The Weekly News West Elementary

For the 2023-2024 school year, West Elementary will be working on targeted practice on some “life” skills in addition to academics. Every week, we will practice a skill that will help us all be a little better. This week’s skill is FLEXIBLE THINKING.

Most people are pretty good at FLEXIBLE THINKING but a reminder never hurts. This week we will be practicing.

2/5/24 -- Flexible Thinking

1/29/24 -- Avoiding Trouble

1/8/24 -- Apologizing

1/2/24 -- Reacting to Problems

12/18/23 -- Being Polite

12/4/23 -- Introducing Yourself

11/6/23 -- Offering Help

10/30/23 -- Expressing Your Feelings

10/23/23 -- Knowing Your Feelings

10/16/23 -- Giving a Compliment

10/9/23 -- Review

9/25/ 23-- Following Instructions

9/18/23 -- Asking for Help

9/11/23 -- Listening

Mrs. Nicosia, a special education teacher here at West Elementary, has started her new position as Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) assisting with administrative duties. In her new role, she will be assisting with special education services, transitions for students between classrooms and programs, staff training and day-to-day student support.

Although she will be missed in her self-contained Grade 5 classroom, Mrs. Nicosia will be a resource to all West Elementary students and families. And she will be a resource for the elementary Special Education classrooms across the district. Ms. Gabby Gajewski will be taking over instruction with Mrs. Nicosia's students.

West Elementary is lucky to have Mrs. Nicosia in this new role!

New York States requires health physicals for students in Pre K or Kindergarten, Grades 1, 3 and 5. Health physicals are also required for those students who have transferred into the West Seneca School District. The health office can accept a health physical from September 8, 2022 to the present. Please send in a copy of your child’s physical as soon as possible. All physicals should be in by February 15, 2024. Health physicals can be faxed to the health office. The fax number is 716-677-3123. Physicals can also be sent by email to Mrs. Tami Larson at tlarson@wscschools.org.

Recently, the district sent out information about a parenting class through EPIC. Due to popular demand, all the spaces available in these classes are filled. But, we have other resources available.

There are two other similar parenting support groups, one starting as soon as soon at Parent Network. The "Positive Solutions for Families: The Pyramid Model Parent Training" The flyer is attached below.

"Identify the importance of building positive relationships with children. Link building relationships, using positive comments/encouragement, and play to children’s behavior."

Also linked is information for the COPE Virtual Parenting Program.

"The Center for Children and Families of WNY is conducting a study aimed at enhancing family support and we invite you to be a part of it! Join fellow caregivers in a program designed to assist children in achieving greater success in their everyday activities both at home and school. Families will engage in the 5 week program over Zoom. It will run on Thursdays beginning February 29th from 12pm-1pm. During each session, caregivers will connect with others to explore and acquire a new skill each week. The best part? Participation is free of charge. Additionally, caregivers will receive a $50 reward for completing study questionnaires both before and after the group sessions. Please click on the link below to register."

You can sign up here.

West Elementary is participating in the 38th Annual Hospice Spring Bouquet Sale.

Mixed Bouquet - $14

Special Tribute Bouquet - $35.

All proceeds go to Hospice and Palliative Care of Buffalo. February 7th is the last day orders can be taken. No late orders will be accepted. Bouquet pickup is Wednesday, March 6th at West Elementary, time TBA. Payment can be cash or check made payable to West Elementary PTA.

In the spirit of good sportsmanship, West Elementary sent some love to Tyler Bass. You might remember that Tyler visited our school last year for March into Literacy along with Terrel Bernard, Baylon Spector and Tyler Matakevich to read to students.

Mrs. Bickerstaff organized the collect of cards that students throughout the building made to show our support for Tyler She also organized the collection of $104 for the Ten Lives Club, in Tyler's name. The Ten Lives Club is a charity close to his heart and one in much need of support.

Way to go Mrs. Bickerstaff and West El

-- showing kindness and empathy to the Western New York Community.

Tyler, you have our support!

Order your West Elementary yearbook now -- $13.

