Black Cat Bulletin
Keeping it R.E.A.L! Respect + Effort + Attitude= Leadership
September 2016
From Our Principal...
Welcome back to another fabulous year of growing, learning, and leading. I've never seen a year begin so smoothly, a staff so dedicated, or parents so supportive. I'm simply amazed at the power of people coming together.
One of the most exciting ways a school grows is through its people. Our staff is simply the best! They focus on growing their skill, stretching their understandings, and reaching every student. You won't find a staff more dedicated to their profession. The PTA is united with the school and looking forward to incredible ways of lifting up our staff, our students, and our community. Watch Facebook, our newsletters, and PeachJar for lots of exciting upcoming events sponsored with our PTA! Our students thrive on learning and growing, and are learning all about their brains and how mindsets and attitudes make learning even more powerful. Join us as we learn together!
Welcome to new staff and students
I'd like to welcome all of the new families to West Terrace. We have 102 new kindergarten children, and many new families at other grade levels. We are so glad to have you here! Welcome to the WT family. We look forward to learning lots about you and sharing lots of great times together!
Opportunities for Outreach
As you will see, our staff and PTA are working hard to SOAR to new heights. . The PTA Theme this year "SOAR into PTA" includes many opportunities to reach lift up one another and to reach new heights. Please consider joining us as we SOAR through our school year!
Better Together
One thing I learn more each year is the power of people who come together. Our WT community is strong in bond, strong in leadership, and strong in spirit. I am so thankful for each of you, and the gifts you bring to our school, to our students, and to me. I sit here today surrounded by my family who has come into town to celebrate my 50th birthday with me, which is a milestone I am so thankful to be able to celebrate in a few days. I am thankful to have a work family to surround me every day, as well. Perhaps the poignance of this milestone for me personally makes the joys at West Terrace more evident. Perhaps the magnificence of the things we are able to accomplish together makes the excitement more obvious. Either way, I count myself blessed in life, and blessed in position here at West Terrace.
Katie White
Principal
From Our Principal Intern
Welcome, Black Cats!
As a new staff member and principal intern, I want to thank you for your warm welcome to West Terrace. I have so enjoyed getting to know the families, students, and staff of the school. After only a few weeks on the job, I can tell West Terrace is blessed with a strong, uplifting community! Working with each of you is a joy in my life.
A Little About Me…
I grew up on the west side of Evansville and received my BA from Oakland City University. After graduating, I accepted a teaching position in Lakeland, FL. During my career in Florida, I was able to work with both second and third grade students. After receiving my MS from Purdue University Calumet, I also spent a year managing a federal program for our school. This entailed providing our staff with professional development, increasing community/family involvement, and coaching teachers in the school.
Several years ago, my family and I moved back to Evansville and I’m thrilled to be back! When you’re an Evansville native, you can only live away from a Donut Bank for so long. Since I have returned home I have taught at Evans School. While at Evans, I taught 1st grade students and spent a year as an instructional coach.
I’m looking forward to learning from you and serving our community this year as I embark on this new experience at West Terrace. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can help with anything. Have a great school year!
Bethany Lynch
Principal Intern
From Our Counselor...
Tips for Starting the School Year Successfully!
Get lots of rest – Setting up a regular bedtime and wake-up routine will help cut down on stress and is crucial to prepare your child for success.
Talk about it – Talk to your child about why school is important. The more you show how much you value education, the more your child will see the importance of making school a priority.
Involve your child in daily routines – Let your child pick out his or her clothing the night before, choose the spot for the backpack, or help make lunch for the next day. Giving your child small things to be responsible for now will help him or her become more independent later!
Set a regular schedule for completing homework – Helping your child with homework and making it a priority is an effective way to show interest in what he or she is learning at school.
Communicate – Talk to your child’s teacher to alert him or her about any changes that may impact your child at school. The teacher can also alert you to anything that may be happening with your child!
Excerpt from Barbara Micucci - umasd.org
April Coughlin
West Terrace Counselor
Students of the Week
New Recognition Program
Weeks 1 and 2
The 10 children below were recognized for Week 1 and 2 of our school year.
Lindsey Bigham, Lauren Tillotson, Max Raisor, Emmerson Farmer, Brayden Toone, Elise Butrum, Adalynn Beck, Molly George, Blake Weyer, and Drew Bateman. THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU, boys and girls! YOU make a difference every day!!
Week 3
Camryn Hape, Avery Whitmore, Cameron Woodruff, Leslie Stephens, Tyler Gates, and Harlen Summers. THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!! You make a difference EVERY day!
