Bear Cub Bulletin

🐻 Bear Cub Bulletin – Upcoming Events for Our Current and Future Bear Cubs!

November is here, and our halls are buzzing with excitement as we head into a season full of gratitude, celebration, and community spirit!

We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming Deck the Halls event — an event that brings the magic of the holidays to our school as each grade transforms their hallways into a winter wonderland. Please RSVP for the event so we can prepare cookies and hot chocolate for all visiting families. If you have gently used trees that you would like to donate to the Winter Wonderland event, please reach out to Ms. Thompson. We look forward to seeing your creativity during Deck the Halls. It will be a wonderful time to mingle with other families in our Wilmore community. (RSVP for Deck the Halls)

A heartfelt thank you to all of our families for your incredible support during our recent Boosterthon fundraiser. Thanks to you, we achieved our most successful Boosterthon to date! Your enthusiasm and generosity will help us provide outstanding experiences for our students all year long.

As we continue our season of learning and connection, we encourage families to participate in Family Conferences on Monday, November 3rd. This is a great opportunity to celebrate your child’s progress and discuss goals for the months ahead. If you are unable to attend on that day, please reach out to your child’s teacher to schedule another time to connect.

We also invite you to join us in honoring the heroes in our community during our annual Veterans Day Breakfast and 4th Grade Musical Performance on Tuesday, November 11th. Please remember to RSVP if you plan to attend the musical or invite a veteran to be honored as a guest.

See additional events and opportunities below to stay connected with the Bear Cub family.

Email: monica.thompson@jessamine.kyschools.us

We look forward to seeing you soon!

• Family Conference Day on Monday, November 3rd
• No School for Students on Tuesday, November 4th
• iReady Turkey Trot Competition for Students Begins on Wednesday, November 5th
• 5th Grade E-Fair on Friday, November 7th
• Cub Club (student 9 week awards) on Monday, November 10th
• Veterans Day Breakfast and Musical Performance on Tuesday, November 11th (RSVP for attending the Musical Performance) (RSVP for Inviting a Veteran to be Honored as a Guest)
• November SBDM Meeting on Wednesday, November 12th at 3:15 in the Library
• Deck the Halls: Wilmore Edition Family Event on Thursday, November 13th (6:00-8:00) (RSVP)
• Family Friendly Committee Meeting on Monday, November 17th at 5:00 (all are welcome)
• Lunch Visitors Day on Tuesday, November 18th (RSVP)
• Lunch Visitors Day on Wednesday, November 19th (RSVP)
• November PTO Meeting on Thursday, November 20th at 7:45 in the Cafeteria
• 5th Grade Musical: Jukebox Time Machine on Thursday, November 20th at 8:30 AM (RSVP)
• KSA Awards Celebration for Students on Friday, November 21st
• Picture Make-Up Day on Friday, November 21st
• November Dojo Celebration for Students on Tuesday, November 25th

Wilmore Families — We’re Here for You
We know these are uncertain times for many in our community, especially with the current pause in SNAP/EBT benefits. We want to make sure every family feels supported.

For families needing a little extra support right now, I have food bags available at school all day today. Please feel free to stop by and pick one up — These are available to anyone while they last.
Together, we take care of each other. That’s what being a Bear Cub family is all about.

Our Thanksgiving Food Drive begins Wednesday, and every donation directly helps Wilmore families in need. If you’re able, please consider contributing — your generosity truly makes a difference!! The flyer is attached below. Please donate the items suggested for your student's grade level. The grade with the highest donations/student gets a special treat!

🎄 Deck the Halls: Wilmore Edition 🎄

Thursday, November 13th | 6:00–8:00 PM | Wilmore Elementary School

Get ready for some holiday cheer — Wilmore-style! We’re excited to host our first-ever “Deck the Halls: Wilmore Edition,” a fun evening for families to come together, spread joy, and help transform our school into a festive winter wonderland!

