Tiger Talk
04/20/21
Open enrollment for all grade levels for the 2021-22 school year happening now
The 2021-22 school year will be here before we know it, and the West Cypress Hills staff is busy planning for next year. While there are still some unknowns, one thing is for certain! New and returning TIGERS will be welcomed on August 18.
If you, or someone you know, have an incoming Kindergartener and/or are planning to enroll a student at any grade level, please make sure to fill out the enrollment packet online. West Cypress Hills has the most amazing staff, and we want to continue to hire the most highly qualified candidates. Because staffing allocations are based on current enrollment numbers, we need to have accurate numbers moving into the fall to staff our grade levels appropriately.
Enrollment packets can now be completed online. However, if you do not have access to a computer, hard copies of the enrollment packet are available for pick up. If you have any questions regarding enrollment, please reach out to our Registrar, Becky Wright, at 512-533-7500 or wrightr@ltisdschools.org.
Melanie Beninga
Principal, West Cypress Hills Elementary
We are so excited that our entire West Cypress Hills family is reading one book together.
One Community One School One Book
On Monday, March 29, our school embarked on a special project: an all-school book club called One Community One School One Book. Every family should have already received a copy of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo.
In-person learners should have received the book during library classes. Books for families of our remote learners were (and still are) available for pick up in our front lobby. If your family has not received your copy of The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, please contact us.
Please click the link to view the reading calendar and to learn more. The entire WCHE family is invited to read the book together. It's not too late to join the fun. Happy Reading!
With warmest regards,
Cathy Seidenberger, Librarian
Elephants, Tigers, and Books OH MY!
WCHE Jungle Book Fair
Where: WCHE Library
When: April 11-24 (Online Shopping)
When: April 26-30 (On-campus students shop in the library*)
*The Book Fair is not open to outside visitors or guests. Thank you for your understanding.
Step 1: Students will preview the Book Fair the week of April 19 to create “wish lists” to share with parents.
Step 2: Parents set up an eWallet account (watch the eWallet video)
Step 3: Students shop for books the week of April 26 during their designated class time.
Step 4: Enjoy your books!
*In an effort to keep our Book Fair operating safely, we will be accepting payment only through Scholastic eWallet or checks payable to WCHE. Cash is not allowed. (watch the eWallet video)
Online access to all of our Book Fair titles are available in a new and unique format! Shop the fair virtually with a 360 degree tour! All purchases will be shipped directly to your home. All funds raised through the online Book fair directly benefit our school library and library programs. Online shopping opens on April 11. Happy Reading!
Shop the Scholastic Online Fair Here
Thank you for your continued support of our school!
Cathy Seidenberger, WCHE Librarian
Spring Photo Makeup Day -- April 21 at Serene Hills Elementary from 11 - noon!
For Tigers unable to have spring photos made on our April 12 Spring Picture Day, we now have a photo makeup opportunity for you!
Serene Hills Elementary has invited our Tiger families who need a photo makeup day to come to their campus between 11 am and noon on Wednesday, April 21. Check in at their Front Office, and they will assist you.
Serene Hills Elementary is located at 3301 Serene Hills Drive in Lakeway.
Thank you, Serene Hills Elementary!
Don't be left out of the yearbook!
Ms. Brymer is in charge of our West Cypress Hills yearbook, and she is working hard to get the 2020-21 yearbook completed and ready for publication by the end of this week.
We want to make sure that we have a photo of all of our Tigers to include in this year's yearbook.
If we do not have a picture of your child, your child's teacher will be reaching out to you to ask you to please submit a photo to Bianca Brymer by Friday, April 23, 2021. The photo should be of your Tiger's head and shoulders on a solid color background. Thank you!
WCHE STAAR Dates
A survey about STAAR was emailed to parents of all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade remote students.
If you haven't already done so, please take a moment to respond. It will help us make appropriate plans to accommodate our remote Tigers!
Most of our Tigers will be taking STAAR online this year.
The dates below are for West Cypress Hills Elementary ONLY!
Our Neighborhood Bookmobile is Back!
The Lake Travis Community Library Bookmobile comes to our neighborhood amenity center for contactless reserve pick up service, take and make crafts, and free Wi-Fi.
Our favorite Bookmobile will be a the West Cypress Hills neighborhood pool on alternating Thursdays from 3 to 4 pm.
Visit the Lake Travis Community Library website for more information.
Hit the Easy Button! Order 2021-22 School Supplies Online Here!
