Events & Ceremonies
Our tradition of events and celebrations is our way of expressing the educational
experience in a manner that adds more meaning and purpose to students
at The Weiss School.
Together we honor accomplishments, learn from each other, and share
many good
times,
which will make lifelong memories for the entire family.
August
New Parent/Student Orientation
On
an evening just a few days before the start of school, new 1st through 8th
grade Weiss families are invited to meet the teachers, administration
and
staff. Each family meets their grade level “ambassador family.” This
family serves as a resource to all new families in that grade level.
Early Childhood/Kindergarten Round Up
Before the first day of school, three
picnic fun sessions are held for these three classes. The children have the
opportunity to play together and the parents
can meet and socialize. These “get acquainted” sessions make the
first day of school a much easier day for all, especially the Moms and the
Dads!
September
Get Acquainted Barbeque
Come to an old fashion afternoon of fun! A party which
includes field games, music and great food is a guarantee! Meet new friends
and rekindle old friendships
at this event, which sets the stage for a year long of camaraderie among all
Weiss families.
Open House Parent Night
Meet your child’s teacher and hear of the activities that each teacher
has in store for the year! The evening begins with a short presentation by
the support course teachers and then its time to travel to your child’s
classroom. Early Childhood and elementary parents will become students themselves
as they sit at their child’s desk or table, while the middle school parents
will follow a schedule and meet all five core course teachers. This special
evening is for adults only! So, plan now to have a baby-sitter available for
the evening.
Portrait Day
All students have their pictures taken for the yearbook by the
Lifetouch photographers. Parents can choose their choice of background color
and picture packages are
available for purchase. Many parents purchase their child’s school picture
each year and watch their child’s growth over their time at The Weiss
School. Children wear their formal field trip attire to school on Portrait
Day. Yearbooks are distributed in May at no additional charge to the parents.
Learning Styles Parent Session
The Weiss School is a learning styles school.
We provide a learning styles profile to all parents based on their child’s
learning styles assessment in grades 2-8. In order to understand the purpose
and appreciate the benefit
of this information, the administration provides a workshop to familiarize
all new parents with this special service. Parents walk away with their learning
styles fully accessed! This workshop is presented by Dr. Daniels and Ms. Lenz
and is guaranteed to tickle your funny bone! Through laughter and skits the
manner of presentation makes for an enjoyable learning experience.
PTA Meeting (monthly)
Meetings are held once a month at 7:00 p.m. We pride
ourselves on 100% membership and it is our hope that you will help us maintain
this distinction. Meetings
discuss school issues, events and fundraisers. The meeting is conducted by
the PTA Board.
October
Taekwondo Break-a-Thon
This fun filled afternoon is designed to raise money for the
Taekwondo program. Family members buy boards to break with newly trained techniques
and Weiss
students set the pace demonstrating their outstanding skills. Bring the whole
family to this fun filled event! Food and drinks are available for purchase.
You will double over with laughter at the antics provided by some of the participants,
while marvel at the ability of the experienced board breakers!
Parent Conferences (2 times/year)
A Saturday is set aside for parent conferences
at the end of the first and third grading periods. Childcare, if needed, is
available for students during
meeting time. Parents sign up for their choice of times at Open House Parent
Night or at the front desk prior to the conference date. Conferences last fifteen
to twenty minutes and involve all core teachers. The support course teachers
will be present to meet on an “on need” basis with parents.
Middle School Dance (2 times/year)
Middle School students in grades 6th -8th
are encouraged to attend the dances, which occur throughout the year. These
evenings of socialization are great
fun! Refreshments are served and a great DJ is always present. Money raised
from tickets sales are used for middle school activities.
Teacher Inservice Day (2times/year)
Two days a year are set aside for teacher
inservice. These days are planned to provide instruction in the latest teacher
methodology and strategies. Usually
on one of these two days, the entire staff attends a state conference. Each
year an area of focus is chosen for teacher development. Ares of concentration
have included learning styles, communication, technology, writing skills and
thematic approaches.
