Letter from the Principal

Dear WES families,

It's hard to believe that January is behind us and we are on to February. We have two weeks of school before our February vacation. Please be sure to send your child in this week with all of their snow gear. The temperatures are looking warmer and the kids will get to play in the snow at recess, finally.

Please be sure to call our main office, 207-247-6126, when your child is sick or has an appointment. As a reminder, if you have any planned absences for your child, please submit them at least three days in advance for approval. If your child is sick or has an appointment, kindly call the office at 247-6126.

Respectfully,

Mrs. LeSieur- Principal

Mr. Stinson- Assistant Principal

Please remember to call the office when your child is absent. If this is not done it gets recorded as unexcused. When a child has 5 consecutive days unexcused or 7 non-consecutive unexcused absences, we are mandated to report the student to the state as truant. When planning a vacation, you must fill out the planned absence form 3 days before the absences. The form is located in our student handbook, on the WES website, and linked above.

Compassion means caring for others. It’s when you notice someone is sad, hurt, or having a hard time, and you want to help them feel better. Being kind, listening, and helping others are all ways to show compassion!

Empathy means understanding how someone else feels. It’s like putting yourself in their shoes and imagining how they feel. If a friend is sad, happy, or excited, you can understand their feelings and show kindness and support!

Please make sure you review the family handbook.

January Recipients: Madison Harris, Isla Call, Hadley Caldwell, Brooklyn Bessette, Charlotte Smith, Arya Switzer, Maverick Hazard, Cory Freeman, Hannah Butler, Logan Brooks, Winona Blacker, Brian Fortier, Ellie Downs, Charlotte Cutler, Ava Fournier, Rory Dube, Hazel Johnson, Sawyer Brackett, Noah Bedell, Dalton Brewer, Kaelani Bean, Jace Sapp, Emmie McKenney, Aliza Plante, Molly Gregory, Noah Leccese, Gracie Stoddard, Zoey Fehnel, Brookelynne Avanzato

January Recipients: Wyatt Jellison, Lillian Ali, Vivian Mattison, Cayden Henry, Amelia Kent, Maya Brock, Luna Creamer, Thomas McElwain, Layton Dunne, Jazen Heatley, Levi Moreau, Colby Munro, Lucas Miller, Amelia Oliver, Myles Sylvain, Riley Pierce, DJ Kmetz, Mason Baldwin, Link North, Elijah Harpin, Brayden Thompson, Lydia Damon, Sabina Bumba, Emily Cote, Logan Gagnon, Rowan Gallo, Coltin Prue, Braylin Adams, Buck Pineau, Joshua Jordan, Silas Morrissette, Kailyn Medina Gutierrez

We are writing to share that the BusRight mobile application for real-time bus tracking and cancellation alerts now includes a Notifications Center. The Notifications Center is located on the main screen and is represented by the "bell" icon. This is where you will be able to find past and present notifications.

How Notifications Work

When a bus route is delayed or cancelled, we send a push notification via the BusRight app to your mobile device. This will appear as a banner or a message on your phone’s lock screen. Please note that BusRight does not send text messages (SMS).

When you tap on the notification, it will open the BusRight mobile app and bring you to the Notifications Center to read the full message. Messages will continue to be sent to parent emails as a secondary notification method.

Don’t have the app yet?

If you are not currently using the BusRight app for live tracking and alerts, please contact the Transportation Department at transportation@rsu57.org to request your personalized join link.

The RSU 57 Pre-K Lottery for the 2026/2027 school year will open on January 30th and close on February 23rd.

More detailed lottery information will become available on January 30th at https://www.rsu57.org/page/registration.

2026–2027 Pre-K Enrollment Criteria

Age Requirement: Students must be 4 years old by October 15, 2026.

Date of Birth Range: 10/16/2021 through 10/15/2022.

Kindergarten Eligibility: Children born on or before 10/15/2021 must register for Kindergarten.

Recently, students at Waterboro Elementary School participated in a fun and engaging Book Tasting during library class. This interactive experience was designed to spark curiosity and encourage students to explore books across a variety of genres.

Each genre was thoughtfully displayed on its own table, complete with several books for students to browse. Students received a “menu” where they recorded notes as they sampled different genres. They began by choosing a genre table, selecting a book, and examining the front and back covers, inside flap, font style, and illustrations. After reading a few pages, students reflected on their experience by noting whether the book was one they would want to read in the future.

The excitement in the library was contagious as students discovered new genres and authors they may not have explored otherwise. The Book Tasting was a wonderful way to promote reading for enjoyment, build student choice, and help students develop strategies for selecting books that interest them.

We are writing to clarify how our Transportation Department utilizes the BusRight mobile application for real-time bus tracking and cancellation alerts. To ensure you don’t miss critical transportation updates, please review how the BusRight app handles notifications:

How Notifications Work
When a bus route is delayed or cancelled, we send a push notification via the BusRight app to your mobile device. This will appear as a banner or a message on your phone’s lock screen. Please note that BusRight does not send text messages (SMS).

Important: Please be aware that tapping this notification will not open the full message details within the app. The mobile alert serves only as a preview and a prompt to let you know there is a new message. If you see this notification, you should check your email inbox for the full message. We anticipate BusRight to release an enhanced mobile app experience that includes a notifications inbox and the ability to read all notifications in-app in mid to late February, so be sure to keep your app up to date.

