Weekly Hoots

Wise Owls Family 🦉

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible work our teachers and staff do every day. Their dedication, creativity, and tireless commitment to helping each child learn and grow are the heart of our school community.

During Teacher Appreciation Week, we take a moment to pause and not just celebrate our teachers, but our staff, bus drivers, and everyone who works to make Whitesville such a special place. In partnership with our aWESome PTO, Student Council, and Community Partners, we celebrate the heart and soul of our school! This week is a special opportunity to show our gratitude for all they do. Whether it's through a kind note, a small gesture of thanks, or encouraging your child to express their appreciation, your support can go a long way in lifting our staffs' spirits and reinforcing the strong partnership between home and school.

Our staff pour their hearts into the school—nurturing curiosity, building confidence, and creating safe, welcoming spaces where every child can thrive. Let's join together to let them know how valued and appreciated they are.

Thank you for being a vital part of our community and for helping us honor the educators who make such a difference in the lives of our students.

With pride and appreciation,

Dr. Gantt

Principal at the most Amazing School on Earth!

#FirstThingsFirst!

This past Friday was School Principal's Day, and I received so much love!!! Thank you to everyone who reached out, offered words of care, love, and support! I 100% feel blessed to serve our WES community 😁

Working in education can be difficult to say the least; however, we have an AMAZING staff who truly loves what they do! Please use this form to shout-out a WES staff member. Our goal will be to share on our Social Media page to encourage our staff for the aWESome work they do!

When I had an issue Mrs. Coates called me right away and handled it. She showed me she truly cared about the well being of the students. I’m grateful to have crossed paths with her!

Mrs.Posa is such a breath of fresh air she’s always smiling she’s always giving hugs she greets my daughter every morning & she absolutely loves it, when she’s absent you can definitely feel the difference. We love Mrs.Posa!!

Everyday my daughter is excited to go to Ms.Kupfers class, she enjoys learning with her you can tell she truly cares about her students. Mrs.Penny, greets her every morning she looks forward to it everyday. They are both truly amazing.

Miss Kirkpatrick has demonstrated an exceptional level of care, diligence, and professionalism all year long. She truly exemplifies what an amazing teacher should be. She is consistently kind, pleasant, and deeply committed to her students, and it is clear that she creates a classroom environment that is both engaging and joyful—Mia talks about her class all the time.

Any time I have had a question, Miss Kirkpatrick has responded quickly with thoughtful and helpful information, which has always given me such peace of mind. I feel so comfortable and confident entrusting my child to her each day because she is truly that incredible—and she shows up with that same level of excellence every single day.

I especially want to acknowledge how seamlessly she continued to lead and communicate when her partner teacher went out on leave. She did not miss a beat. She maintained strong communication, supported the substitute teacher, and ensured the classroom continued to run smoothly without disruption.

I truly cannot say enough about Miss Kirkpatrick and the positive impact she has had on our daughter and our family this year. She has made this school year a true blessing for Mia, and we are so grateful for the care, consistency, and joy she has brought to the classroom.

Wishing her nothing but the very best and a fun, restful, and well-deserved summer.

Mrs. Gorski is the best! Being new to her class this year, I can truly see why she was named Teacher of the Year last year. After having Ms. Cafeo, who set the bar so high, I’m happy to say I have not been disappointed this year.

We absolutely love Mrs. Gorski. She keeps us well informed about everything going on in the classroom and is always quick to respond when I have questions. My son loves her, and having a teacher who makes him feel good about going to school means everything. I can’t thank her enough for that.

Every time I see her, she has a smile on her face and genuinely looks like she loves what she does and that makes all the difference.

This teacher makes a big impact during morning drop-off. When I bring my son to school, we always hope she’s the one helping him out of the car. She consistently has a warm, welcoming attitude and genuinely looks happy to be there, which sets such a positive tone for the day.

It really makes a difference. You can’t expect a child to feel excited about school if the person greeting them doesn’t seem like they want to be there but she always does. That kind of energy first thing in the morning goes a long way, and it does not go unnoticed.

Despite managing an unusually large caseload, Debbie consistently goes above and beyond to ensure every student feels supported, challenged, and valued. Her ability to balance instructional demands with individualized attention is remarkable. She not only meets students where they are linguistically and academically, but actively creates opportunities for them to grow more confident.

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

“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.”

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: If your child is not currently enrolled in a Berkeley County School, please note that you should complete the New Student Registration form.

Welcome back BCSD families! To ensure a smooth start for the upcoming school year, Berkeley County School District requires all parents/legal guardians of returning students to complete an Online Returning Student Registration through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

• This mandatory process includes providing two proofs of residency and is essential for reviewing and updating contact information, submitting required annual forms, and providing transportation details.

• Families needing assistance with creating a PowerSchool Parent Portal account or have forgotten their username or password, should contact your student’s school.

• For those without internet access or unable to register online, please contact the school to arrange a date and time to complete the registration at the school using a district device.

  
  

To get started, parents/legal guardians with a Parent Portal account can access the Returning Student Registration by clicking the POWERSCHOOL PARENT PORTAL button below. For more information about PowerSchool Parent Portal, please visit our Parent Portal Resources page.

• Enrolled BCSD students who will complete the 2025-2026 school year and plan to return to the same school within BCSD for the 2026-2027 school year.

• Students moving from primary to elementary, elementary to middle, or middle to high within the same school zone.

• Currently enrolled in Pre-K4 (CERDEP) in BCSD and remaining in the same school.

• Students moving to a new school due to BCSD updated attendance lines.

