Black Cat Bulletin
Keeping it R.E.A.L! Respect + Effort + Attitude= Leadership
FEBRUARY 2016
From Our Principal...
Dear West Terrace Families,
February is a great time of year, full of lots of celebration, as well as preparation for the first round of our ISTEP+ and IREAD testing. With these celebrations, lots of Candy Grams to benefit the American Heart Association will be delivered, our Gents and Lil Ladies dance was a great success, and Dads and Donuts will be a sweet success tomorrow morning!! Several grades are having Valentine’s parties as their second party of the year. I know the children and teachers will have a great day celebrating this special season.
In the third through fifth grade classrooms, teachers have really looked closely at student performance on classroom items, Acuity, and on past ISTEP+ test and have developed a 20-day plan for the first round of ISTEP, and a 30-day plan for the second round of ISTEP+. We are working as a team to be sure that students are learning that which they need to learn in order to be successful adults, and to show what they know on these assessments. For more specific information about ISTEP+ or IREAD, please see the article, below.
Another way that we get great feedback on how we are doing is the My School Survey that is sent out from EVSC to all families and staff, and students in certain grades. Please complete the "My School Survey" sent to you via email or sent home with your child. We are giving the student surveys here at school, but we are asking you to PLEASE complete your form and submit or return it.
We’ve received 88 online surveys, and 94 hard copies have been returned out of 550 families. In order to get good feedback, we need to be sure to hear from as many families as we can.
We would love to know the things you love so we keep doing them; and, we really want and need to know what we can do better so we can make a plan of improvement. We have a team of teachers and staff ready to go to work once we get them back and to make improvements--your voice REALLY DOES COUNT!! This year, we will be having the PBIS team look at the results and plan responses to the items that rank highest on requests, suggestions, or positive feedback. We want our school to be open to you, and for you to feel welcome. If you have a suggestion to help us with that, please be sure to write in the comments. We read each one and take it to heart.
Our success depends on our collaboration with you: students, parents, teachers, staff, leaders, and our surrounding community to share viewpoints in order to celebrate our strengths and improve our challenges.
Sincerely,
Katie White
Principal
From Our Principal Intern
Dear Families,
This month our child development focus is on our 11-year olds. It’s been a joy and an honor to watch them grow from kindergarten to 5th grade. What a change!
11 Year-Olds:
· Restless and energetic
· Need lots of food, physical activity, and sleep
· Experience more colds, flu, ear infections, etc.
· Mood, self-absorbed, and sensitive
· Like to challenge rules, argue, and test limits; may be cruel; sometimes physically aggressive
· Worry more about who’s “in” and who’s “out” than when they were younger
· Need lots of time to talk with peers; heavy users of the cell phone, instant messaging, and email
· Impulsive—often talk before thinking
· Often behave best when away from home
· Have trouble making decisions
· Need adult empathy, humor, and sensitivity to help them cope with their rapidly changing minds and bodies.
· Enjoy arguing and debating
· Appreciate humor
· Imitate adult language
· Would rather learn new skills than review or improve previous work
· Becoming more adept at abstract thinking—for example, they can understand ideas such as “justice”
· With improving reasoning skills, they can establish and modify rules and develop hypotheses
· Increasingly able to see the world from various perspectives
Chip Wood, Yardsticks, 2007
I can truly appreciate how much patience, understanding, and love my mother had for me as a 5th grader. I’m sure (I know) it wasn’t always easy for her. I have a true appreciation for you as parents and what you experience on a daily basis. To my mother, I say thanks.
Mr. White
From Our Counselor
2016 ISTEP+ Part 1 Paper and Pencil Test Administration Schedules
Grades 3 and 5 will complete ISTEP+ Part 1
Monday, February 29 Tuesday, March 1 Wednesday, March 2
Grade 4 will complete ISTEP+ Part 1
Monday, February 29 Tuesday, March 1 Wednesday, March 2 Thursday, March 3
ALL testing will begin promptly at 8:40 am to ensure testing is completed before specials/lunch periods. Please avoid appointments and absences on testing days.
2016 IREAD-3 Test Administration Schedule
Grade 3 will complete IREAD-3 online
Monday, March 14 Tuesday, March 15 Wednesday, March 16
Please avoid appointments and absences on testing days.
Thank you,
April Coughlin
School Counselor
From Our Nurse
Did you know that handwashing, when done correctly, is one of the best ways to prevent infections like the flu, common cold and pink eye? Most people have no problem grasping this simple "task at hand," but many are unaware that the key to washing your hands properly to ward off potential infection is all in the technique. Learn how to wash your hands the right way by following these simple "rules of thumb":
Time Required: 1 Minute
Here's How:
1. Wet your hands using warm, running water. Add soap.
2. During the handwashing process, rub your hands vigorously for a minimum of 20 seconds, paying special attention to the backs of your hands, wrists, in between your fingers and underneath your fingernails.
3. Rinse well while leaving the water running.
4. With the water continuing to run, use a single-use towel and pat your hands dry.
5. Turn off the water faucet using the paper towel covering your clean hands to prevent recontamination.
Tips:
1. Hand sanitizers should not be used in place of handwashing.
2. Use hand sanitizers that contain 60-90% ethyl alcohol or isopropanol as an addition to proper handwashing only.
3. Use your paper towel that you dry your hands with to open the restroom door when you leave the bathroom as to not recontaminate your hands.
