What's up at Western?

Dear Western Families,

The creativity and generosity of our students and families made this year’s Walk-a-Thon one of our most heartwarming fundraisers yet! From selling flowers at a roadside stand and lemonade in the neighborhood to gathering donations from family and friends, our Westies found so many ways to contribute.

Thank you to Mrs. DeBoer for organizing the event, to the PTO for their attention to every detail, and to our families for their enthusiastic involvement. I’m so excited about the experiences we’ll be able to bring to our students this year. Let the planning begin! Please join us in showing some love to our wonderful sponsors below.

This week’s big event is the Book Fair! Students will visit during their library time, and Mrs. Reed and I will keep the fair open after school on Thursday until 6:00 p.m.

If your family could use support purchasing a book, please email me at bagleykristin@coventryschools.net. We want every student to have a book, and we have funds available to make that happen.

A few reminders about upcoming events:

• Monday, 10/5: Before School Chorus (7:55)

• Tuesday - Friday: Book Fair

• Tuesday, 10/6: First day of Greene Library (Participants have been notified)

• Wednesday, 10/7: Fire Drill (weather dependent)

• Monday, 10/12: No School (Columbus Day)

• Wednesday, 10/14: PTO Meeting

• Friday, 10/16: School Store

• Wednesday, 10/21: Half-Day (Dismissal at 12:10)

• Friday, 10/23: Trunk or Treat

• 10/26 - 10/30: Spirit Week

• Friday, 10/30: Dental Screenings (Dental Opt-Out Form)

We’re looking forward to another wonderful week at Western!

-Dr. Bagley

Get ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming October 6th-9th! Your child will have the opportunity to visit the book fair during their library class. We will also have the book fair open on Thursday, October 8th from 3:45 - 6:00 pm. Feel free to stop by and shop.

For easier in-school shopping, set up a Book Fair eWallet, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash. Students are also able to bring cash to school, however, we find most parents are more comfortable with the eWallet. Don't forget - tax is added to every purchase.

PS: Need one more reason to visit the Book Fair? Every purchase at the Fair benefits our school! We purchase books, classroom materials, and more with the funds earned from hosting the Scholastic Book Fair.

PTO Clubs: PTO will be sponsoring a few After School Clubs again this year. The first session will be a four week run on Fridays starting on 10/30. Sign up sheets will be going out this week for the following clubs:

• Board Game Club (Grade 2-5)
• Introduction to Martial Arts (TBD)
• Newspaper Club (Grades 4 and 5)

Chorus Club with Mr. Johnson: Thank you for signing your student up for the Western chorus! Our first meeting will be this Monday, 10/5, before school at 7:55. Please drop students off at the gym door. At 7:55 we will walk together to the music room. Students will be dismissed to their classrooms at 8:40. I am very excited to start working on some great songs for this talented group of singers!

Greene Library Program: This program runs from October 6th - November 17th. The program is full with a waitlist. All notices have gone out to inform you if your child's name was pulled. Please reach out to Ms. Patty or Dr. Bagley if you need confirmation. Students will take Bu 3 and will need to be picked up at the Greene Library by 5:00pm.

🎹-- Notes from Music - 🎵

September was a busy month in the music room! Please visit Mr. Johnson's webpage to hear all about it in the new MONTHLY MUSIC MEMO for September! tinyurl.com/MrJCoventry

Squishies and other small toys have become quite the trend and are a hot item at school! Even when students plan to keep them in their backpacks, the temptation to take them out, show friends, or trade them has made them difficult to manage and distracting during class. Please keep these items at home unless your child’s teacher has approved one as a learning tool. Thank you for your help!

Negative Lunch Balances: Lunch balance notices were sent home via email and backpacked. Please remember that we never deny a student breakfast, lunch, or milk due to an overdue balance. If you do not want your child making purchases, please remind them at home. We also have outstanding balances from last school year. Please contact us at 401-217-8915 to arrange payment or set up a payment plan.

Free/Reduced Meals: Families must reapply each year, even if you qualified in the past. Please apply by October 1.

Questions about accounts, payments, or balances may be directed to the school lunch office or Sodexo at 401-217-8915.

How to Make a Meal Payment

Parents and guardians may make payments in several ways:

• Cash or check: Payments can be made to any school cafeteria cashier.
• Send an envelope to school: You may place cash or a check in an envelope and give it to any school secretary or teacher. Please clearly identify the student's name and, if possible, student ID number.
• Mail or drop off a payment: Payments may be mailed or dropped off at the Coventry High School main office or our Central Office Building.
• Checks: Please make checks payable to Coventry Lunch Program.

Our dental screening with Dr. Gordon will be held on October 30th.

If you would like to opt your child out of the dental screening, please click on this link: Dental Opt-Out Form

If you have already turned in paperwork showing that your child has been seen by a dentist this year, your child will automatically be opted out of the screening since they have already received dental care this year.

