The Weekly News West Elementary

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 a OFFERING HELP.

Most people are pretty good at OFFERING HELP, but a reminder never hurts. This week we will be practicing.

Skills in Review

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

Special thanks to West Elementary PTA for another great event. Thanks to all who volunteered their time and donated baked goods for this event. Our honored guests and our students had a wonderful time!

West Elementary has collected 600 pounds of candy for Treats for Troops! Cindy Rustowicz, former West Seneca school nurse and Blue Star Mother, will be helping us ship the candy to our honored service men and women.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

Used Book Sale!

The West Elementary Author Committee is sponsoring a used book sale! Proceeds will go toward funding an exciting visit from a famous author so West’s Cubs and Cats can learn writing tips from the pros!

Please spend some time over the Thanksgiving Holiday and the Winter Break searching for those “gently used” books you no longer need. Donated books can be sent to school with your child and will be collected by the teachers. We thank you in advance for all of your wonderful donations!

Our Book Sale will be held on January 24th and 25th during school hours. Books will be priced at $0.50 each or 3 titles for $1.00! In order to allow all students access to used books, there will be a $2.00 maximum purchase limit.

More information will be coming as the book sale draws closer!

The students have been working hard in Art class to create a beautiful piece of artwork for West Elementary's Square 1 Art fundraiser. The order deadline is November 21st.

West Elementary's Shared Decision Making Team met this month to talk about its 2023-2024 goals for the West El school community. This team is made up of staff and parents, and it is charged with helping to guide some of the work planned for the school year. Here is the plan for SDMT this year:

SDMT 2023-2024 Goals

• Family Engagement -- Initiatives might include:

1. Continuing to support family activities at West Elementary

2. Building our family/school partnership beyond PTA events

• Continuous Improvement -- Initiatives might include:

1. Engaging students by building enrichment activities such as clubs, technology, book clubs, etc.

2. Building an interactive space (Gym, indoor recess, sensory time) for all students and the community

• Meaningful Learning -- SDM Initiatives might include:

1. Culturally Responsive Teaching

2. Building our capacity to talk about identity, belonging, and diversity

3. Enrichment activities designed to build student engagement

Special thanks to Mrs. Danieu-Schiess, Mrs. Owusu, Mr. Teager, Mrs. Carroll, Mrs. Avery, Mrs. Wurl, Mrs. Griffin, and Mr. Duggan for participation.

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

Winners --

MacPeek and Martin -- First Place

Domogala -- Second Place

Saab and Terranova -- Third Place

WAY TO GO!

Even if your child's classroom did not win, you can still join PTA!

5 Reasons to join the PTA

• Sure, you pay your taxes, but school budgets are tight! Money raised by the PTA helps make our school just a bit more special for our kids!

• Being part of the PTA helps you get to know other parents and teachers!

• By joining the PTA, you have a chance to enhance our school!

• Everyone has different talents they can bring to the PTA. We are always looking for new volunteers….and ideas!

• The commitment is not too much. You can be as involved as you choose to be, and still help our school be PAWsome!

• Get your membership online! Go to www.nyspta.org and click on “become a member”. It’s THAT easy! Or send in the attached membership form with payment.

• Membership only costs $8.00 per member!

Special thanks to Safetec for the donation to West Elementary -- lots of hand sanitizer! Thanks to the Willsons too!

www.safetec.com

The West Seneca Central School District recognizes that learning environments that are safe and supportive can increase student attendance and improve academic achievement. A student’s ability to learn and achieve high academic standards, and a school’s ability to educate students, is compromised by incidents of discrimination or harassment, including but not limited to bullying, taunting and intimidation. The District therefore strives to create an environment free of discrimination and harassment and promotes civility in the schools to prevent and prohibit conduct that is inconsistent with the District’s educational mission. To this end, the District has a comprehensive policy regarding the Dignity for All Students Act (“DASA”), which prohibits bullying, discrimination and harassment of students in specific circumstances. The policy is available on the District’s website and at our District office.

Please contact the District’s appointed Dignity Act Coordinators with questions.

West Elementary's coordinator -- Lisa Caprio -- ecaprio@wscschools.org or 716-677-3166

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

November

Fri 17th -- Dollar Day - Silly Hat Day

Mon 20th -- Tree of Warmth Begins

Wed 22nd - Sun 26th -- Thanksgiving Holiday Break

Tue 28th -- Popcorn and Paws 3-5

December

1st -- Early Release, 11:30am

5th -- Popcorn and Paws, K-2

6th -- PTA Meeting 6:30 in Library

7th -- No School, Parent Conferences

8th -- Early Release Parent Conferences, 11:30am, & Tree of Warmth Ends

14th -15th -- Holiday Shop

15th -- Holiday Event, 6:00pm-8:00pm

19th -- Popcorn and Paws 3-5

22nd -- Dollar Day - Pajama Day

23rd -- Holiday Break Begins

"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."