Tiger Talk
11/05/19
Ms. Beninga and Ms. Beatty to Speak at Our General PTO Meeting, Wednesday, November 6
Please join us at our general PTO meeting, 9 am, in the Tiger's Den (aka WCHE School Cafeteria.) It will give you a chance to be brought up to date on school news, and it will be an informative meeting, for our Principal, Melanie Beninga, and Chasity Beatty, LTISD Instructional Coach, will speak regarding the Learner Centric Model (LCM.)
Melanie Beninga has been with LTISD since 2002 and has served in a variety of instructional roles. She has experience teaching multiple grade levels at both the elementary and secondary levels. She has served as a campus 504 and testing coordinator, a behavior specialist, an elementary school counselor, and Assistant Principal. Ms. Beninga holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Texas A&M University, a Masters of Counseling and Guidance degree from Texas State University, and she is a Licensed Professional Counselor. She and her husband live in the Lakeway area. They have two children who just happen to be WCHE Tigers.
Chasity Beatty is one of two elementary school instructional coaches in the Learning & Teaching Department of the LTISD. Ms. Beatty holds a Bachelor's degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Elementary Education from Texas State University. This is her eighth year with the LTISD. Ms. Beatty taught Bee Cave Elementary 5th grade and 3rd grade before assuming her current role. She lives in the Lake Travis community with her two children who are currently in Kindergarten and 3rd grade at Bee Cave Elementary. As an instructional coach, Ms. Beatty supports our teachers in understanding content, as well as, in implementing research-based and innovative instructional practices with fidelity. This support is achieved through district-wide, full-day training sessions and one-on-one job-embedded coaching. Ms. Beatty is a lifelong learner and strives to model continued growth in her personal and professional life.
Be sure to join us!
Tigers Need Room to S-T-R-E-T-C-H ...............Morning Assembly Changes
If you have had the opportunity to join our Friday morning assemblies lately, you likely have noticed how cozy the gym has become because of our growing student enrollment. We now have more than nine hundred Tigers, and Tigers, here as well as in the jungle, need room to stretch!
Our Friday morning assemblies traditionally have been attended by all students plus many of their friends and family members. The assemblies are a time to celebrate Tiger accomplishments and to share information with our Tiger families. Thus, these assemblies are important to us and to our Tigers as a special time for them to be recognized for their positive efforts in the classroom.
To ensure our Tiger families are in a safe environment, we made a few changes. Beginning Friday, November 1, for most of our student assemblies, approximately one-half of the Tigers attend the assembly while the other half view the assembly from their classrooms via live stream.
Thus, the November 1 assembly was attended by Kindergarten, 1st Graders, and 2nd Graders while the rest of the students viewed the assembly from their classrooms. The November 8 assembly will be attended by 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders while the rest of the Tigers watch from their classrooms. We occasionally will still have an all-school assembly for extra-special events, and we are noting in Tiger Talk and on our school's website calendar the dates of our assemblies and which students are invited to each of them.
Our Tigers are thrilled when family and friends come to see them receive their awards, and by making these scheduling changes, we continue to be able to provide a comfortable and safe assembly room that can accommodate Tigers, their families, and their friends. We hope these scheduling changes do not cause our Tigers or their friends and families any inconvenience.
Tigers need room to stretch, you know!
Please park in our parking lots
During school events and visits to our campus, please park in one of our parking lots. If the lots are full, please park on the street next to the curb.
Please do NOT park on the Cypress Ranch Boulevard medians. Please do NOT park on grass or landscaped areas.
Let's be good neighbors and stay on the pavement. Thank you!
For more information about donations....
Did you lose your wedding ring?
Wall of Fame for Shoe Tying!
If your Kinder, 1st Grader, and/or Second Grader can tie his/her shoes, please notify Coaches Mirizzi and Cadorette because they want to honor this accomplishment in the school gym on our WALL OF FAME FOR SHOE TYING!
Once notified of the student's successful shoe-tying accomplishment, we will provide your student with a paper shoe to color, take the student's photo, and then post the photo and customized paper shoe on our WALL OF FAME FOR SHOE TYING!
It's going to be really exciting to see our young Tigers on our WALL OF FAME!
Fun Literacy-Related Activities Happening at West Cypress Hills!
Our school-wide reading program this year is formatted as a BINGO board. Each student received one board to take home in his/her folder the week of September 9. The Book BINGO program runs through Thursday, December 19. All students completing a Blackout will be invited to a special school-wide BINGO party!
