Black Cat Bulletin
Keeping it R.E.A.L! Respect + Effort + Attitude= Leadership
DECEMBER 2015
From the Office.....
From Our Principal...
This sharing and giving season is my favorite time of year. It seems that minds, hearts, and eyes are opened to fantastic opportunities to lift others up, encourage one another, and collaborate to accomplish miracles. The festivities that surround this time of year lend themselves so well to learning more about each other and building community.
In our West Terrace community that is true, as well. Preparations are underway for the third grade “Season of Light” holiday program, as well as a Grandparents’ Day performance; the PTA has a Holiday Breakfast and Holiday Shoppe experience planned that promises to be great fun; and the 5th grade Band Concert is upcoming. We hope you’ll participate in these events and join in the spirit of fun and allow the children to give to you through their performances.
As a way to join the sentiment of sharing and giving, our "Leader in Me" team (called the Lighthouse Team) has met and planned a family engagement opportunity related to our “Leader in Me” process. Beginning in January, teachers will be sending a book home with 5 children a week. This book, The 7 Habits of Happy Kids, has a chapter about each habit and a parents’ corner at the end of each chapter. We have used this book in many classrooms, and the children love the stories. Our hope is that you will share one chapter a night as a family. You will be invited to share any commitments your family may wish to make related to the habits. These commitments will be displayed in the building. You will then return the book for another family to read the next week.
We hope you enjoy the book as much as we do, and that this helps you understand what’s behind the processes we’re teaching children here at West Terrace. Lifelong leadership and character development begins when we are children, and we know it’s important that our community be strengthened by raising children ready to enter the work force or college ready in academic ways, as well as having strong character and habits. It is our hope that this gift to our community is one that keeps giving and giving.
I hope the light and grace of this season blesses each of you and allows you to experience the true joy of community, love, and giving.
Sincerely,
Katie White
From Our Principal Intern
Welcome—This month I am moving away from the child development themes of my usual newsletter column. Most of you know that I’m a member of the Seneca tribe out of western NY. I was nosing around on the Seneca Nation of Indians website and came across the aim of their education department:
“The Seneca Nation of Indian's Department of Education philosophy is that education is a life-long, empowering learning process which begins with the individual, and is multi-cultural, multi-generational, and respectful of physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual wellness. The department recognizes that each individual is at a different place in life's journey and we will work with them to move them forward toward their goals.”
For some reason, this statement made me appreciate our West Terrace community even more than I do. I can name several examples of how our families create a community that follows the Seneca philosophy. This morning we have a new substitute that hasn’t set foot in West Terrace for 20 years. She was happy and proud to announce, “My granddaughter went here!” How much more multi-generational than this? Bravo to all of our Black Cat families of past, present and to our future Black Cats. Blessings to you for your life’s journey into the new-year.
Happy Holidays to you and yours,
Mr. White
From Our Counselor...
Raise a generous child
Whether your child is making a gift for a grandparent or putting together a care package, he is learning to give to others. Use these suggestions to nurture his generosity.
The gift of time
Being generous doesn’t have to cost money. Encourage your youngster to take a little extra time to do things for others. For example, he could handle a chore for a sibling who has a big test the next day. Or he might organize and lead games for younger cousins at a family gathering. ♥
A “wish list” for others
Does your child list gifts he hopes to receive? Let him make a list for others, too. He could write down presents he would like to make or buy for relatives and friends. Have him carefully consider what each person might want (“Grandma loves to hear me play piano, so I’ll make her a video of me playing her favorite songs”). This can help him discover how good it feels to give. ♥
My special cause
Your youngster may feel more eager to give to a cause that is personally meaningful to him. For instance, if you have a relative in the military, he could help you put together care packages for troops. Or if he loves animals, he might gather towels and blankets and donate them to a shelter. Tip: Help your child see himself as a giving person by pointing out his generosity. (“It was generous of you to offer your brother your last slice of pizza.”)♥
April Coughlin
School Counselor
Outdoor recess unless it's below 32 degrees
Very Special Events
Programs:
Grade 5 Band Concert @Perry Heights MS; December 7 - 6:30 p.m.
