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 MAKING REQUESTS.

Most people are pretty good at MAKING REQUESTS but a reminder never hurts. This week we will be practicing.

Last Week's Skill -- SHOWING CONCERN

4/29/24 -- Making Requests

4/22/24 -- Showing Concern

4/15/24 -- Starting a Conversation

4/9/24 -- Negotiating

3/18/24 -- Read the Room

3/11/24 -- Joining In

3/4/24 --Being a Good Sport

2/12/24 -- Empathy

2/5/24 -- Flexible Thinking

1/29/24 -- Avoiding Trouble

1/8/24 -- Apologizing

1/2/24 -- Reacting to Problems

12/18/23 -- Being Polite

12/4/23 -- Introducing Yourself

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

For Grown-Ups -- Presentation & Discussion

Dr. Meichenbaum, licensed clinical psychologist, will be presenting information to help increase understanding of anxiety and the tools to help children manage it. He will discuss simple ways parents and caregivers can help their children take charge and manage their anxiety.

For Kids -- Mindfulness Work

Learn some basic skills to help manage your feelings. Students will be working with staff members to practice some mindfulness strategies. Mindfulness is a technique that helps people stay in the present moment to avoid the anxiety that comes with worrying about the future and the past.

RSVP HERE if you need childcare for school age children.

This year we will be celebrating May the 4th Be With You Star Wars Day at school and at the West Seneca Public Library.

At West Elementary School: Dress up for Star Wars Day on Friday May 3rd! Please NO lightsabers or weapons of any kind.

At the West Seneca Public Library: Members of the Rebel Alliance have hidden characters around the West Seneca Public Library Children’s and Teen area.

Visit the West Seneca Public Library at 1300 Union Rd. West Seneca, NY 14224

between May 1st and May 4th. Stop at the main desk at the public library to get a log and find the hidden Star Wars characters. If you find all of the characters and give the librarians your completed log at the public library, you will receive a prize. In addition, please bring the completed bottom part of this sheet back to Mrs. Warren at the West Elementary School Library to earn a second gift! All slips need to be returned to Mrs. Warren by Tuesday, May 7th. If you would like to share a picture of yourself at the public library, email Mrs. Warren at the address included below. Your picture might even be included on our social media!

Questions? Email Mrs. Warren at hwarren@wscschools.org

Thank you for your support. We raised over $280 for the American Heart Association. The plants were sold out by 6:15 at Science Night!

Special thanks to Home Depot for donating the materials!

Scroll to 20:00 to see West Elementary's students - Amelia, Pela, and Michael (who reads in Polish)!

Apex is coming in May -- Power Up!

West Elementary will be fundraising to equip our new multipurpose/gym space (the filled in pool area).

May 13th to May 24th

5/14 Pep Rally at 2:00

Fun Run on May 23rd in the afternoon

Math

Grades 3 through 5 -- 5/6 and 5/7

Order your West Elementary yearbook now -- $13 --

Please visit https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob

Enter our school code -- 13752724

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

Classroom Placements for the Next School Year-Placement Input Survey

West Elementary School faculty members regard the placement of students into classroom groups one of our most important professional responsibilities. Our goal is to make the best possible decisions, not only for an individual child but also for groups of children. We are committed to developing classroom combinations that are balanced with regard to strengths and needs. It is our belief that balanced classes maximize learning opportunities and are in the best interests of children and teachers. We are professionally committed to creating heterogeneous classes for each grade level.

At West Elementary will work together to make the best possible educational decisions about each child’s placement for the 2024-2025 school year. We thoroughly consider the following variables to arrive at a decision for individual children and to achieve a balanced grouping for each classroom:

• Teaching Styles/Learning Styles
• Work Habits & Study Skills
• Gender
• Time-Intensive Needs
• Academic Achievement
• Social/Emotional Needs
• Behavior
• Special Education Services

While we encourage parental input about each of the above variables, parent requests for specific teachers can be problematic. Do not request a teacher by name. The best information you can provide to assist in our placement of students is a description of your child rather than a focus on the teacher. Please remember that we value your input, and it will be carefully considered in class placement; however, we do have an obligation to create educationally balanced classes based on the above criteria.

If you would like to provide some input about your child for consideration as teachers build classes for next year, please complete the Google Form below, Student Placement Survey, and submit no later than Friday, May 17, 2024. All surveys received by May 17th will be given serious consideration when based on the above guidelines. If you need assistance filling out this form, please contact your child’s teacher.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSck_f5-W0ASY92rwwUhb962PF6t80fcei3VM31BQNVY2JGaCA/viewform?usp=sf_link

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

MAY

Wednesday the 1st -- PTA Meeting 6:30 in Library

Monday the 6th through Friday the 10th -- Teacher Appreciation Week

Tuesday the 7th -- A Donut With A Grownup A-L, Popcorn and Paws K-2

Wednesday the 8th -- A Donut With A Grownup M-Z

Tuesday the 14th -- Popcorn and Paws 3-5

Thursday the 16th -- Fine Arts Night 5:30 to 7:30

Wednesday, May 22nd -- Early Release 12:15, Grade 5 Concert

Friday the 24th -- Dollar Day - Mix/Match

June

Friday the 7th -- Dollar Day - Crazy Hair, Grade 5 Fun Night 6:00 to 8:00

Tuesday the 18th -- Field Day

Monday the 24th -- Fifth Grade Moving up Day

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