We are back in the swing of things! We've had some great days as we start 2024. Our teachers began the year reminding our students of our SOAR expectations. We have been able to reflect on our school's quantitative and qualitative data from the first semester, and we are poised to move onward to an even better second semester.

I was able to speak to our PTO families on the 11th, and I spoke a little bit about our academic successes from iReady winter diagnostic. Despite all of the shifts, changes, and newness that we've faced at the beginning of the year, our students' performance has been better than it's been in the previous three years and is amongst the top in Berkeley County. Our teachers are providing a wonderful environment for students to learn and grow, and it will only get better!

My goal for our school is to for it to be the best elementary school in the state, and I sincerely believe that we will be able to reach that goal. We will be the premier school for instruction and for students to grow socially and emotionally.

Thank you all for sending us the best students in the world, we'll be sure to help educate and support their growth!

#SOARingtogether

B. Gantt

Our mission is to cultivate a caring community that utilizes a multitude of teaching and learning experiences to prepare children for their next adventure.

1. We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and appreciated.
2. We believe that all children deserve a high quality education.
3. We believe in collaboration and making connections.

Staying Safe

Owning Your Actions

Acting Responsibly

Respecting Everyone & Everything

Monday, January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (School & Offices Closed)

Friday, January 19: 3rd - 5th Grade Tags of Honor Celebration

• 3rd Grade - 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
• 4th Grade - 10:40 - 11:40 a.m.
• 5th Grade - 9:20 - 10:20 a.m.

Monday, January 22: Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Tags of Honor Celebration

• Kindergarten - 9:20 - 10:20
• 1st Grade - 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.
• 2nd Grade - 10:40 - 11:40

Friday, January 26: 100th Day of School

Monday, January 29: SIC Meeting

Wednesday, January 31: Early Release Day

Thursday, February 8: Progress Reports sent Home

Thursday, February 8: PTO Meeting

Friday, February 9: Class Pictures

Saturday, February 10: WES Sweetheart Dance (sponsored by WES PTO)

Bullying is an intentional pattern of repeated aggressive behavior between two children when there is a power imbalance.

Whitesville Elementary response to bullying:

1. Teachers/Counselors/Administrators investigate the incident or situation to determine if there is bullying.

• If there is not bullying, we help with conflict resolution between the students.
• An overwhelming amount of incidents that we see at WES result in conflict resolution.

2. When bullying is suspected: Adminstrators follow up with students and parents involved and follow the appropriate behavior response based on the BCSD Student Handbook.

Thank you all for your support in completing our WES Winter Family Feedback. Please find the results to your feedback and some immediate and ongoing changes we will be making as a school in response.

• In response to communication, we have recommitted to ensuring our Thursday Folders are shared with families to show your student's work, assessments, and school updates.
• Please find our teacher communications to increase direct parent-teacher communication.
• We will begin sharing our Monthly Character Traits, recognizing our students who are epitomizing our character words.
• We will partner with our Office of Transportation to explicitly teacher our students the expectations on the bus.

“South Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law requires that a parent or guardian shall require his child to attend regularly a public or private school or kindergarten of this State which has been approved by the State Board of Education, a member school of the South Carolina Independent Schools and Association, a member school of the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools, or some similar organization, or a parochial, denominational, or church-related school, or other programs which have been approved by the State Board of Education f rom the school year in which the child is five years of age before September first until the child attains his seventeenth birthday or graduates from high school.”

We love our Volunteers! Please make sure to complete the BCSD Volunteer Clearance Check at https://apps.raptortech.com/Apply/Nzplbi1VUw== in order to volunteer!

WES PTO will be sponsoring our first ever Sweetheart Dance! Our students decided on the theme: Mini Prom. We are excited to have our WES students and their date (parent, guardian, adult) join us on the night of February 10th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. for a great evening of dancing and enjoying fellowship.

* Get your tickets today as there is limited space.

Do you have a bachelor's degree? You could be a teacher in Berkeley County!

There will be two alternative certification info sessions for prospective teachers. The first session will be held virtually on October 18 at 6 p.m., and the second will be on November 1 at 4:30 p.m. at our main office in Moncks Corner.

Virtual Session Registration | In-person Session Registration | Learn More