Report Card Distribution (4 times/year)
Report cards are distributed at the
end of each academic school quarter. Students (3rd to 8th) are graded using
an A-F traditional grading scale and a 4,3,2,1
traditional conduct scale. Students (K-2nd) use a different scale of grading:
Outstanding, Satisfactory or Needs Improvement.
Awards are given to students in the 3rd through 8th grades as follows:
Honorable
Mention - all A’s and B’s for all overall grades and
no more that 2 C’s in a sub-category. All 3’s and 4’s in
conduct.
Honors - all A’s and B’s and 3’s and 4’s throughout
the report card.
High Honors - all A’s and 3’s and 4’s throughout the report
card.
Halloween Parade and Events
Each year the students are allowed to come to school
dressed in their tasteful Halloween costume selection. It is not the place
for gory, bloody costumes,
weapon carrying or other inappropriate choices. Questions regarding costume
selection should be presented to the homeroom teacher. The day begins with
a parade for the parents and area businesses. Age appropriate parties and activities
are held later in the day. Students need to bring with them their regular Weiss
attire to change into after the parade.
November
Taekwondo Promotion Test (3 times/year)
Students can test for the next belt level
three times a year. In order to shorten the length of time needed to test the
large number of applicants, three
additional testing promotions are held midway between the three main tests.
Pre-testing is held during class and application deadlines are strictly adhered.
Family members are welcome to observe the testing and celebrate in the accomplishments
of these highly skilled martial arts students.
TIP Recognition
Duke University recognizes seventh grade students who score
at or above the 95% on their standardized tests. Students are given the opportunity
to take
the SAT college entrance examination and receive state or grand recognition.
Each year several students earn recognition status and are chosen to attend
the Duke University Summer Program for extended studies in specific areas of
accomplishment.
MAP Recognition
Motivational Achievement Program (MAP) is also sponsored by
Duke University. The program recognizes students in the fourth and fifth grades
who score above
the 95% on their standardized tests. These students are given the opportunity
to take the Encore Test, a test designed for eighth grade students. The result
from this test compare MAP students on an eighth grade level nationwide. MAP
recipients are given a ribbon at the awards ceremony in June and receive literature
of interest to high achieving students periodically through the mail.
December
Winter Holiday Show
Each year all students are involved in an exciting school-wide
presentation. The spirit of celebrating our differences and acknowledging our
similarities
is always the theme. The Weiss School becomes an extension of family as we
join together in song and dance during this special time of year. It is expected
that all students participate in this meaningful event.
Candy House Extravaganza
Sugar overload is expected at this annual event. All
children bring in a cake of their choice to decorate for their family dinner.
A wide variety of candies,
cookies and decorating items are supplied to the students once the icing is
on the cakes. The aroma of sugar reaches Military Trail and A1A, as the students
try to ”outdo” their previous year’s creation. The extravagance
of the products increases with each year of experience in this culinary event.
The Weiss School would definitely be “off limits” to all dieters
on this morning preceding the Winter Holiday Break.
Scholastic Book Fair
The Media Center is the hub for this annual display and
sale. A wide variety of books, educational toys, magazines and posters are
available for you and
the students to purchase holiday gifts or fulfill your own literary needs.
High quality books and sale items are available for your choosing. A crew of
dedicated volunteers help the Media Specialist set up the tables and handle
the sales. Each class visits the Book Fair twice. Additional visiting is available
before and after school. All proceeds from the Book Fair are used to purchase
library books, Reading Counts software, technology or video equipment, depending
on the present need.
February
Artigras Student Competition
Each Palm Beach County public and private school
is allowed to submit one piece of art from each grade level based on technical
quality according to
a given theme. Artigras is sponsored by the Northern Palm Beach Chamber of
Commerce and includes over five hundred artists from all over the county. Voting
on student works is done by a panel of judges. Winners and their schools are
given a check to enhance their art education.
Spelling Bee
All students in grades five through eight compete to represent
The Weiss School in the Scripps Howard Corporation Spelling Bee sponsored by
the Palm Beach
Post. The school winner competes at the county level competition. The winner
from this level competes in the regional competition and that winner travels
to Washington DC to compete in the National Spelling Bee.
