West Elementary School
October 22, 2021
Upcoming Dates
10/29 Halloween Parade (2 p.m.) and Classroom Parties
11/4 Picture Retake Day
11/5 Teacher Institute Day (no school)
11/8-12 Scholastic Book Fair (save the dates)
11/9 WPO Meeting @ 7 p.m.
11/10 Early Release (2 p.m. dismissal)
11/11 Book Fair Family Night (6 to 8 p.m.)
11/22 and 23 Parent/Teacher Conferences
Scrip Card Fundraiser
SCRIP Gift Card Program has begun!
Our event runs October 21 - November 4!
This program offers gift cards purchased at face value, yet a small percentage of that purchase is donated back to West! Spend the same amount of money and support West at the same time!
Youngest and only students should have brought home the packets containing ordering information! Within that packet is also a convenient list of Teacher Gift Card preferences! Orders are firmly due by November 4! Gift cards should be distributed the week of November 15, provided there are no shipping delays! You’ll have those gift cards in time for holiday shopping too!
So think of all angles when viewing our Scrip Gift Card program...holiday shopping, grocery shopping, gas cards, gift giving, etc! There are so many options and it's so simple to order!
If you have any questions, please reach out to Christy Bott - christy.bott@gmail.com or Liz Delzell - elizabeth.delzell@gmail.com.
As always, THANK YOU for helping make WEST THE BEST!
Halloween Parade & Parties
Halloween is an exciting day for our students and once again we will be holding our parade and parties in the afternoon on Friday, October 29th beginning at 2:00 p.m. All students, grades K - 5 who wish to dress in costumes for the parade/party, must bring their costumes to school in a bag or box labeled with their names. Please make sure that these costumes can easily be put on so that students can dress themselves before the parade. Please refrain from having students wearing makeup to school or from having students with anything else that will distract them from their learning, such as wild hair. Students may not wear scary costumes or scary masks. We will not allow any costumes with guns, blood, swords, knives or other fake weapons. No “web shooting” devices should be brought as part of the costume.
Masks
During the outdoor Halloween parade, daily safety masks will not be required; however, when students return to the building for the classroom party, they will be asked to remove their costume mask and put on their safety mask.
Weather permitting, we plan to parade outside. Spectators can view anywhere on the parade route! Our parade will start at 2:00 p.m. by coming out Door 11 (5th grade door near the ramp in the back) and move counterclockwise around the West end of the building. The parade will continue in the front of the building and around the east side of the building, ending by entering door 8 (event door near cafeteria).
Historically, we have had large crowds of spectators, which we and the children love! However, if it rains, only students would be viewing the parade indoors. District procedure requires us to use our Raptor security system when visitors are in the building with children present. If it rains, our system and staff would not be able to handle verifying a large number of visitors in a timely manner.
Room parties will start when the parade is over. Thank you to all the parents that have been working hard already to have special activities for the classrooms. If you wanted to send in something special, please do not send any edible items. Remember, children are just as happy to receive stickers, pencils, and other small novelties.
Thank you for your help in making this a fun and exciting day for our students.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Klinsky at BAKlinsky@d47.org.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR: READ FOR THE GOLD
Let the Countdown Begin!
November 8th-November 12th
We are so excited to announce that the book fair is back in person this year. Students will come to preview the book fair, create a wish list, and then come back to shop their favorite titles. Details will be sent out the week of November 1st.
We will also be having a family night on November 11th from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. This is a great time to shop, participate in some activities, and hear a great story. Save this date!
We are looking for volunteers to help make this event a success. All volunteers are trained during their shifts. It’s super easy and fun! Check out the link to see when your student's class will be previewing the fair. Click on this link to sign up to volunteer and earn a $5 book fair gift certificate to use to shop after your shift. (Gift certificates are valid for the duration of the book fair.)
Stephanie Maldonado & Stephanie McHugh
Book Fair Co-Chairs
West Book Mobile
West Elementary is excited to announce the return of our monthly Book Mobile! Students are invited to bring used books that are still in good condition and exchange them for books on our Book Mobile cart. Students may also choose to purchase a Book Mobile Coupon with 5 Paw Prides. The coupon is good for one book from the Book Mobile cart. The children may keep the book forever, or they may choose to exchange it for a new book the following month. Parent volunteers from our WPO will visit the classrooms at scheduled times and invite interested students to the hallway to exchange books to minimize disruption in the classroom. The Book Mobile will occur on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. Please refer to the following schedule:
1st Tuesday of the month (Nov. 2, Dec. 7, Jan. 4, Feb. 1, March 1, April 5, May 3)
All Kindergarten, 1st grade, 4th grade
3rd (Mallon, Gaede)
3rd Thursday of the month (Nov. 16, Dec. 14, Jan. 18, Feb. 15, March 15, April 19, May 17)
All 2nd grade
3rd (Heileman, Osbeck)
5th graders will visit the book mobile the 1st week of the month during their library time.
Wee Deliver
We have a wonderful in-school mail delivery program! Students can write letters to siblings, friends in other classes, teachers and Whiskers! In order for our mail system to be efficient, we rely on our 3rd and 4th graders! Our 4th graders have jobs as the Facer, Nixie Clerk, Sorter and Postmaster. The 3rd graders are Carriers and Carrier Supervisors. 3rd and 4th graders who are interested will be bringing home their information about Wee Deliver, application and a study guide today.
Mrs. Hui and Mrs. Womac will be supporting our Wee Deliver Program. However, to make it successful we also need parent volunteers. Any parent who would like to volunteer is welcome! Volunteers will oversee the 3rd and 4th graders and help them with their duties. We have 2 shifts each day in which we need volunteers. Sign up for as many shifts as you would like here.
If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Hui at rachel.hui@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY HARVEST FOOD DRIVE
District 47 is proud to support the Crystal Lake Food Pantry and looks forward to participating in the 31st annual Community Harvest Food Drive from October 15-November 25. Our Wildcat Council members will be hosting the Community Food Drive at West! Please help our community by sending in donations. Your student may bring them in on any day of the week. Each morning our Wildcat Council members will go to individual classrooms to collect what was brought in that day.
Last fall, the Crystal Lake community donated over 107,000 pounds of food and more than $100,000 during the Community Harvest. See this year’s flyer for most wanted food and household items. Monetary donations are also appreciated; checks can be made payable to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry. Donations will be accepted at most D47 schools, Wehde Early Childhood Center and the CORE Center through Friday, November 12th. District 47 appreciates any and all donations and is excited to be involved in this annual tradition and important community event!
2021-2022 YEARBOOK
Don't delay! It's time to order your copy of the 2021-2022 West Elementary yearbook! All orders must be placed online at: Order a Yearbook Here
The yearbook will be sent directly to your home in May. When completing your online order, please be sure to use the address where you would like the book to be shipped.
Farewell from Mrs. Schoepel
I just wanted to thank everyone for being so gracious to me over the past 10 years in my position as administrative assistant. Today is my last day at West.
I have been very proud to work with such great staff members and administration over the years, and I have truly enjoyed getting to know and developing relationships with our parents and students. Thank you for making West the best!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Schoepel
West Elementary School
Email: Wesschool@d47.org
Website: www.d47.org/wes
Location: 100 Briarwood Road, Crystal Lake, IL, USA
Phone: 815.788.5550
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D47west
Twitter: @d47west