A note from our Principal

West Side Families,

We are so close to the end of the year. We only have 3 weeks of school left, and of those 3 weeks, only 2 of them are rigorous. We still have WY-TOPP during the first week of May. After that, we have both BAS and FastBridge testing during the next week as the state wants a triangulation of data, specifically in reading. That leaves us one week without any assessments, so we'll be filling that week with field trips, awards assemblies, a talent show, and the always popular Wild West Days.

This will be our last newsletter for the 2025-26 school year, and that means this will be my last newsletter as West Side's principal. If you have 4th graders moving up to 5th grade or kids still down at South Side or East Side, you might be wondering about the new principal. His name is Mr. Burch, and he has been a middle school principal at Star Valley for more than a decade. Mr. Burch is an awesome guy, and you might be a little shocked when you first meet him because he is like 6'5" tall! He might be even taller than that. What really stands out for me, though, is how kind he is every time I talk with him. He supports the teachers and staff, and he wants what is best for the kids. If you want your kids to maximize their learning in a compassionate building, you are going to be thrilled with Mr. Burch.

As for me, I'm heading over to Sundance, WY, to be the 7-12 principal on the eastern border of the state. My wife and I have wanted to get back to the Black Hills area for the past couple of years now, and we are excited to start the next chapter in our lives. When I first moved to Worland, I didn't know a single soul here, and though my wife and I are looking forward to meeting new people in Sundance, we are both going to miss the friends we have made over the last 10 years. Worland is a tremendous community. The people are kind and always willing to lend a helping hand whenever needed. The school district is fabulous. I don't think 99% of the residents of Washakie county know just how many opportunities our kids have to build a base of knowledge/experience and forge their own path to success.

If I have one piece of advice for the great people of Worland, it would be this: don't let your kids take their education for granted. Mr. Miller has transformed the high school into multiple pathways to success. My own daughters graduated from WHS, and both are getting degrees from UW with very little cost to them. If college isn't for your kids, WHS offers pathways to welding certifications, CDL licenses, CNA certifications, Real Estate licenses, Law Enforcement paths, and even pilot training and drone certifications! Our middle school and elementaries are incredible feeder schools to WHS. Your kids can go literally anywhere with an education from WCSD#1. It's up to you as parents to help guide them and keep them focused on their future.

Finally, I want to thank all of the families that I have personally gotten to know through working with your kids. You have allowed me to come along side your kids and help them grow in their decision making. As a father of two wonderful daughters, I know that raising kids is one of the most difficult-yet-rewarding jobs we have as human beings; thanks again for letting me be a part of your kids' lives as you raise them.

Brian Gunderson

Principal

West Side Elementary

307-347-4298 (office)

All School Art Show

This school year our elementary students have worked their way through the principles of design while revisiting the elements of art. We have tackled each principle through a variety of mediums and projects. The principles of design that have inspired our projects include balance, emphasis/contrast, rhythm/movement, pattern, proportion, variety, and unity. Also on display will be projects from our Art PBL groups. They have used their imagination to create artwork from recycled goods. We are so excited to share these pieces with you through the "All School Art Show" from May 8 - 18th at the Washakie Museum. We hope you can come and see these amazing works of art that we have made throughout the school year and marvel at their artistic creations.

Mrs. Peterson

Our mission statement for Washakie County School District #1: "Washakie No. 1 is here to ensure high levels of learning for all students in order that they are college and/or career ready when they graduate high school." Even though our kids are years away from graduation, we focus on making sure ALL STUDENTS LEARN at HIGH LEVELS. That is and has been our focus here at West Side for the past several years, and one of the best ways we can check our students' learning progress is through the WY-TOPP assessment. It is a tremendous letdown for us as teachers when our kids inadvertently sabotage their chances to prove what they know on assessments like the WY-TOPP by staying up late the previous night, eating poorly (or not at all) the night before, or arriving late on testing day. We hope that you, our West Side families, will join with us in our mission and help make sure our kids are prepared for our upcoming assessment dates. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. Thanks!

May is here, and that means summer break is just around the corner! Here are some ways to stay safe and healthy as the weather gets warmer and we spend more time outside!

● Wear sunscreen every time you’re outside for more than 30 minutes, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours.

● Drink at least 5 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated when playing outside.

● Wear a helmet every time you ride a bike or scooter.

● Only swim with an adult nearby– never alone.

Thank you,

Gina Miller, RN WCSD#1 School Nurse

5th Grade Track Meet

The 5th grade track meet will take place on Friday, May 15th . Field events will begin at 11:35 AM. The field events are long jump, softball throw, and high jump. Running events will begin immediately after all field events have been completed. The running events are the 50 M Dash, 100 M Dash, 200 M Dash, 400 M Dash and 200 M Relay (each 5th grade class will have at least 1 relay team). Students will sign up for a minimum of 1 field and 1 throwing event. Students may sign up for a maximum of 1 field event and 5 running events. Students will be bussed back to West Side at 1:20 PM. Please let your classroom teacher or Mr. Mortimer know if you would like to help with any events (field and/or timer) by Wednesday, May 13th. The 5th grade track meet will not be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.