Black Cat Bulletin
Keeping it R.E.A.L! Respect + Effort + Attitude= Leadership
January 2018
From Our Principal...
Happy New Year! I would like to extend a warm welcome back and Happy New Year to each of you! May this year bring you, and your family, great joy, peace and harmony, good health, and prosperity. We thank you for your caring support and partnership in working together with your children.
The New Year is a wonderful time for families to discuss their own family values and how to make a difference in the lives of others. These discussions can set a foundation of great communication throughout the New Year. Families are encouraged to seize this opportunity to celebrate personal achievements throughout the New Year. Please see the article below from one of our own 5th grade students who is working to make a difference through her Wax Museum project along with the help of her family and her teachers.
We cherish our relationship with you and your children. This foundation will support your child in building the success needed to excel in future schooling and career activities. We invite you to reach out to your child's teacher if you have concerns or support in assisting your child build positive relationships and academic success at school.
Sincerely,
Katie White
“Make each day your masterpiece! Live the story you want to tell the world.”
~ John Wooden
From Our Principal Intern and Counselor...
Winter Break
As we continue to learn about Social Emotional Learning, look at the article below to see how we can help our students learn to cope with feelings.
Helping Children Cope with "Big Feelings"
Children can have the same big feelings that we do. The difference for adults, though, is that we have more life experience to know how to deal with difficult emotions. When our children feel fear, anxiety, or anger, they need our help to learn how to cope. Here are some tips:
Name the Feeling(s)
Help your child figure out which feeling they are/were having. Putting a name to it can help validate their experience. Having a feelings poster or reading children's books about feelings can be helpful to identify their own feeling.
Normalize the Feeling(s)
It can be confusing for a child who's feelings take over and lead to behaviors they may not usually have. Explain that all people have these feelings sometimes, and we all have to learn how to manage them.
Talk About the Brain
Our brains and bodies are connected and our brains send out signals when we experience certain "big feelings". Explain that we have a part of our brain (thinking brain) that's in charge of making decisions, thinking things through, and managing our emotions. Explain that another part of our brain (emotional brain) is in charge of important things like breathing, digesting food, and holds onto big feelings like anger and anxiety; this part of our brain also reacts to any threats, and can make us feel like we need to run (flight), fight back, or freeze. Sometimes this part of our brain overreacts, and we need to try strategies to calm it down.
Practice Self-Regulation Skills
When children are calm, their thinking brain is on, and this is the best time to come up with a plan for when their emotional brain tries to take over. Encourage taking a break (not a timeout), deep breathing, releasing angry energy by exercising, and relaxation strategies such as progressive muscle relaxation, coloring, calm down jars, music, etc. Practice these repeatedly when they are calm. Helping your child begin to recognize their body's early signs of a big feeling (heart racing, clenched jaw, etc.) can help them learn when to employ their self-regulation skills.
by Kayla Marston, M.Ed.
Substitutes Needed!!!
Click here for more information!
Teacher Subs:
Non-teach Subs:
Come join us!!
News You Can Use
Madalynn's Alex's Lemonade Stand
You are invited to the 5th Grade Wax Museum, next Tuesday, Jan. 9th, from 5:30-7:00.
We have some VERY EXCITING NEWS! One of our students, Madalynn Acker, has a special role this year. She chose Alex Scott as her legendary leader, and we are teaming with Alex's Lemonade Stand to give back to their organization (and honor Madalynn's mother who passed away last year).
Click here to see, and share, the fundraising page: www.alexslemonade.org/mypage/1398742
Madalynn has been so excited about this idea, and she and her family have already raised funds using the link above. She hopes our community can come together and help her, too. Madalynn is most excited to be able to do something for others who are struggling with cancer! Please help us support her. She will host a lemonade stand at our Wax Museum to raise additional funds.
A link to the slideshow that is shared with families before our event is included. We thought you might want to see what our students are up to this year! At the end of the slideshow, there is a short tribute to Madalynn's mom, and the organization we are supporting. We are excited to use our museum as a way to give back, just like the legendary leaders we researched. Click here to see the slideshow!
Thank you in advance for any support--donating, sharing, volunteering, or visiting our Legendary Leaders event! This is such a special part of the students' 5th grade year, and shows how much they have grown since they have been at West Terrace.
Outdoor Recess unless it is below 32 degrees
YEARBOOK
Please click on the link and enter code 23118y to order your child's yearbook The homeroom in each grade level that purchases the most yearbooks will win a pizza party.
