September 2014

South Western
School District
Dear West Manheim Parents/Guardians,
At West Manheim Elementary, we use a team approach to assist students with developing read-
ing skills. This year your child will strive to achieve mastery in many of the areas of reading nec-
essary for him/her to become a strong independent reader. As an educational (classroom
teachers, reading specialists, learning support teachers, and paraeducators) team, we will work
to closely monitor progress of the reading skills of all students.
There will be opportunities throughout the year for all members of our educational team to work
with your child to help them meet their reading goals. There are times built into our schedules
that are specifically designated for this purpose.
The educational team will communicate/meet on a regular basis to review each child's progress
and current needs. You will also receive feedback about your child's progress each trimester.
*1. Read yourself. Your actions really do speak louder than your words. When your kids
see you reading the newspaper or curling up with a book, they will want to follow your
example.

2. Make sure your children read every day. Reading - like shooting baskets and play-
ing the piano - is a skill. Like other skills, it gets better with practice. Researchers have
found that children who spend at least 30 minutes a day reading for fun - whether they
read books, newspapers, or magazines - develop the skills to be better readers at
school.

3. Get the library habit. Make sure everyone in your family has a library card and
schedule regular trips to the library. While you are there, check out a book yourself!

4. Read aloud to the children. In *The Read Aloud Handbook*, Jim Trelease reports on re-
search showing that this is the most important thing parents can do to help their children be-
come better readers. Here are some tips from the book:
Start reading to your children when they are young. It is never too early to begin reading to
your children, according to Trelease.
Dont stop reading to your children as they grow older. You will both enjoy the chance to do
something together.
Set aside some time each day for reading aloud. Even 10 minutes a day can have a big
impact. Bedtime is a natural reading aloud time. Other busy families read aloud at breakfast
or just after dinner.
Read books you enjoy. Your kids will know if you are faking it.

Sincerely,


Brian M. Cromer
Principal
Inside this issue:
School Counselor 2
Cafeteria Notes 3
Specialists Share 4-5
Community Info. 7
Dates to
Remember
8


West Manheim
Newsletter
West Manheim Elementary
School
2000 Baltimore Pike
Hanover, PA 17331
Phone: 717-633-4890
Fax: 717-637-2011

Office hours: 7 AM-3:30 PM
A Tradition of Excellence.
Were on the web at:
swsd.k12.pa.us
Facebook
WM Website
Page 2
West Manheim Newsletter
Page 3
September
WEST MANHEIM REQUESTS VOLUNTEERS
West Manheim Elementary School is looking to start a vol-
unteer program for the cafeteria based on the great experience and
volunteer help we had during the first week of school. If possible,
two parents can volunteer each day from 10:45 A.M. - 12:45 P.M.

Duties would include helping the children with any lunch is-
sues, wiping tables between lunch periods and at the end of lunch.
The cafeteria staff often has only one paraprofessional to help with
the students. Extra help would really be appreciated by the staff
and students.

Erica Jurasic, a West Manheim parent, will be organizing and man-
aging the program. Please email her at the following address if you
are interested. ericadull@hotmail.com. A schedule is also in the
office if you would like to sign up for a specific day. We are looking
for volunteers to begin ASAP.
NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH WEEK
October 13-17 is National School Lunch Week. The theme this year is "Get in the Game". To
help celebrate our Student Athletes from South Western High School will be coming to our cafete-
ria on Thursday, October 16 to help serve lunch and talk with the students about eating healthy
and getting enough exercise. October is also Buy Fresh Buy Local month so we will be featuring
local produce from Miller's Farms and Brown's Orchard this week in our cafeteria. Please plan on
having your student join us in the cafeteria for lunch this week to help celebrate National
School Lunch week.
KITCHEN TIDBITS
Applications for the free and reduced lunch programs need to be sub-
mitted annually. If a student was in a meal program last year, that
program has rolled over into this year for a grace period until October
6th. Once that grace period ends the students will become "full pay"
status ($1.90 per lunch). If you feel you would qualify for free or re-
duced prices meals, please fill out an application and submit it to the
Administration office or return to your childs school office. Applica-
tions may be completed on-line at www.paschoolmeals.com. If you
do not have internet access, applications may be requested from the
school office or from the Administration office.

