Westside Elementary
September 2023 Newsletter
Important Dates
August
- 31st- Westside Day
September
- 1st - Spirit Day-Wear your Panther pride apparel
- 4th - Labor Day - No School
- 15th - Grandparent's Day: 2:15-3:15pm (Date Changed)
- 18th - Picture Day
- 25th - PTO Meeting in the library 6:30 pm
Westside Families,
The students are finally settling into their routine. We have had an excellent start to the year and are excited to see what this group of students will accomplish this year. I appreciate all of your help in making the beginning of our year a success.
We do have a few students still struggling to make it in the door in the morning. In this newsletter, I included some tips on dealing with "Separation Anxiety". One of the tips not mentioned is arriving to school on time. When students show up late, they become a spectacle as they enter the classroom. It can be scary walking into the room with the class already sitting at their desks and well into their morning routine. Make an effort to get to school on time, every day.
I have also re-posted a few items from last months Newsletter just to make sure everyone sees that information.
Welcome Back!
Mr. Lichty
Principal
NEW STAFF
Resource Teacher: Emma Colsden
Art Teacher: Julie Schenkelberg
Psychologist: Allyson Flynn
HAL Teacher: Amy Sievert
ED para: Alysa Rieken
LIFE para: Sydney Krause
LIFE para: Tracy Carlson
Title Para: Crystal Wieneke
Classroom Para: Amber Nelson
Classroom Para: Stacie Bossard
Westside Day is August 31st
It is the Anniversary of when Westside Elementary opened on August 31st 1959.
Teachers will choose an activity to do with their students to help commemorate this day. One of those activities will include discussing a few events that happened back in 1959.
Just in case you are interested too, I have included some facts in a google document below...
HAPPY WESTSIDE DAY!
Westside Apparel Store Coming Soon
For anyone wanting to purchase some Westside apparel, we have an order scheduled for Sept 13th-Sept 25th. More information to come.
We traditionally have an order every year at this time for people wanting to update their Panther clothing and support Westside. This would be the type of clothing you can use on Panther Pride days (1st Friday of the month).
If money is tight and you are not able to purchase a shirt for your child, please let Mr. Lichty know. (Contact info at bottom of Newsletter) He does have some extra shirts from past High School sports camps that would likely fit any Westside student.
Also, if you have any old Westside clothing (Sizes: All Youth and Adult S or M) please consider donating them to our school. Mr. Lichty will add those donations to the sports camp shirts so students will have a nice selection of clothing to choose from.
Homework Room Begins September 5th
Parents,
We are starting the Westside "Homework Room" on September 5th. We will offer it on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3:15-3:45. We will have two rooms.
Room one: Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade
Room two: 3rd and 4th grade.
Each room will have a classroom teacher and a para to assist students.
The Homework room will provide an opportunity to get help with homework or to get caught up on past assignments. We will also use it to help students improve on skills. Your child's teacher may request that your child attend. Please be willing to make that happen.
If as a parent, you would like your child to attend, please contact your child's teacher and let them know about your concerns. We are happy to help all students.
NOTE: The Homework Room is not the IXL club. That is a different program offered by Mrs. Holcomb.
Grandparent's Day
DATE CHANGE!!!
Grandparent's Day is NOW
Friday, September 15th
2:15-3:15 pm
Grandparent's Day is a tradition we have here at Westside. This day is an open house for Grandparent's to visit classrooms, enjoy cookies in the gym, and have their picture taken with their grandchild. It is sure to be a fun afternoon!
Please allow this day to be for Grandparents only.
We had an open house for parents back in August.
Notes will be sent home soon and RSVPs are due back by September 8th.
After School Dismissal
A few notes on picking up your child after school
- Dismissal starts at 3:15 pm. (2:00 pm on Wednesdays)
- Students will exit as follows: Kinders and 2nd from door 2 (southeast), 1st from door 1 (east), 3rd from door 8 (northeast), 4th from door 7 (northwest by playground).
- Students with a younger sibling should walk down to where their younger sibling is and wait for parents together.
