A note from our Principal

West Side Families,

I walked my dog last night and noticed the sun hadn't gone down completely before we returned from the walk. You know what that means? That's right, the days are growing longer again, which means kids will be going to school in sunlight soon rather than darkness. It also means the mild temperatures of spring will soon replace the cold harshness of winter, and as a connoisseur of the summer, that get's me excited, because February is a tough month.

It is imperative that we educators try to stay positive in February because in reality, February is one of the most difficult months we have during the school year. First off, it is cold. Last year's average temperatures in February were colder than they were in January. Secondly, kids tend to be sick more often in February. When it is cold, we tend to stay inside, and we breathe the same air as everybody else — including those individuals passing viral contagions. Finally, we educators are pushing hard to make sure our kids learn every one of our power standards before our state summative assessment (WY-TOPP) in April. We know that we have about six good weeks of learning before our spring break, and after that, we are in full testing mode. We are feeling the time crunch, and it makes February a crucial and stressful month.

One way our West Side families can help is by keeping a regimented bedtime for our kiddos. Good sleep combined with good nutrition is a great defense against accumulating absences due to illness. Students who get the recommended amount of sleep also have more energy and more stamina to complete difficult tasks. In short, if you make sure your kids are getting 9-10 hours of sleep every night, you are giving them the best opportunities for success. We hope you will help us in this regard.