Weirton Elementary School
August 2023
W.E.S. Families - February Newsletter
Happy February!
We are off to a great second semester! All students should have received middle of the year benchmark reports in reading and math with their 2nd nine-week report card. Please contact your child's teacher if you would like to set up a parent/teacher conference to review middle of the year progress.
Remote Workday Packet #1: (snow packet)
- All students should have received a "remote workday packet #1" (snow packet). This packet should be kept at home and used only if a "remote" workday is called. Please contact your child's teacher if you didn't receive a remote packet #1.
SMART 529 Essay Contest:
- Students will be participating in the SMART 529 Essay Contest.
- Grades K-2 will write the essay in school. Teachers sent home SMART 529 Essay forms for families to sign and return to school. ONLY sign for permission to participate. The students will write the essay at school. Return signed form as soon as possible to your child's teacher.
- Grades 3 & 4 will have an option to complete the SMART 529 Essay at home. Complete the essay at home and return to school with parent signature on Tuesday, February 20 to your child's homeroom teacher.
Lots of things happening this month at WES. Check out the events below.
- February Fact Fluency Fitness Month
- 2024-2025 PreK registration
- Math Mania Night
- Valentine Day Exchange
- Black History Month (3rd grade wax museum)
- President's Day (1st grade program)
- Jump Rope for Heart
- PreK Book Bingo and Gallery Walk
- Community in Schools Winter Boot Drive
- WTRF Pledge Calendar schedule
Please don't hesitate to call or set up an appointment if you have any questions or concerns. We love our WES families. Thank you for your support.
Denise Miller
304-748-8370 (WES school number)
Below are the activities and dates for February.
Read the entire newsletter. Lots of updates and information are included as you scroll down the newsletter.
WTRF Pledge Calendar Schedule
W.E.S. February Calendar Dates
Mark Your Calendar
Thursday, February 1:
- Kick-off February Fact Fluency Fitness Month (refer to calendar below)
- PRE-K Online Pre-Registration Opens (refer to flyer below)
- PTA Meeting 6-7 at WES in the cafeteria
- Reflex Math Contest begins in participating homerooms. (I LOVE Reflex)
Friday, February 2:
- Spirit Day, wear red and black.
- 100th day of school for grades 1-4
- Groundhog Day
Monday, February 5:
- ·School counseling week. We love our counselors: Ms. Petrelle, Mrs. Cullinan, Mrs. Aspenleiter
- ·Feb. 5-23 kicks off “Jump Rope for Heart” kick-off
- Math Mania Monday! Wear a Number Day
- Community in Schools Boot Drive (Feb. 5-9).
Tuesday, February 6:
Wednesday, February 7:
- Math Mania Night. (RSVP using QR code on flyer)
· Grades 1 and 2 begin at 4:00 to 5:00
· Grades 3 and 4 at 5:30-6:30
- Fitness February: Work-out Wednesday
Thursday, February 8:
Friday, February 9:
- Super Bowl: Wear your favorite jersey.
- Kindergarten 100th Day activities
Monday, February 12:
- Math Mania Monday! Wear a Pattern Day
Tuesday, February 13:
Wednesday, February 14:
- Fitness February – Work-out Wednesday
- Wear red and pink on Valentine’s Day.
- Valentine’s Day Exchanges
Thursday, February 15:
- LAMP training at WES 5:00-7:00
Friday, February 16:
- 2-hour early dismissal (faculty senate)
- No preschool
- Progress Reports
- PreK Book Bingo and Gallery Walk (10-11)
- Spirit Day. Wear red and black.
Monday, February 19:
- Out of calendar: No school
Tuesday, February 20:
- First Grade President's Day program at 9:30
- SMART 529 Essay Contest due for grades 3rd and 4th. Return to HR teacher if participated. (This was an optional essay to write at home in grades 3rd and 4th.)
Wednesday, February 21:
- Fitness February: Work-out Wednesday
- Random Act of Kindness Week – Wear blue for kindness
- First Grade President's Day program at 9:30
Thursday, February 22:
- 3rd grade Black History Month – Wax Museum (5:00-6:00)
- School bus driver appreciation day
- First Grade President's Day program at 9:30
- PTA t-shirt fundraiser order due
Friday, February 23:
- Spirit Day. Wear red and black.
