The WES Parent Wildcat Weekly
Home of the Wildcats!
Week of October 12-19, 2020
Hello from Principal Holmes!
The beginning of the second nine weeks is here and so is the return of students to our classrooms! We are so excited to have students returning to the building. We ensure all of our students in or out of the building will continue to receive top-notch opportunities for learning. Our teachers and staff have worked tirelessly to make this transition as smooth as possible.
PLEASE read the attached document as it pertains to many of the updates as we transition to the hybrid model.
Thank you, parents, for your patience and flexibility as we enter this second phase of opening school this year! Your support and understanding have been an integral part of making sure all of our learners are well taken care of. Together, we prepare our students for their future!
With wildcat pride and spirit,
Dianne Holmes
Principal
Message from our Superintendent Dr. Baker
For close to 13,000 students, this coming week will be the first in-person learning they have received in a long time. As we execute this transition on Monday, I want to share just a few highlights and reminders:
If you have not yet been able to review the Hybrid Learning Addendum, it is included here for your convenience.
During the past week, each school actively prepared for the hybrid transition finalizing building/classroom preparations in alignment with the current mitigation strategies outlined in our plan.
Our entire division team, working together with each school principal, conducted inspections and tracked delivery and support of essential resources/materials for the in-person reopening. Our maintenance and custodial teams have worked diligently to ensure each building has necessary supplies and is also ready to support safe, engaging instruction.
Our teachers and support staff have never worked harder! In addition to closing out the first quarter of the school year, they made preparations for the new instructional model.
Considering phase three restrictions and capacity challenges associated with providing bus services, our transportation team has done a great job! As a reminder, there may be delays during the first week as we ensure students are on the correct bus and the possibility of having to conduct double routes. We appreciate your patience during the first few weeks. In addition, there is heavy rain expected Sunday into Monday that we will be watching the weather carefully. Bus Routes are accessible on ParentVUE and StudentVUE. The Transportation Hotline (540-582-5125 option 5) will also be available from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Instructional Technology has reported that 898 hotspots have been activated! Two of the 900 devices arrived unable to be properly activated. The inoperable devices have been reported and replacements will be sent. The instructional technology team will be handing out the hotspots next week based on the requests received from schools.
This week, I had an opportunity to meet virtually with several of our school parent volunteer PTO/PTA leaders. I sincerely thank each of them and you for the many substantial ways you are helping and supporting our schools.
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.
As a school system, we are very excited about having many of our students back in school next week! Though we have worked hard to ensure a smooth transition for them, we also want each of our virtual students to continue thriving. We love all of our students and are so glad to be able to have the opportunity to meet their important needs!
Thank you for your continued patience, feedback, and support!
Dr. S. Scott Baker
What's happening this week at WES!!
WES Parent Pick Up and Drop Off Guidelines
AM DROP OFF
- When entering the access road, please do not block the entrance to the bus lot. Allow space for other vehicles to exit the circle. Enter the Front Circle and pull all the way up to the green “man”.
- To ensure the safety of all children, please make sure your child exits the vehicle on the side closest to the building. ● Please prepare your child to exit the car by saying goodbye and having their backpack ready to go prior to entering the drop off lane. ● Please do not get out of your car; we will have staff members outside to help students exit your vehicle.
- We will have staff members available to help students exit their cars each morning from 8:25-8:45 a.m. from the curb outside the front of the building. If you are dropping your student off after 8:45 a.m. you will need to park in the front parking lot and walk your student into the office so they can receive a tardy pass
PM PARENT PICK UP
The parent pickup in the afternoon is different. Due to the challenges of social distancing, students will be brought out to your car in the afternoons once you arrive in the front circle. Students who are being picked up every day will receive a number and they will be brought out to the parent's car as you enter the front circle.
- If your child is going to be picked up after school every day by car, please make sure you have completed the PARENT PICKUP RELEASE FORM in exchange for a car rider number. This number must be displayed in the window of the car that picks up your child. The adult(s) whose names are listed on the attached pick-up list must also be present in the vehicle. If you do not have this number with you, you will need to come to the office to pick up your child. We will not release your child to anyone whose name is not on your pick-up list.
- Please secure the pickup tag to your child’s backpack so it is visible. This number should match the car rider number provided on the car tag.
- At approximately 3:25 pm, staff members will begin loading students into their cars parked in the parent drop off lane along the curb outside of the gym. Please do not enter the drop-off/pick-up lane prior to 3:15 pm.
- To ensure the safety of all children, please make sure your child enters the vehicle on the side closest to the building. Please do not get out of your car, we will have staff members outside to help students enter your vehicle.
- If there are any changes in your child’s pick-up routine, a written note should be sent to the teacher (to be sent to the office) informing us of the change.
- Please encourage your child to get into the car and buckle up as quickly as possible, so the car line can move smoothly.
Library Curbside
Beginning this week, the Library Curbside program will have one pickup time per week. Families who have placed a hold on library books and received an email that books are ready may pick them up on Wednesdays from 11-12. If that time is not convenient, we can make other arrangements.
Students that are coming into school for hybrid classes will be able to check out library books during the school day.
School Counselor Corner
Mrs. Elliott here and I am so excited to “see” you guys 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.
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
Notes from the Social Worker
My name is Crystal Burton and I am your school social worker. School social workers serve as liaisons between the school, home, and community. In addition to assisting families with meeting basic needs, school social workers also provide critical mental health support to students and their families. I look forward to connecting and supporting you throughout this school year!
Crystal Burton, MSW
Supervisee in Clinical Social Work
School Social Worker
Wilderness Elementary School
540-786-9817 x8667
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
PTA News
Our PTA will be hosting a Halloween Candy Drive Thru! Check out this link to learn more!
Many thanks to our PTA for ALWAYS being there for our school community!