Westside Elementary
February 2024 Newsletter
Important Dates
February
- 2nd: Spirit Day - Wear Panther Apparel
- 5th: PTO Meeting in Westside Library - 6:30pm
- 9th: NO SCHOOL
- 11th: Children's Day Festival at NECC: Lifelong Learning Center
- 12th and 13th: Parent Teacher Conferences - 4:00-7:00pm
- 14th: Winter Room Parties
- 15th: 11:30am Dismissal / PT Conferences - 1:00-4:00pm
- 16th-20th: NO SCHOOL
- 23rd: Father/Daughter Dance 6:00-7:30pm
March
- 1st: Spirit Day - Wear Panther Apparel
- 4th-8th: Read Across America Week
I'm Melting!....
February has started way better than January. The term "melting" takes on a whole new meaning when this amount of snow starts to disappear. It has been nice to see grass on the ground again. We have been struggling with ice in the morning and puddles in the afternoon. I don't foresee that changing any time soon. Please be careful as you drop off and pick up students. Remind your child to walk and not run, in case they hit a patch of ice. We throw down salt and gravel but it gets washed away in some spots where the drainage is worst. I also appreciate when people let us know about ice patches. It has been extremely hard to keep up.
On the bright side, the Groundhog didn't see his shadow so we should have an early spring...Right?
Unfortunately he has only been right 4 out of the last 10 times. So I wouldn't put away my snow boots just yet.
We will have a number of dates with no school coming up in February, March, and April. Please pay special attention to our district calendar. As of now, we WILL have school on March 27th due to our make up snow day. Just giving you a heads up!
Have a wonderful February,
Mr. Lichty
Parents:
If you have a child who will reach the age of 5 on or before July 31 of this year, they are eligible to start Kindergarten next fall. A child who will be 6 years old before January 2025 is required to be enrolled in school.
We are limited to 25 students per classroom in Kindergarten. If we are full, any overflow students will go to a different school. To avoid that situation, please contact Penny as soon as possible to register your incoming Kindergartner for next year. We will need a completed census (enrollment) form (can pick up at Westside office) and a copy of your child’s birth certificate. Enrollment is not official until both of those documents are received.
Information regarding Kindergarten Roundup on April 17th, will be made available in the future.
Please call the office at 402-644-2561 with any questions or to request paperwork.
Father/Daughter Dance: My Valentine
Families,
The Father/Daughter Dance is on February 23rd. This event is an opportunity to celebrate those special men in the lives of our female students. The men who attend do not have to be "dad". They can be any special adult male that our girls want to bring. There is a cost of $4.00 per person. Any "daughters" who do not attend Westside are also welcome to come to the dance with their "dad".
The info for that event went home with students on Friday, February 2nd. The money and form (indicating who will be attending) need to be returned to your child's teacher by Thursday, February 8th.
Moms,
If any of you want to help at the event, there is a sign up below. It is a great way to spy on all of the fun!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080F45A9A92CA1FD0-47299279-westside
PTO Schedule Change for Muffins with Mom
Families,
It was decided at our last PTO meeting that we would move our Muffins with Mom event from January 26th to March 14th. The hope is that the weather will be nicer and a safer event for families. We also hoped it wouldn't need to be postponed or cancelled.
More info about Muffins with Mom will come as we get closer to March.
Westside Music Concert
We had a great time at the Music Concert last week. The students did an excellent job. Here are some photos from the event.
Children's Day Festival
Below are the fliers for the annual Children's Day Festival presented by Read Aloud Norfolk. It is a fun event to help foster a love of reading.
Bucket Fillers of the Month
For the month of January we focused on Behavior Expectations in the area of Arrival and Dismissal.
I also included videos from our Minute to Win It game.
Minute to Win It Game: Hoop De Loop
December Birthdays
Water Bottles
Also, we are only allowing water or flavored water. No carbonated drinks please!
Seesaw guidelines
Families,
We utilize Seesaw exclusively for our communication between home and school.
However, if you have any messages or appointment information for your child, please call the office at 402-644-2561. Penny will take down your information and make sure it gets to the proper people. As you can imagine, teachers are busy working with their students and will likely miss a message that needs to be delivered.
On the subject of contacting teachers, we love to utilize Seesaw for contact with families. However, please do not expect a response outside of school hours. Teachers are encouraged to avoid emails and Seesaw when not on duty. We want them to enjoy their time with their families. It is possible they may message you in the evening, though, it is not the expectation.
Also, please give them grace if they happen to check a message and forget about it. There are so many distractions in the course of a day, it is easy to forget about returning a message or checking on a request. It is always a good idea to follow up if you don't hear back in 48 hours. (excluding weekends)
Thank you for your understanding.
Mr. Lichty
Westside Social Media
Westside Twitter page. (maintained by Westside Elementary)
Westside Facebook page. (maintained by Westside PTO)
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