For more information, please visit the library Book Bingo website.
Join the fun! Be a Tiger Volunteer!
Volunteering at West Cypress Hills Elementary is the best way to get involved, meet new people, and directly impact your child's school experience!
Check out the exciting volunteer opportunities and sign up for the areas that interest you. Once you have signed up, the Volunteer Liaison will contact you with specific information regarding times, dates, etc.
If you have any questions, please contact Sherry Whitsitt, volunteer@wchpto.org
Thank You for Volunteering!!!
Tiger 3rd Grade Honors our Community Veterans at 9:45 am on Monday, November 11.
To RSVP for the Veterans Day Assembly....
WCHE Fall Student Photo Makeup Day is Thursday, November 14.
Lifetouch will retake the photo made earlier this year at no charge if the original photo package is returned to the teacher. The student will then turn in the original package to the photographer when the photo is retaken.
Makeup photos can be ordered at mylifetouch.com using makeup photo day ID XY609136Q1. If you need a paper order form for placing an order to be paid by check or cash, contact Donna Richardson. She'll be happy to send one to you.
Sign up by November 8 for free WCHE student flu shots to be given November 18!
Nurse Dana Hensel, RN, LCSN, announces that the Lake Travis Independent School District will be offering flu shots for West Cypress Hills students on Monday, November 18. The flu shots are free and optional and will be administered only with written parental consent. The consent form must be received by Nurse Hensel, RN, LCSN, by Friday, November 8, in order for your child(ren) to receive the free flu shot at school on November 18.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu vaccine is the best defense against the influenza virus. Other ways to prevent the spread of the influenza virus include staying home if you are sick; washing hands frequently with soap and water; avoiding touching your face (especially mouth, nose, eyes); coughing or sneezing into your sleeve or into a tissue; and avoiding others who are sick. Other good health habits that contribute to wellness include getting plenty of sleep; engaging in physical activity; managing stress; staying hydrated; and eating nutritious foods.
If you would like for your child to receive the flu vaccine prior to LTISD’s November flu shot clinics, please contact your local pharmacy or pediatrician. Also, children older than 6 months who are uninsured or underinsured can receive flu shots at the Shots for Tots/Big Shots clinics provided by Austin Public Health. To make an appointment, please call 512-972-5520.
Should you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Nurse Hensel by email or by phone at 512-533-7593.
WCHE Clinic Needs New/Gently Used Clothing
- Small, Medium, and Large Boys/Girls Underwear
- Small, Medium, and Large Boys/Girls T-shirts
- Small, Medium, and Large Sweatpants/Shorts/Leggings
We appreciate any donations that you can send Nurse Hensel's way.
WCHE Thanksgiving Feast Lunch Schedule
All of our Tigers and Tiger families are cordially invited to join us for our Thanksgiving Feast 2019. Our Feast will be Thursday, November 21.
Students' meals will be charged to their school meal accounts. Guest meals can be purchased in advance through Friday, November 15. Guest tickets are $5.50 per guest.
Guests coming for the first time to West Cypress Hills will need to present a photo ID at the front desk in order to obtain a visitor's badge. To avoid a long wait in security check-in lines, all other guests should RSVP so that their visitor's badge can be printed in advance.
Because of the number of guests we anticipate joining us for our feast, we will be following a special Feast luncheon schedule. We shall have our usual two lunch buffet lines plus a third lunch buffet on the stage. There will be two designated food allergy tables for our students and families with food allergies. The special Feast Luncheon Schedule is shown here:
1st Grade Ali, Gorfain, & Miller……....10:20 am to 10:50 am
1st Grade Jenkerson & Massey……...10:30 am to 11:00 am
1st Grade Rivera & Scholibo……………10:40 am to 11:10 am
KG Doering, Gillette, & Tasin………….10:55 am to 11:25 am
KG Bontke & Wells..………………….…...11:05 am to 11:35 am
KG Bymer & Wade…………………….…….11:15 am to 11:45 am
2nd Grade Gardner, Holt, & Wachsmann…11:30 am to 12:00 pm
2nd Grade Burns, Johnson, & Luster….11:40 am to 12:10 pm
2nd Grade Luke………………………....…....12:05 pm to 12:35 pm
3rd Grade Figueiredo & Jatzlau…….....12:05 pm to 12:35 pm
3rd Grade Eskridge, Ginn, & Hatfield…12:15 pm to 12:45 pm
3rd Grade Kogler………………………….....12:25 pm to 12:55 pm
5th Grade McDaniel & Thompson.……..12:25 pm to 12:55 pm
5th Grade Delmark, Embry, & Rausch...12:40 pm to 1:10 pm
5th Grade Mohr & Trapani.…....………….12:50 pm to 1:20 pm
4th Grade Scheffke………………………………..12:50 pm to 1:20 pm
4th Grade Clendennen, Crump, & Mottola…1:15 pm to 1:45 pm
4th Grade Cash, Gallenkamp, & Denning…..1:25 pm to 1:55 pm
Yearbooks are a great way to remember the school year.
