Weekly Hoots

Wise Owls Family 🦉

Thank you for your continued support of our school community. I’m grateful for the partnership we share as we work together to help every student succeed.

As we move through the school year, I ask that you continue to partner with us by encouraging learning at home. Simple routines—reading together, reviewing homework, practicing math facts, and asking about your child’s day—make a big difference in their confidence and progress. Your involvement reinforces what we teach and sends a powerful message that learning matters.

If you need resources, ideas for at-home activities, or support with materials, please reach out to your child’s teacher. We’re here to help and can suggest strategies that fit your schedule.

Thank you again for all you do for our students and school. Your partnership is essential to their growth.

Dr. Gantt

Principal at the most Amazing School on Earth!

#FirstThingsFirst!

🌟 Self-Discipline Challenge 🌟

Helping Students Build Focus, Responsibility, and Self-Control

At our school, we are helping students grow strong habits that support learning and positive behavior. One important skill we are practicing is self-discipline—the ability to control our actions, make good choices, and keep trying even when things feel challenging.

This month, students are participating in our “Pause, Plan, Do!” Self-Discipline Challenge.

🧠 What Is Self-Discipline?

Self-discipline means:

• Thinking before acting

• Staying focused on tasks

• Making positive choices—even when it’s hard

These skills help students succeed in school and beyond.

📅 The Weekly Challenge

Monday – Pause Power
Students practice pausing for 5 seconds before reacting when they feel excited, upset, or frustrated.

Tuesday – Focus Time
Students work for 10 minutes without distractions—staying in their seat and following directions.

Wednesday – Choice Check
Students make one positive choice, even when another choice is tempting (raising a hand, using kind words, following rules).

Thursday – Finish Strong
Students complete a task with their best effort, especially one they usually rush or avoid.

Friday – Reflection Win
Students reflect on one way they showed self-discipline during the week.

🎉 How We Celebrate

We recognize effort and growth through:

• Positive shout-outs and encouragement

• Class celebrations or small incentives

• Praise for trying—even if it wasn’t perfect

🏡 How Families Can Help at Home

You can support your child by:

• Asking: “How did you show self-discipline today?”

• Praising effort and positive choices

• Encouraging your child to pause and think before reacting

Together, we can help students build lifelong skills that support learning, responsibility, and success.

Thank you for your continued partnership! 💙

Our mission is to cultivate a caring community that utilizes a multitude of teaching and learning experiences to prepare children for their next adventure.

1. We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and appreciated.
2. We believe that all children deserve a high quality education.
3. We believe in collaboration and making connections.

Staying Safe

Owning Your Actions

Acting Responsibly

Respecting Everyone & Everything

“South Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law requires that a parent or guardian shall require his child to attend regularly a public or private school or kindergarten of this State which has been approved by the State Board of Education, a member school of the South Carolina Independent Schools and Association, a member school of the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools, or some similar organization, or a parochial, denominational, or church-related school, or other programs which have been approved by the State Board of Education f rom the school year in which the child is five years of age before September first until the child attains his seventeenth birthday or graduates from high school.”

School & Offices Closed

3rd Annual Math Fluency Bee

The Math Fluency Bee is a fun and fast-paced competition where 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students showcase their mastery of multiplication and division facts. Students compete in grade-level rounds, answering problems quickly and accurately as they advance through each stage. The event celebrates strong math skills, focus, and confidence while encouraging a love for learning and friendly competition. 🐝📊

Process

Week of January 12th

• Each class will determine (on their own time) the top 5 students w/ 2 alternates in their multiplication/division facts (12x12 for 4th & 5th grades and 10x10 in 3rd grade.

• 3rd Grade will compete @ 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria
• 4th Grade will compete @ 8:35 - 9:30 a.m. in the cafeteria

we will do a double elimination bracket to determine the top two classess in each grade level

January 21st

• 5th Grade will compete @ 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. in the cafeteria

January 23rd

• Championship Round @ 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. in the MPR
• The top two classes from each grade level will compete to determine our 2025-2026 Math Fluency Bee Champion 🏆
• Once the winning class is determined, there will be an Ultimate Fluency Bee Championship. The final two teams will then compete individually for this title.

Prizes

• Participants: Math Ribbon
• Winning Class: Class & Individual Trophies, Bragging Rights, Pizza Party
• Ultimate Multiplication Champion: $20 Amazon Gift Card

Dress as the Number 100: Students can create and wear shirts with 100 items glued on, wear clothing that rerpesents the number 100, or find a creative way to display 100 on their clothing for a school-wide celebration of making it to the 100th day of school!

Chair: Lashanda Palmer

Vice Chair: Kristin Sheard

Secretary:

Time: 3:00 p.m.

