Westbrook News & Updates
October 2019
Westbrook Elementary
Email: muck.catherine@westside66.net
Website: http://westbrook.westside66.org/
Location: 1312 Robertson Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: 402-390-6490
From the Desk of Mr. Hottovy...
Westbrook Families,
October is an exciting time at Westbrook because we get the opportunity to partner with families through parent/teacher conferences. Conferences are a wonderful time to engage with the school and to find out how your child is progressing in a number of academic areas, including specials. Parent/teacher conferences also provide you an opportunity to have input in your child’s education and connect with your child’s teacher.
At the end of the week, we will be sending home conference times for our two conference nights of October 14 and 16. If you have a conflict with your time, please work with your child’s teacher to find a suitable time. We want to do everything that we can to see you on these nights. Not only will you meet with your child’s teacher, but you will have the opportunity to meet with all teachers, including reading, special services, art, music, PE, and library.
Thank for your partnership during this important time.
Mr. Tyler Hottovy
Westbrook Principal
402.390.6490
From Mrs. Poell
WOW Cards for Safe, Respectful, and Responsible Behavior
Students at Westbrook earn WOW Cards when they show safe, respectful, and responsible behaviors. Being safe, respectful, and responsible, or the 3 Bs, are our district-wide behavior expectations. The WOW Cards allow all Westbrook staff to immediately recognize, reinforce, and shape appropriate behaviors. WOW Cards are just one piece of our Positive Behavior (PBIS) program. PBIS is a district-wide behavior program that promotes positive behavior for all students.
Next time you are at school check out Westbrook’s recognition tower. Each time a student receives a WOW Card he or she drops it in the tower and students’ cards are pulled out and celebrated during announcements. Classroom teachers also use various strategies for rewarding students who have earned recognition for positive behavior with WOW Cards. This is one strategy we use as teachers to help students grow and succeed at school!
Community Club Corner...
Westbrook Families,
We understand that volunteering at School looks different for each family. One opportunity that you have to volunteer is to provide food for our teachers during conference nights. If you are willing to bring food, please use this sign up link:
https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20f044aaea929a5f85-fall25/55313535
You can also volunteer to be a classroom parent for our fall parties. You can sign up here: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/20F044AAEA929A5F85-fall27
If you are looking to get more involved, please join us at the October Community Club meeting, October 1st at 6:30pm in the Library.
Westbrook is designated as a Title I building, which means that 65% percent of our families qualify for free or reduced lunch. As a Title I building, we receive additional funds to spend on initiatives that benefit each child. If you would like to hear more about that, please join us at our annual Title I presentation, October 1 from 6:00-6:30 in the LIbrary.
HY-VEE RECEIPTS
Please save HyVee receipts from both grocery and gasoline purchases. They need to be dated between September 1-December 31, 2019. Send them to school with your child who will turn them in to classroom teachers. The Community Club will earn money to use for school projects by redeeming those receipts by January 6, 2020. Please encourage other family members, friends and neighbors to collect them as well. The maximum dollar amount we can earn is $2000—which we have never done. Let’s aim for that this year. Thank you to HyVee for this opportunity to easily earn money for our school. So don’t throw out those receipts.
Also... PLEASE SAVE YOUR BOXTOPS!!
Information came home last week about different ways to handle this.
From the Main Office...
A few housekeeping notes to find the important items for this school year.
-Please make sure you have done your back to school update in powerschool, If you still need to do this task please follow the link here http://ps.westside66.org/ If you need your username and password please send me an email with your student name and your name and I will email that info back to you as soon as possible.
-If you student will be tardy or absent from school please call the office at 402-390-6490 ANYTIME and let us know that he/she will be late or absent. This will save us from waking you up in the morning if you are snoozing with a sick kiddo or interrupting any appointments with a phone call. If it is after hours you may leave a message. Voicemails are sent right to my email and I can get them even if I am not at work.
We have listed the calendar at the end of this email. Please check it out for upcoming events!! October is a busy month for us!