Grade 3 & Choir Winter Program; December 17 - 8:50 a.m. Grandparents & VIP's; 6:30 p.m. Friends & Family
Grade 3 & Choir Winter Program; December 18 - 9:00 a.m. all school assembly
Field Trips/Study Trips:
Limo Ride & Party for Top Sellers, Paragon Fundraiser December 7 8:15-10:15 a.m.
Nutcracker Performance, Victory Theater, December 11 Grades 2 & 3, 8:30-11:30
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Grade 2 - Friday, December 4
Grade 1 - Monday, December 7
Grade 5 - Friday, December 11
Classroom Parties
Grade 1 - December 18, 1:00-2:00
Grade 4 - December 21, 1:30-2:30
Grade 3 - January 15, 1:30-2:30
End of First Semester/Last Day of School for 2015
December 22
First Day of 2016 School Year
January 4
School Picture Retake Day
If you missed our first picture day, or need a retake, remember to wear your prettiest smile on December 4!
West Terrace Spelling Bee
Our school spelling bee took place on November 24, and was a great success! We are so proud of each and every one of our spellers! It was clear they were well prepared, and all did a great job! 4th and 5th grade homerooms were represented by their classroom winners. They were as follows:
4th Grade
Mrs. Cheski’s Class: EmmaKate Goodwin and Scout Hobgood
Mrs. DeWeese’s Class: Elliott Corressell and Fletcher Osborne
Mrs. Southworth’s Class: Grace Masterson and Tasneem Mohammed
Mrs. Stine’s Class: Emma DeVoy and Ty Wilzbacher
5th Grade
Mrs. Nance’s Class: Madison Strickland and Isaac Higgs
Mrs. Paul’s Class: Ashley Fetscher and Bailey Robinson
Mrs. Schefer’s Class: Taylor Johnson and Breanna Brooks
Ms. Slagle’s Class: Maggie Fuelling and Matilda Wininger
Congratulations to Maggie Fuelling, our West Terrace school spelling bee winner, and Breanna Brooks, our alternate! Best of luck in the city spelling bee!
The Leader in Me Process...an Overview
In past newsletters, we’ve shared our PBIS process with you. We are “Keeping it R.E.A.L. while learning, leading and loving life.” Another important process we are using to teach children not only academically, but socially and behaviorally, as well, is the Leader in Me process.
We are unified as a staff behind the principles that Leader in Me teaches which helps us live better lives, and that we use to teach and learn together with our students and our community.
I wanted to take a moment to share the “big ideas,” the important attributes, and the foundation of the Leader in Me process.
Most importantly, instead of seeing children through the lens of a normal distribution curve—some kids are naturally smart and others are not—The Leader in Me paradigm sees that every child is capable, every child is a leader. This paradigm changes everything. We at West Terrace believe this to be true, and are working to show your children their gifts in a variety of ways.
The Leader in Me is a whole-school transformation model and process—developed in partnership with educators—that empowers students with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. It is based on principles and practices of personal, interpersonal, and organizational effectiveness. Distinct in several ways, The Leader in Me:
• Starts from a powerful premise—that every child possesses unique strengths and has the ability to be a leader. This premise shapes the views of staff to value and develop the whole child.
• Integrates leadership development into existing school programs, curricula, and traditions. More than a program, The Leader in Me serves as a foundational operating system for the school, helping to improve relationships, transform culture, and highly motivate staff members and students.
• Helps students learn how to become self-reliant, take initiative, plan ahead, set and track goals, do their homework, prioritize their time, manage their emotions, be considerate of others, express their viewpoint persuasively, resolve conflicts, find creative solutions, value differences, and live a balanced life. In short, The Leader in Me helps students develop the skills and self-confidence they need to lead their lives and succeed in school and beyond.
• Impacts all stakeholders, starting first with the staff of a school, then expanding to students, their families, and the community at large. This Inside-Out Approach is a key ingredient to successfully creating positive change in a school.
