The Weekly News West Elementary

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 EXPRESSING YOUR FEELINGS.

Most people are pretty good at EXPRESSING YOUR FEELINGS but a reminder never hurts. This week we will be practicing.

9/23/24 -- Following Directions

9/30/24 -- Knowing your Feelings

10/7/24 -- Expressing your Feelings

"Nurturing Our Full Potential"

WHAT IS SOCKTOBER?

"Each night in the United States, an estimated 600,000 people live on the streets. This October, we want 2 million people to show that even a small act of love, such as donating a pair of socks, can make a big difference in the lives of our neighbors who are homeless" (Montague, 2021). In October 2011, Brad Montague, the creator of Socktober, realized there was a large population of homeless people in his hometown. He wanted to do something about it, so he researched the needs of the homeless. Montague soon learned that socks are the items least donated to homeless shelters. So... Socktober was born!

HOW CAN I HELP?

This year students in Mrs. Wurl, Ms. Cooke, Mrs. Hriczko, Mrs. Kennedy, Ms. Moretta, Ms. McDonough, and Ms. Gajewski’s classes are organizing the Socktober sock drive for our school. Each week students will share information about how a simple pair of socks can make a big impact in the homeless community on the WildCat News. Helping is as easy as 1,2,3!

1. Starting October 7th through October 25th, we challenge every student at West Elementary to donate at least one pair of new socks to be given to a local shelter or charity. Bring in a donation and you will receive a neon bracelet!

2. Movie Night Friday October 18th students can purchase a glow in the dark bracelet for $1 or bring in a pair of socks to support our local homeless shelters!

3. Crazy sock day October 11th, 18th, and 25th to raise awareness for SOCKTOBER 2024 $1 for all 3 Fridays!

WHAT TYPES OF SOCKS SHOULD I DONATE?

New socks of all sizes are accepted! Mens dark-colored socks are preferred. Socks can be sent to school October 7th-October 25th.

Ms. McDonough, one of our 8:1:2 teachers, is running the Niagara Falls, Ontario Marathon in support of Autism Speaks. If you would like to make a donation on her behalf to Autism Speaks USA, please consider sending a check to West Elementary PTA.

For more information about Autism Speaks, please visit https://www.autismspeaks.org/

West Elementary's athletes needed some new jerseys to compete. And these new jerseys made their debut at the Gary Gaiser Run at Sunshine Park on Saturday, September 28th. Thanks PTA, we sure look good competing and winning!

(We are retiring our old Wildcat jerseys which are nearly 25 years old -- stay tuned for information about these as we may be looking to give these a "second life.")

INDIVIDUAL TOP TEN FINISHERS FROM WEST

Grade 5 Boys

1) Camden Kawalec

2) Colton Urbanski

4) Liam Brady

5) Samuel Bienias

7) Nana Owusu

9) Charles Sardo

Grade 5 Girls

3) Pela Zack

Grade 4 Boys

2) Hunter Demma

4) Anderson Wachowiak

8) Ryan Schiess

10) Ben Gullo

Grade 4 Girls

1) Penelope Groves

2) Patricia Carroll

4) Layla Leo

OVERALL TEAM WINNERS

5th Grade Boys -- West Elementary

For more information, including times and complete results, please visit -- https://ny02205793.schoolwires.net/Page/677

Membership -- https://westelementary.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/TheWestElPTA/

Join us for our first ever Meat Raffle to support events, students and staff at West El! This is an adult only event!

When: November 2nd 2024

Where: Iron Workers Hall 196 Orchard Park rd. West Seneca, NY 14224

Time: doors open at 5pm, first round at 6pm

Cost: $15 per ticket or table of 10 for $140

Ticket includes : pizza/pop/ draft beer

No outside alcohol permitted!

There is a limited number of tickets and this is a first come first serve sale!

To order:

Send an email to wscwestelpta@gmail.com with the following:

• Your name
• Number of tickets or number of tables
• Students name
• Students teacher (for delivery of tickets)

We will then send you an invoice for payment through square! Once paid tickets are guaranteed and will be delivered to your student in October. We will be tracking all ticket numbers and send an email to you when they are going home so you can be on the lookout!

We are still looking for donations for door prizes and for our donation round where all funds raised will be donated to Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

If you or someone you know owns a business, has tickets to a sporting event or wants to make any donation please reach out, donation letter available upon request!

Any questions, please email wscwestelpta@gmail.com.

Please see the attached message from the District regarding changes to NYS protocols for conducting our school safety drills. We are now required to notify parents in advance of any fire drills or lockdown drills that will be conducted during the week. The attached letter explains our drills, how they will be handled, and offers resources to use to talk to your children. Thank you for your attention to this.

All school breakfasts and lunches are free for the 2024-2025 school year!

Sign up to add money your child's My School Bucks account for snacks or additional lunch items through Parent Portal or here -- https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/getmain?requestAction=home

Even though school breakfast and lunch is free, the Household Income Worksheet is still important! Here is the link to the application -- https://www.wscschools.org/Page/23780

If you would like us to send a copy home, please call the West Elementary office at 677-3250.

Any Food Service questions, call Sue Whalen at 677-3810.

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

It is never too soon to start thinking about good school attendance.

There are only 180 days in the school year, and every one of these days matter!

And elementary school is just the beginning of a long educational career. Good habits start now!

Please give us a call or send an email if you are concerned about your child's attendance.

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

Mon 7th-11th Dollar day - All for Books

Wed 9th -- Early Dismissal, begins at 12:15

Thurs 10th -- West Elementary PTA Meeting -- Library, 6:30pm

Tue 15th -- Popcorn and Paws 3-5

Thurs -- 17th Scholastic Book Fair

Fri -- 18th Scholastic Book Fair

Fri -- 18th Movie night 6-8

We are an educational community that encourages kindness, inspires confidence, and instills the belief that together we can achieve anything.