4. When you are washing your hands, count slowly from 1 to 20 in order to gain the maximum benefit from handwashing.
Very Special Events
Parent/Teacher Conferences
February 15 - Kindergarten
Programs:
February 17 - Digital Citizenship & Internet Safety Gr 4 10:20 and Gr 5 11:00
March 3 - Grade 1 Dr. Seuss - 9:00 a.m. Grandparents & VIP; 6:00 p.m. Family & Friends
April 7 - Grade 5 & Invention Convention
April 28 - Grade 4
May 5 - Kindergarten - 9:00 a.m. Grandparents & VIP; 6:30 p.m. Family & Friends
Field Trips/Study Trips:
Grades 3-5 Evansville Philharmonic Young People's Concert - Friday, March 18
Grade 5 Perry Heights Visit - Wednesday, May 11
Classroom Parties
February 12 - Valentines - Grades 1 and 5 (1:00-2:00), 2 and 4 (1:30-2:30)
Battle of the West Side Basketball Tourney
Grade 5 Boys
Reilly Briles
Nate Carlton
Luke Diekman
Isaac Higgs
Will Kirkland
Elijah Ringo
Joseph Springer
Nate York
Grade 4 Boys
Drew Bateman
Luke Lawrence
Keifer Sanderson
Hayden Summers
Harlen Summers
Grade 5 Girls
Lauren Bigham
Ashley Danks
Emma Easley
Brooklyn Fenwick
Taylor Fonte
Brooklyn Goedde
Diana May
Lauren Thomas
Grade 4 Girls
Taylor Georgette
Lexi Perigo
Lynne Thissen
West Terrace School Spirit Shines!
Grade 5
Zoie Bateman
Breanna Brooks
Megan Bruce
Gabi Frey
Kimber Fuquay
Katelyn Gehring
Cadence Hagan
Jaidyn Hart
Kayla Kemper
Riley Lawrence
Qui’ree Mimms
Makayla Peterson
Karlye Schippert
Avery Vogel
Taylor Willett
Grade 4
Molly Bell
Emma Devoy
Kendra Hauke
Kylie Keller
Whitlee Marshall
Grace Masterson
Akaia Mimms
Evi Parson
Brilynn Pickard
Elizabeth Ritzert
Aubrey Whitmore
Student Leadership Council Has HEART
Candy Grams: Anyone can buy a heart-shaped sucker with a special message attached. February 8-12 during morning meeting only suckers may be purchased on the stage for 75 cents for 1 or 2/$1.00. Student Council is also taking donations for the American Heart Association.
Music Solo & Ensemble Winners
Kyle Blandford - trombone solo
Isabel Werkmeister - alto saxophone solo
Tessa Fleenor - alto saxophone solo
Emma Easley - flute solo
Jordan Brown - Trumpet solo
Brass Quartet - Breanna Brooks, Lauren Bigham, Jackson Dean & Connor Strawn
Saxophone Duet - Max Wigand
Woodwind Trio - Emma Easley, Nora Romana
Important Policies, News, and Information
2016 EVSC Continuous Improvement Process School Survey
Our West Terrace survey window is Monday, February 8 to Friday, February 12. A collection box is located in the office for your blue hard copies. Please complete the survey and return to the confidential return box.
Kindergarten Enrollment Round-Up - April 5 - 6:00 p.m.
- EVSC Kindergarten enrollment will begin in mid-February. Packets will be available in the school office containing the necessary forms and important info about our school
- Kindergarten Round-Up parents/guardians and incoming kindergarten students attend for a tour, classroom visit and activities to familiarize both the parents and children about our school and policies. Folder and completed forms along with the child's birth certificate (see below) are to be returned at that time.
- Child must be 5 on or before August 1, 2016
- Must be accompanied by a parent or guardian
- Have a copy of the child's legal birth certificate (hospital certificate cannot be considered)
- Call 435-8453 to determine the school district in which you live
- Questions? Contact the West Terrace Office 812-435-8733
Buffalo Wild Wings Home Team Advantage
Monday Morning Guest Speakers Needed!
There is no better way to spark interest in a certain career path than to have parents speak about their jobs. We welcome you to participate in this community service opportunity at West Terrace! If you are interested in the opportunity to be one of our Monday morning guest speakers, please email our school counselor, April Coughlin. She will provide you with talking points and schedule your visit for a Monday morning at 7:45 am to talk about your line of work.
West Terrace PTA News
PTA Dads and Donuts
PTA 4K 4Kids
PTA Read to Succeed/Six Flags Program
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...
JOIN THE WEST TERRACE PTA!
Co-Vice Presidents: Sandi Davis and Christine Hamilton
Secretary: Sommer Schippert
Treasurer: Kerri Schu
Remaining 2015-16 Meetings
March 1, 6:00 PM
May 3, 3:30 PM
Helpful Resources:
EVSC Spring Break
WEST TERRACE FEBRUARY CALENDAR
This link connects you to the newest calendar (and our website). This will be updated daily throughout the year. Check back often!
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
Sarah Walls, 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