Mrs. Muck
Administrative Assistant
Library Line Up
Hello and welcome back! Here are some reminders from the library:
The Scholastic Bookfair will be back October 14th through the 17th. We are looking for parent volunteers to help with the bookfair. All parent volunteers will receive a $10.00 credit towards a purchase at the fair. High school students are also encouraged to volunteer to earn service hours. Those interested can email Miss Mejstrik at mejstrik.molly@westside66.net
Mrs. Lowe's Lookout
Hello Westbrook Families,
I would like to take a moment to introduce myself and share more about my role at school. My name is Jessica Lowe and I am the Westbrook counselor. This is my 3rd year at Westbrook and 10th year at Westside. As the counselor at Westbrook, I meet with students in their classrooms several times throughout the year to support their learning on topics such as social emotional skills, career education, positive relationships, etc. I also see some students individually or in groups to provide extra practice or work on developing specific skills.
Another way I can help is by connecting families to our school and community resources for things such as food, clothing, holiday assistance, etc. I work closely with our school social worker, April Anderson, who is also an excellent resource for our Westbrook families. Be sure to watch future newsletters for information about registration for holiday assistance, which will be coming up soon.
I am in the building everyday and available to provide support as needed. Please feel free to stop by or contact me at 402-408-8519 or lowe.jessica@westside66.net if there is something I can do to help.
I look forward to working with you and your student!
Health Office Hot Spot...
Some students will need to take medication while at school. You will need to have a form signed by the doctor and on file at the school in order for us to disperse these medications. If you are in need of a form please contact the main office and they would be happy to provide one for you. If your child has an inhaler at home make sure they have one here at school.They will need to have an asthma action plan on file and doctors know what this is. It MUST be housed in the health office so the student can be monitored and no other student finds it in the hallway. Last year we had several inhalers found in various parts of the school.
If you have any questions please call Laurie Beatty, Health Assistant at 402-390-6490.
Mentor A Wildcat...
Consider being a TeamMates Mentor
The positive impact of TeamMates Mentoring on a student/mentees’ levels of hope, engagement in school, and well-beinghas been well researched.
In a recent school year,
§ 75% of TeamMates mentees had fewer unexcused absences
§ 84% of TeamMates mentees experienced fewer disciplinary referrals
§ 55% of TeamMates mentees improved their academic performance
Please consider making a 1-hour a week commitment (meeting at school, only during school calendar) to make an incredible difference in a child’s life. TeamMates prefers mentors to be able to commit to the program for at least 3 years to make a lasting impression. If you are interested in learning more about TeamMates Mentoring, contact Mrs. Lowe (402-408-8519). The comments below from mentees reveal how mentoring touches a child’s life:
"Thank you so much for coming and seeing me each week. I'm so happy that you're my mentor. I love spending time with you. I will do anything to make you proud. I won't ever let you down.” - TeamMate Mentee
“"Thank you for being a teammate of mine. I enjoy spending my time every week to talk about how I am. You're like a pal to me.” - TeamMate Mentee
Need some help... Westbrook families have a great resource when needed... see below.
Did you know Westside has a Food Pantry and Clothing Closet??
Who: Any family with a student attending a Westside school can receive items from the food pantry and clothing closet. Families can receive assistance as needed.
How: Call to schedule a pick up or delivery or a time to come to the clothing closet. Summer pantry and closet hours will be available.
To learn more or to request assistance:
Contact April Anderson, School Social Worker
Office: (402)-408-8914 Cell: (402)-680-2409
What is Happening in the Family Enrichment Center...
We have pre-school story time every Tuesday at 9:30am in the Early Childhood Center starting Sept 10th. You can pull in the lot off Western and follow the driveway that runs all the way back behind the school. There is an Early Childhood entrance there for your convenience.
We have parent play time every Thursday at 9:30am. Please stop by the main office and we will get you a visitor pass and directions to the Family Enrichment Center.
Parent group times for this upcoming year, from 10-11 am in room 119.
You are welcome to come any time.
June 18
July 30
Aug 27
Sept 24
Oct 22
Nov 19
Dec 17
Jan 28
Feb 25
March 24
April 28
We welcome everyone so spread the word.
We can't wait to see you at Westbrook!