Nurse Jess is here to support the health and safety of all students, and works closely with families to ensure every child is ready to learn.

Health Reminders from the Nurse’s Office:

• Medication Policy: If your child requires medication during the school day (including over-the-counter medications or emergency medications like EpiPens or inhalers), a written order from your child’s doctor is required. We need an updated order every school year, even if you provided one at the end of last year. Please note: routine medications like Tylenol require a doctor's note. Cough drops for grades K–2 require a doctor's note, and cough drops for grades 3-5 require a parent note. Cough Drops need to be provided by the parent and will be kept in the Nurse's Office.

• When to Stay Home: To help prevent the spread of illness, students must stay home for a full 24 hours until fever, vomiting, or diarrhea free without the use of medication. If your child develops these symptoms during the school day, Nurse Jess will contact you for pickup.

• Allergies & Health Concerns: If your child has any chronic health condition, food allergies, or asthma, please reach out so an appropriate care plan can be created before school starts. If a care plan is sent home, please sign and return promptly.

• Nut-Free Classrooms: Due to the number of students with life-threatening allergies, some classrooms are designated peanut/tree nut sensitive. If your child is placed in one of these classrooms, you will be notified.

• Head Lice: Always keep an eye on this, since it inevitably pops up here and there. With lice, it’s important to remember that if one student has it, it’s possible others may as well. While head lice do not pose a medical or public health hazard and are not known to spread disease, we understand they can be a concern for families. Please reach out for support if you discover head lice.

Contact Nurse Cournoyer
cournoyerjessica@coventryschools.net
Call the school at 401-397-3355

Thank you for partnering with us to keep Western healthy and safe!

New Westie Wear Site is live! Check it out!

Elementary Breakfast: $1.60

Elementary Lunch: $3.20

The state is now providing the districts with information pertaining to students/families who are receiving state benefits other than SNAP. For confidentiality reasons, you may contact our district liaison, Barbara Erno ernobarbara@coventryschools.net 401-822-9400 ext 210. You must apply each year. Simply apply online here.

Room Parents have been assigned. Please check your email!

Parent Directory: Corrections are being worked on. Please send corrections to wccopresident@gmail.com. Not all children may be listed per classroom, keep that in mind for bday party invites etc.

Meet the Board:

Jennifer DelPozzo, Co-President: wccopresident@gmail.com

Kirby Furtado, Co-President: wccopresident@gmail.com

Lexi Conaty, Vice President: wccovps@gmail.com

Liz Deslauriers, Secretary: wccosec@gmail.com

Bethany Whitmarsh-Cryan: wccotr@gmail.com

Jessica DeBoer, Parliamentarian - wccopolicy@gmail.com

Next Meeting: Wednesday, 10/14 @ 6pm

Location: School Library

26-27 PTO Meetings:

• Wednesday, October 14

• Monday, November 16

• Tuesday, December 15 (tentative)

• Monday, January 11

• Tuesday, February 9

• Monday, March 15

• Tuesday, April 13

• Monday, May 10 (tentative)

• Tuesday, June 15

Check out the PTO on Facebook (WCCO Facebook Page). Membership is free and there are many ways to help and support our great school.

Are you looking for something special to celebrate your child’s birthday this year? You can order a Spirit Stick Birthday bag and send a spirit stick home with all their classroom friends! Spirit sticks are fun tags with pictures and sayings that kids love to collect! Each $20 birthday bag will include one random spirit stick for each child in the classroom to take home, including the birthday child.

If interested in ordering, submit payment via cheddar up or by sending the attached form back to school with payment in the form of cash or check for $20 made out to WCCO. Please have your order submitted the month PRIOR to your child’s birthday. Late orders will be fulfilled but cannot be guaranteed to be delivered on the chosen delivery date. Any questions please email birthdayspiritsticks@gmail.com

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/spirit-stick-birthday-bundles-2627-copy/items

Please also see Coventry District Calendar

• October 1st: Walk-a-Thon
• October 2nd: Fall Picture Day
• October 6th - 9th: Fall Book Fair
• October 23rd: Trunk or Treat
• Fall Picture Make-up Day: November 17th

Western Coventry Elementary School

4588 Flat River Road, Coventry, Rhode Island 02816

Phone (401) 397-3355 Fax (401) 397-5474

School Hours: 8:55AM- 3:25PM

Morning drop-off opens at 8:40

Dismissal is from 3:25 - 3:35

Front Office

Dr. Kristin Bagley, Principal

Mrs. Patricia Vanasse, Clerk

School Nurse

Nurse Jessica Cournoyer

Bus Company

Ocean State Transit - 401-214-5158 (Coventry Residents)

(If you cannot get through, please reach out to Dr. Bagley or Mrs. Vanasse)