The Leader in Me utilizes and integrates several leadership, social-emotional learning, quality, and educational models and processes from past and current thought leaders including The 4 Imperatives of Great Leaders and The 4 Disciplines of Execution. The process includes student participation in goal setting, data tracking, leadership roles, Student-Led Conferences, leadership environments, and Leadership Events. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is also a key component of the overall Leader in Me process and is a synthesis of universal, timeless principles of personal, interpersonal, and organizational effectiveness such as responsibility, vision, integrity, teamwork, collaboration, and renewal, which are common to all people and cultures.
The Leader in Me includes training on establishing a vision for the school, goal setting, data tracking, and personal-accountability systems and is aligned with best-in-class content and concepts practiced by global education thought leaders. The Leader in Me provides a logical, sequential, and balanced process to help schools proactively design a culture that reflects their vision of their ideal school. This shared leadership increases engagement and enables students, staff, and families to be self-confident and self-reliant, work effectively with others, and make meaningful contributions.
The Leader in Me differs from other whole-school transformation processes in that it offers a holistic, schoolwide experience for staff, students, and parents, and creates a common language and culture within the school. The leadership principles and lessons are not taught as a curriculum, but instead are incorporated into coursework, traditions, systems, and culture.
Important Policies, News, and Information
Joy of Giving!
Penguin Patch Holiday Shoppe
PTA is providing WT students the opportunity to shop in a safe, educational and fun environment at the Penguin Patch Holiday Shoppe. Reasonably priced gift items range from 25 cents to $12 with the majority of the items ranging between $1 and $4 each. Once your child steps in the shoppe, they will be greeted by a parent volunteer who will offer to help them stay within their budget and make selections for everyone on their list. You may help your child choose who they will surprise with a gift and suggest ways for them to earn extra holiday money. You can also join in the fun by volunteering to be a part of this event. HOLIDAY SHOPPE HOURS: Thursday & Friday, December 10 & 11, 8:30-3:30, West Terrace Media Center. Also open at Breakfast with Santa - see info in last column.
PTA Wish Tree
PTA SCRIP
SCRIP means "substitute money". when you purchase SCRIP you're purchasing prepaid gift cards or certificates that are used just like cash. If you did not receive a SCRIP order form and info from the PTA, or you have any questions, please contact Michelle Robinson @812-625-0007 or tmrob@insightbb.com or pick-up a copy of the info and order form in the school office. The deadline for ordering is December 7 and the cards will available on December 16.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Pancake Breakfast and Pictures with Santa
Saturday, December 12, 8:30-11:00
$4 cost for ages 10 and up; $2 for ages 3-9
RSVP by December 8
Penguin Patch Holiday Shoppe
Local Craft & Gift Vendors
Activities for Children
Student Leadership Council Coat Drive
December 10 - December 18
Gently used coats will be collected in the boxes designated in the office. The collection ends December 18, at which time Don's Cleaners will pick up the coats and clean them for distribution.
Special THANKS for all the donations received for the canned food and toothpaste drive. 533 Tubes of toothpaste were donated to Hangers; and 144 cans of yams and 329 cans of corn went to the Tri-State Food Bank. Your generous donations and support are greatly appreciated.
Safety of Walkers
- Safety Patrol will be on duty school days from 7:50-8:05 a.m. and 3:12-3:20 p.m.
- Exceptions will be: Temperature - when the temp or wind chill is below freezing 32 degrees or lower - there will be no safety patrol guards on duty.
- Lightning - when streak lightning is observed, safety patrol guards will not be on duty. If lightning is observed while guards are at their post, they will immediately come back into the school.
- On days that fall into these categories, it is the RESPONSIBILITY OF PARENTS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SAFETY of their children to and from school. On these days, it would be best for students to be driven to/from West Terrace.
Request from the Media Center
SPARK News
The debut season of The SPARK Project at West Terrace has been filled with new and exciting experiences – graduating from plucking to learning to pull the bow, experiencing the playing of a world-class vioiinist, and playing our first performances. No matter the challenge or event, the young violinists and cellists of The SPARK Project have met them with the professionalism of their much older counterparts.