- Last day to bring in donations for “Jump Rope for Heart”
Monday, February 26:
- Math Mania Monday! Crazy for Math: Crazy Dress Day
Tuesday, February 27:
Wednesday, February 28:
- Fitness February: Work-out Wednesday
Thursday, February 29:
- 2nd grade (I LOVE Reflex) painting incentive.
February Fact Fluency Fitness Month
Math Mania Night, February 7, RSVP
Valentines' Day Exchange
Valentine Exchange set for Wednesday, February 14
Due to the HCS Wellness policy, there will be no food at the Valentine's Day Exchange. If a student brings a commercial bought Valentine that has a candy treat attached to it - we will accept it, but candy will not be consumed in class. All candy attached to the Valentines will be distributed and sent home to be eaten. The PTA will not be having a Valentines Day party - only the Valentine's Day Exchange in the homerooms. The students always look forward to exchanging valentines with their friends. Your child's homeroom teacher will provide more information.
HCS Wellness Policy
New HCS Wellness Policy:
Refer to the new HCS Wellness policy. This policy was sent in the January Family Newsletter. Please see Ms. Miller if you have any questions regarding the policy.
Excerpt from the HCS Wellness Policy:
Ideas for Parents in lieu of food items for celebrations 1. Distribute party favors such as bouncy balls, matchbox cars, erasers, tops, magnifying glasses, sunglasses, bubbles, whistles, stickers, pencils, crayons, pens, frisbees, jump ropes, yoyos, puzzle games, slinkies, spinning tops, cards, and sidewalk chalk. 2. Arrange a treasure hunt around the classroom 3. Give supplies and directions for crafts. Ask parent(s)/guardian(s) to come and help with the craft.
PreK 2024-2025 Registration
February Lunch Menu
Jump Rope for Heart (February 5 - 23)
PTA fundraiser - due February 22
Community in Schools
Community in Schools, Mrs. Kristin Bowman-Cross
Boot Drive set for Monday, February 5 through Friday, February 9.
There will be a container outside the school to drop off gently used or brand-new winter boots for winter for elementary school-aged children.
Contact Mrs. Kristin Bowman-Cross if you have any questions.
With winter temperatures changing daily...
If your child needs a warm coat, please have them stop by my office. WES does not want to see anyone being cold in the freezing temperatures. Or email me at kristin.bowmancross@k12.wv.us.
PreK News
Pre-K has been completing winter benchmark and literacy STAR testing these past few weeks and will continue with the math tests through February.
Creative Curriculum projects are specific to each individual classroom, so be sure to check Dojo and handout information regarding the project your child's class is currently working on.
Heggerty is Pre-K's literacy curriculum guide. This is reviewed daily with the students and teaches rhyming, blending, phonics, listening skills and syllables.
Interactive play skills and social emotional skills are always the main emphasis in a pre-k classroom and Al's Pals puppets help our teachers review and reinforce those skills with the students.
Please contact your child's teacher, or check the classroom Dojo page, regarding Valentine's Day projects and celebrations as each teacher/ class does their own activities.
Ms. Shawn's class will be doing their Art Show and book activity on Wednesday February 14 from 1:00p.m. - 2:00p.m.
NO Pre-k Friday February 16 due to the 2-hour early dismissal:
On this day the Book Bingo and Art Show is scheduled, in the Pre-K wing, from 10 - 11 a.m. for the following classes: Ms. Amanda, Ms. Suzy, Ms. Kayla and Ms. Jennifer.
NO School Monday February 19.
Pre-K is doing the 'Hearts Around America' activity where families are asked to let anyone, they know who live out of state to send a postcard or Valentine to Weirton Elementary. A heart sticker will be added to the Map on the state from which the card was mailed. For more information and the school mailing address, please check your handout or your class Dojo page.
The LAMP Training (Language Acquisition Motor Planning) for February is scheduled for Thursday the 15th from 5:00 - 7:00. This is for students / families who have, or who would benefit from having, an Alternative Communication Device. Please contact Karly Wiley, our Pre-K Speech Language Pathologist, for more information.
PreK Book Bingo and Gallery Walk
Kindergarten News
We rang in the new year in kindergarten by discussing our goals for 2024 and how we can apply Martin Luther King’s dream to our daily routines. Incorporating the understanding of new vocabulary words and symbols such as peace, equality, friendship, and love have been talked about and demonstrated throughout our days this school year. We will continue to work on these pillars of character as we prepare for friendship day and distributing valentines to our classmates.