Policy Reminders for 2016-17
Signing in at the Office
Our front doors are locked during school hours. When you arrive at the front entrance, please press the intercom button. If you are recognized, you will be buzzed in. If not, the office will buzz you in after verifying your identity.
Once you have entered the building please report to the office where you will be asked to sign in our Raptor sign-in system (same as last year). Please be prepared to present your driver's license to be scanned into our system. Please make sure to wear your Raptor printed badge where it is visible so staff will know that you have signed in at the office. It is important that you return to the office to sign out as you leave.
We do have new office staff so you may be asked to provide your driver's license as identification, or to verify your relationship to a child before entering the building.
Dress Policies
SHOES
Students may not wear flip flops to school. There are many safety concerns in the building and on recess each day that require a stable shoe. They also break easily, and we do not have shoes to provide to students.
Modest Dress
Spaghetti straps, belly shirts, sagging pants, and short shorts or short skirts will not be permitted. Spaghetti strap shirts are allowed under an overshirt or sweater.
Classroom visits and instruction
While we enjoy visitors here to support learning at West Terrace, we do ask non-scheduled visits be avoided for things such as giving a child a forgotten lunchbox, saying "hi" when you're here on other business, etc. We find these interruptions frequently occur during instruction. Instruction is our number one priority. Please help us keep students' focus on the teacher and not on visitors in the classroom. Forgotten items will be given to the child at the teacher's convenience. You'll be asked to leave the item in the office for a later delivery.
Lunch Visits
We welcome you to join your child for lunch this year. Please remember that a lunch visit is a special time for you and your child to interact. You will sit in a booth with your child. For security purposes, you may not have other children join your family in the booth. *Please send a note to the office if someone other than you will be eating lunch with your child.
If you come for lunch with your child, please remain in the cafe. Visitors are not permitted in the classrooms before or after lunches as part of the lunch visit without notifying the office. This is for the security of all children in the building.
Recess
Visitors will not be allowed at recess due to safety concerns. If you join your child for lunch, please say good-bye at the cafe doors. Children nor parents are permitted to go to lockers during the lunch period.
Transportation Calls or Notes for Changes
ALL transportation changes should be made in writing to your child's teacher and sent to school. Calls to the office are not encouraged but will be accepted before 2:00 p.m. We are unable to let students go home a different way unless we have been contacted by parents. This includes sporting events, early dismissals, play dates, etc.
If someone will be picking up your child who is not listed in your child's emergency information, please send a signed note to school or add the individual to the form. Students will not be sent home with individuals who are not on the emergency form without a written note from parents.
Dismissal
We make every effort to make sure children do not miss a bus by providing supervision in the halls until they are cleared. If your child misses a bus, your child will be brought to the office and a parent will be contacted for pick up. In the event that a parent cannot be contacted, they will be sent to day care.
Arrival and Dismissal Procedure
Car pick up and drop off is located in the back of the school. Drop off will be from 7:45 to 8:10. As you proceed through the thoroughfare, please drive all the way to the "Drop Off Starts Here" sign and pull to the curb. The left lane is the exit lane. Please do not pass cards to drop off your child unless directed to do so by staff. Teachers on duty will help get your child out of the car if needed.
At pick up, we will load multiple cars at a time. Wait for the cars in front of you to move, rather than pulling away once your child is in your vehicle. There is no passing once your child is loaded.
The pick-up process for Kindergarten has changed as described in a notice that went out to all K households on August 24: We no longer use the side entrance and around the back of the property for kindergarten-only. Keep driving past the school and carefully turn around at the end of the drive in the gravel. Drive to the edge of the kindergarten rooms but DO NOT block the parking lot entrance, as buses drive in and out there. The children will be brought out front and delivered to your car.
There is no parking along the front curb after 2:30.
Medication
Medication can not be given to students without a current medication permission slip on file for this school year.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS!
Attend today; achieve tomorrow. #Schooleveryday
Remember:
- As a general rule, if a child is fever free and not vomiting
- Early bedtimes and a healthy diet will help your child's overall well-being. If a child feels better, he will get up easier and be happier to go to school.
- 24-Hour rule: If a child has been fever-free or has not vomited for 24 hours, he may return to school.
- Out of town trips are coded solely as an unexcused absence and an automated call will be made even if the office has been notified.
- Be sure to turn in all doctor excuses. We can not accept doctor's excuses that state "parent called in. Child not seen."
- Please note vacation days count as unexcused absences and can quickly get your child to the 10 day limit.