Valentine Message Delivery
The fifth grade class organizes this special day
of fondness and affection to defray the cost of their annual spring trip. Early
in February order forms
are given to the students to send special tokens of affection to their friends,
teachers or family. Parents can get in on the act too! Forms are also placed
in the newsletter and are available at the front desk. Carnations and candy
kisses are only two of the selections that have been used in previous years.
Regardless of the item, it’s the message that means the most! Plan now
and make your list of those people that touch your life in a meaningful way!
Presidents’ Physical Fitness
Students in grades Kindergarten through
8th grade train throughout the year in five basic categories of fitness, then
participate in the Annual Presidents
Physical Fitness Competition during the month of February. The students can
earn, based on their ability The Presidential Fitness Award, The National Physical
Fitness Award or The Participants Physical Fitness Award.
March
Annual Family and Student Talent Show
Lights, Camera, Action! A “no cut” policy is the rule regarding this
production. Acts cover the range from Gong Show quality to professional status.
Parents and siblings are encouraged to participate in the show! Refinement and
help is provided by the music, dance and drama coaches as well as classroom teachers.
There is always a teacher routine and Dr. Daniels takes the spotlight to0! Participate
or come and see the multitude of talent present at The Weiss School.
April
Standardized Testing
Standardized tests are administered to all students K-8th
grade the second week of April. Tests are given throughout the morning for
three days, with
regular schedule resuming in the afternoon. Our students perform quite well
with many students consistently scoring in the 99th percentile. Class level
averages have traditionally been above the 92nd percentile in all subject areas.
These tests are only one of the many measures used Weiss as indicators of each
student’s strengths or weaknesses.
Spirit Week
This fun filled week follows Standardized Testing Week and includes
a variety of fun filled events. The fun begins each day as the students come
dressed
to school in a creative outfit or accessory fitting a particular theme. Each
year the attire changes and the costumes get more wild and fun-loving!
Secretary/Administrative Assistant Day
This day is usually the third Wednesday
of April. These important staff members keep the school running smoothly. Please
don’t forget to acknowledge
them in some special way on their day of honor!
State TKD Competition
Master Powell will select a team of approximately twenty
students to compete in this highly competitive event. The gold, silver and
bronze winners from
each category are allowed to compete in the national competition held in July.
Each year Weiss students take home the largest percent of state champions!
Way to go Master Powell and students!
May
The Annual School Musical
Our students will “tickle your fancy” as they sing and dance their
way into your hearts! Students perform a musical each year under the direction
of Mrs. Gall. Parents become seamstresses, others join the art teacher in creating
scenery, while others become voice and drama coaches. It’s an evening limited
only by the imagination of the staff, parents and children. The production complete
with elegant costumes, professional scenery and lighting will astound you. Take
the whole family and be amazed by the unlimited talent of these young and motivated
students. This is always a “must see” event!
The
Auction Gala
The auction is the biggest event of the year and is sponsored
by the PTA. Each year the parents combine forces spreading an infectious
enthusiasm to “outdo” the
previous year’s gala! The evening includes silent auction, a live auction
and a delicious five-course dinner. The setting is lush with the year’s
theme from center pieces to auction displays. I encourage everyone to attend
this worthwhile event. The proceeds enable us to offer opportunities to the
students that make our school distinct unlike any other. It is only through
your participation in this gala that we can truly support our motto, Top of
the World in Education!
Career Day
This day is designed to give the middle school students a sampling
of a variety of professions available for their consideration. The early morning
session
includes a presentation that is of interest to the entire student population.
Following this presentation the day is devoted to the needs and requests of
the middle school students.
Leadership Day
Leadership day presents the opportunity for students to trade
roles with their teachers and administrators. These positions are “sold” at
the auction gala and one lucky student even gets to be the principal for a
day!
This day supports our constant strive to have our students become responsible
leaders of the future.