Thanks to our fabulous PTO, supplies can be ordered online from schoolkidz at your convenience! The online prepackaged grade level supplies can be ordered until June 11, 2021. If you purchase your student school supplies online, the supplies will be delivered to the school before the first day of school. Grade appropriate kits are available to order online now. Click here and use account #79519 to view the kits.
We also have lists of the school supplies for 2021-2022 so that, if you prefer, you can purchase the supplies on your own from any source convenient to you.
WCHE Continues to Follow LTISD Return to School Protocols for COVID-19
To help ensure that our Tiger families stay safe, please read the Daily Symptom Screening information that I provided below and keep your Tiger(s) home even if only one symptom is present. Please send your Tiger(s) to school wearing fresh clean face masks. We will help them to sanitize their hands as they enter the school and help them to keep hands sanitized throughout the school day.
We are one team, one family. Let's work together to keep our family healthy. Please feel free to contact me any time you have questions or concerns.
Is it Allergies......or is it COVID-19?
Are your children exhibiting a cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, headache, sore throat, congestion, or a runny nose? According to information released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these are symptoms common of both COVID-19 and seasonal allergies and should be taken seriously. In fact, Lake Travis ISD health and wellness protocols stipulate students who are exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, including those common to both COVID-19 and seasonal allergies as depicted above, should be kept home.
Recently, students across our District who have been sent home with common symptoms have tested positive for COVID-19. If your child is exhibiting any of the symptoms of COVID-19, including those common of both COVID-19 and seasonal allergies, please keep him/her home.
Furthermore, I urge everyone to continue the consistent practice of personal hygiene and social distancing so that we can keep our school safe and operational. We are one team, one family.
WCHE Clinic Needs Athletic Shorts
The WCHE Clinic, occasionally, needs to provide a change of clothing to our Tigers, and we are in need of used or new athletic shorts for boys and girls in sizes small, medium, and large.
If you have athletic shorts you can send our way, we'd be most grateful. Just place them in a grocery bag marked "Clinic" and send them to the Clinic by way of your in-person learners or drop them in the drop box that is located in our front lobby.
Thank you for helping us to help our Tigers!
Dear Parents/Guardians of Tiger 5th Graders:
If your child receives updated immunizations at his/her 11-year-old well check, please turn the record in to me. I will then be able to make sure that the immunization record is as up to date as possible before he/she is promoted to middle school.
There are 3 vaccines recommended for preteens. At 11-12 years old, your preteen should receive vaccines to protect them from the following diseases:
- Meningococcal disease (MenACWY) (one dose)
- HPV (two doses)
- Tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis) (Tdap) (one dose)
Please remember that you are welcome to contact me if you have questions concerning immunizations.
Warmest regards,
Dana Hensel, RN, NCSN, WCHE School Nurse
Lake Travis Middle School PTO Welcomes Families of Rising 6th Grade Tigers!
Welcome to Lake Travis Middle School! We are very excited that you will be joining us next year, and we look forward to meeting you. Becoming a member of the PTO is a great way to meet your new family and be in on everything exciting that will be happening at Lake Travis MIddle School.
We invite you to join our PTO as members, volunteers, and supporters. There are even a few opportunities to serve on the PTO Board and some of our PTO committees. To learn more about the Lake Travis Middle School PTO and to apply for membership, just click here!
We look forward to seeing you soon!
With warmest regards,
Freda Collier, LTMS PTO President
Staff Shout Outs
WCH Families,
In the last few weeks, families submitted shout outs to our staff. Your words of appreciation were priceless and brought big smiles and tears of joy. Thank you, and please continue to submit your shout outs!
If you would like to send a shout out to a WCHE staff member or teacher, I will gladly pass it along. It can be anonymous or signed. Thank you for lifting up our hardworking teachers and faculty. We love what we do and appreciate your partnership.
Thanks for taking a minute to say thanks!
Melanie
Wall of Fame for Shoe Tying
Our Wall of Fame for Shoe Tying is dedicated to Kinder, 1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd Grade Tigers who have just learned to tie their shoes AND for Kinder, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade Tigers who know how to tie their shoes and have not already been honored on our Wall of Fame for Shoe Tying in prior years.
The honor is extended to in-person learners and remote learners. Contact our PE coaches if you have questions or need a paper or electronic shoe sent to your Tiger(s.)
District Assisting With Technology to Support Remote Learning
The Lake Travis Independent School District (LTISD) will lend Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots to students in grades K-12 who have limited or no access to a device at home and who do not already have a device from our initial deployment last year.