Kindergarteners have been busy counting down to the 100th day of kindergarten. Every day we track the days we’re in school and count by 10s, 5s and 1s. Tallies, rekenreks, ten frames and number lines are a few of the different methods we’ve used to count. Using these also carries over when we work on addition and subtraction equations. Finding the missing addends and the differences in math problems come easier when we use different methods of solving these equations. Some of us are becoming experts at writing to and recognizing numbers to 100.
Within the first few days of February, we will all celebrate our 100th day of kindergarten learning.
In Reading we have been learning about life on a farm. Some of the stories have taught us about real life through books of informational texts. These authors have showed us the many farm animals that live on farms and how they help people if a lot of ways. Studying the seasons have helped us develop an understanding of how farm animals’ behaviors change with the different kinds of weather. Authors of narrative texts use their imaginations to tell fictional stories that entertain and teach us. We know by looking at the picture in a book that when animals talk and wear clothing, that the story will be a fantasy. Deciphering between genres help us be more aware of the point of the story. In Module 2, students are regularly analyzing characters and setting in written texts and applying those skills to paintings as well. By the end of the second module students are challenged to synthesize their knowledge of farm animals with story elements, including setting, characters, problem and resolution, linked by a logical sequence of events. Creating story maps, rehearsing narratives with partners and writing and illustrating their own narratives. They do this by building on their practice of writing a shared narrative with the class.
Writing capital letters is a learning goal that we’ve been working on in FUNdations. We are understanding that not only do our first and last names need a capital letter, but sentences begin with them as well. The objective of correctly formatting each letter is being carried through when we write simple sentences using the skill of sound spelling. We work daily on breaking down words by isolating the individual phonemes in CVC words. It’s great to see the students using sound spelling by practicing their hand motions we use daily in Heggerty. Isolating the medial sound in words can be tricky, but using the roller coaster method is one way we know to find it. Using our choppers and spelling the words we are writing have been popular methods to apply our phonemic awareness knowledge. Unanimously, the students enjoy reciting nursery rhymes line by line while identifying the rhyming words. They are proud of themselves when they can track the rhyme in print while saying it.
First Grade News
First Grade is excited for a fantastic February! This month brings many fun activities for our students including celebrating the 100th or 101st day of school and celebrating kindness and friendship for Valentine's Day.
In Wit & Wisdom, we will be wrapping up our 2nd module on the how animals use their unique features in different ways. Our 3rd module will be focused on the essential question, "How do people respond to the powerful force of the wind?"
In math, we will continue learning about place value along with comparing numbers using greater than, less then, and equal to.
In Fundations, we will be continuing to add words to our trick word knowledge bank (be sure to practice trick words every day!) and working on reading and writing words with digraph blends and learning about closed syllables!
Many classes will make predictions about Groundhog Day and learn about President's Day. We will also be having our Presidents Day Programs the week of February 20th. The programs will be held on (Tuesday Feb. 20th for Mrs. Hall & M.s Bartley) (Wednesday Feb. 21st for Mrs. Schey & Ms. Barrett) and (Thursday Feb 22nd for Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Fair, & Mrs. Davis) at 9:30 a.m. each day in the Weirton Elementary School Cafeteria. Please be on the lookout for more information about this from your student's teacher. We are excited to share some fun facts about our Presidents and sing for you all!
Second Grade News
2nd Grade is excited for February!
* This month we will begin our 2nd GRADE LOVES REFLEX "Green Light” Challenge. Students will have a calendar on the classroom door. Each day a green light is earned in Reflex Math, students will earn a heart sticker to place on their calendar. Those who earn 15 stickers in February, will earn a fun activity! (Monday-Friday Green lights)
*Math- Second grade is learning all about 2-digit addition and Subtraction!
* Fundations- Unit 10 Double Vowel Syllable type -ai and -ay, Unit 11 Sounds of -ee, -ea, and-ey double vowels.
* Wit and Wisdom- Module 2 “The American West” We are reading about Early America. The students are also writing Informational paragraphs using vocabulary, and information that we are reading about in our Module. Each paragraph has an Introduction, Topic Sentence, 3 details, and a closing Sentence. We are learning about complete sentences and how to add words like adjectives and adverbs to make writing more interesting.