Healthy School Guidelines
Healthy Lunches and Drinks, Per State Code and Local School Board Policy
Suggestions include: The following qualify as better choice beverages: (a) Fruit or vegetable based drinks that: contain at least fifty percent (50%) real fruit or vegetable juice; and do not contain additional caloric sweeteners. (b)Water and seltzer water that do not contain additional caloric sweeteners. (c)Low fat and fat free milk, including chocolate milk, soy milk, rice milk, and other similar dairy and nondairy calcium fortified milks. (d)Isotonic beverages.
Further State and School Board policies include: Soft drinks including diet, energy drinks and caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea, will not be brought from home since they are not allowed to be sold during the regular and extended school day per Indiana Code 20-26-9-19. Communicating to students and families that only accepted drinks will be allowed during the school day as directed by Indiana code is vital. Teachers can have a huge influence on students’ behavior by modeling healthy attitudes and habits toward food and physical activity.
Fast Food: Schools will strive to eliminate fast food from being brought into the school by students, the school, parents, or mentors, etc. during the school day.
We care about your children's health today, tomorrow, and as they become adults. We know the habits they develop now, and the model we set for them, makes a difference for a healthy future. Please join us as we further our commitment to health and wellness!
Birthday Treats
We do acknowledge students' birthdays on our Wahoo Wednesday Morning Meeting. If your family objects to the celebration of birthdays, please make sure the teacher and the office are aware.
Tuesday, September 13 - WT Gym - Beginning 8:30 a.m.
Paragon Fundraiser...the Secret Life of Pets!
The proceeds will be used to benefit the academic and extracurricular programs at our school:
- Provide professional development opportunities for teachers.
- Materials for programs for teachers and clubs.
- Purchase items and materials to benefit classrooms, building and grounds.
INFORMATION
Menus available at the link below
Emergency Information (Forms)
If you move, change cell phone numbers, change employers, emergency contact/pick-up information during the school year, PLEASE share this information with your child's teacher and/or the office. You can also update your personal information through the RDS Parent Access.
The office staff is working diligently to make the changes/corrections from the forms. If you had an emergent change, please contact the office directly to be sure the updates are made.
Volunteering in our Schools
- Go to evscschools.com
- Hover over the Parent tab and click on Volunteer in our Schools
- Click on Volunteer Application Form Link
- Fill out the form and hit submit at the bottom of the page
Peachjar LIVE!
Peachjar is free to the EVSC and our schools, including PTA groups, school feeder athletic programs, non-profits, etc. Please contact the office if you represent one of these organizations and want to utilize Peachjar.
Gems from the GYM
Welcome back to school and a newly, beautifully painted gymnasium at West Terrace!
I’m so excited to begin my third year as the Physical Education teacher and have already started talking to your child about the importance of 60 minutes of daily exercise. Of course, this doesn’t have to be done all at once! It can happen throughout their day in shorter periods of time. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that your youngster needs 3 types of exercise on a regular basis: aerobic (dancing, hiking, biking, swimming, running, playing basketball), muscle strengthening (climbing, gymnastics, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups) and bone strengthening (running, skipping, jumping rope, basketball, tennis, volleyball). Each of these types should be included at least three times a week as part of your child’s 60 minutes of daily exercise. Keep in mind that when it comes to physical activity there is always something for everyone and by trying different activities your child will find something that fits their personality and passion.
Also, as a gentle reminder if you haven’t sent in your PE fund money …I would really appreciate getting all the money in for our deposit into the account as soon as possible. Our student enrollment is up this year and we are lacking in certain equipment due to large class sizes. I thank you in advance for your continued support and look forward to the upcoming year in the gym!
Keeping PE Real… Real Fun
Real Engaging
Real Meaningful
Ms. B.
VOLLEYBALL TEAM
West Terrace Fans - Come out and support the girls this fall!
September 20 AWAY @Tekoppel Gym 4:00 p.m.
September 22 AWAY @Cynthia Heights 4:00 p.m.
September 29 HOME -v- Daniel Wertz 4:00 p.m.
No practices or games during Fall Festival week
October 11 HOME -v- Tekoppel 4:00 p.m.
October 13 HOME -v- Stringtown 4:00 p.m.
October 18 HOME -v- Cynthia Heights 4:00 p.m.
October 20 AWAY @Daniel Wertz 4:00 p.m.
October 29 Tournament @ Reitz
WT and PTA
JOIN THE WEST TERRACE PTA!
President: Jenny Fuquay
Vice-President: Sandi Davis
Secretary: Tera Babb
Treasurer: April Coughlin
2016-17 Meetings
August 29 5:30 p.m. (All meetings in the Media Center)
September 20 4:30 p.m.
October 18 4:30 p.m.
November 7 5:30 p.m. (Area Council PTA)
February 13 5:30 p.m.