Families who meet the above criteria may request a Chromebook and/or WiFi hotspot by phoning the LTISD Technology Department at 512-533-6565.
Also, there is a known issue affecting the login credentials of some of our families with district-issued Chromebooks, and we have developed a solution to help you establish credentials for login. If you are unable to log in, please follow the steps outlined here, and if you need additional assistance, please feel free to contact us. We appreciate your patience.
On-line Learning Available ONLY Through Your Child's LTISD Account
To gain entry to student learning, students should use the LTISD LT1 Classlink to enter and access all classroom google links. This ensures secure and safe learning.
If students/parents attempt to access class meetings or documents without using the student's credentials in LT1 (for example, logging in to the browser from a parent's personal or work account instead of the student's LTISD account) access is restricted. To prevent unauthorized people from accessing our classrooms, only appropriate LT1 Classlink logins with the student's credentials can gain access. Access attempts by any other accounts will be denied.
PLEASE be sure to access all google links through our LT1Classlink using the appropriate LTISD student's credentials.
Changing Instructional Status
A change from in-person learning to remote learning can be made at any time. To request this change, complete the LTISD Instructional Change Form. The completed form should be forwarded to our Registrar, Becky Wright.
Meals for Remote Learners
Students in remote learning at home may purchase a meal for pickup from our school cafeteria. Learn more here.
Please note, menu options may be limited. If a parent or child in remote learning at home wishes to pick up a meal at school, accommodations must be made via email directly with the café manager, Mrs. Corinne Stewart, before 10:00 a.m. daily. All meals for remote learners must be picked up at the school’s front office during the regular meal schedule.
Yes, Students Withdrawn from LTISD May Re-enroll Later for In-Person Learning
Students can be re-enrolled for in-person learning after having been withdrawn as students of the LTISD. The re-enrollment process is the same as the enrollment process for any new LTISD student. The re-enrolled student will, initially, be scheduled for in-person learning at the school building.
Once the re-enrolled student is attending school in person, remote learning, if desired, may be selected when the district next extends an invitation to select a preferred learning option.
Mrs. White Names April WCHE College and Career Month!
Counselor's Corner
We have several important initiatives being launched from the Counselor's Office this month. While we continue with our Second Step lessons, we are also going to introduce Tigers to a wide range of college and career opportunities this month. April is College and Career Month at West Cypress Hills Elementary! Here is more information about our April initiatives!
Initiative #1, Second Step: This week we work on developing friendship skills. The topic for this week is "Inviting to Play."
Friendship Skills - Inviting to Play: At our school it’s important to notice and have empathy when other kids are being left out. Inviting other students to play is a caring thing to do. When we invite others to play, we will get to know them. At recess this week, notice if anyone is being left out and be sure to ask that person to join in and play!
Initiative #2, College and Career Month: We are thrilled to name the month of April as West Cypress Hills' College and Career Month! Elementary School is a wonderful time to spark excitement about the future, discover and identify student interests, and to encourage students to dream BIG. Although we are unable to invite career month visitors to our campus this year, we will still offer fun and exciting ways to present college and career options to our Tigers.
Our learners will have an opportunity to utilize a really fun, interactive program called Paws in Jobland. During their virtual "visit to Jobland," learners explore different careers and begin discovering their areas of interest through engaging surveys. And, the WCHE staff is supporting our College and Career Month by displaying their graduation photos and providing information about their own college and career experiences. On our daily broadcasts, we are featuring interviews with people in different and diverse careers.
Initiative #3, Dress Up Days! During the week of April 19 - 23, students are invited to dress up in celebration of our West Cypress Hills' College and Career Month.
- Monday, April 19 - We wear pajamas to "Dream" to Succeed
- Tuesday, April 20 - We wear neon and/or sunglasses because our Future is "Bright"
- Wednesday, April 21 - We wear a favorite hat for "Hats Off" to our Future Grads
- Thursday, April 22 - We wear college spirit wear/colors to Show our College Spirit
- Friday, April 23 - We wear WCHE spirit wear/colors to Show our School Spirit.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I am happy to be of assistance. We are one family, one team!
LTEF 2021 Un-Gala FunGala: Be a Kid for the Kids! Save the Date: May 8!
"Host your friends and family, and join us to support and celebrate our Lake Travis schools. Although this year has been like no other year, the needs in our schools remain. Let’s come together to support our students and teachers of Lake Travis."
