Black Cat Bulletin
Keeping it R.E.A.L! Respect + Effort + Attitude= Leadership
APRIL 2017
From Our Principal...
Dear families,
What a wonderful time of year! We've just returned from Spring Break and had a chance to disconnect, recharge, and get a different view for a week. I hope you were able to gain some perspective and fill yourself up with sunny moments with your family! All around us, the flowers and trees are blooming, birds are singing, and sports are beginning. Inside our school our students, just like the flowers, are blossoming and showing their growth in many ways.
I am always so thankful to have the job I have--to watch your children grow and develop, to collaborate with you help our children and to bring great things to our school, and to support and clear the way for our teachers as they create ways for the children to realize their potential in fun and engaging ways. But this time of year, it is especially rewarding. Listening to budding readers, reading blooming writers' work, hearing the flourishing instrumentalists and singers...it's such a rewarding and uplifting time of year!
We just had our kindergarten round up and have over 100 students enrolled for the fall. This means many new families to our school family who will need a listening ear, a kind gesture, a word of advice. Would YOU be willing to mentor a new family? We'd like to pair families with mentors who will provide them with a personal invitation to events like our 4K4Kids, our Open House, Grandparents Days, and other events, and to provide support for families who may not know others and may just need a friendly face. Click here to let us know you'd like to be a Family Mentor Phone-a-Friend!
As we enter the final weeks of our school year, YOU are the primary "Phone-a-Friend" for your child! Your encouragement helps them to work hard and achieve at high levels. Please join us in lifting them up, reminding them of their skills and talents, and encouraging them to do their personal best on school work. Our goal is for every child to grow and excel and we need your help! Please help your child remember to keep the focus on learning, to keep the mindset on growing, and to keep the view in the balcony and out of the basement! (See Mrs. Lynch's article below for more balcony/basement explanation!!)
I hope to see you tomorrow at the 4K4Kids with lots of bags of shoes to donate!!
Gratefully,
Katie White
principal
From Our Principal Intern...
Balcony v. Basement
Success isn't just about what you accomplish in your life, it's about what you inspire others to do.
-Unknown
Not long ago, Mrs. White and I were able to hear a speaker, Dr. Adolph Brown, who shared his views on balcony and basement mindsets. This information was recently shared with the staff at West Terrace and as you walk the halls, you may see references to ways we as a staff are committed to being in the balcony for our students.
Individuals who are in the balcony choose to perceive the qualities of others in a positive light. They encourage and inspire those around them to succeed. For example, if one is particularly talented with organizing events, an individual whose mindset is in the balcony would highlight this strength. He or she would emphasize how this talent is used to benefit others and encourage the organizer to develop this skill.
On the other hand, basement dweller mindset tends to perceive the qualities of others negatively. The basement dweller may see the organizer from the previous example and perceive the skill as being micro-managing. These individuals discourage those around them and talents are crushed rather than being celebrated and developed.
There are two ways in which one can strive to be in the balcony. First, focus on perception. Make an active attempt to perceive the talents of others positively rather than negatively. We are empowered with the ability to choose how we perceive others. Second, be aware of those who surround us. Be sure to surround yourself with those who stay in the balcony and work to encourage others. We can use this encouragement to propel ourselves to be the balcony for our students!
From Our Counselor...
EVERY DAY, ON TIME #SchoolEveryDay
What are the benefits of being on time and in school every day?
· School is easier for students who are there every day—and on time.
· Being at school regularly and on time helps students build and maintain satisfactory friendships.
· Regular attendance builds a good foundation of knowledge so the next school year can be a success.
· Being ready and present for class establishes a life time of good habits—getting and keeping a job by being on time and being there every day.
· Being at school every day and on time meets the state’s attendance requirements and avoids violating state attendance law (I.C. 20-33-2-6) resulting in consequences that impact the whole family negatively.
ISTEP+ Part 2 Testing Schedule
ALL testing begins at 8:45 am.
Grades 4 and 5 will test on the following dates:
Tues. Apr. 18, Wed. Apr. 19, Thurs. Apr. 20, Fri. Apr. 21 and Mon. Apr. 24
Grade 3 will test on the following dates:
Tues. Apr. 25, Wed. Apr. 26, Thurs. Apr. 27, and Fri. Apr. 28
INFORMATION
Gems From the Gym
Grandparent's Day
1st Grade April 27, 2017 9::00 am-10:30 am Gym
PAWS ON PARADE
Congratulations to the top walkers:
Tied 1st Jayden Folz 3rd grade. Allen
Tied 1st Nolan Hanmore 3rd grade Bass
Tied 1st Cooper Johnson 3rd grade Bass
2nd Isaac Kisner 3rd grade Allen
3rd Nolan Bigham 2nd grade Kavanaugh
4th Rowyn Weiss 1st grade Corressell
5th Caroline Engler 2nd grade Kavanaugh
Recycling News
Please remember to recycle your aluminum cans here at West Terrace! We have a recycle cage in the east side parking lot right next to the blue recycle dumpsters. All proceeds go to help our school!