Here’s what to expect:
✨ Grade-Level Themes: Each grade level will have its own special decorating theme. We’ll share these in advance so you can bring items that fit your child’s grade-level décor for “decking the halls.”
🎨 Craft & Create: We’ll have crafting stations with supplies to make decorations and memories that match your theme.
🚪 Decorate Together: Families can help decorate classroom doors and grade-level hallways to make Wilmore Elementary shine for the season.
🍪 Treats & Togetherness: Enjoy cookies, hot chocolate, and time to connect with other Wilmore families.

Come ready to create, connect, and celebrate the start of the holiday season with your Wilmore family! Our goal is to not only spruce up Wilmore for the holidays, but also give you a chance to meet the families and caregivers of your child’s friends.

We can’t wait to deck the halls with our Bear Cubs and their families! 💚❤️

🎄 Wilmore Elementary Deck the Halls Themes

🎅 Kindergarten – Gingerbread Lane

• Colors: Brown, red, white, and candy colors (pink, green, blue)

• Ideas: Gingerbread people, candy buttons, gumdrops, lollipops, peppermint swirls, cookie cutters, frosting “trim” made from puffy paint or paper

• Tree/Decor Inspiration: Candy garland, gingerbread ornaments, paper “cookies,” peppermint wheels

❄️ 1st Grade – Winter Wonderland

• Colors: White, silver, light blue, and icy teal

• Ideas: Snowflakes, icicles, mittens, snow globes, snow-covered trees, polar bears

• Tree/Decor Inspiration: White lights, paper snowflakes, cotton “snow,” shimmering garland

🦌 2nd Grade – Reindeer Games

• Colors: Brown, red, green, gold

• Ideas: Reindeer antlers, red noses, jingle bells, Santa’s sleigh, ornaments with students’ names as “reindeer”

• Tree/Decor Inspiration: Antler garland, red ornaments, sleigh bells, sparkly stars

🍬 3rd Grade – Candy Cane Lane

• Colors: Red, white, silver, with touches of green

• Ideas: Candy canes, peppermint candies, red-and-white striped patterns, sweet treat cutouts

• Tree/Decor Inspiration: Striped ribbon, peppermint ornaments, paper candy garlands

⛄ 4th Grade – Frosty Friends

• Colors: White, light blue, black, and orange (for snowman features!)

• Ideas: Snowmen, scarves, hats, buttons, carrot noses, snowballs

• Tree/Decor Inspiration: Snowman ornaments, paper snowballs, white pom-poms, top hats

🪵 5th Grade Theme: “Cozy Winter Cabin”

A snug mountain cabin retreat surrounded by snowy trees, glowing lights, and the smell of hot cocoa. Think flannel, logs, pinecones, and twinkle lights — like stepping inside a ski lodge after a day in the snow.

• Colors: Deep red and forest green (classic cabin), Warm browns and tans (wood tones), Cream or white (snowy accents)
• Ideas: Woodland backdrop, Fireplace scene, Plaid touches, snowy trees, Rustic signs

• Tree/Decor Inspiration: Tree decorated with woodsy ornaments — pinecones, plaid ribbons, mini mittens, tiny lanterns, and snowflakes, Burlap garland or plaid ribbon, Tree skirt made of faux fur or plaid blanket

The week of November 17th, we’re celebrating Kentucky Family and Community Engagement Week — a special time to recognize and honor the incredible partnerships we share with our Bear Cub families!

Throughout the week, we’ll highlight the many ways families support learning and help our students grow. We’re also excited to welcome lunch visitors during this time and to gather your feedback on how we can continue to strengthen our connection between home and school.

Look for conversation starters on table tents during lunch visits and a QR code where you can share your thoughts and ideas for continuing to build a strong Wilmore community.

Thank you for being such an important part of our Bear Cub family — your involvement makes all the difference! 💛

We are excited to celebrate and honor the brave men and women who have served our country during our Veterans Day Celebration on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

We invite you to help us recognize the Veterans connected to our Wilmore Elementary community by completing the form linked below. This information will allow us to include your Veteran in our celebration and recognition.

