Dolphin Digest

Dolphin Pod,

We had a GREAT week at West End! 🐬💙💚 Our 2nd graders are continuing to work hard on their testing, while all of our students have officially completed the first nine weeks of school. We are so proud of the perseverance, growth, and hard work we have seen throughout our Dolphin Pod! Report cards will go home on Thursday, October 15th. This will give our students and families an opportunity to celebrate accomplishments and reflect on the goals they have been working toward.

As we enjoy a little break, we encourage families to take some time together to reflect on our Leader in Me 7 Habits and Core Paradigms. Talk about how you see these habits and paradigms in action at home and in your community!

Our 7 Habits:

1. Be Proactive

2. Begin With the End in Mind

3. Put First Things First

4. Think Win-Win

5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

6. Synergize

7. Sharpen the Saw

Our Core Paradigms:
💙 Everyone has genius.
💚 Everyone can be a leader.
💙 Change starts with me.
💚 Educating the whole person.
💙 Develop the whole person.
💚 Leadership is a choice, not a position.

Thank you for continuing to partner with us in developing leaders both inside and outside the classroom. We hope you enjoy this time together as a family! 🐬💙💚

Mrs. Kimberly Robson

Principal

Mark your calendars, SDPC! There will be no school for students Friday, October 9, through Tuesday, October 13. We hope our students and families enjoy the extended break!

📅 View the SDPC District Calendar for additional important dates throughout the school year.

Monday, October 12

• No School

Tuesday, October 13

• No School

Wednesday, October 14

• National School Lunch Week

• Dolphin Daily News Anchors film before school

• 5th Grade Field Trip to Roper Mountain Science Center

• Archery after school

• America Reads Tutoring after school

Thursday, October 15

• Q1 Report Cards go Home

• National School Lunch Week

• Little Dreamers Preschool Storytime 10:30

• Earthquake Drill 10:15am

• 2nd Grade IOWA Testing

• Running Club before school

• Boys with GRIT after school

• West End Singers before school

• Festival Choir after school

Friday, October 16

• Wellness Club 7:30-8:00

• National School Lunch Week

• 2nd grade swim lessons

• 2nd Grade IOWA Testing

Save the date for Tuesday, October 27th as our 2nd and 3rd graders are going to perform "Disney- The Movies and the Music" for you! This will take place at Easley High School at 6:00pm. Doors will open for seating inside the auditorium no earlier than 5:30pm.

In an email that was sent to all SDPC parents on 10/1/26, the SDPC grading changes were explained. Please see the details from that email below and let us know if you have any questions!

Dear SDPC Parents and Guardians,

As we approach the end of the first grading period on October 6, we want to make sure families are aware of an important change to student grading that took effect this school year under a new South Carolina law: South Carolina Act 204 (H.5073).

What has changed?

Beginning with the 2026-27 school year, South Carolina law no longer allows public schools to use a grade floor, sometimes called a "minimum 50." This means students will receive the actual grade they earn on assignments, assessments, and report cards, even when that grade is below 50.

As a result, completing and submitting assignments is especially important. Missing or incomplete work can have a significant impact on a student's overall grade.

The new law also requires students to complete required coursework to be eligible for certain content recovery or credit recovery opportunities in courses that award high school credit.

• In Carnegie Unit courses (most high school courses and some middle school courses that award high school credit), completion of required assignments is necessary for students to be eligible for content recovery or credit recovery opportunities.

What can families do?

We encourage parents and guardians to review their child's academic progress regularly in Schoology, including grades, assignments, missing work, and attendance.

With the first grading period ending soon, now is a good time to review your child's grades and any missing assignments and contact your child's teacher if you have questions or concerns.

Students can help themselves stay on track by:

• Attending school regularly

• Completing and submitting assignments on time

• Asking for help when they do not understand a concept

• Taking advantage of opportunities for extra help, reteaching, and intervention

Support is available

While grading requirements have changed, our commitment to helping students succeed has not. SDPC schools provide academic support for students who need additional help through our Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS).

Depending on the student's needs and school, support may include:

• Additional academic assistance from teachers

• Small-group or individualized instruction

• Intervention programs targeted to student needs

• Opportunities for reteaching and practice

• Dedicated support periods during the school day, such as FLEX Time, when students can receive extra help, make up missing work, or participate in learning extension activities

We also ask for your partnership in monitoring your child's academic progress throughout the year. Teachers are expected to update grades in a timely manner, and frequent communication between families and teachers can help identify concerns early and prevent students from falling behind.

