The WES Parent Wildcat Weekly
Home of the Wildcats!
Week of October 19-25, 2020
Hello from Principal Holmes!
I am so proud of our wildcats who have returned to the classroom and how well they adjusted to being back in school. Our students have responded extremely well to the strategies that we have put into place to ensure a safe learning environment.
Our virtual learners continue to respond positively to the instruction that is being provided to them. The participation that I see from our students as I am in and out of classrooms reassures me that the instruction that our teachers are providing is engaging and interactive.
Our teachers are working tirelessly to provide the best opportunities for all of our students both in-person and virtually simultaneously. Our students are learning! Thank you parents for your support as you provide the guidance your child may need to navigate around the computer. I must say our students have become tech-savvy in such a short time.
I am so proud of all of our school community for the way we have all come together to support our students and each other. Every one of our roles no matter what plays an important part in supporting the success of our students. Together, we prepare our students for their future.
With wildcat pride and spirit,
Dianne Holmes
Principal
Message from our Superintendent Dr. Baker
From a number of valuable perspectives, our school system experienced an overall successful transition to hybrid in-person learning this week!
While visiting many schools throughout the week, it was so wonderful to see and hear our students actively learning in-person. By all accounts, students did a great job of following and adapting to the new procedures required for safe in-person learning. Thank you to parents for helping to reinforce this both prior to and during the week.
I am humbled and deeply honored to lead and work alongside the absolute best teachers, school and division leaders, and support staff. Despite significant and persistent challenges, our people continue to lead, learn, and serve their hearts out for our students and families across the county. From the many on-site visits and collaborative work this week, it was clear that everyone was working hard, effectively, and with a genuine sense of joy in having students in our schools learning. In conversations with several teachers and school principals, most felt really pleased with the overall transition. Bus transportation, food service, maintenance, and health services meeting the continued challenges.
Instructional Technology Update: The Instructional Technology department worked through the weekend to ensure that the hotspots were ready for students and families. All pre-ordered hotspots were delivered to schools this week. If families still have a need for a hotspot, please contact your child’s school.
Though we were only one day in, our team shared another update with our school board this past Monday. You can view the presentation here and are also welcome to go online and view the entire meeting here.
If you haven’t already done so, please check out our Learning from Home resource parent and student website for distance learning information and resources. If you need help navigating the site, be sure to view the September Family Connection webinar.
Speaking of the Family Connection webinar, our next one will be live-streamed on Thursday, October 22 at 5:00 p.m. at https://www.regionalwebtv.com/family-connection. If you are unable to view it live, it will be recorded and posted at the same link for viewing at any time.
As a reminder, the COVID-19 Dashboard is updated weekly and you can view it in the Return to Learn section or by clicking this link: SCPS COVID-19 Dashboard.
Thank you again to our students and parents for your patience and support through this whole process. If your child needs support in transitioning to the hybrid in-person learning model, please reach out to your child’s schools.
Let’s have another great in-person and distance learning week!
Dr. S. Scott Baker
What's happening this week at WES!!
School Counselor Corner
Mrs. Elliott here, it has been so wonderful to see students virtually and in person! Students have the opportunity to visit the counselor in person and virtually as needed. You can set up an appointment through email or feel free to give me a call.
Next week Mrs. Elliott will be visiting 4th-grade classrooms!
National Red Ribbon Week is celebrated every October around the country. It is a time for us to show our commitment to helping our children and our community to be drug-free. It is also an opportunity to educate students about the dangers of substance use and to encourage healthy life choices. For more information, you can visit: www.redribbon.org. This year, WES is celebrating Red Ribbon Week with these spirit days in school and at home!
Monday 10/26: Hats off to making healthy choices: Wear your favorite hat
Tuesday 10/27: Let’s dream about our drug-free future: Wear your favorite pajamas
Wednesday 10/28: Wildcats are crazy about being drug-free!: Show your WES spirit! Wear your white/blue spirit wear
Thursday 10/29: Team up against drugs: Wear your favorite sports team jersey or shirt
Friday 10/30: Books are better than drugs: Book character day
Interested in food support? At Wilderness on Thursday’s from 12:30 pm - 2 pm, our food pantry is available for you. You can also schedule an appointment with Mrs. Elliott or Mrs. Burton (school social worker). To learn more: Food Distribution
Stop by our Wilderness counseling site for resources:
Wilderness School Counseling Website
If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email me. I am happy to help!
Tori Elliott
School Counselor
Distance Learning Information for Parents
The following two links are to sites that include pertinent distance learning information for parents and students such as tutorials on Canvas and Google Classroom, along with other important information
Contact Us!
Daniella Smith, Assistant Principal
Tori Elliott, School Counselor
Crystal Burton, School Social Worker
Email: dholmes@spotsylvania.k12.va.us
Website: https://www.spotsylvania.k12.va.us/Domain/23
Location: 11600 Catharpin Road, Spotsylvania Courthouse, VA, USA
Phone: 540-786-9817
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WildernessWildcats
Twitter: @WESPrincipal