The Weekly News West Elementary

For the 2024-2025 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 JOINING IN.

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

9/23/24 -- Following Directions

9/30/24 -- Knowing your Feelings

10/7/24 -- Expressing your Feelings

10/14/24 -- Asking for Help

10/21/24 -- Ignoring Distractions

10/27/24 -- Self Talk - Flip the Script

11/4/24 -- Flexible Thinking

11/11/24 -- Reacting to Problems (AKA Size of the Problem)

11/18/24 -- Following the Group Plan

11/25/24 -- Being Grateful

12/10/24 -- Empathy

1/6/25 -- Sharing

1/13/25 -- Making Mistakes

1/20/25 -- Reacting to Problems (AKA Size of the Problem)

1/27/25 -- Accepting Consequences

2/3/25 -- Apologizing

2/10/25 -- Avoiding Trouble

2/24/25 -- Being a Good Sport

3/3/25 -- Understanding Autism and Neurodiversity

3/10/25 -- Joining In

"Nurturing Our Full Potential"

Many parents and professionals who deal with children feel more and more powerless in managing the behaviors they are encountering. Parents and teachers report a disconnect from spending time with one another, from engagement with school, and from positive relationships. They also report a lack of critical skill development they believe children need to achieve success. Much of this can be explained by the impact of electronics on individuals and families. Given how deeply screens are embedded in our lives, this talk will provide information and insights on how the brain is affected. We will then spend most of our time discussing behavioral strategies to empower adults to build desired skills and manage frustration (both theirs and the child’s). Our goal is for parents to feel more confident in building the connections needed to create stronger engagement and healthier relationships.

Mental Health Advocates of Western New York will host a “mental health fair” featuring social-emotional games, activities and/or sensory crafts to help reinforce maintaining a healthy life. Some of these activities and crafts may be:

• Rock Painting – decorating with positive affi rmations;
• Positive Letter Station – how to show gratitude and appreciation;
• Origami Station – using positive affi rmations and mindfulness;
• Growing Station – decorating a pot and planting a seed.

West Elementary staff will be present along with staff from Mental Health Advocates to assist and supervise children ages 5-15. (If you have special childcare needs, please indicate this on the RSVP form below.)

Joe Clem is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) since 2009 and Licensed Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2014. He holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University, in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles where he lived for almost 20 years. He moved to Buffalo in 2003 and began a private practice treating families, couples and individuals. He has worked for over 18 years with individuals with developmental and emotional disabilities and their families in various settings. Joe has also consistently presented regionally, nationally and internationally via the web, on social/emotional and behavioral topics. Joe’s focus is in positive psychology and fi nding behaviorally accurate methods to increase connection, communication, appreciation and success in individuals, families and organizations.

If you have any questions, please contact Kristen Frawley by email at kfrawley@wscschools.org or call 716-677-3253.

WAY TO GO WEST EL KIDS! YOUR SPORTSMANSHIP AND HARD WORK PAID OFF!

Please remember to be extra careful when driving on campus! We have a few students who walk, we have children on campus riding bikes, and we have lots of cars and buses.

With staff directing traffic and lots of children to supervise, WE APPRECIATE YOU DRIVING SLOWLY AND BEING PATIENT!

The 2025 NYS ELA, MATH and SCIENCE assessments will take place in April and May.

Grades 3, 4 and 5 ELA -- April 7th and 8th (Make-Ups April 10th -25th)

Grades 3, 4, and 5 MATH -- April 23rd and 24th (Make-Ups April 25th-April 29th)

Grade 5 SCIENCE -- May 6th (Make-Ups May 7th)

Don't Miss Out on All the Great Memories -- Order Now!

Please visit https://inter-state.com/YearbookEntry/90991Z to order your yearbook.

Use this code -- 90991Z

LAST CHANCE TO ORDER -- APRIL 11TH

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 2025-2026 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 16, 2025. All surveys received by May 16th 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.

Explore Careers at the Potter Career and Technical Education Center!

The Potter CTE Center is excited to introduce your child to the world of careers

at the Potter CTE Center. On March 19th, Grade 5 students will first explore a variety of career

pathways at a career fair hosted at West Elementary School. On March 27th, students will visit the Potter CTE Center and explore a program, experiencing firsthand what their future could look like. See the attached flyer for more info, and expect permission slips soon from the fifth grade teachers.

Hey Kids -- you can be a published writer. Think about working on a story for the PBS Kids Writing Contest.

Last year, a West El second grader won second place!!

For contest information and entry forms, please visit the PBS Kids Writing Contest website.

Kids -- keep practicing! Remember you can log in to First in Math on Clever. Practice the 24 Game and get ready for the state competition on March 20th. West Elementary will be competing this year, and we are hopeful we will have another team head to Albany for the state competition!!!

For more information, please visit -- https://explore.firstinmath.com/nysed-competition/

Thank you West Elementary for supporting White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary! We raised $500 to help this organization! A special thank you to Mrs Wurl, Ms. Cooke, Mrs Hriczko, Ms Moretta, Ms McDonough, Ms Gajewski, and Mrs Kennedy’s classes for making 25 very cozy blankets for these very special pups! Great work!!!

Please use the following link to fill out the West Seneca School District Volunteer Acknowledgement Presentation and 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. Please be sure to fill out West Elementary's form.

https://www.wscschools.org/Page/23819

It is never too soon to start thinking about good school attendance.

There are only 180 days in the school year, and every one of these days matter!

And elementary school is just the beginning of a long educational career. Good habits start now!

Please give us a call or send an email if you are concerned about your child's attendance.

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

March

Tue 18th -- Popcorn and Paws 3-5

Thurs 20th -- Scholastic Book Fair, in school

Fri 21st -- Scholastic Book Fair, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Fri 21st -- Family Fit Night, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Fri 21st -- Dollar Days - Silly Socks

April

Tue 1st -- Popcorn and Paws K-2, Joe Clem and Mental Health Advocates at 6:00pm

Wed 2nd -- PTA Meeting 6:30pm in Library

April 7th and 8th -- NYS Assessment -- Grades 3, 4 and 5 ELA

April 23rd and 24th -- Grades 3, 4, and 5 MATH

Fri 25th Science Night 6:00pm-8:00pm

Fri 25th Dollar Day - Wear Blue or Red for Autism

Tue 29th -- Popcorn and Paws 3-5, Spring Pictures and Grade 5 Panoramic Picture

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