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 BEING A GOOD SPORT.

Most people are pretty good at BEING A GOOD SPORT but a reminder never hurts. This week we will be practicing.

3/4/24 --Being a Good Sport

2/12/24 -- Empathy

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

Congratulations to the West Elementary Grade 5 students who participated in the 3v3 basketball tournament! The two teams pictured below will be representing West Elementary at the district tournament to be held on March 6th at East Senior at 4:00pm. Please come to cheer on our students.

In Phys Ed this week, we have been practicing with Master Villafranca!!

In case you are interested in attending Taekwondo classes outside of school -- Master Villafranca, head instructor/co-owner of World Class Taekwondo

The classes will focus on teaching basic martial art techniques. Learning Taekwondo will provide your child:

● Increased balance, flexibility and coordination valuable for all sports

● The ability to focus and block out distractions leading to academic success

● Self confidence that comes from acquiring new skills

● Habits of respect and courtesy towards others

Kids love learning Taekwondo, and parents love the positive impact it has on their child's mindset and behavior!

West Elementary is celebrating Literacy!!!

We do this all the time, but in March we are going all out -- Olympic Style!

Friday, March 1 : OPENING CEREMONY / PEP RALLY

Friday, March 8: DIVE INTO A GOOD BOOK AT HOME (No School)

Wednesday, March 13: READING COMES TO LIGHT

Wednesday, March 20: READING OLYMPICS IN PARIS

Wednesday, March 27: CLOSING CEREMONY / GLENN COLTON

Don't forget to keep your reading log.

Remember to follow along with Mouse and the Motorcycle for ONE SCHOOL, ONE BOOK.

Check out the attachment below for more specific information.

1. Each FAMILY will be receiving one copy of The Mouse and the Motorcycle to keep. The copy of the book to the oldest sibling in the building to take home and share. These books will be labeled and distributed to each class on March 1st. Please do not be surprised at the primary levels if you do not have a full class set of books delivered, as many of our youngest students have older siblings.
2. Students will be receiving a take home packet that has been created with optional recipes, book reflections, and activities to complete on their own time. These packets should be coming home on March 1st.
3. Inside of the packet there will be a reading log and The Mouse and the Motorcycle Bingo. Any student who completes the reading log or a bingo sheet will receive a prize from me in the library. Students can return these logs to their teachers or to Mrs. Warren.
4. There will be trivia questions on the morning announcements during the month of March. Students may fill out a paper answer sheet that I will provide for grades first and kindergarten. Students in grades second through fifth, are asked to fill in their answers using the online form that will be posted on the library website and in Google Classroom. Two or three winners will be selected from the correct answers each day.

For One School, One Book materials -- visit the library webpage linked below:

West Elementary is celebrating 25 years! We are selling t-shirts. All proceeds will benefit West Elementary PTA , so WE can continue to make wonderful memories here!!

ALL SHIRTS ARE YELLOW WITH BLUE WRITING, OUR SCHOOL COLORS. AND ALL THE WORDS AND PHRASES REPRESENT THINGS THAT ARE SPECIAL AT WEST!

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

Congratulations to all of our participants! Over 70 students participants in grades 1-5.

Special congratulations to our grade level winners --

Grade 1: William, Cooper (1st), Finn, Roberts (2nd), Siena Zaccagnino (3rd)

Grade 2: Owusu, Agyei (1st), Vastola, Bo (2nd), Evan, Seth (3rd)

Grade 3: Nina Shanahan (1st) Layla Leo, Leonardo Anamaria, Evelyn Kus (all tied for 2nd)

Grade 4: Ashley Moumba (1st), Isabella Anamaria (3rd), Brayden Beasley (2nd)

Grade 5: Gianna Cawthard (1st), Conrad, Tanner (2nd), Atianna Puckett (3rd)

And, extra special congratulations to Gianna Cawthard (Grade 5) and Layla Leo (Grade 3) who both qualified for the regional competition in Corning/Painted Post on Saturday, March 9th. Good luck, Wildcats!!!

Special thanks to our staff helpers, our judges, and our announcers!

Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Goodman, Mr. Jones, Ms. Bush, Mr. Vanderlipp, Mrs. Skuse, Mrs. Bojczuk, Mrs. Warren, Mrs. Reynolds, Ms. Tilton, Ms. King, Mr. Wnek.

During January, February, and March 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.

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

March

Tuesday the 5th -- Popcorn and Paws K-2

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

Thursday the 7th -- Early Release, 11:30 dismissal

Friday the 8th -- No School, Superintendent's Conference Day

Tuesday the 19th -- Popcorn and Paws 3-5

Thursday the 21st -- Dollar Days - Crazy Socks, Scholastic Book Fair

Friday the 22nd -- Scholastic Book Fair and Family Fit Night

"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."