West Families March Newsletter
23-24
March 2024 Family Newsletter
A Message from Dr. Day
Thank you for an amazing Book Blast event. Students were so excited to receive their new books! I love a fundraiser that goes right to students, especially when it involves books.
I also wanted to extend a huge thank you for such an amazing turn out at the PTO chili supper/talent show. It was such a fun night and we always love when West families can get together to enjoy our amazing students. The talent was so good and I can't wait to make this an annual event at West!
We are so excited about JC Reads Week next week. Our Library Media Specialist, Mrs. Bisges, has a fun spirit week planned, as well as activities for students each day. Huge shout out to her for all her hard work putting this together!
Our literacy night is scheduled for next week to align with our JC Reads Week and I hope you have been enjoying reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle. We are so excited to have an escape room themed night to go with our book. More details below.
Please know that you may contact me with any questions or concerns via email: dawn.day@jcschools.us
See you soon!
Dr. Dawn Day
Principal
West Elementary
Contacting West School
Office Hours: 7:00-3:30
School Begins at 7:45 a.m.
School Ends at 2:45 p.m.
Office Staff:
Dr. Dawn Day, Principal (dawn.day@jcschools.us)
Mrs. Kati Spencer, School Secretary (kati.spencer@jcschools.us)
Ms. Marinelle Madina, Clerk (marinelle.medina@jcschools.us)
Mrs. Amber Davis, School Nurse (amber.davis@jcschools.us)
Main Office: 573-659-3195
Website: https://www.jcschools.us/Domain/19
Email: west@jcschools.us
March 4 - Bobo's Fundraiser begins, summer school enrollment open, JC Reads Week Kick Off
March 7 - Literacy Night (doors open at 5:00), 3rd grade concert (6:45), 5th grade orchestra concert (7 not at West)
March 8 - End of 3rd Quarter
March 12 - PTO (5pm), Annual Title Mtg at the beginning of PTO
March 14 - Donuts with grown ups (7-7:40)
March 18 - Bobo's Fundraiser end
March 19 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (invite - see below), book fair
March 20 - K-2 3rd Quarter Assembly (8:30), 3-5 3rd Quarter Assembly (1:30), 5th grade parent promotion meeting (6:30)
March 21 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (invite - see below), book fair
March 25-29 - Spring Break
April 1 - No School, Teacher PD Day
Spring Conferences
Parent/Teacher conferences for the spring will be by invite. Teachers will be reaching out to schedule a conference if there are concerns in any area. If you would like a conference, feel free to reach out to the classroom teacher to set up at time.
Conferences will be held on March 19th and March 21st. Conferences will be 15 minute time slots and will begin at 3:30 and end at 6:45.
The book fair will be open both nights starting at 3:30 and will close at 7:00.
Bobo's Fundraising
Bobo's fundraising will begin on Monday, March 4th. Students are able to sell through March 18th. All forms and money need to be turned in to the main office no later than March 18th. We will send out information about pick up once it's schedule.
JC Reads Week
Spring Literacy Night
Donuts with Grownups
We hope you can join us for donuts with grownups. See flyer below for more information.
Summer School Enrollment
Forms are coming home Monday to sign up for summer school. This year, we will be at West for summer school. Belair will be joining us.
We are going to be changing things up a bit and students are going to have a selection of themed courses to choose from. This information will be sent out later. We are excited for another fun summer with some student choice!
End of Year Title Parent Meeting
Our end of year title parent meeting will be held on March 12th at 5pm. This will be at the beginning of our monthly PTO meeting. During this time, we will share data on our title programs and ask for parent input and feedback. We hope you can join us!
This will be a time for students and their families to enjoy fun activities, refreshments, and dancing. We encourage our students and family members to get dressed up for an afternoon of fun! Due to space restrictions, we respectfully request that only one guardian or guest attend with your student.
There are no physical tickets for this event. Foundation Staff will check you in at the registration table when they arrive!
Requests for refunds will not be offered after March 15, 2024.