📅 Event Details:

• Veterans Breakfast: 9:00 a.m. in the cafeteria

• Veterans Day Performance: 9:45 a.m. in the gym

• Veterans Day Recognition and RSVP Link (for recognizing Veterans with a picture and bio for our program and reserving their spot at our Breakfast event):

• Veterans Day Program Visitor RSVP Link (for guests of students attending the musical event the morning of November 11th at 9:45 in the gym)

📸 Important: Please be sure to upload a digital photo of your Veteran in the last question of the form.

Thank you for helping us honor those who have dedicated themselves to serving our nation. We look forward to celebrating with you!

We are excited to invite families to join us for our 5th Grade Musical, "Jukebox Time Machine" on Thursday, November 20th at 8:30AM in the gymnasium!

Please complete the RSVP to help us plan for visitors.

We can't wait to see at the show!

Connect with Your Child’s Class on Class Dojo! 📱✨

We’re excited to share that teachers can now connect families to Class Dojo! This free app allows you to see real-time updates about your child’s positive behavior points and redirection points as part of our school-wide PBIS system.

👉 Please note: There is no need to pay for the app — all the features you need are completely free.

Through our PBIS system, students receive three reminders before a redirection point is given. Class Dojo allows you to follow this in real time so you can stay informed and engaged in your child’s day.

We also use Class Dojo to set school-wide behavior goals, and we review Dojo data weekly and monthly to determine if students are meeting those expectations. If a student is not consistently meeting goals, our Student Support Team meets to determine whether Class Dojo is the most appropriate tool for tracking their individual progress or if another system may be better suited.

While we hope all families will connect to Class Dojo to stay up to date on their child’s behavior, ParentSquare remains our primary communication platform for school-wide updates and messages. Dojo will be used only for tracking and sharing behavior points.

Check out our Dojo Handbook to learn more about how the system works across our school. If you haven’t received an invite yet, please reach out to your child’s teacher to get connected!

Thank you for partnering with us to support student growth!

Thank you to those who were able to join us for Wilmore 101! As part of that event, we reviewed how Title I supports and impacts our school community.

Title I funding helps us provide additional resources, staff, and support to ensure all students have access to a high-quality education. It also strengthens the connection between home and school, which is essential for student success.

For your reference, we are sharing the following documents:

• Our Family Learning Compact – outlining how families, students, and staff will work together to support academic achievement

• Wilmore 101:Title 1 Family Presentation

• Additional resources and tips for supporting your child’s learning at home

We encourage you to review these materials and reach out if you have any questions. Working together, we can continue to help every child grow and thrive.

Thank you for being a vital part of our school community!

Title I Parent News

Please take a look at our district and school parent-family engagement policies. We would love to hear any feedback you have for these policies.

District Policy

Wilmore Elementary Policy

Looking for family resources to help you support your children in school? Check out the new KDE Parent and Family Connection Hub!

How Can You Support Your Child's Growth?

To ensure that students continue making progress, it is important that they engage regularly with their MyPath learning plan. This personalized program is designed to meet each child where they are, offering tailored lessons that target specific strengths and areas for improvement. To get the most out of this tool, students should complete at least 30 minutes each week in both reading and math on MyPath. Consistent practice and interaction with the program will help build their skills and increase their confidence.

Why MyPath Matters

MyPath adapts to your child’s individual needs, providing practice and support in the areas that will help them grow most. The more students engage with MyPath, the better they will be prepared for future assessments and more advanced concepts in their learning journey.

We encourage you to check in with your child about their MyPath progress and help them stay on track with their weekly goals. If you have any questions about how the iReady program works or how to support your child’s learning, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting your child’s education. Together, we can ensure that every student continues to grow and succeed.

We’re excited to welcome families into the building for Lunch Visitors Day! To ensure a safe and smooth experience for everyone, please read the important information below:

📝 RSVP Required

Please RSVP in advance so we can plan accordingly. This helps us create a welcoming experience for all our visitors.

🪪 Check-In & Visitor Badges

• All visitors must check in at the front office and wear a visible visitor badge while in the building.

