West Homer Elementary
May 2022
A Note from the Principal
Dear West Homer Families,
Hard to believe we are in the final weeks of school! The 4th quarter has found us able to get back to more of the things we used to do pre-pandemic. It also has highlighted for me the real work of rebuilding from these past 2 years has begun, and this spring has been full of growth. I want to thank all the parent volunteers in our building and those engaging with our PTO. You are such an important part of this rebuilding of our school community, bringing back ideas and events that energize us and thinking of new ways to promote our collaborative mission.
Setting reading goals is one of those traditions that endures, and students continue to read read read! They read progressively more and more every quarter this year. This quarter they topped 21,000,000 words collectively which is above pre pandemic numbers!
Also, spring MAP testing is happening this month which will allow us to get a clear picture of student academic learning over the year and help us plan for next year. We have some exciting things happening this last few weeks of school!
First Friday Art Opening Reception May 6th 5:00 – 7:00pm
West Homer Elementary will be open for First Friday, May 6th, featuring the instillation of our school-wide tile project and celebrating student artwork. We’d like to invite students, their families, and community members to come by and browse. Many pieces will include a QR code that can be scanned by a cell phone or tablet. This will allow the guests to intimately connect with students by listening to them read their artist’s statements. We hope you can join us!
Activities
We are so encouraged to continue to offer more and more activities, and our students continue to sign up in large numbers. This last quarter we were able to offer flag football, volleyball, chess, robotics, and we were able to partner with other organizations to offer wrestling and yoga as well. These last 2 weeks we even put together a mini basketball tournament program as well!
Student Council Bookmobile Drive
Thank you all for donating books to the bookmobile. These books will be distributed far and wide throughout Homer and the surrounding communities. Yet another example of students and families making a positive contribution.
Campus Beautification May 19th
Leave it better than you found it. This has become a tradition here at West Homer. Students will engage in a number of different activities to clean, enhance, or in some way beautify the school from work on our trail to washing walls, we come together to give back. We believe these activities will help students take ownership of their school by contributing to the school community in a positive way, develop a sense of gratitude and giving back to a place they have occupied for the year.
IMPORTANT DATES
· May 17th: 6th Grade Promotion: 1:30pm – 2:15pm WHE Gym
· May 18th: 8:15am – 11:20am Field Day
· May 19th: Last day of school!
o Campus Beautification Projects in the morning
o 11:30 – 12:30pm PTO BBQ
Transferring or Leaving
If you know you are going to be transferring to another school in district, in state or out of state, please let the office know. This helps us get an accurate count of pupils enrolled at each site.
Please stop by at any time if you have questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Eric Waltenbaugh, Principal
Dates to Remember:
5/3 - Flag Football
5/3 - Basketball Scrimmages - Pickup at 4pm
5/4 - Last day of Starfish Yoga
5/5 - Flag Football CANCELLED
5/5 - Step up day for 6th Graders - 12:00pm to 2:15pm
5/5 - Basketball Scrimmages - Pickup at 4pm
5/6 - First Friday Art Exhibit from 5pm to 7pm
5/10 - Last day of Flag Football
5/10 - Basketball Scrimmages
5/11 - 5th Grade Rocket Launch
5/11 - Salmon Celebration at Johnson Lake - Etzwiler
5/11 - Bookmobile at WHE - 11:20am to 12:20pm
5/12 - Last day of Basketball Scrimmages
5/13 - 5th Grade Reading celebration at Hornaday Park - 9am to 2:15pm
5/13 - Club Mud - Corbell 9:30am to 12:30pm
5/16 - 3rd Grade at Hornaday Park - 9:30am to 1:30pm
5/17 - 6th Grade Promotion at 1:30pm
5/19 - Beautification Day/Last Day of School!!
First Friday Opening Reception - May 6th - 5pm to 7pm
West Homer Elementary will be open for First Friday, May 6th, featuring the instillation of our school-wide tile project and celebrating student artwork. We’d like to invite students, their families, and community members to come by and browse. Many pieces will include a QR code that can be scanned by a cell phone or tablet. This will allow the guests to intimately connect with students by listening to them read their artist’s statements. We hope you can join us!