Mrs. Lynn's Weekly Message

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

We had a wonderful week back from Thanksgiving break, and it was great to see our Grizzlies return to campus with so much energy and joy. As we move into this festive holiday season, I want to share how thankful we are for our Willow Grove community. Your partnership, support, and positivity make all the difference in creating a welcoming and joyful school environment for our students.

December is always a special time on campus—filled with learning, celebrations, and opportunities to spread kindness. We look forward to enjoying this season together as we close out the calendar year on a strong and happy note.

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead!

In partnership,

Mrs. Lynn

DISASTER DRILL- THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11TH AT 10:00

As part of our ongoing commitment to student safety, Willow Grove will be conducting a school-wide disaster drill on Thursday, December 11th at 10:00 AM.

Please note that the front office will be closed during the drill and staff will not be available to check students in or out at that time. We encourage families to plan accordingly to avoid any disruption.

Thank you for your support as we work together to ensure our students know what to do in an emergency.

COUNSELOR CORNER

Check out the December edition of the Counselor Corner!

PARENT AMBASSADOR FOR FAMILIES OF STUDENTS RECEIVING SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICE

We are excited to share a new initiative designed to build community and support for families of students who are receiving Speech and Language Service.

As part of this effort, we now have a Parent Ambassador who is a parent volunteer dedicated to connecting with families, sharing resources, and helping to create a strong support network.

Our Parent Ambassador, Anna Brackman, had all her three children receive speech and language service from Poway USD for various reasons starting in 2009 and most recently her youngest child exited the service in October 2025. Anna strongly feels speech has been the backbone of her children’s education allowing them to build skills and confidence through communication strategies.

Throughout these years, Anna acquired extensive knowledge and experience from her children’s speech service. She would love to pay it forward by sharing her personal experience with fellow parents and help to build a strong support network for all children.

Anna is available for parents with questions regarding speech and IEPs. She looks forward to connecting with fellow parents to help strengthen family-to-family connections within Poway USD.

If you would like to connect with Anna or learn more about this initiative, please reach out through this form or contact her directly at [email protected].

For professional support, please reach out to Karla O’Connell, Lead Speech Language Pathologist of Poway USD Special Education Department at [email protected].

KNOWLEDGE & NETWORK, A SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM

Knowledge & Network, A Special Education Parent Ambassador Program presents:

Transition Planning for Every Age and Stage

Tuesday, December 9, 9:30 to 11am

In person at the Community Room of the District Office

15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128 and on Zoom

Transition is an important part of every child’s educational journey—and your support plays a vital role in making each step a success. Whether your child is moving from preschool to elementary, elementary to middle, middle to high school, or preparing for life after high school, understanding what to expect and how to prepare can make a meaningful difference.

Join us at our upcoming Knowledge & Network meeting to hear directly from Parent Ambassador panelists as they share their personal experiences, practical tips, and valuable insights on how to support your child through each transition stage. You’ll also hear reflections from a student’s perspective about his journey and experiences transitioning into college—an inspiring look at how preparation and support can make all the difference.

Your involvement and advocacy are powerful - together, we can help every child thrive through change. To RSVP for the meeting, please click here or follow the link on the event flier.

POSITIVITY PROJECT

This week, our school will focus on the character strength of Creativity. Creativity means coming up with new and original ways to think about and do things.

Creative people see the world differently. They are open to new experiences and think independently. They come up with many ideas and pursue them with energy and enthusiasm. Creativity takes courage because sharing original ideas can sometimes lead to criticism.

Creativity is vital to our world! Creative solutions can help resolve conflicts and find compromises that satisfy everyone involved, strengthening relationships. It helps us solve tough problems, create new things, and see the world in fresh ways. Examples include treatments for deadly illnesses, such as cancer, the invention of the cell phone, and the development of solar panels. Imagine life without Impressionist paintings or the creation of airplanes and rocket ships.

To encourage creativity with your child at home, visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.

