Debbie Clement came to visit students and staff Washington School on Wednesday, April 24. Debbie has recorded 6 CD's of original music, wrote and illustrated 3 picture books and created an award winning DVD. Debbie taught the children some of her songs and got them up dancing to the music. Then she shared her three picture books and taught the children how to sign the words. She also put on a show for the community at Sauk Valley Community College that night, where children again were engaged in song and dance. She had picture books and CD's available for purchase that night and students were able to get their book personalized by Debbie! If you missed the show or didn't get a chance to purchase any of her materials, you can look her up on YouTube or go to her website. www.rainbowswithinreach.com.

Here are some tips for families to enjoy poetry at home!

Sharing poetry with your child is both fun and rewarding! Doing so can brighten you the morning drive to school or provide a soothing end to the day for both you and your child.

• Read poetry together-for younger children, Mother Goose nursery rhymes and lullabies are good choices. Read just a couple of rhymes, poems or lullabies each night and enjoy the “sing-song” quality of the rhymes. For older children, maybe select one or two poems to read, recite together and talk about. Encourage children to talk about the feelings they have after hearing the poem and share your own. Resist the urge to teach and just share your ideas and listen to your child’s ideas.
• When reading poetry and verse that rhyme, try playing “Fill in the Rhyme” game. Read the first line of the poem and read all the phrases of the next line up until the rhyming word. Then stop and encourage your child to supply the word that rhymes.
• Host a “Family Poetry Night,” where everyone chooses a favorite poem and then spends a week either memorizing or rehearsing the poem. On a designated evening, share your poems with each other.
• If you have a reluctant poetry reader, try a collection that revolves around a “theme” or interest that you know your children love.
• You might try your hand at writing a poem in a similar form to what your children have been learning on how to write poetry.
• List each letter of your child’s name down the side of a sheet of paper. Encourage your child to think of words that would describe himself or another family member. Send them as gifts or make them as a card.
• Encourage your child to write or draw in response to a favorite poem nd send it on to the poet. Many authors do write back, so watch your mailbox!
• Many authors, including poets, maintain a website that features information about their books, biography and details about the reading process. Try searching a favorite poet’s website.
• To find poetry books, ask your child’s teacher or check out your local library or bookstore. 

Being an influential poetry fan will be an excellent role model for little ones and older siblings too. The attention will be great for this self-esteem and encourage reading fluency. We hope some of these poems inspire your family and offer a warm welcome to into the world of poetry.

Every year, school districts have the opportunity to reach out to different corporations and businesses to earn equipment, materials, and even cash, to help fund projects that the school may not have otherwise had the resources to do so.  Over the years, the Dixon Public Schools have used some of these opportunities that the corporations and business have provided.  For example, Washington Elementary’s Physical Education department has been a part of the Box Top$ for Education and Campbell Soups Labels for Education for many years.  Through these two programs, Washington’s PE Department has been able purchase equipment and materials for the students.  At the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year, Washington was able to purchase new equipment using the cash that was received through the Box Tops For Education Fund.  This money purchased new basketballs, hula hoops, poly spots, floor tape, bean bags, soccer balls, and more equaling over $500.  From the Box tops that Washington’s PE department received last year, it will be receiving a check for just over $1,400.  With these funds, Washington Physical Education is able to replace equipment and add new equipment for our students.  One of the goals of Washington’s Physical Education department is to replace the current basketball hoops with adjustable ones that will meet the needs of the Kindergarten and first grade students that attend the school and meet the needs of any organization that would use our facilities for basketball whether it be young or older student youth programs.

This Year Washington has begun two new programs to raise cash for education.  These programs will be used in other areas outside of the Physical Education Department.  These new programs are the Prairie Farms Cash for Caps and the Tyson Project A+.   The Prairie Farms cash for caps give 5 cents per cap and the Tyson Project A+ give 24 cents per label.   It may only seem like a few cents, but this money really starts adding up and really helps our schools.  You can contact your child’s school to find out what programs they are currently participating in.  Whatever school that you drop off the participating labels and caps to, will use the money for their school.

There are points associated with virtually EVERY product you use on a daily basis.  Why not clip the labels to help support our schools and get them additional resources.

Washington Elementary is currently participating in:

Box Tops for Education:  www.boxtops4education.com
Campbell’s Labels for Education: www.labelsforeducation.com
Tyson Project A+: www.projectaplus.tyson.com
Prairie Farms Cash for Caps: www.swissvalley.com/consumer/cashforcaps.cfm

 For more information please visit the company’s website provided above or stop in and grab an information sheet located by the posters across from the Washington Office to find out what products you may already  have in your pantry that could earn points.