Don’t have the app yet?
If you are not currently using the BusRight app for live tracking and alerts, please contact the Transportation Department at transportation@rsu57.org to request your personalized join link.

Our 5th grade math team competed against the other RSU 57 math teams on February 12. It is with great pleasure that I highlight the following WES students:

1st place for the school- Coltin Prue

1st place for the district- Coltin Prue

2nd place for the district- Cooper Heid

3rd place for the district - Daniel Reynolds

5th place for the district - Luke Bland

I am thrilled to shared that the WES team took home the 1st place trophy for the highest score in the district. Keep making us proud!

If your child forgets an item, you must contact the office to access the classroom. The office is staffed until 4:00 p.m.; after that time, items will need to wait until the next school day.

If you are attending an afternoon/evening event at the school, you are not allowed to be in the classroom wings. The expectation is that the space being used for the group is the only space that is accessed by families. Please remember that school rules apply in the building after hours.

We encourage everyone to join our kindness week spirit days, February 23-27.

Some of our teachers have projects posted on Donor's Choose. If you would like to donate to a project, please click on the links below.

The RSU 57 Transportation Department utilizes the BusRight mobile application to provide families with real-time bus tracking and cancellation alerts. To ensure you don’t miss critical updates regarding your student's route, please review the important details below regarding how notifications currently function.

When a bus route is delayed or cancelled, the district sends a push notification via the BusRight app to your mobile device.

• What to look for: This will appear as a banner or a message on your phone’s lock screen.

• No SMS: Please note that BusRight does not send text messages.

Currently, there is a specific workflow for viewing the details of an alert:

• If you receive a BusRight notification, please check your email inbox immediately.

• Tapping the notification on your phone will not open the full message details within the app. The mobile alert serves only as a prompt to let you know there is a new message waiting for you in your email.

We anticipate that BusRight will release an enhanced mobile app experience in mid-to-late February. This update is expected to include a notifications inbox, giving you the ability to read all messages directly inside the app. Please be sure to keep your app updated to receive these new features as soon as they launch.

If you are not currently using the BusRight app for live tracking and alerts, please contact the Transportation Department at transportation@rsu57.org to request your personalized join link.

Unlock powerful strategies to confidently support your Pre-K to 5th-grade student's learning right at home! Join us for this hands-on series designed to build your skills and confidence in crucial academic areas: reading, writing, and math.

The Best Part? Attendance is completely free, and we provide complimentary childcare and take-home resources for all participants! Sign up for one session or all three. Food will be provided for both adults and children (please indicate any food allergies on your registration).

Family Literacy: Writing Session. Tuesday, February 10, 5:30pm-7:00pm

Family Literacy: Math Session, Tuesday, March 10, 5:30pm-7:00pm

Register HERE today!

Join us March 5th from 5:30-7:00 for our spring family literacy night.

Waterboro Elementary at the Maine Mariners
Date: Sunday, March 29th @ 3:00 PM

High Five Tunnel:

• Twenty lucky students in attendance will be able to high five the Mariners while they come onto the ice during the 1st period.

Post-Game Open Skate ⛸️: Bring your skates to check in upon arrival and enjoy an hour of skating on the ice after the game!

Part of tickets sales will be sent to WES for our field trip fund.

Purchase your tickets now via the link below.

We’re excited to share a wonderful opportunity for families this winter! Black Mountain of Maine is offering FREE season passes to all children in 2nd grade and younger.

Families can register by scanning the QR code on the flyer or by visiting skiblackmountain.org. Once registered, your child will receive a complimentary season pass for the 2025–2026 ski season.

Black Mountain of Maine is located at 39 Glover Road, Rumford, ME, and provides a fun, family-friendly environment for skiers of all levels. This is a great chance for our youngest learners to get outside, stay active, and enjoy the slopes all season long!

For more information, please visit the website

The school calendar for next school year can be found on the district website. Click on the green button below to access the link.

Mark your calendar with these January PTO events:

February 10: PTO Meeting, 6:00 pm

February 16: Happy Wheels Skate Center, 10am-12pm

February 27: PTO Family Movie Night, 6:00 pm

NWEA Testing Window: 1/5-2/13. Please see teacher newsletters for specific dates.

ACCESS testing window: 1/5-2/27. Ms. Oberg will communicate dates with families.

February 11: ERD, 1:15 pm dismissal

February 12: 100th day of school, grades 1-5 (pending snow days)

February 12: NAEP 4th Grade Assessment (only for those that were selected by NAEP- an email was sent to parents just before vacation).

February 13: 100th day of school, grades PK/K (pending snow days)

February 16-20: No School, winter break

February 27: PTO Family Movie Night, 6pm

March 5: Kindergarten, Sparks Ark Presentation

March 5: Family Literacy Night, 5:30-7 pm

March 10: Weather at Your School, 5:40am-7:00am

March 10: PTO Meeting, 6pm

March 11: Early Release, dismissal 1:15 pm

March 11: School Board Meeting

March 13: No School Students

March 25: Early Release, dismissal 1:15 pm

March 25: School Board Meeting

March 26: 5th grade field trip to Merrill Auditorium

March 27: PTO Movie Night (note date change)

March 29: WES day at Maine Mariners, game time 3:00 pm, proceeds from ticket sales will benefit WES, link to purchase tickets is posted in the newsletter

Email: kerrilesieur@rsu57.org
Website: https://waterboro.rsu57.org/
Location: 340 Sokokis Trail, East Waterboro, ME, USA
Phone: 207-247-6126