Page 4
West Manheim Newsletter
Students in grades 3-5 have been taking their first round of Fitness tests that go along with our
Fitnessgram program. We will be finishing
these up during the next week or two. After we wrap up fitness
testing, we will most likely start racket skills.

Students in K-2 have been practicing their locomotor skills.
In addition
to our gross motor skills, we have been working with the par-
achute. We will be starting rolling, throwing and catching.
Fitness Forum By Miss Hull
Page 5
September
Answers from Art By Mrs. Shaub
Music Notes By Mrs. Evelan
Music is full swing at West Manheim Elementary! Students in every grade level have
been singing new songs, playing new instruments and moving around the room. Our fourth
and fifth graders have had a very exciting start to the 2014-2015 school year. The stu-
dents have selected a band or orchestra instrument and have started taking lessons with
Miss Jones and Mr. Evelan. We are very excited to see their progress and preparation for
West Manheim MusicFest in May! Watch for concert dates in
future newsletter!
Take a look at the following websites for more information on
the music programs at West Manheim Elementary.
http://westmanheimmusic.weebly.com/
The next time you visit West Manheim, be sure to stop by our new Art Gallery right outside
the Art room. I have added a few watercolor paintings completed by fifth grade students last
spring. There are also new pieces hanging in the frames located in the lobby area.

Watercolor Painting
By: Joey Graham
Page 6
West Manheim Newsletter
GRADE 5 STUDENTS IDENTIFY CAREERS...
On the South Western School District Activities Calendar for 2014-2015 there is an error on De-
cember 4, 2014. The calendar states that West Manheim has a Math Night from 6-7:30 PM.
Please mark your calendar to say that the Math Night on December 4 is for grade 3 only and
will take place in the grade 3 classrooms. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
CALENDAR CORRECTION

Page 7
September
On the web at: www.swsd.k12.pa.usClick the Outreach & Opportunities tab and select Adult Education
OCTOBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS
October1 PTO Spirit Wear Sale Begins
Wacky Wednesday-Wear Something Fun
WM PTO Market Day Pick Up, 7-8 PM
October1, 2 Parent Visitation (by appointed times through
sign up with the teacher)
Plaid Day-Wear Something Plaid
October 2 WM PTO Octoberfest, 6-8 PM
October3 Spirit DayWear South Western
Colors, Black and White or WM T-shirt
After School Bowling
October8 Spirit DayWear Project Harmony T-shirt or
Black and White
School Board Planning Meeting, 7 PM at Admin.
Building
October9 Open Library Night for grades K-5, 6-7:30 PM
WM PTO Octoberfest Rain date
October10 After School Bowling
October 13 SCHOOLS CLOSED
October 14 SCHOOLS CLOSED
October15 Spirit DayWear WM t-shirt or Blue and Yellow
October17 WM PTO Spirit Wear Sale Ends
October21 WM PTO Meeting, 6:30 PM
October22 School Board Meeting, 7 PM at Admin. Building
October23 Parent / Teacher Conference Night, 4-8 PM (by
appointment)
October 24 Elementary Schools Closed Grades K-5 only
Parent / Teacher Conference Day (by appoint
ment)
October27 Mobile Dentist
October - 28 Mobile Dentist
October29 WM PTO Market Day Pick Up, 7-8 PM
October31 WM PTO Race for Education

Page 8
West Manheim Newsletter
LOOKING AHEAD - NOVEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER
November2 Daylight Saving Time Ends (turning clocks back)
November4 Spirit DayWear Red, White, and Blue-Election Day
November5 Picture Retakes 8-10 AM
November6 Guys Night Out, 6-8 PM @ E.H.M.I.S.
November7 After School Bowling
November10 WM PTO Poinsettia Sale Begins
November11 Spirit DayWear Red, White, and Blue-Veterans Day

WM PTO Mtg., 6:30-7:30 PM
November12 Spirit DayWear Project Harmony T-shirt or black
and white
November15 YMCA After School Bowling
November17 End of First Marking Period, Grades K-5 only
November19 School Board Mtg., at Admin. Office, 7 PM
November20 Math Night, Grades K-5, 6-7:30 PM
November21 Spirit DayWear West Manheim T-shirt or Blue and
Yellow
After School Bowling
WM PTO Poinsettia Sale Ends
November25 Early Dismissal, Grades K-12,
Elementary dismisses at 11:45 AM
November26 through December1 SCHOOLS CLOSED