Our goal is to identify challenges before students fall behind and connect them with the support they need to be successful.

Quarter 1 ends October 6, and report cards will be issued October 15.

Thank you for your partnership and for helping your child stay engaged, complete assigned work, and seek help when needed.

Sincerely,

Dr. Shannon Sharkey
Associate Superintendent of Academic Services
School District of Pickens County

Learn More:
South Carolina Act 204 (H.5073) – Public School Grading
SDPC Policy IKA – Grading/Assessment Systems

Red Ribbon Week is coming soon- October 26-30th! Check out the daily focus and special themes as we celebrate being drug free and making healthy choices.

Here is your chance to give money to help with breast cancer research! On Friday, October 30th, your child will be able to purchase items from the list below and all proceeds go directly to breast cancer research:

• Autograph the pink EPD police car- $5
• Special pink EPD sticker- $5
• Special pink EPD patch- $15

Our first quarter report cards will come home on October 15th. Report cards look a little different for our younger grades. We want you to have the tools you need to be able to interpret and understand your child's report card. Check out this infographic for more details!

Parents Guide to Early Childhood Reports

Do you have a preschooler aged zero to four years? If so, we would like to invite you to bring him or her to our interactive story time each month here at West End. The remaining dates for the first semester are: October 15, November 12, and December 10. Please click on the link below to register your child to attend.

We are excited to offer our families a Title I Sponsored Parent Resource Center filled with educational materials that families can request to use at home! These resources are designed to provide extra practice and support your child’s learning outside of school. If your child could use a little extra practice with reading, math, or another skill, we may have a resource that can help! ❤️

👉 Just submit the Parent Resource Center request form below at any time to let us know what you need, and we’ll get the resources ready for you!

For questions or assistance, contact Mrs. Kela Simpson, Title I Curriculum Specialist at (864) 397-2520 or kelasimpson@pickens.k12.sc.us.

Family engagement plays a vital role in student success, and we'd love to have you involved at West End Elementary!

Becoming a school volunteer is simple. Just complete the five-step volunteer verification process, including the required online training, to be approved for the school year.

Click below to read the requirements and complete your volunteer training online today! We can't wait to partner with you to make this an amazing year for our Dolphins!

This graphic shows how West End Elementary parents can help their kids practice "Begin with the End in Mind" at home. You can build excitement around goal-setting together by creating fun visual goal charts, dream boards, or writing out a family vision statement. Help your child tackle big goals by breaking them down into small daily steps, reviewing their progress often, and celebrating every win along the way!

This guide shows parents how "Change Starts With Me" by modeling positive habits so children can grow into confident, caring leaders. Families are encouraged to practice active listening, share daily quality time, and set up cozy study spaces with fun, age-appropriate chores. By joining in on school activities and workshops, parents can partner with West End Elementary to make a lasting, positive impact together!

Carolina Family Services is on-site at West End Elementary to provide student, parent, or family counseling. These services are provided to you free of charge, please reach out to our licensed therapist, Ms. Kori Watt at kori.watt@carolinafamily.org.

Did you know that West End has a licensed mental health counselor on-site?

A licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) provides assessment, counseling, and treatment to help individuals improve their mental health and emotional well-being. To contact her, please email Korri Watt at korri.watt@carolinafamily.org or call her at (864)397-2518.

Did you know that West End is a proud partner with the Pickens County YMCA Mentor program? Together, we work to match students at our school with a positive, caring adult, who can provide extra one-on-one support that is extremely valuable. Here is the thing- we need more mentors!

Please consider joining us! www.pcymca.net/mentor

YMCA Mentor Training Schedule

Ryan Smith, Mentor Director

ryansmith@pcymca.net

YMCA of Easley, Pickens & Powdersville

200 Frank Parrot

Easley, SC 29640
864.307.0213

www.theYMCA.us

West End Families, We value your input and feedback and consider it as we make decisions here at West End. Please feel free to give us your feedback on anything related to our school in the form below. You are also welcome to submit questions here. Please give us 24-48 hours to respond to all questions. Thank you for your time and ideas! We appreciate you and you are an important part of the DOLPHIN POD!