Weirton Elementary School
January 2022-2023
JANUARY FAMILY NEWSLETTER
Important Update, Reminders, & Messages
Happy New Year! We hope all of our families are off to a WONDERFUL New Year!
The end of the second quarter of the 2022-2023 school year is almost here. Grades close on January 13. Report cards will be distributed for grades K-4 on January 23.
January Lunch Menus attached below.
PreK/K Registration:
PreK and Kindergarten registration information will be coming soon for the 2023-2024 school year.
Learning Ally:
Learning Ally information below (grades 1-4). Read about a new resource that HCS has purchased to help students become better readers. Learning Ally hard copy brochures will be sent home soon. Copies are pictured below.
Accelerated Reader (AR):
AR information below for students in grades K-2 and students in Grades 3rd and 4th.
AR hard copy brochures will be sent home soon. Copies are pictured below.
Students in grades 3rd and 4th are working on their AR goals. If families have any questions regarding their child's goal or progress in AR, please contact your child's teacher or title reading teacher.
Youth Internet Safety:
Our WES counselors have provided information regarding internet safety. Refer to information below.
Tuesday, January 10:
- Bank at School during Breakfast.
Tuesday, January 17:
- Bank at School during Breakfast.
Friday, January 13:
- End of 2nd 9 weeks grading period.
Monday, January 16:
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
Monday, January 23:
- 2nd nine-week report cards distributed (grades K-4)
January 25:
- All County Parent/Guardian Engagement Night at John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center from 6:00pm-8:00pm. The sessions have been designed for parents/guardians ONLY to learn positive techniques to address stressors in their children. Please return the form to the school by Friday, January 13 if you plan to attend. A hard copy of the form has been sent home with your child (extra copy is attached below).
LEARNING ALLY
Learning Ally
Weirton Elementary School is increasing our reading activity from Jan 9 - Feb 24 and competing to win Learning Ally’s national Great Reading Games to gain recognition and prizes for our school! Reading is power!
I’m so excited to share a resource with you that our school has purchased to support your child at school and at home. I want to ensure that your child is a happy, confident learner in my classroom and has access to all of the material we are reading for class assignments and for enjoyment.
Our school now has a membership to Learning Ally, a national nonprofit that provides access to human-read audiobooks through a reading app. They have novels from our assigned reading lists and those popular novels that other students are reading, as well as textbooks. By reading what other students are reading, we will be able to give your child the confidence they need to be an active learner in our classroom.
When students read with Learning Ally, it takes away the effort of decoding so your child can mentally focus on the meaning of what they are reading, this is often called ear reading, and it’s a powerful way to stay on top of reading assignments and help students enjoy books. Don’t worry, learning to read is still really important and we are working on those skills as well.
One of the best things about Learning Ally is all the books have human voices. It’s like you have an extra voice helping your child with homework, and I have an extra reader to share more books with students in my classroom. Human voice helps to model what reading should sound like; it pronounces words correctly and helps to build your child’s vocabulary, comprehension and fluency in reading.
I’ll be adding books to your child’s Learning Ally bookshelf, and they’ll use the app at school. You can download the free app on your personal computer, phone or tablet and log in with your child’s credentials to add the books they want to read. I hope you take advantage of this wonderful resource we are providing to your child.
Readers are Learners. Readers are Leaders.
Grades K-2 AR Information
AR Information for Grades K-2 (watch the video link below)
https://renaissance.widen.net/s/dtq9lnvlg5/arprimarystudentviewprogress
We can't wait to watch our K-2 grade students earn their AR badges!
Grades 3rd and 4th AR Information
WES PTA News
A special thank you to our WES PTA for planning the Holiday Party Activities for our students in December.
WES SCHOOL COUNSELORS
WES School Counselors
Ms. Mary Ann Petrelle: Grades PreK & K
Mrs. Stacy Cullinan: Grades 1 & 2
Mrs. Sarah Aspenleiter: Grades 3 & 4
WES Health Center offers Social Emotional/Behavioral Therapy
http://www.changeinc.org/health/weirton-elementary-health-center/
(304) 797-5299
Youth Internet Safety
Internet Safety
The Internet is an amazing at your fingertips access to all aspects of information. You are able to learn, obtain resources, shop, play games, talk to friends and family and also connect with new people. There are also downsides to this wonderful 24-hour access. The Internet also houses predators, identity thieves and others who are online that may try to cause harm or obtain your information. It is extremely important that we as adults and caregivers help to educate and protect our children from these unknown threats and dangers.