As we strive to continuously improve the quality of education at Whitesville Elementary School, your feedback plays a crucial role in shaping our approach. With this in mind, I am writing to request your input regarding your child's placement for the 2026-2027 school year.

We do not take teacher recommendations; however, your insights and observations about your child's needs in terms of their teacher will help us to ensure that your child is placed in the best possible environment to learn and to grow.

Please take a few moments to share your thoughts by responding to the Student Placement Family Input Form (below). We value your partnership in your child's education and appreciate your time and input in this matter.

Thank you for your continued support.

With shifts coming from school placement and leadership changes, this form will be shared with both Dr. Baird (Bee Tree Elementary School principal) and Dr. Sainz (incoming Whitesville Elementary School principal) to support a smooth transition for all students 🙂

• The South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessment (SC READY) program is a statewide assessment for students in grades 3–8 in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics, and in grades 4 and 6 for science. The SC READY tests measure the South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Standards taught in ELA, Math, and Science classes. These standards are located on the SCDE website: https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/standards-learning/
• All students, including students with disabilities and multilingual learners (MLs), must be administered SC READY except for those students who qualify for the South Carolina Alternate Assessment (SC-Alt) as determined by their IEP team

• Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep, especially the night before each test. Rest helps with focus and performance.

• Serve a balanced breakfast, rich in protein and healthy carbs, to fuel their brain for the day ahead. Avoid sugary foods that may cause energy crashes.

• Keep a calm, positive attitude. Your child will pick up on your energy. Encourage them and remind them that it’s okay to do their best, not to stress.

• Aim to get to school a little earlier than usual to avoid the stress of rushing. This can help your child feel more prepared and relaxed.

• Remind your child to read all instructions carefully, pace themselves, and review their answers if they have time.

• Be aware of the testing schedule and any changes. Make sure to let your child know about specific times, locations, and anything else they need to be aware of.

• After the tests are over, praise their hard work and efforts, regardless of the results. This helps build confidence for future tests.

If your child has medication in the nurse's office, they will have to pick them up by the end of the day on June 1st. Anything not picked up that day will be discarded.

Reading

Reading

Writing

Math

Math

Science

WES Multi-Purpose Room

tba

WES Basketball Court

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Volunteers Needed

Reach out to Coach Felkel (felkeld@bcsdschools.net)

Volunteers Needed

Reach out to Coach Felkel (felkeld@bcsdschools.net)

Reach out to your child's teacher

Kindergarten - 7:45 - 9:00a.m.

3rd Grade - 9:15 - 10:15a.m.

WES Multi-Purpose Room

5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

2nd Grade - 7:45 - 8:45 a.m.

1st Grade - 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.

4th Grade - 10:15 - 11:15 a.m.

Show your school spirit and support our students by grabbing your WES Car Magnet! Every purchase helps fund exciting programs and activities, enriching your child's school experience. Plus, you are showcasing your WES pride in your community. Join us in making a difference—buy now and roll with school pride!

Car Magnets cost $5.

Tuesday, May 26th - 5th Grade End of Year Celebration

VantageSpeech.com

843-790-4093

Vantage Speech is a licensed speech-language therapy company located in Moncks Corner, Summerville, and Port Royal, South Carolina. We provide Clinic & home-based comprehensive speech and language evaluations, therapy, and consultations. Vantage Speech was founded to provide in-depth personalized services while building quality relationships with clients and their families. Services are throughout the greater area of Charleston & Beaufort, which includes Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Beaufort & Jasper counties.

yourscagent.com

843-879-0349

Sarah's agency, Sarah Modesitt State Farm, offers a range of insurance products including auto, home, business, life, and health insurance. They also provide quality financial services to assist customers in protecting what matters most to them throughout their lives. Sarah and her team are dedicated to genuinely educating their customers about their insurance needs and ensuring they feel protected.

GCGROUP.COM

843-970-1970

Since 2013, The Gasperic & Collins Group (Formerly The Gasperic Group) has been a top-producing realty in Charleston and its surrounding South Carolina communities. For us, client bonds matter more than anything. That means working with us means you’ll always be informed, supported, and heard.

charlestonswaglab.com

843-771-6080

We are a full service advertising specialties company offering a wide range of promotional items to promote your company.

We can assist your marketing objectives with these quality programs:

• Corporate recognition programs
• Premiums and Incentives Sales
• Trade Show Programs
• Safety Programs
• Service Awards
• Employee Recognition

• Product Introductions
• Business Gifts
• Sport Tournaments
• Company Outings
• Thank you programs
• E-Commerce Services: online stores and fulfillment services

Students at WES will receive school breakfast and school lunch at no cost to the student during 2025-26 school year, under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The Community Eligibility Provision is a federally funded initiative, which serves schools with high percentages of students from low-income families. The program was established in 2010 and is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If a negative balance exists on a student's account from previous school years, the balance will need to be paid in full.

Breakfast and lunch will be served on every day. If your student wants to eat breakfast at school, they should arrive to school between 6:50 a.m. - 7:18 a.m. Breakfast will no longer be served after 7:45 a.m.

• Our school's website is found at https://www.bcsdschools.net/o/wes
• WES Facebook page is Whitesville Elementary School Wise Owls
• The Weekly Hoots newsletter will be emailed & texted to families every Sunday evening. Please be sure to have your updated information in PowerSchool.
• Our PTO's website is wiseowlspto.com.
• Our PTO's Facebook page is Whitesville Wise Owls PTO.
• Schoology: Teachers will update their grades weekly.
• Rooms: Our two-way form of communication at WES. Every teacher at WES will use Rooms as a tool for communication.