Dr. Krueger's Spotlight - August

The Most Important Back-to-School Supply Is Free: Sleep

As summer winds down and families prepare for a new school year, back-to-school checklists fill up quickly: backpacks, school supplies, new shoes, and paperwork. There’s one important “supply” that doesn’t cost a thing, but can make a meaningful difference in how children learn, behave, feel, and experience their school day:

Sleep.

Sleep is far more than simple rest. During sleep, the brain processes the day's information, locks in memories, and regulates emotions to prepare students for the next day. When children don’t get enough sleep, it often shows up as trouble paying attention, irritability, low motivation, or heightened tiredness. For younger kids, being overtired can even look like hyperactive energy. Adequate sleep gives students a stronger foundation for learning, managing challenges, and navigating relationships throughout the school day. And importantly, sleep is something every family can work toward without adding another item to the shopping cart.

How Much Sleep Do Children Need?

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends:

• Ages 3–5: 10–13 hours per 24 hours (including naps)

• Ages 6–12: 9–12 hours per 24 hours

• Ages 13–18: 8–10 hours per 24 hours

Balancing these hours alongside homework, sports, dinners, and family life can feel overwhelming. The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is giving sleep an intentional place on the family calendar.

Small Steps to a Predictable Routine

If summer bedtimes have drifted later, transition gradually rather than overnight. Shift bedtime and wake-up schedules earlier by 15–30 minutes in the days leading up to school. This is particularly helpful for teenagers, whose natural biological clocks lean toward staying up later despite early school start times.

Focus on creating a calm, predictable pattern to help your child wind down:

• Younger Students: A consistent sequence like a warm bath, pajamas, reading a story, and lights out.

• Older Students & Teens: Preparing clothes and backpacks the night before, finishing homework early, listening to music or reading, and setting a household "technology bedtime" where devices are stored and charged outside the bedroom.

As we prepare for another school year in West Seneca, consider adding sleep to your back-to-school checklist. No shopping trip required. No special equipment needed. Just time, consistency, and patience. Backpacks may carry the supplies children need for school. Sleep helps make sure they’re ready to use them.

With West Seneca Pride,

Dr. Lisa Krueger

We are thrilled to celebrate the resounding success of our recent Back-to-School event! Thanks to an incredible collective community effort, we were able to serve approximately 170 families across the West Seneca Central School District, ensuring our students have the essential resources, supplies, and support they need for a strong start to the academic year.

Events of this scale are only possible through the generosity and dedication of our community partners, staff, and volunteers. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to:

• Ebenezer Church: For opening their doors to host the event, collecting vital donations, and leading the hands-on efforts for setup and teardown.
• West Seneca Applebee’s: For organizing and hosting the annual “Stuff the Bus” drive, which brought in overwhelming community contributions.
• Life Church: For their exceptional generosity and dedicated support of our district families.
• The Reading Rover: For distributing books to ensure every child left the event with engaging reading materials for home.
• Substance-Free Coalition of Orchard Park & West Seneca: For adding a fun, personal touch by helping students customize their backpacks with custom iron-on patches.
• WSTA Retirees: For donating their time and energy to sort, organize, and prepare all the donated supplies prior to the event.
• WSCSD Social Workers: For their leadership, vision, and hard work in planning and running the event seamlessly from start to finish.

Thank you to everyone who stepped up to support our families. Together, we are building a stronger, more connected community for our students!

Below is just a snippet of the amazing Back-to-School Event:

🎒First Day of School for ALL Students

Date: September 2nd

Time: Please see your building's "About Us" information page on their website for hours!

Location: Your AWESOME school!

🚨NO SCHOOL for ALL Students

Date: September 4th & September 7th

🏫Board of Education - Regular Board Meeting

Date: September 8, 2026

Time: 6pm

Location: West Elementary School Board Room

Livestreamed?: Yes

🏫Board of Education - Work Session

Date: September 29th

Time: 6pm

Location: West Elementary School Board Room

Livestreamed?: No

🗓️For full event calendar & more information click the district website button below:

The West Seneca West Varsity Softball team recently hosted a youth softball clinic on August 6, bringing together young athletes in grades K–8 for a day of learning, skill-building, and fun.

Designed to foster a love for the sport, the clinic offered two age-specific sessions centered on mastering the core fundamentals of softball in a supportive and encouraging environment.

The district’s varsity players took center stage as mentors and role models throughout the day. Demonstrating exceptional leadership, enthusiasm, and sportsmanship, the student-athletes worked directly with the participants to teach key skills and pass on their passion for the game.

Thank you to Coach Ashley Bonetto, the varsity team, and all the young athletes who participated and made the event a great success!

Below is a couple of photos from their day...

Last week, we proudly welcomed our newest educators through the launch of the New Beginnings Academy—a comprehensive approach to onboarding, professional development, and community integration.

Over an engaging three-day kickoff, new teachers connected directly with district leadership, collaborated with peer mentors, and toured the West Seneca community stopping at each of their school buildings. These initial days provided essential resources, operational knowledge, and meaningful professional relationships, ensuring our newest team members begin their journey with a clear path to success.

Beyond Orientation: Ongoing Mentorship and Growth

Orientation is just the first step. The New Beginnings Academy establishes a structured support system throughout each educator's probationary period. Key components include:

• 1-on-1 Mentorship: Pairing new teachers with experienced West Seneca educators for peer support, classroom guidance, and continuous feedback.

• Targeted Professional Learning: Interactive workshops held throughout the school year focused on instructional strategies, technology integration, and district curriculum goals.

• Collaborative Communities: Dedicated time for cohort members to reflect on classroom experiences, share effective practices, and build strong professional networks across schools.

By prioritizing mentorship and continuous learning, the Academy builds educator confidence and refines instructional practice. Most importantly, it ensures our new staff members feel deeply valued, connected, and equipped to deliver exceptional learning experiences for West Seneca students.

We would like to share a very special thank you to the following people:

• Miss Debbie - Our WSCSD bus driver who safely navigated our new teachers on their tour of West Seneca.
• The West Seneca Marching Band - For giving us a wonderful surprise performance during band camp as the bus pulled up between West Elementary and Allendale!
• Jon Dalbo & Kim McCartan - For curating a fabulous spoken history tour of West Seneca.
• Diana Nigro & Rachel Spencer - For their dedication in organizing a rich, memorable experience to jumpstart our new educators' careers in West Seneca.

Please enjoy some photos below from the meeting and the bus tour of West Seneca...

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