Happy Summer from West Elementary
June 26, 2025
Be A Better You
For the 2024-2025 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 SAYING GOOD-BYE.
Most people are pretty good at SAYING GOOD-BYE but a reminder never hurts. This week we will be practicing.
Keeping Practicing These "Be A Better You Skills"
9/23/24 -- Following Directions
9/30/24 -- Knowing your Feelings
10/7/24 -- Expressing your Feelings
10/14/24 -- Asking for Help
10/21/24 -- Ignoring Distractions
10/27/24 -- Self Talk - Flip the Script
11/4/24 -- Flexible Thinking
11/11/24 -- Reacting to Problems (AKA Size of the Problem)
11/18/24 -- Following the Group Plan
11/25/24 -- Being Grateful
12/10/24 -- Empathy
1/6/25 -- Sharing
1/13/25 -- Making Mistakes
1/20/25 -- Reacting to Problems (AKA Size of the Problem)
1/27/25 -- Accepting Consequences
2/3/25 -- Apologizing
2/10/25 -- Avoiding Trouble
2/24/25 -- Being a Good Sport
3/3/25 -- Understanding Autism and Neurodiversity
3/10/25 -- Joining In
3/17/25 -- What's the Topic?
3/24/25 -- Making Requests
3/31/25 -- Negotiations
4/6/25 -- The Power of Yet
4/21/25 -- Acceptance
4/28/25 -- Being a Good Sport
5/5/25 -- Ignore or Tell
5/19/25 -- Let it Go
6/2/25 -- Being Grateful
6/16/25 -- Saying Good-Bye
"Nurturing Our Full Potential"
School Supplies -- Last Chance to Purchase Kits -- Sales End July 1st
Make back to school shopping so much easier -- check out our school store link:
http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/75814
If you prefer to shop from our lists -- please visit https://www.wscschools.org/site/Default.aspx?PageID=24431 for our complete lists. Please purchase what you can when you can from these supply lists. We will do our best to assist families, if funds for supplies are tight. Also, please know that tissues, wipes, and paper towels are optional supplies, and we greatly appreciate it if you could send these.
Summer Reading!
Check out all things SUMMER READING from Mrs. Warren and the West Elementary Library!
Battle of the Books
Congratulations West Elementary -- Nora Peña-Draper, Tahira Hasan, Audrey Brehen, Charles Sardo, and Max Bielecki. Special thanks Mrs. Warren who helped these students prepare. We took third place!
Phys Ed Students of the Month
Artists of the Month
Special Thanks to Mrs. Brown, President of the West Elementary PTA
Mrs. Carrie Brown, pictured on the left, is celebrating her last year at West Elementary as PTA President. She has held this position for almost 15 years, and she has been an integral part of making West Elementary such a special place for children, families, and staff.
West Elementary’s PTA, under Mrs. Brown's leadership, sponsors so many special events. Each month, PTA plans and hosts an event for families. September starts with a welcome back BBQ, October continues with a family movie night. Families can enjoy both of these events very inexpensively, and many families come to meet up with school friends and to enjoy the company of the school community. In November, West El PTA hosts our Veterans Day lunch free of charge to students and invited veteran guests. Carrie started this event so that children could sit down and share a meal with someone special to them that has served this country. Sharing a meal, slowing down to sit and talk, honors our beloved service members in a very personal and special way.
Other months highlight other PTA events that Carrie Brown has helped to create—Holiday Night, Family Fit Night, Science Night, Donuts with a Grownup. Yet, none of these events compare to West Elementary’s epic Field Day. No one else celebrates the last full day of school like West Elementary with bounce houses, a picnic for 900 people on the back lawn with music, water games, and hotdogs. So many former West El students seem to find their way back to us on Field Day because it rekindles so many great memories.
Carrie Brown has made each of these events and so many more possible with her leadership of our PTA. She has made author visits possible with our used book sale. She has helped us do One School, One Read. Our teacher appreciation week truly makes us all feel well cared for. The list goes on and on. West Elementary, under her leadership, has raised over $150,000 in recent years to fund field trips, make equipment purchases, stock classroom libraries (the book vending machine), and to celebrate with our kids and families.
Carrie is truly someone special, so special that the whole Brown family is actively involved in all West El events. They are a team, helping with the musical, dressing up as Westly the Wildcat, serving dinners, and bringing in their exotic animals for show and tell. The Browns, following Carrie’s lead, have made West El their extended family. They plan and host for us like our whole school is one big family where everyone is welcome and everyone can come to have a good time.
If it is good for kids and families, Mrs. Brown finds a way to make it work. She brings people together, she cares enough to go the extra mile. Mrs. Brown, with the support of her amazing family, has made West Elementary the special place that it is today.
THANKS, MRS. BROWN, FOR YOUR SERVICE TO WEST ELEMENTARY
THAT HAS GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND!!!!
Flag Day Celebration!
Author Visit -- Flynn Harper
Newly published author, and Hamburg resident, Flynn Harper has just published his first book -- The Fish and His Wish. Students in grades K-2 had an unexpected treat with a visit from Flynn. They were able to listen to him read his story, and they were able to ask lots of questions about being an author and an illustrator. This book is available at Amazon and at Barnes and Noble, online. Thanks, Flynn. We can't wait for the next story -- please come back and visit!
Looking Ahead: Let’s Start Next Year Strong!
As we wrap up an amazing school year, we want to take a moment to say thank you for your continued partnership, effort, and dedication. Your support has helped make this year a success, and we’re already looking forward to everything next year will bring!
One of the best ways to set up for success next school year is by making strong attendance a priority from day one. When students are in in school consistently, they stay engaged, build confidence, and keep pace with learning that prepares them for the future. School is much easier when you stay in the routine!
Here’s how you can help your children get a strong start:
✅ Schedule appointments outside of school hours when possible,
✅ Plan vacations around the school calendar,
✅ Encourage routines that support being on time and ready to learn.
Every day at school matters and next year, we’re aiming for our bestattendance yet!
Thank you for being such an important part of our school community. Wishing you a safe, restful summer! See you in September!
Making Memories!
West Elementary's Mental Health Staff -- Contact Information
During the summer months, please contact Dr. Frawley if you have a mental health concern involving your child. We may be able to help. Do not hesitate to reach out directly -- 677-3253. (These service providers do not typically work in the summer, but often they are able to consult and provide information about other resources.)
Ms. Elizabeth Caprio, School Social Worker
716-677-3166
Ms. Lisa Gill, School Social Worker
716-677-3261
Mrs. Nubia Cawthard, School Psychologist
716-677-3258
Mrs. Lea O'Malley, School Counselor
716- 677-3671
Open Playground Dates in August -- Check Back for More Information
Open Playgrounds Nights -- come to West El, bring your lawn chairs, see some new friends, and get ready to be back at school!
Save the Dates!
August
8/25/2025 -- Open Playground Grade 1 - 6:00
8/26/2025 -- Kindergarten Orientation, 4:00 to 6:00 and Meet and Greet for the Self Contained Classrooms 3:30 to 5:30
8/27/2025 -- Open Playground Grades 4 and 5 - 6:00
8/28/2025 -- Open Playground Grades 2 and 3 - 6:00
West Seneca Schools Mission
We are an educational community that encourages kindness, inspires confidence, and instills the belief that together we can achieve anything.