DATES to Remember
Recycling News
Please remember that you can recycle aluminum cans here at West Terrace!! The aluminum recycle cage is parked in the east parking lot right next to the recycle dumpster. We ask that you put only cans in the cage. Every penny we earn from the cans comes right back to our school!
PAWS ON PARADE
The lower grades are adding up the miles and having a fun time. The Seconders are ahead of the game and close to meeting their goals. I wish everyone a wonderful winter break.
As of December 15th our top 5 walkers are…
Kensleigh Jackson 25 miles 5 laps in Mrs. Nau's 2nd grade class
Lleyton King 21 miles 0 laps in Mrs. Kavanaugh's 2nd grade class
Lillian Govert 15 miles 4 laps in Mrs Nau’s 2nd grade class
Cheston Anderson 13 miles 1 lap in Mrs. Kavanaugh’s 2nd grade class
Clayton Spradley 12 miles 6 laps in Mrs. Bass’ 3rd grade class
Total miles of all students per grade walking...
1st graders 146.3 miles
2nd graders 219.1 miles
3rd graders 75.3 miles
4th graders 42.9 miles
5th graders 00.1 miles
Tammy Jewell
POP Coordinator
Calendar Link--click below for calendar
JOIN THE WEST TERRACE PTA!
President: Co Chairs Jenny Fuquay and Sandi Davis
Vice-President of Events: Stephanie Yellig
Vice-President of Fundraising: Open
Secretary: Tera Babb
Treasurer: Co Chairs April Coughlin and April Weyer
PTA MEETING DATES:
Wednesday, November 29 @ 5:30pm
Wednesday, December 20 @ 5:30pm
Wednesday, January 24 @ 5:30pm
Wednesday, February 28 @ 5:30 pm
Wednesday, March 21 @ 5:30 pm
Wednesday, April 25 @ 5:30pm
Extended Care
Welcome Back Staff and Students! We in Extended Care hope you all had a wonderful
Winter Break filled with relaxation and family fun. We will be busy starting a new
calendar year and getting your Yearly Payment Reports to assist you while filling out
your 2017 tax return. This report is by request only. That being said, we will be
handing out the request forms with a sign up/tear off at the bottom to be returned
to school. Our Tax ID # 35-1071682.
We are continuing to have a 30 minute homework time slot built in to our daily schedule
and hope this procedure has helped to lighten your nightly load. Please encourage
your kids to complete their work and/or reading time here at school by keeping a
book of their choice in their backpacks. We also have a selection at school if needed.
If you have any questions pertaining to our program, please don’t hesitate to call
my office phone 812-435-8735.
Barbara Grant
Extended Care Coordinator
Community Outreach
Jenna Hancock-Wargel Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (Click here for more information)
THIS YEAR'S STAFF
Please help us welcome the following staff members to our teams.
Here are the specific grade level assignments:
Kindergarten:
Wendy Brunson, rm 30
Lisa Gooch, rm 33
Angela Hayes, rm 34
Tara Kolb, rm 32
Christine Mattingly, rm 21
First Grade
Brooke Corressell, rm 3
Cindy Evans, rm 5
Kitten McClain, rm 6
Amanda Woods, rm 1
Second Grade
Vera Emmons, rm 9
Nicholas Iaccarino, rm 23
Trisha Kavanaugh, rm 15
Carie Kingery, rm 10
Amy Nau, rm 12
Third Grade
Robin Bass, rm 19/ Denise Strawn, rm 18
Courtney Rueger, rm 16/ Stephanie Scheu, rm 11
Fourth Grade
Shelly DeWeese, rm 22/ Nikki Paul, rm 17
Megan Murphy, rm 24/Lindsey Stine, rm 29
Fifth Grade
Renee Schefer, rm 27/Simone Nance, rm 25
Trish Toelle, rm 26/Cassie Curl, rm 28
Special Ed
LIfeskills:
Jennifer Bennett, rm 4
Sarah Walls, rm 2
Resource:
Renae Jackson, rm 14
Shelley Patton, rm 21
Elizabeth Ray, media center
Rotation
Peggy Davis, Gym
Susan Kemper, Art, rm 8
Nadine Risley, Technology
Anne Woodruff, Music, rm 7
Office
Katie White, Principal
Bethany Lynch, Principal Intern
April Coughlin, Counselor
Sheri Moore, Principal's Secretary
Nicole Smith, Secretary/Receptionist
Christine Hamilton, Nurse
Kim Sitzman, Media Aide