Teacher Appreciation Lunch
The culmination of the teacher appreciation week
is the Friday Teacher Luncheon. The PTA organizes this event and it serves
as a way for parents to say Thank
You to our outstanding staff of dedicated teachers. This is a rare opportunity
for our teachers to sit together as a group, socialize and enjoy a leisurely
lunch with colleagues. This is an event greatly appreciated by the staff.
June
Early Childhood Graduation
The four year old graduates will mark the completion
of their Early Childhood education with a simple yet significant cap and gown
ceremony. For many of
these students this day marks the beginning of their formal education at The
Weiss School. For others this will be the first good bye in their educational
pursuits.
Rapids Water Park/Calypso Water Park Day Trip
The Kindergarten through first
grade students enjoy a day at Calypso Water Park while their older schoolmates
in grades two through eight enjoy a day
at the Rapids Water Park. This water park adventure day is a celebration for
a year well done!
Elementary Student Recognition Ceremony
The last Thursday evening of the school
year is divided between two grade-cluster student recognition ceremonies. Parents
of K-2nd assemble at 6:00 followed
by a 7:30 ceremony for parents of students 3rd through 5th grade. Each student
receives a certificate stating their accomplishments throughout the school
year. Each class will perform a musical selection, which provides great entertainment
to this evening of accolades. Students are asked to dress in their “Sunday
Best”.
Middle School Student Recognition & Graduation
Ceremony
The Sunday evening
prior to the last day of school is a celebration with dinner, dancing and awards.
Each Middle School student is honored with a certificate
for their accomplishments throughout the school year. Local, state and national
merits of award are presented and each member of the graduating class is given
a trophy of graduation. Dinner precedes the award presentation and dancing
follows it. Dress is definitely “Sunday Best” at this dignified
ceremony.
July
National TKD Competition
State finalists from The Weiss School Taekwondo Team
join competitors from across the country in this national competition, Weiss
has had national champs,
due to the dedication and hard work of Master Powell and her students.
Yearlong
Birthday Book Donation
On the anniversary of your child’s birthday we ask that you purchase
a book to commemorate this special day. A decorative permanent bookplate displaying
your child’s name as the donor is secured onto the inside front cover
of the book. Your child has the honor of reading it first and then it becomes
part of The Weiss School Library collection. For many years to come your, child
will be remembered at Weiss and your donation will encourage reading for many
students. This procedure increases our library collection by hundreds of books
each year.
Friday Morning Assembly
A morning assembly for the entire student body takes
place on Fridays at 8:45 AM. This ceremony includes the entrance of each class
into the Greta Faigen
Theatre led by a student carrying the classroom American Flag. The students
salute the flag in unison and sing the National Anthem. Presentations for the
week and a short speech by Dr. Daniels or her appointed designee follow the
singing. The ceremony concludes with a student talent or classroom talent highlight.
This fifteen-minute event is a moving experience for all. Parents are welcome
to attend.
Speech/Hearing/Vision Screening
The Weiss School provides speech, language
and vision screening for all students. This screening take place at the school
and all parents are notified in the
school newsletter. A signed permission form is necessary for your child to
participate in this screening.
Day Field Trips
Students in K-8th attend many field trips throughout the year
that support The Weiss School curriculum and course of study. Students must
wear the proper
Weiss School field Trip Attire on these days, unless told otherwise by the
sponsoring teacher. Field Trip Attire is khaki (not Sandstone) Land’s
End pants or skort (knee length) with a Land’s End white oxford long
or short sleeve school monogrammed shirt. A navy sweater vest with gold monogram,
white socks or flesh hose must also be worn. Shoes must be a tied leather oxford
or loafer in navy, black or brown. Absolutely no exceptions to this dress code
are accepted. Canvas, suede, high heels, sandals, sneakers, etc. are not allowed
on field trips.
Overnight Field Trips
All 3rd through 8th grade students have an overnight
field trip. This trip is optional and parents are welcome to participate. There
are guidelines for
parent participation printed in The Weiss School Student Handbook. Attire and
procedures are explained by the sponsoring teacher. Typical destinations with
approximate dates are as follows:
3rd grade - Cape Canaveral - November
4th grade - St. Augustine - April
5th grade - Washington DC - May
Middle School - Boston or New York City - May