4th Grade Artist, Miss Lila Holdman
Mr. Jaxon Honea, Miss Kason Honea, and WCHE Art Teacher, Mrs. Megan Dunn
4th Grade Artist, Miss Brecklyne Zager
Works by Tiger Artists on Exhibit at The Hive!
The 11th Annual Lake Travis Independent School District Student Art Exhibition, sponsored by The Bee Cave Arts Foundation, will be held at The Hive, 12700 Hill Country Boulevard, Suite T125, in Bee Cave, April 9 through May 14. The Hive is in the Hill Country Galleria across from Barnes and Noble and is open Wednesdays - Saturdays from 1 to 5 pm.
This is important to West Cypress because we have Tiger artists whose works of art will be exhibited. If you are looking for something fun to do, stop by The Hive to take in all of the wonderful exhibits of LTISD students. Of course, we think OURS are the BEST!
Tiger Artists whose works are on display are:
Kindergarten - Naomi Swan, Sloan Meris, and Kason Honea
1st Grade - Jack West and Macyn Miller
2nd Grade - Isaac McKinney, Emily Roten, and Jaxon Honea
3rd Grade - Kennedy Stiles, Nadia Ramirez, Charlie Lambdin, and Hayden McDaniel
4th Grade - Kingston Castilleja, Caroline Martin, Kyan North, Lila Holdman, and Brecklyne Zager.
5th Grade - McKinley Aguillard, Elizabeth Durham, Aspen Morgan, Dallis Whitfield, and Luke Jones.
Congratulations to our Tiger artists whose works were chosen for display in the LTISD Student Art Exhibit. We are very proud of you. Way to ROAR, Tigers!
Miss Macyn Miller, 1st Grade Artist
4th Grade Artist, Mr. Kyan North
Miss Aspen Morgan, 5th Grade Artist
WCHE 5th Grade Girls Invited to April 24 Kardivas' Event!
All West Cypress Hills Elementary 5th Grade girls are invited to our in-person, outside, off-campus F U N event! We are meeting in the West Cypress Hills Park on Saturday, April 24, from 10 am to 11:15 am.
Please register in advance if you plan to attend! Click here to register and to obtain more information!
We look forward to seeing you in the park!
Upcoming Events
03/11 - 05/09.........Register for Summer Camp & Save $25
03/16 - 06/11/21....Order 2021-22 School Supply Kits Online Using School Code 79519
03/24 - 04/23.........Virtual PreKinder and Kinder Round Up - Learn More
03/29 - 05/01/21....WCHE Reads The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
04/01 - 04/30/21....Career Month @ WCHE!
04/01 - 07/13/21....Order LTMS School Supply Kits Here!
04/09 - 05/14/21....LTISD Student Art Exhibit at the Hive in Bee Cave (1 - 5 pm Wed - Sat)
04/11 - 04/24/21....WCHE Jungle Book Fair Online Shopping!
04/13 - 04/23/21....5th Grade Girls Invited to Register to Attend Kardavas' April 24 Event.
04/19 - 04/21/21....Spring Book Fair Student Preview Days
04/19 - 04/23/21....National Library Week & Public School Volunteer Week
04/20/21................Wear Neon and/or Sunglasses
04/21/21................Spring Photo Makeup Day @ Serene Hills Elementary! 11 am to noon!
04/21/21................Wear a Favorite Hat
04/21/21................Administrative Professionals' Day
04/22/21................Wear College Spirit Wear or Colors
04/23/21................Wear WCHE Spirit Wear or Colors
04/24/21................5th Grade Girls' Kardivas Meet 10 - 11:15 am @ West Cypress Hills Park
04/26 - 04/30/21....Spring Book Fair Shopping Days
04/30/21................4th Grade Girls' Puberty Education
05/01 - 05/31/21....National Physical Fitness & Sports Month
05/06 - 05/07/21....WCHE Field Days
05/07/21................School Lunch Hero Day
05/08/21................LTEF Un-Gala FunGala 21! Learn More
05/14/21................5th Grade Boys and Girls' Puberty Education
05/27/21................End of Year Class Parties Day - Party Schedule
05/28/21................Tiger 5th Grade Promotion Day
05/28/21................Last Day of School - Early Release at 1 pm - No Extended Care Today
More Information about WCH
West Cypress Hills Elementary
Email: wchprincipal@ltisdschools.org
Website: https://www.ltisdschools.org/WCHE
Location: 6112 Cypress Ranch Boulevard, Travis County, TX, United States
Phone: 512-533-7500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ltisdschools
Twitter: @principalwch