As a reminder, we no longer collect plastic caps for recycling at West Terrace.
Thank you to everyone for helping our school!
Calendar Link--click below for calendar
Important Dates
Apr 8 1:00pm – 5:00pm 4K4Kids
Apr 10- April 13 BOOK FAIR
April 10 5:30pm – 6:30pm PTA Meeting - Media Center
Apr 12 10:00am – 1:00pm Fire Wardens Field Trip
April 13 8:45am – 12:20pm 4th Grade Field Trip: 4 H Fairgrounds
April 13 9:00am – 10:30am 3rd Grade Grandparent's Day
Apr 14 No School
Apr 18 - April 28 ISTEP Testing
April 20 8:45-12:00 Lifeskills Field Trip Zoo
Apr 27 9:00am – 10:30am 1st grade Grand Parent's Day
Apr 27 6:00pm – 7:30pm Grade 1 and choir Program – Gym
Apr 27 8:30am – 1:30pm 4th Grade field trip- George Rogers Clark
May 1 Principal’s Day
May 1-5 Teacher Appreciation Week
May 3 6:00pm – 7:00pm Dress Rehearsal Spark Spring Concert - AIS Diamond
May 4 6:30pm – 7:30pm Spark Spring Concert - AIS Diamond
May 6-12 Nurse Appreciation Week
May 9 5th Grade Perry Heights Visit
May 9 6:30pm – 8:00pm 5th Grade Honors Banquet - Gym
May 12 Field Day
May 15 Field Day Rain Date
May 16 6:00pm – 8:00pm Talent Show Evening Performance – Gym
May 17 9:00am – 1:30pm 5th Grade Blackcat Bash
May 18 8:30-1:30 4th Grade Field Trip – Lincoln National
May 18 9:00am – 11:00am Recognition Day 5th Grade - Gym
May 19 Last Day of School
Important policy reminders
***New Policy*** Visitors to West Terrace
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!
Drop Off/Pick Up
Morning Drop Off
No Passing Zone
Lunch Box Bringers
Change of Plans--DISMISSAL CHANGES
Emailing teachers, texting, or other means of communication are not reliable, and we request that no transportation changes be given to the teachers during the day. Too many times teachers are called out of the building, go home ill, have a substitute, are in meetings, etcetera and the changes aren't received. We also want teachers to be teaching, not worrying that they missed an important email or text during the day. Finally, we keep record of last minute changes in the office so that we can be sure the communications are given and children are delivered safely, so please, please call the office.
Changes cannot be guaranteed after 2:00 p.m. PLEASE call before 2:00.
JOIN THE WEST TERRACE PTA!
President: Jenny Fuquay
Vice-President: Sandi Davis
Secretary: Tera Babb
Treasurer: April Coughlin
4K4KIDS Saturday, April 8th
The 4K4KIDS color run is coming up on Saturday, April 8th. 1:00 for FUN...3:00 for RUN! Same day registration will begin at 1:00. We will have games, inflatables, music, special guests and a rockin' costume contest. And don't forget to ROCK YOUR SHOES OFF and donate your new or lightly used shoes, as this is the last day of the shoe drive. Look for more information in the race packets which will be sent home with your student.
Volunteer for the 4K4Kids
If you would like to volunteer at the 4K4KIDS please contact Becky Massie at rmassie222@yahoo.com.
Extended Care
We hope everyone had a fun/relaxing Spring Break and are ready to roll into the last weeks of school. Here in the ED Center we are busy registering students for the 2017-’18 school year. We will have the applications on hand in the Cafeteria during ED Center hours of operation or they can be sent home with your child per your request.
When doing your Spring Cleaning, please keep us in mind before throwing out balls or other outdoor equipment that we may use, as our budget is very tight. Please send the item to school in a bag marked ED Center. We truly appreciate it!
Barbara Grant
ED Center Coordinator
Community Outreach
Jenna Hancock-Wargel Berkshire Hathaway Home Services (Click here for more information)
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
Megan Murphy, rm 23
Fourth Grade
Shelly DeWeese, rm 22/ Lindsey Stine, rm 29
Audrey Gower, rm 24/Sarah Stoltz, rm 17
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