* Geodes- 2nd graders are reading Geodes during our small groups in class. We are learning about the Native Americans and Pioneers. Please keep reading at home each night.
* Students are also working on going down our AR trail by reading and taking quizzes for on level books. Reading Every Day is Important!
Third Grade News
February is a busy month for our 3rd graders. Students are practicing for the writing assessment in March. “Cocoa and Curriculum was a great opportunity to see an assessment and ask questions about the GSA.
Also, in February, our third graders will be working on their wax museum for Black History month. Students will be assigned a significant African American figure to research and create a presentation with their group. Students will display their project during our after-school program on Thursday, February 22.
Wit and Wisdom- We are continuing our exploration of space in module two with the essential question “How do people learn about space?”. Students are going deeper in exploration of non-literal language and illustrations by exploring deeper meanings of the text. They will write two body paragraphs of an essay explain why the stars had left Galileo’s eyes. Students will do peer feedback, revise their paragraphs by focusing on developing a topic using facts, definitions, and details.
Fundations- Students are in the bonus unit. This unit will solidify students’ understanding, decoding, and spelling of multisyllabic words with closed, open, and v-e syllables. They will learn the concept of the prefix by introducing closed syllable prefixes and syllable prefixes. Students will also learn Latin roots and the meaning of each word.
Math- Students are working on area and perimeter. In this chapter, students will model and find the perimeter, find unknown side lengths, understand area, use area models, problem solve area of rectangles, area of combined rectangles, find same perimeter with different areas, and find same area with different perimeters.
Equations students will learn to solve problems:
P= Length+Width+Length+Width=
A=Length x Width=
New AR goals are set and have started for the new nine weeks. It is a good time to pick up a book and read during the winter months to make our goal and achieve points for the AR wall.
Keep working with reflex, fraxs, and freckle for ELA and math practice.
Finally, Snowpack number 1 was sent home with report cards. Please keep this in a safe place in case we need to use it in the future. Mrs. Miller will notify us when it is time to use it.
Fourth Grade News
This month our fourth graders will be creating their own unique boxes to collect Valentines and celebrate friendships we have created over the years at Weirton Elementary.
This month we will also be focusing on Fact Fluency and our writing for the upcoming Writing Assessment.
Thank you to all who attended our Cocoa & Curriculum, we hope you got to see how hard your children work and how proud you should be of their accomplishments.
The Redcoats are Coming!! And our Wit & Wisdom curriculum is teaching us all about the Revolutionary War and the different perspectives. We are using The Liberty Kids videos to help drive home this instruction to give a variety of ways to encourage learning.
In Math we are starting to dive into fractions and fact fluency will play an important role in reducing and switching improper fractions to mixed numbers and vice versa.
As always thanks for your support!
Related Arts News
Hello from the Physical Education Teachers,
We are jumping into February which is Heart Month here at WES. The students will be participating in jump rope for heart activities during their gym time. Students will be learning about how to keep their heart healthy by learning different activities with a jump rope. Students will also learn how to keep their brain healthy too.
4th grade students will also be working and finishing up their fitness gram push up, sit up, sit n reach, and trunk lift tests. They have been learning the importance of stretching before every class. They learned how important it is to warm up their muscles before they do any kind of running or working out.
As always, our goal in the Weirton Elementary Phys. Ed department is to promote life-long physical activity.
Mrs. Naughton, Mr. Cassiadoro, and Mr. Weltner
WES School Counselors
Ms. Mary Ann Petrelle: Grades PreK & K
Mrs. Stacy Cullinan: Grades 1 & 2
Mrs. Sarah Aspenleiter: Grades 3 & 4
WES Health Center offers Social Emotional/Behavioral Therapy
http://www.changeinc.org/health/weirton-elementary-health-center/
(304) 797-5299
WES PTA News
WES PTA
PTA Meeting Thursday, February 1st at 6:00 pm.
February 22: T-shirt Fundraiser orders due.
President: Stephanie Baumgardner
Vice President: Arrissa Cochran
Vice President: Taylor Anderson
Secretary: Maria Rhoads
Treasurer: Lindy Dunlap
Contact: weirtonelementarypta@yahoo.com
The electronic Link to sign-up for PTA Membership is below "Givebacks."