Location: Virtual Meeting

107 E Main St, Moncks Corner, SC 29461

All meetings will be held in the Boardroom of the Berkeley County Education Center at 107 E. Main Street in Moncks Corner, except as noted. Also, meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. (Executive Session) with Regular Session scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

WATCH LIVE: www.bcsdschools.net/live

AGENDAS & MINUTES: https://go.boarddocs.com/sc/berkeley/Board.nsf/Public

107 E Main St, Moncks Corner, SC 29461

All meetings will be held in the Boardroom of the Berkeley County Education Center at 107 E. Main Street in Moncks Corner, except as noted. Also, meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m. (Executive Session) with Regular Session scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

WATCH LIVE: www.bcsdschools.net/live

AGENDAS & MINUTES: https://go.boarddocs.com/sc/berkeley/Board.nsf/Public

Students in 3rd - 5th grade receive their 3rd quarter progress reports.

Show your school spirit and support our students by grabbing your WES Car Magnet! Every purchase helps fund exciting programs and activities, enriching your child's school experience. Plus, you are showcasing your WES pride in your community. Join us in making a difference—buy now and roll with school pride!

Car Magnets cost $5.

Friday, March 6th - Boosterthon Fun Run

Friday, May 26th - 5th Grade End of Year Celebration

We’re looking for volunteers to help cover duty‑free lunches for our teachers throughout February. Giving them a quiet break is one of the simplest — and most appreciated — ways we can show support during this meaningful month.

How You Can Help:

• Choose a lunch period to cover

• Show up with a smile

• Give our teachers a well‑deserved moment to breathe

If you’re able to volunteer, use the link below to signup. Thank you for helping us celebrate Black History Month by lifting up the people who pour into our kids every day!

According to the Education Accountability Act - Article 16, Underperforming Schools must complete a Turnaround Plan (Continuous Improvement Plan). This is a plan outlining goals for a school or district's educational improvement that includes specific strategies designed to increase student achievement and measure to evaluate the success of the implementation of the plan so that the school or district is no longer underperforming or chronically underperforming.

Underperforming schools are identified annually based on the annual school report card.

By May 2026, 100% of classroom teachers observed at Whitesville Elementary School will demonstrate increased use of high quality instructional materials and overall student engagement, as measured by quarterly classroom observations.

By Spring 2026, the percentage of students scoring Meets or Exceeds Expectations on SC Ready in ELA will be at least 64% as measured by SC Ready Results.

By Spring 2026, the percentage of students scoring Meets or Exceeds Expectations on SC Ready in Math will be at least 50% or showing 5-7% growth as measured by SC Ready Results.

VantageSpeech.com

843-790-4093

Vantage Speech is a licensed speech-language therapy company located in Moncks Corner, Summerville, and Port Royal, South Carolina. We provide Clinic & home-based comprehensive speech and language evaluations, therapy, and consultations. Vantage Speech was founded to provide in-depth personalized services while building quality relationships with clients and their families. Services are throughout the greater area of Charleston & Beaufort, which includes Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Beaufort & Jasper counties.

yourscagent.com

843-879-0349

Sarah's agency, Sarah Modesitt State Farm, offers a range of insurance products including auto, home, business, life, and health insurance. They also provide quality financial services to assist customers in protecting what matters most to them throughout their lives. Sarah and her team are dedicated to genuinely educating their customers about their insurance needs and ensuring they feel protected.

GCGROUP.COM

843-970-1970

Since 2013, The Gasperic & Collins Group (Formerly The Gasperic Group) has been a top-producing realty in Charleston and its surrounding South Carolina communities. For us, client bonds matter more than anything. That means working with us means you’ll always be informed, supported, and heard.

charlestonswaglab.com

843-771-6080

We are a full service advertising specialties company offering a wide range of promotional items to promote your company.

We can assist your marketing objectives with these quality programs:

• Corporate recognition programs
• Premiums and Incentives Sales
• Trade Show Programs
• Safety Programs
• Service Awards
• Employee Recognition

• Product Introductions
• Business Gifts
• Sport Tournaments
• Company Outings
• Thank you programs
• E-Commerce Services: online stores and fulfillment services

Students at WES will receive school breakfast and school lunch at no cost to the student during 2025-26 school year, under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The Community Eligibility Provision is a federally funded initiative, which serves schools with high percentages of students from low-income families. The program was established in 2010 and is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If a negative balance exists on a student's account from previous school years, the balance will need to be paid in full.

Breakfast and lunch will be served on every day. If your student wants to eat breakfast at school, they should arrive to school between 6:50 a.m. - 7:18 a.m. Breakfast will no longer be served after 7:45 a.m.

• Our school's website is found at https://www.bcsdschools.net/o/wes
• WES Facebook page is Whitesville Elementary School Wise Owls
• The Weekly Hoots newsletter will be emailed & texted to families every Sunday evening. Please be sure to have your updated information in PowerSchool.
• Our PTO's website is wiseowlspto.com.
• Our PTO's Facebook page is Whitesville Wise Owls PTO.
• Schoology: Teachers will update their grades weekly.
• Rooms: Our two-way form of communication at WES. Every teacher at WES will use Rooms as a tool for communication.