Thank you for your patience with after school pick-up. We have a lot of traffic around the school and we need to ensure all of our students are safe. Please do not stop your vehicle in the middle of the street and ask your child to run into the street to get into the car. This is dangerous for your child and creates a back-up of traffic. Pull over into a parking area and have your child enter the vehicle at that time. Our 4th graders have begun Safety Patrol and will be helping cross students at each corner. Be aware of their presence and allow students to cross at the crosswalks.
Picture Day Is Coming!
Please be sure to dress nice for the occasion!
More info will come as we get closer to the date.
Separation Anxiety?
Westside PTO
President-Adam Crawford
Vice-President-Lacy Kimes
Treasurer-Amanda Kauth
Secretary-Yajaira Gonzalez
Next, the Westside PTO is always looking for more members.
We have a great group of parents leading the PTO this school year. Now we need your help with planning and running events. This includes assisting with small events like room parties or large events like the fundraiser or Grandparent's day.
If you would like information about upcoming PTO meetings or to help out with various school events, contact PTO President, Adam Crawford, at WestsideFast.gmail.com.
Thank you for your consideration!
Go Westside!
October 19th is the Westside Fun Run Fundraiser. Please save the date!
Drug free zone
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications still need to be filled out!
If you qualified for free or reduced priced lunches in the past (in the Norfolk Public Schools), you must fill out a new application every year. However, you may have had a new application mailed to you with info already filled in to make the task easier. Kindergarten and new students to the district will need to fill out a new form. If you have multiple students in our district, your family will only need to fill out one packet. If you lost your form, you can fill out a new one as well. Please fill these and all other forms out completely and remember to sign and include all Social Security numbers. This paperwork is also used for other programs and purposes like fee waivers for activity cards and fees for athletics participation.
Westside Calendar
https://www.norfolkpublicschools.org/calendars/
7:50 am - All students go to the blacktop in the back of the school. Breakfast served in gym.
8:05 am - Tardy bell rings
3:15 pm - Dismissal bell rings (M, T, Th, F)
2:00 pm - Dismissal bell rings (W)
Change of Information
If you have had a change of address, phone number, or place of employment, please send a note or contact the office at 402-644-2561 so we can keep our emergency information updated. This is for the safety of our students.
Thank you!
Classroom Rules
Prepackaged Treats
The safety of our children is of utmost importance. We have many students with a wide range of severe, life threatening allergies to various food products. To keep our children safe we are asking that any food products that are brought into the classroom as treats are prepackaged items with ingredients listed.
Thank you for your support in keeping our kids safe.
Toys, Trading Cards, Etc.
Box Top App
We have been asked if Box Tops are still a thing...well they are!
Box Tops has changed how they collect the Box Top. The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school's earnings online.
How does the new program work?
At its core, the program structure and purpose remain the same – to help schools get what they need. The main difference is how you’ll earn – instead of clipping, all Box Tops will be earned digitally via receipt scan.
You’ll now download the new and improved, user-friendly Box Tops app, register and select a school, and then scan an eligible receipt containing Box Tops products. You’ll earn 10 cents for each Box Tops product purchased plus extra earnings for any Bonus Box Tops opportunities. The app will automatically add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online, giving visibility to see how you are supporting your school in real-time.
Our family often shops online; how will that work?
Great news! If you shop for groceries online, you can now submit your email receipts from select retailers to earn Box Tops for your school. To ensure that earnings are properly credited to your account:
1. Make sure you have a Box Tops for Education account (you can create one via the Box Tops app or website)
2. Forward your email receipt to receipts@boxtops4education.com using the same email that’s associated with your BTFE account
3. Box Tops will be credited within 10 business days – view your earnings detail in the MY EARNINGS section of the app or website
A little humor...
Fox Trot by Bill Amend
Westside Elementary School
Email: TracyLichty@npsne.org
Website: http://www.norfolkpublicschools.org/schools/westside-elementary/
Location: 1703 Phillip Avenue, Norfolk, NE, United States
Phone: (402) 644-2561
Twitter: @WestsideElem