Notes from Nurse DeCaria
Don't hesitate to contact Mrs. DeCaria for any medical concerns.
Attendance Reminders:
Going Bananas for Attendance:
Students are now working to earn a school-wide pajama day. When WES earns 4 weeks of school-wide attendance at or above 93% all students will earn a pajama day. We have one more week to earn our PJ party.
Going Bananas for Attendance video:
Go Bananas for Attendance: https://youtu.be/bYiR6YPKCao
Please remember to call the office or email Ms. Stephanie for any missed days.
304-748-8370
or
W.E.S. Information
We consolidated the up-to-date information you will need into 4 easy locations. DOJO (school announcements/stories posted daily), electronic monthly family newsletters, W.E.S. website, and W.E.S. official Facebook page. Below are the links to our W.E.S. Website and W.E.S. Facebook page.
W.E.S. Family Handbook 23-24
School Calendar 2023-2024
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
CAR RIDER TRANSPORTATION
Arrival
Car rider door is located at the pre-k/kindergarten entrance.
Car rider door opens promptly at 7:50am. Tardy Bell 8:15am.
Cars should not line up before 7:00 and cars should not park in the drop-off area.
Students must remain in cars until a staff member opens the car door.
Cars that arrive after 8:15 must park car in a parking spot in front of the school. Guardian must walk child in the building to the main office to receive a tardy slip.
Parents/Guardians must remain in their vehicles at all times during drop off and pick up.
Please work with your child to learn to buckle/unbuckle themselves in their seatbelts/booster seats/car seats as this will help traffic to flow smoothly.
Dismissal
Car/Bus Dismissal is at 3:00.
All car riders must have a red car rider tag on their book bags. Bus riders must have a yellow car rider tag on their book bags.
Please do not line up before 2:55 as the area in front of the dismissal door is a fire lane.
iDismiss is utilized for car rider dismissal.
Each student is assigned an iDismiss number.
iDismiss number must be displayed in the front widow of the car.
Cars without the iDismiss numbers displayed or readily available will be asked to park until all cars and buses are dismissed.
Parents/Guardians must enter the front office and present identification before the child can be dismissed.
Replacement copies of iDismiss numbers may be obtained by presenting identification in the main office (ask for Ms. Stephanie).
Bus Safety
Please remind your child about good behaviors on the bus.
- Students are to stay seated the whole time.
- Students are not to walk in the aisles or jump seat to seat.
- Students are to refrain from touching each other.
- Students are not to yell or argue.
- Bottom to bottom, Back-to-Back, Bookbag on lap.
Students are to refrain from creating any type of safety issues for anybody on the bus.
Contact Mrs. Carinci-Bell if you have any bus concerns or questions.
Mrs. Martich (3rd & 4th) Mrs. Carinci-Bell (1st & 2nd) Ms. Miller (Head Principal) PreK & K Principal, Chris Hill
WES Title Services
Meet our WES Title Teachers:
Mrs. Orwasky
Ms. Paull
Mrs. Donna Carnes
Mrs. Davidson
WES Related Arts
WES HEALTH CENTER
WEIRTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HEALTH CENTER
Our licensed healthcare staff is on site in a safe, child-friendly environment. We closely work with the school nurse and faculty to provide convenient care to your child. We closely work with the school nurse and faculty to provide convenient care to your child.
We provide the following services:
Well check exams, sick visits, injury treatment, immunizations, allergy shots, ADHD evaluation and treatment, sports physicals, behavioral health, dental care, chronic health care maintenance - like being on site to assist with Diabetes, Seizures, and Asthma. Just think of us as a doctor's office inside the school.
Please contact the WES Health Center at 304-797-5299 if you have any questions or medical needs.
WES SPEECH THERAPISTS
WES Speech Therapists
If you questions regarding speech screenings or speech services, please contact one of our speech therapists.
Mrs. Lockerbie (Kindergarten)
Mrs. Gianvito (First Grade)
Mrs. Hinzman (PreK & 4th)
Mrs. Burdette (2nd & 3rd)
Mrs. Edie (Special Education Classes)
Special Education Staff
Bank at School
Our Partners in Education, First Choice America, will be setting up a program called "Bank at School". Families were able to sign-up at Open House. Students will be able to do banking at school during breakfast once a week on Tuesdays. More details to come.