows you to notice what is happening within and without.

Here are some ideas.

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November, 2023

WNewS Important Dates & Upcoming Events Remaining Tour Dates Thursday, November 9, 2023 (PS-8) Wednesday, December 6, 2023 (PS-4) Friday, January 5, 2024 (PS-8) Click here to register

Admission Process Dates December 1, 2023: Preschool, DK, & Kindergarten Priority Application Deadline January 8, 2024: Preschool-8th Application Deadline.

January 12, 2024: Preschool-8th Teacher Recommendation Letters & Transcripts Due January 31, 2024: Preschool-8th Financial Assistance Application Deadline March 8, 2024: Kindergarten-8th Notification Emails Sent at 5:00pm March 15, 2024: Kindergarten-8th Contracts and Deposits Due by 12:00pm

Upcoming Events Mini Maker Faire: December 2, 2023. More info below Middle School Preview Event: December 7, 2023, 4:15-6pm Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Information Session (Virtual), December 13, 2023, 6-7pm Parent Connections Event: January 18, 2024, 6-7:30pm For all events, learn more and register here.

The Mini Maker Faire: Open to current 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students Come and experience different maker stations involving woodworking, virtual reality, laser cutting, sewing, 3D design, Hummingbird robotics, scratch coding, painting, cardboard construction, and more!

Saturday, December 2, 2023 9:30am – 12:30pm 12901 Coral Tree Place (WNS North Gym campus)

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Register here