Pre-K–K

Grades 1–2

Grades 3–5

12/8- VAPA

12/11- Disaster Drill

12/17- 5th Grade Winter Concert

12/18- No Running Club

12/22-1/2- Winter Break

1/5- Return to School

1/13- Talent Show Tryouts

1/15- PTA Dance

1/16- Makeup Picture Day/5th Grade Panoramic Picture

1/19- No School (Martin Luther King Holiday)

1/26- No School (Professional Growth Day)

1/28- School Site Council Meeting

1/29- APEX Fun Run

1/30- Friday Flag & Spirit Day

WILLOW GROVE ADOPT A FAMILY IS BACK!

Please consider supporting families in our community this holiday season by contributing to our Adopt A Family! Gifts should be sent to either the Front Office or ESS Office by Wednesday, December 10th. Please turn in your unwrapped gift labeled with the family and child number. Thank you for your generosity!

GRIZZLY ROUNDUP PARENT/CHILD DANCE COMING UP JANUARY 15th!

Saddle up, put on your boots, and mosey on over for a hootin’ good time at the Willow Grove Parent/Child Dance! Mark your calendars for January 15th from 5-7 PM and come celebrate at the Grizzly Roundup with friends, music, and tons of fun! The MPR will be transformed into a country western party complete with a DJ spinning your favorite tunes, a line dance lesson taught by Prodigy dance studio, multiple photo booths, and arts and crafts. Gourmet hot dogs and sausages with a twist will be available for purchase from Big City Dogz. Don’t miss out on the chance to make memories, show off your best moves, and have a great time! Wear your favorite western gear and get ready for an unforgettable night! Please note that this is not a drop off event and all students must be supervised by an adult. If you’d like to volunteer at the event, please email Rebecca Pike at [email protected].

2026 RUNNING CLUB VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Running Club has hit its stride! This continues to be a parent volunteer-run event so please see the attached sign up for running club dates January 8th through May 14th (last run club of the school year). New faces are welcome, so if you’re curious what running club is all about please sign up! Contact Emily Burns, Running Club Chair, at 206.355.0819 or [email protected] if you have any questions.

SHOP OUR HOLIDAY STORE!

Our spirit wear store is featuring new items just in time for the holidays!

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: RUNQUAN ZHANG

We love our parent volunteers!

FOLLOW US!

Stay up to date with the latest PTA News and Events:

Instagram: @ptawillowgrove

Facebook: Willow Grove Elementary School PTA

Website: willowgrovepta.org

PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER - NEW SAVE THE DATE!

The Willow Grove Educational Foundation is hosting its First Annual Pickleball Tournament on Saturday, March 7th at the Barnes Tennis Center! Please note, this is a date change from the originally planned January 24th.

Mark your calendars for a fun day of friendly competition, community spirit, and support for our school. More details and registration information will be shared soon!

COASTAL CHRISTMAS

The holidays are about to get a whole lot brighter at the Del Mar Fairgrounds with the return of Coastal Christmas Holiday Light Spectacular! Kicking off Friday, December 12th, and running for select dates through December 26th, this festive and immersive light display features shimmering lights and brings winter cheer to the beautiful California coast.

Coastal Christmas invites guests to step into their winter wonderland for a sparkling holiday escape filled with fun for the whole family. Tickets are on sale now at CoastalChristmasDelMar.com. Use promo code: WGROVE and 10% of proceeds from General Admission Tickets will be donated back to Willow Grove!

MINTED

We are thrilled to announce our fundraising partnership with Minted this holiday season. Make your holiday card and gift purchases count this year by using Willow Grove’s UNIQUE CODE: FUNDRAISEWGEF at www.minted.com

You’ll receive 20% off and Minted will donate 10% of your purchase back to us at the end of the year! Thank you so much for your support and happy holidays!

KENDRA SCOTT GIVES BACK EVENT

Join us for a special Kendra Gives Back shopping event benefiting the Willow Grove Educational Foundation!

In-Store Event:

Saturday, December 13th

6:00 - 8:00 pm

Kendra Scott | San Diego UTC

4309 La Jolla Village Dr, Suite 2330

Can’t make it in person? You can still support! Shop online at www.kendrascott.com on December 13th and 14th, and enter code GIVEBACK-KTYWJ at checkout. 20% of your purchase will be donated back to the Willow Grove Educational Foundation.

Follow Us on Social Media

Please follow us on our social media platforms for important news and updates from WGEF:

X (formerly Twitter) - @WGFoundation

Instagram - @willowgrovefoundation

Facebook - Willow Grove Educational Foundation