Children are often innocent and believe that connecting with people on games such as Roblox is safe. Children are more at risk because they are trusting and share identifying information with those that they believe are the same age as them.
Cyber-Bullying also can occur on many games or applications. Cyber Bullying occurs when others send negative and harmful messages about someone. It is good practice that caregivers monitor text and messaging content on these games and application to review what is being shared. Caregivers should talk with children that if negative, harmful, false and mean messages are being sent that they speak with an adult immediately.
Basic Internet Safety Tips:
- Don't share identifying information. This can include; address, phone number, first and last name and the school you attend.
- Don't share pictures of yourself.
- Don't share passwords.
- Don't add people that you do not know to your friends list or on games.
- Always ask caregiver permission when adding new apps/ games and friends.
If you are unsure about age-appropriate applications or games you can research those games or applications at: https://www.commonsensemedia.org
Book recommendations about Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying:
Many of these books are Accelerated Reading (AR) Books also.
- Chicken Clicking by Jeanne Willis
- The Internet is Like a Puddle by Shona Innes
- Bully by Patricia Polacco (AR Quiz # 154340/ RL 4.1/ .05 pts)
- Arthurs Computer Disaster: An Arthur Adventure by Marc Brown (AR Quiz# 16973/RL 2.4/ .05 pts)
- But I Read It On the Internet by Toni Buzzeo (AR# 163460/RL 3.8/ .05 pts)
- If You Give a Mouse an iPhone by Ann Droyd (AR#190271/RL 2.7/ .05 pts)
January Menus
Ms. Stephanie, Attendance Secretary (304-748-8370)
Attendance Reminder:
Please remember to call the office or email Ms. Stephanie for any missed days.
304-748-8370
or
Notes from Nurse DeCaria
Please make sure your contact number is up to date on the emergency card. You will also need to list an emergency. If your child gets sick at school, we will need to be able to get a hold of you and arrange for your child to be picked up.
Mr. Arneault (PreK & K) Mrs. Martich (3rd & 4th) Mrs. Carinci-Bell (1st & 2nd) Ms. Miller (Head Principal)
WES Title Services
Meet our WES Title Teachers:
Mrs. Orwasky
Ms. Paull
Mrs. Donna Carnes
Mrs. Davidson
WES Related Arts
WES HEALTH CENTER
WEIRTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER
Our licensed healthcare staff is on site in a safe, child-friendly environment. We closely work with the school nurse and faculty to provide convenient care to your child. We closely work with the school nurse and faculty to provide convenient care to your child.
We provide the following services:
Well check exams, sick visits, injury treatment, immunizations, allergy shots, ADHD evaluation and treatment, sports physicals, behavioral health, dental care, chronic health care maintenance - like being on site to assist with Diabetes, Seizures, and Asthma. Just think of us as a doctor's office inside the school.
Please contact the WES Health Center at 304-797-5299 if you have any questions or medical needs.
WES SPEECH THERAPISTS
WES Speech Therapists
If you questions regarding speech screenings or speech services, please contact one of our speech therapists.
Mrs. Lockerbie (Kindergarten)
Mrs. Gianvito (First Grade)
Mrs. Hinzman (PreK & 4th)
Mrs. Burdette (2nd & 3rd)
Mrs. Edie (Special Education Classes)
Special Education Staff
Bank at School
Our Partners in Education, First Choice America, will be setting up a program called "Bank at School". Families were able to sign-up at Open House. Students will be able to do banking at school during breakfast once a week on Tuesdays. More details to come.
Bus Safety
Please remind your child about good behaviors on the bus.
- Students are to stay seated the whole time.
- Students are not to walk in the aisles or jump seat to seat.
- Students are to refrain from touching each other.
- Students are not to yell or argue.
- Bottom to bottom, Back-to-Back, Bookbag on lap.
Students are to refrain from creating any type of safety issues for anybody on the bus.
Contact Mrs. Carinci-Bell if you have any bus concerns or questions.
November Lunch and Breakfast Menus 2022
STUDENT PUBLICATION RELEASE
During participation in activities related to the education programs at WES/Hancock County, students and student products may be photographed for the purpose of showcasing student work and participation. They may be published in order to positively recognize students and share learning experiences. These materials may be posted online, television, and print media outlets including names and photographs. Please contact the school IN WRITING within 10 calendar days of receiving this statement if you DO NOT want your child’s picture or name to ever appear online, in the newspaper, or TV.