• Please be prepared to show a photo ID at check-in.

🍽️ Lunchtime Guidelines

• Arrive 5 minutes before your child’s scheduled lunch time to find a seat and wait in the Hall of Flags—our designated lunch visitor area.

• Cafeteria seating is reserved for students only. All visitors will eat with their child in the Hall of Flags.

• We encourage you to purchase lunch provided by the cafeteria. We accept debit or credit payments. Meals are $5.50 for adults.

• If you have multiple children, we kindly ask that you eat with each child individually during their scheduled lunch time. This helps us protect valuable instructional time for all students.

• For the safety and well-being of all students, please do not invite your child’s friends to join your lunch. We must respect students’ dietary needs and routines.

🧼 End of Lunch Procedures

When the teacher walks through the Hall of Flags to pick up the class:

• Your Bear Cub should clean up and return to class promptly.

• Visitors should exit the building through the main entrance after lunch.

Thank you for helping us create a safe, respectful, and enjoyable experience for our Bear Cubs and their families. We look forward to seeing you at Lunch Visitors Day!

Due to limited space in our Hall of Flags and our need to maintain a smooth school day, we kindly ask that families choose one lunch visitor day to attend per child each month.

As a fully operating school, we are unable to expand visitor areas during the school day. This guideline helps us ensure a safe, calm environment for all students while still welcoming family involvement.

October Lunch Visitor Days for Kindergarten-5th Grades (please choose ONE day to enjoy lunch with your Bear Cub):

Tuesday, November 18th and Wednesday, November 19th

Grade Level Lunch Times:

Kindergarten: 10:45-11:15

1st Grade: 11:10-11:40

2nd Grade: 11:20-11:50

3rd Grade: 11:40-12:10

4th Grade: 11:50-12:20

5th Grade: 12:15-12:40

We believe in fostering a safe, respectful, and supportive learning environment for all students. Each month, we review our Office Discipline Referral (ODR) data to help us better understand school-wide behavior trends and identify areas where we can grow.

For the month of October, we’ve shared this data with students and staff as part of our ongoing work to promote positive behavior. We use this information to:

• Reflect on what’s going well

• Identify any patterns or challenges

• Collaboratively develop plans to support students and improve behavior outcomes

Sharing this data helps us remain transparent, proactive, and student-centered in our approach. It also gives students a voice and role in making our school an even better place to learn and grow.

Here is an overview of the PBIS Data for the month of October.

We appreciate your continued partnership and support. Together, we can build a strong, positive school culture where every student feels valued and successful.

The Safety Tipline, Online Prevention or S.T.O.P Tipline is designed for use as an "online" reporting/prevention tool. If students, parents or community members know of an unsafe situation in school (bullying, weapons, drugs or alcohol, etc.), they can anonymously pass on that information to school personnel by using this basic email format.

Students are taught about how to use and access the STOP Tipline during guidance lessons with our counselors throughout the school year. During our recent Kentucky Center for Safe Schools assessment, we learned that students and staff are well informed about the STOP Tipline, but our caregivers were unaware. We wanted to share this link and information with you so that you can report concerns or support your child with reporting if they have safety concerns about our school community or campus.

Access the STOP Tipline on our school's website by scrolling to the bottom section, "Assistance".

Check out the Wilmore Elementary PTO website. Here you can find details about events and opportunities to get involved in our school community.

Email: monica.thompson@jessamine.kyschools.us
Website: https://www.jessamine.k12.ky.us/9/Home
Location: 150 Campground Lane, Wilmore, KY, USA
Phone: (859)858-3134
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilmoreElementarySchool

Mission Statement:

The mission of Wilmore Elementary School is to create a safe, personalized learning environment that embraces the whole child, focuses on continuous growth, and prepares our students to positively contribute to our families, our communities, and our world.

Vision Statement:

The core purpose of WES is to create a personalized learning environment for each student, where teachers collaborate to use research-driven, high-impact practices paired with rigorous curriculum to ensure high levels of growth and learning for all.