Please visit https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob

Enter our school code -- 13752724

Classroom Placements for the Next School Year-Placement Input Survey

West Elementary School faculty members regard the placement of students into classroom groups one of our most important professional responsibilities. Our goal is to make the best possible decisions, not only for an individual child but also for groups of children. We are committed to developing classroom combinations that are balanced with regard to strengths and needs. It is our belief that balanced classes maximize learning opportunities and are in the best interests of children and teachers. We are professionally committed to creating heterogeneous classes for each grade level.

At West Elementary will work together to make the best possible educational decisions about each child’s placement for the 2024-2025 school year. We thoroughly consider the following variables to arrive at a decision for individual children and to achieve a balanced grouping for each classroom:

• Teaching Styles/Learning Styles
• Work Habits & Study Skills
• Gender
• Time-Intensive Needs
• Academic Achievement
• Social/Emotional Needs
• Behavior
• Special Education Services

While we encourage parental input about each of the above variables, parent requests for specific teachers can be problematic. Do not request a teacher by name. The best information you can provide to assist in our placement of students is a description of your child rather than a focus on the teacher. Please remember that we value your input, and it will be carefully considered in class placement; however, we do have an obligation to create educationally balanced classes based on the above criteria.

If you would like to provide some input about your child for consideration as teachers build classes for next year, please complete the Google Form below, Student Placement Survey, and submit no later than Friday, May 17, 2024. All surveys received by May 17th will be given serious consideration when based on the above guidelines. If you need assistance filling out this form, please contact your child’s teacher.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSck_f5-W0ASY92rwwUhb962PF6t80fcei3VM31BQNVY2JGaCA/viewform?usp=sf_link

West Elementary's First Spelling Bee -- February 12 for Grades 3-5 and February 14th for Grades 1-2 at 6:00 pm.

Hope you all have been practicing!!

During January school staff will be presenting social media/internet safety lessons to students in Grades 2 through 5. The intent of these presentations is to reinforce the following:

-- telling a trusted adult about any uncomfortable situation online

-- being mindful of what you post -- not sharing personal information, mean messages, or inappropriate content.

-- understanding that online "friends" are different than friends from school, family friends, or the kids you play with in the neighborhood.

If you are interested in some resources please visit the Netsmartz Website for both Students and Parents.

During January, The Child Advocacy Center and Best Self Behavioral Health will be presenting to all of our students. The nature of these presentations are to help students feel safe and speak up if they are feeling unsafe. The presentations will also help students to identify trusted adults that can help them in and out of school in unsafe situations. These presentations are part of Erin’s Law and are mandated by the New York State Legislature. If you have any questions please feel free to call our school social worker, Ms. Caprio at 677-3166 or check out NY State Department of Education website in regards to Erin’s Law http://www.nysed.gov/curriculum-instruction/erins-law.

This Form has been fixed to accept answers --

Please use the following link to fill out the West Seneca School District Volunteer Acknowledgement Form. If you plan on coming in as a guest reader, to volunteer with PTA, or to work in your child's classroom for holiday parties, please adhere to the obligations and expectations of a responsible parent volunteer. The following guidelines/procedures shall serve as a review of your important role in our schools:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxcVhc_HrwLPRtnhODkr3nB-Y3aYQJ1Y62bV3RMrP3HDi1tA/viewform

Ms. Elizabeth Caprio, School Social Worker

716-677-3166

ecaprio@wscschools.org

Ms. Lisa Gill, School Social Worker

716-677-3261

lgill@wscschools.org

Mrs. Nubia Cawthard, School Psychologist

716-677-3258

ncawthard@wscschools.org

Mrs. Lea O'Malley, School Counselor

716- 677-3671

lomalley@wscschools.org

February

Tuesday the 6th -- Popcorn and Paws K-2

Wednesday the 7th -- PTA Meeting 6:30 in Library

Tuesday the 13th -- Popcorn and Paws 3-5

Friday the 16th -- Kindergarten 100th Day Celebration and Dollar Day - All for Books

Monday the 19th to Sunday the 25th -- Winter Break

Thursday the 29th -- Half Day 12:15 Dismissal

"The Mission of the West Seneca Central School District is to provide a diversified educational program which will produce literate, caring, ethical, responsible, and productive citizens who are capable of adapting to change."