April 10 5:30 p.m.
PTA Membership Drive
Here are just some of the wonderful PTA projects: 4K4Kids Color Run, Helping Hands (food/clothing bank), Box Tops, Santa Shop and Breakfast, Dads and Donuts, Field Day, Grandparents' Day, Popcorn Fridays, Spirit Wear, Staff Appreciation, Yearbook, Fundraising, School Supplies Orders, App Notifications, and Scripts
Student Opportunities
Choir News
West Terrace Choir will begin in September. Any student in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade are welcomed to join. A permission slip went home with all 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students the week of August 22, 2016. The choir will be performing a Winter Concert with the Kindergarten class on Thursday December 8, 2016. They will also be performing a Spring Concert with the 1st grade on April 27, 2017. They have a special performance at Barnes and Noble on Saturday December 10, 2016 at 9:00am to help kick off the Holiday Season. If you have any questions about choir please feel free to contact Mrs. Woodruff.
Grade 5 D.A.R.E.
The 5th Graders have started their DARE program during their science and social studies classes. Officer Spradlin comes in every Wednesday to talk to the kids about substance abuse, how to deal with peer pressure, and making good choices. The 5th graders' experience will culminate with a field trip to the FOP Camp in the fall. There will also be a "graduation" ceremony at the end of the course. If you have any questions about this program, please contact Mrs. Toelle or Mrs. Nance.
Last Year's Yearbooks
2015-16 Yearbook Inserts Available!
The inserts are now available and have been distributed. If your child has not received the extra pages (end of the year and 5th grade pictures, Field Day, etc.) please contact the office.
Community Outreach
Recycling News
Welcome back!! I hope everyone had a great summer! As we begin the new school year, I would like to introduce our new students and remind our returning students about our recycle program here at West Terrace.
Plastic caps-Our school NO LONGER accepts plastic caps for recycling. Thank you for your support in acquiring benches and tables for our property!
Aluminum cans and tabs-We have a collection cage for aluminum cans on the east side parking area, sitting next to the blue dumpster. You can pull up in your car and deposit them in the cage at any time. Send aluminum tabs in with your child to drop in the blue tub located inside school.
Paper, plastic, cardboard, and glass-We collect these items inside the school and you can collect them at home! West Terrace is part of the city recycling program and we have a clearly marked recycle dumpster sitting in the east parking area. You are able to bring your recycle items to school and put them in the dumpster at your convenience!!
Thank you to everyone for teaching our students to be good stewards of Mother Earth,
Mrs. Risley
THIS YEAR'S STAFF
Please help us welcome the following staff members to our teams.
Here are the specific grade level assignments:
Kindergarten:
Tara Kolb, rm 32
Wendy Brunson, rm 30
Lisa Gooch, rm 33
Angela Hayes, rm 34
First Grade
Amanda Woods, rm 1
Brooke Corressell, rm 3
Mallorie Roberts, rm 6
Cindy Hamon, rm 5
Second Grade
Vera Emmons, rm 9
Carie Kingery, rm 10
Trisha Kavanaugh, rm 15
Amy Nau, rm 12
Third Grade
Janette Allen, rm 16/ Stephanie Scheu, rm 16
Robin Bass, rm 19/ Denise Strawn, rm 18
Amanda Southworth, rm 23
Fourth Grade
Shelly DeWeese, rm 22/ Lindsey Stine, rm 29
Audrey Gower, rm 24/Nikki Paul, rm 23
Fifth Grade
Trish Toelle, rm 26/Renee Schefer, rm 27
Cassie Curl, rm 28/Simone Nance, rm 25
Special Ed
LIfeskills:
Jennifer Bennett, rm 4
Sarah Walls, rm 2
Resource:
Renae Jackson, rm 14
Shelley Patton, rm 21
Amanda Ritzert, media center
Rotation
Susan Kemper, Art, rm 8
Anne Woodruff, Music, rm 7
Peggy Belanger, Gym
Nadine Risley, Technology
Office
Katie White, Principal
Bethany Lynch, Principal Intern
April Coughlin, Counselor
Sheri Moore, Principal's Secretary
Nicole Smith, Secretary/Receptionist
Christine Hamilton, Nurse
Peggy Jewell, Media Aide
West Terrace Elementary School
8000 West Terrace Drive
Evansville, IN 47712
FAX (812) 435-8869
Email: katie.white@evsc.k12.in.us
Website: evscschools.com/westterrace
Location: West Terrace Elementary School, West Terrace Drive, Evansville, IN, United States
Phone: (812) 435-8733
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Terrace-Elementary-School/333852756647518