Lower School Upcoming Events

None at this time.

Parents

Please make sure to watch for any update emails from Marcom concerning the Academy and the re-opening dates.  Also, check with PowerSchool learning through the Parent Portal for student assignments.

Six Flags Read to Succeed

Now is the time to register your student for the Six Flags Read to Succeed program.  This program allows students in grade K-6 to earn tickets to Six Flags Over Georgia just by reading six hours for fun.

To register your student, you will need to go to: www.sixflags.com/books and enter the school code: 4EGNC; then choose the student's homeroom teacher from the dropdown menu. 

The student should have a reading log to record the books and the time spent reading.  If they don’t bring one home, click here to print a copy of it.  All information concerning the program and the rules of using the tickets and purchasing more tickets for family members can be found on the reading log.

Counselor’s Corner

We are excited to continue our Character Education Curriculum theme, “Solid as a R.O.C.K.,” in the new year! For the next couple of months, we will be focusing on the word Coexist. Our lessons in the classroom focus on ways and ideas about how our LS students can work together and demonstrate tolerance. More specifically, our lessons will focus on committing to engaging in considerate communication, modeling productive behaviors, listening to understand others, and exploring and developing your own beliefs. Mrs. Lauchlan and Ms. Strawn will go into every classroom together to dive further into the topic. 

This week we hosted our second Parent Book Talk of the school year and we read The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed by Jessica Lahey. This is a must read for parents!  In the meantime, though, below we have included a summary of the book, as well as a Ted Talk by Jessica Lahey on the topic of viewing failure as a gift. 

The Gift of Failure synopsis
Jessica Lahey Ted Talk

We would love for you to join us for our last book talk of the 2019-2020 school year. It will be held in room 206 in the Primary School on April 22nd from 8:30 - 10:30 AM.  Please continue to check out the Lower Letter as we will announce the book for that meeting at a later date. An email invitation will be sent out as well, along with a sign-up form.

Please contact us at taylor.strawn@woodward.edu and carrie.lauchlan@woodward.edu if we can be of support in any additional ways or if you have any questions or concerns. We want all Lower School students to R.O.C.K!

Student Project Requires Parents Assistance

Starting this semester, a SeeSaw Blackout Bingo Game has been created for the kids where each square represents an activity that they can accomplish on the SeeSaw platform. This is supposed to be fun for them while reinforcing many of the basic skills they need to be mastering. We are hoping to get our students utilizing the platform more on their own and sharing all the great things going on in their classrooms with each other as well as with their families at home. 

In Blackout Bingo, all squares must be marked to get BINGO.  This is where you, the parents, come in.  There are 2 squares which will require an action on your part in order for the student to get the square checked.  In order to do this, you will need to have your account in SeeSaw activated. If you have not set this up and don’t have an activation code, please contact your child’s homeroom teacher.

****As children finish completing all the tasks on their Bingo Boards, they can come and get a popsicle from Mrs. Dearolph or Ms. Fisher during lunch. 
****Each month, one of the winners from each grade will be picked to get a special surprise gift! 
****The first homeroom that has every student complete their boards will get a pizza party!

How to Order DVDs of Winter Concerts

Last week’s Winter Concerts are now available for you to enjoy with family and friends for only $10!  Visit WALive.tv/digital-downloads to get access to your student’s performance.

Information About Ordering Yearbook

Yearbooks are still on sale for $90 at woodwardyearbook.com. Some extra yearbooks were ordered but will be sold on a first come, first serve basis.  100% of the proceeds from yearbook sales go to support Woodward's student publications program which includes the Phoenix yearbook, The Blade news, and Silent Voices, our literary arts magazine. Your generous support of our program helps us run a nationally recognized, award winning program.

Eagle Exchange Podcast

Welcome to the Eagle Exchange Podcast! Twice a month, Upper School Students will be giving you insight into the lunch table conversations from a variety of Lower School Students! Topics vary from light-hearted to intriguing current events. Take a listen and subscribe to join the Eagle Flock! New episodes will be released on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Make sure to follow our Social Media Pages @waeaglexchange for Instagram and Twitter and check us out on SoundCloud to hear your child's interesting stories! The most recent episode focuses on the Lower Schoolers opinion about the recent Upper School Panel that came down to talk to the students about different religions. Enjoy the episode and look forward to more fun podcasts with the Lower Schoolers.

Podcast Link

Interfaith Initiatives

Greetings Woodward Academy Community,

What a fantastic start to 2020 at Woodward Academy! Interfaith student leaders are excited about our plans to showcase Woodward’s beautiful traditions throughout the school for the entire semester. We are currently preparing our first interfaith prayer service of the year and finishing the plans for the 4th annual Interfaith Immersion Trip. We are also planning various holiday assemblies for our religious observances, as well as on-campus services for Ash Wednesday.

In the coming month, our students will participate in the following religious observances:

• January 25 (Buddhism) - The Lunar New Year is the first day after the new (dark) moon. It is a religious and cultural festival celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese, and Koreans of Buddhist and other backgrounds as New Year’s Day for the year 4718 in the Lunar calendar.
• January 27 - Holocaust Memorial Day is an international memorial day commemorating the tragedy of the Holocaust and the lives tragically taken.
• January 30 (Hinduism) - Vasant Panchami, a North Indian celebration, is associated with Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, and with Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth. It marks the arrival of Spring and start of preparation for Holika and Holi.
• February 10 - Tu B’Shevat begins at sundown on February 9. It is the New Year’s Day for Trees, and traditionally the first of the year for tithing fruit of trees. It is a day for environmental awareness and is marked by special meals that include the seven fruits of the land.
• February 15 (Buddhism) - Nehan-e (Nirvana Day) is an annual Buddhist festival that remembers the passing of the Buddha at age 80 and his achievement of enlightenment.
• February 23 (Buddhism) - Losar (Tibetan New Year) is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days.
• February 25 (Christianity) - Shrove Tuesday ends the season of Epiphany and is the vigil for the starting of Lent.
• February 26 (Christianity) - Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period of prayer and repentance that precedes Easter.

Please feel free to visit our Interfaith Initiatives page to see the times of all interfaith prayer opportunities or to share a prayer request.

Blessings,

Chaplain K
Rev. Katie O. Kilpatrick
Academy Chaplain
Woodward Academy
404-391-7589

Parent Community

Our Parent Community hosts many wonderful events during the year, and we encourage you to take this opportunity to share your time and talents to whatever extent you are interested. Whether chairing an event, volunteering a few hours, or helping us spread the word about exciting activities we have planned - there is a job for everyone. Being part of the Parent Community is a great way to get to know other parents, your child’s classmates and teachers, as well. For more information, please click here to visit our Lower School Parent Community page.

Lower School Intramurals - On Hold for Now

All intramural sports have been suspended for the current time.  Please check The Lower Letter for any updates and dates of when they will resume and which sport.  Thank you for your understanding. 

2019 -2020 Intramural Schedule