Order at your convenience at Balfour on line. Once in the Balfour site, enter "West Cypress Hills" as the school name and then select "yearbook." Orders may be be placed by phone, too, at 1-800-944-5930.
Tiger Holiday Celebations
Our winter holiday classroom parties are scheduled as shown below for Wednesday, December 18. RSVP here for any of our holiday events.
Kindergarten..........12:10 pm
1st Grade.................1:15 pm
2nd Grade................2:05 pm
3rd Grade.................1:40 pm
4th Grade................10:00 am
5th Grade..................2:00 pm
On Thursday, December 19, we'll host our Holiday Singalong in the Gym at 7:40 am at an all-school assembly. This is also an early release day, and school will be dismissed at noon. There is no Extended Care on Thursday, December 19. If your Tiger(s) usually reports to Extended Care at the end of the day, please be sure to update School Dismissal Manager with the updated dismissal arrangements.
There is no school December 20 through January 6. School is back in session at 7:40 am on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.
Happy holidays!
Upcoming Events
11/04-11/13/19.....Place Orders for Winter Tiger Spirit Wear Here!
11/06/19................PTO General Meeting in the Tiger's Den 9 am RSVP
11/07/19................Kindergarten Field Trip to the Thinkery - Volunteer RSVP
11/08/19................Wear Tiger Spirit Wear to 3rd - 5th Grade Assembly @ 7:40 am RSVP
11/08/19................Tiger Free November 18 Flu Shot Consent Form Due Today!
11/11/19................Veterans' Day
11/11/19................3rd Grade Veterans' Day Performance in the Tiger's Den 9:45 am RSVP
11/13/19................2nd Grade Field Trip to High 5 Volunteer RSVP
11/13/19................Math Club Olympiad - At School During Math Team Hours
11/14/19................Fall Photo Retake Day! Sign Up Here!
11/14/19................LTC Library Bookmobile @ West Cypress Pool 3 - 4 pm
11/15/19................Wear Tiger Spirit Wear to KG - 2nd Grade Assembly at 7:40 am RSVP
11/15/19................Last Day to Purchase Thanksgiving Feast Guest Tickets!
11/18/19................Student Flu Shots Offered Today! Consent Form by November 8 Required
11/18/19................Student Council Meeting 3 - 4 pm
11/21/19................WCHE Thanksgiving Feast! RSVP
11/22/19................Wear Tiger Spirit Wear to 3rd - 5th Grade Assembly at 7:40 am RSVP
11/28/19................LTEF 5k Turkey Trot 8:30 am @ the Hills Country Club Register
11/25 - 11/29.........School is Out for Fall Break. Happy Thanksgiving!
12/05/19................LTC Library Bookmobile @ West Cypress Pool 3 - 4 pm
12/06/19................Wear Tiger Spirit Wear to KG - 2nd Grade Assembly at 7:40 am RSVP
12/09/19................Student Council Meeting 3 - 4 pm
12/12/19................3rd Grade Field Trip to Ballet Austin
12/13/19................Wear Tiger Spirit Wear to 3rd - 5th Grade Assembly at 7:40 am RSVP
12/18/19................Classroom Holiday Parties RSVP
12/19/19................Holiday Singalong in the Gym @ 7:40 am RSVP
12/19/19................Early Release Day -- Tigers Leave @ Noon! No Extended Care Today!
12/19/19................LTC Library Bookmobile @ West Cypress Pool 3 - 4 pm
12/20/19-1/6/20....School is Closed for the Holidays! Have Fun, Tigers!
01/07/20................Tigers Return to School @ 7:40 am. Welcome Back, Tigers!
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