On October 12th, many of our SPARK students experienced the breath-taking musical genius of Joshua Bell, one of the world’s finest violinists. Mr. Bell was in town for just one day to perform with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. EVSC was able to procure several tickets to the performance for our young violinists. Many of our students were able to meet him during the intermission of the concert – he signed countless autographs and even took the time to have his picture taking with our students before dashing off to the airport. Many thanks to our superintendent, Dr. David Smith, and our Director of Fine Arts, Mr. Dwight Emmert, for providing our kids with this once in a lifetime experience.
Next on our performance schedule is the 3rd grade concert on December 17th at 6:30 pm in the West Terrace gym. The concert will feature the entire 3rd grade class presenting “A Season of Light”, the West Terrace Choir, and the violinists and cellists of The SPARK Project. The performance will be repeated on Friday morning, December 18th at 8:50 am for grandparents and the students of West Terrace.
Next semester, the students of the SPARK Project have been asked to perform for the EVSC school board during a board meeting of our choosing. After the holiday vacation, we will begin rehearsing for this very important performance. Dr. Smith has also invited the students of the SPARK Project to perform for the State of our Schools address to the Rotary Club this May. In between, we will be preparing for our Spring Recital, during which our students will be given the opportunity to perform as soloists, as well as with the full ensemble.
West Terrace App!
Report student absences, connect to RDS Parent Access, see school menus and make mealpayments via SchoolPay, all issues of Black Cat Bulletins, connect to PTA's facebook, photo gallery, and much more...
Helpful Resources:
Volunteering in our Schools
- Go to evscschools.com
- Hover over the Parent tab and click on Volunteer in our Schools
- Click on Volunteer Application Form Link
- Fill out the form and hit submit at the bottom of the page
JOIN THE WEST TERRACE PTA!
Co-Vice Presidents: Sandi Davis and Christine Hamilton
Secretary: Sommer Schippert
Treasurer: Kerri Schu
2015-16 Meetings
January 5, 3:30 PM
March 1, 6:00 PM
May 3, 3:30 PM
WEST TERRACE DECEMBER CALENDAR
This link connects you to the newest calendar (and our website). This will be updated daily throughout the year. Check back often!
Visiting Artist - Jewell Parker Rhodes
WEST TERRACE STAFF
Kindergarten:
Tara Kolb, rm 32
Wendy Brunson, rm 30
Lisa Gooch, rm 33
Angela Hayes, rm 34
First Grade
Amanda Woods, rm 1
Brooke Corressell, rm 3
Mallorie Roberts, rm 6
Acacia Peak, rm 5
Second Grade
Vera Emmons, rm 9
Carie Kingery, rm 10
Trisha Kavanaugh, rm 15
Amy Nau, rm 12
Michael Goad, rm 17
Third Grade
Janette Allen, rm 11/ Emily Gogel, rm 16
Robin Bass, rm 19/ Denise Strawn, rm 18
Fourth Grade
Shelly DeWeese, rm 22/ Lindsey Stine, rm 29
Jennifer Cheski, rm 24/Amanda Southworth, rm 23
Fifth Grade
Trish Slagle, rm 26/Nicole Paul, rm 27
Renee Smigel, rm 28/Simone Nance, rm 25
Special Ed
LIfeskills:
Jennifer Bennett, rm 4
Leeann Butrum, rm 2
Resource:
Renee Jackson, rm 14
Shelley Patton, rm 21
Amanda Ritzert, media center
Rotation
Susan Kemper, Art, rm 8
Anne Woodruff, Music, rm 7
Peggy Belanger, Gym
Nadine Risley, Technology
Office
Katie White, Principal
Robert White, Principal Intern
April Coughlin, Counselor
Christine Hamilton, Nurse
Peggy Jewell, Media Aide
EVSC Calendar 2015-16
West Terrace Elementary School
8000 West Terrace Drive
Evansville, IN 47712
FAX (812) 435-8869
Email: katie.white@evsc.k12.in.us
Website: evscschools.com/westterrace
Location: West Terrace Elementary School, West Terrace Drive, Evansville, IN, United States
Phone: (812) 435-8733
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Terrace-Elementary-School/333852756647518