Tickets can be purchased online here: https://www.jcschoolsfoundation.org/foundation-family-formal
Attendance Matters
We are working on "Willy Great Attendance" this year. Your child may have come home talking to you about our Friday announcement with Willy the Wildcat. Each week, we calculate the class with the best attendance and they get a surprise visit from Willy and a prize. We present these live through Google and the students are having a lot of fun celebrating.
Last year our building percentage for attendance was 84% for the year. This year we have set a goal for 90% attendance. While we know illnesses and emergencies happen, we want to emphasize the importance of being at school and on time each day.
We will be celebrating perfect attendance both monthly and quarterly with certificates. Each month Willy the Wildcat will come around to deliver certificates to those that have perfect attendance for the month. Each quarter, Dr. Day will announce certificate winners during our quarterly assembly.
Parent Portal
Infinite Campus Portal is a way for parents/guardians to access student information, register students for the upcoming school year, and receive school communications. The following student information can be found on Portal:
• Grades Assignments
• Attendance
• Report Cards
• Schedule (Note: Schedules for grades K-5 are not an accurate reflection of a student’s day. Specific
subject courses have been added for grading purposes.)
• Unofficial Transcript
• Messages from School Staff
• Immunizations
• Online Registration
Infinite Campus Portal also has a mobile application, where student information can be obtained via a mobile device. Parents can also enable notifications to be sent to their phone regarding changes in their student’s attendance, grades, and assignments.
Click the pdf below for detailed directions for accessing parent portal.
Breakfast/Lunch Menus
You can click the first menu to link to our district webpage to view the breakfast and lunch menu.
March Character Trait of the Month
Trustworthy
The character trait for March is trustworthy. Student council will be presenting this trait at our monthly character trait assembly. Students will also learn more about this trait during morning meetings in their classroom. Below are some videos you could show at home to teach more about being trustworthy.
Wildcat Way Pledge
Wildcat Way Matrix of Expectations
Below is a picture of our building matrix. Teachers and staff explicitly teach these expectations at the beginning of the year, review them after each lengthy break, and practice them as needed.
We believe that it is extremely important to teach, model, practice, reinforce, and repeat as needed.
Our students should know the general building expectations for being safe, respectful, and responsible.
Car Rider Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival:
Gates will be open around 6:45 to drive around back for drop-off. Beginning at 7:15, car riders between the cones will be released from their cars by a staff member to enter the side door. If students want breakfast, they will grab it from the cafeteria, then head to class. Cars will only be able to exit through the car rider line.
Students cannot be dropped off in front of the building or sent to walk across the parking lot to the front door. All drop off must go through the car rider line. Only bus riders and walkers come in through the front doors.
Dismissal:
We will continue our scan card system again this year. You will keep your same cards from the previous school year. If you lost your cards, you will have to purchase a new one from the office. They are $2 each. If you are new to West, you will receive your first two cards free.
This card must be presented to be able to pick up your child - no exceptions. This card must be kept for the entire time your child is at West.
Students will be dismissed from the classroom as parents enter the car line.
Gates open at 2:15 and car rider dismissal will begin at approximately 2:35. The line ends at approximately 3:05. The line is long and we go slow to ensure safety - especially at the beginning of the year.
All car rider pick up is required to come through the car rider line. To ensure the safety of all of our students, students will not be dismissed to walk out to a car in the parking lot. Only walkers and bus riders exit through the front doors. Students cannot be considered a walker to get into a parked car.
Bus Rider Arrival and Dismissal
Bus stops are sent out to parents prior to school starting from First Student.
Busses will arrive at West at approximately 7:20 each morning.
Buses will leave West by approximately 2:50 each afternoon.
Routes will run slowly the first week or so. Please be patient.
Walker Arrival and Dismissal
Students who walk to school will enter through the main entrance between 7:15 and 7:45.
Students who walk home will be dismissed at approximately 2:45.
Staff members will escort students down to the crosswalk.
Parents can meet students on the sidewalk by the school to walk home together, but we ask that you gather away from the front doors to allow for bus riders to exit.
Please do not use walker processes if your child is a car rider. This process is reserved for students who walk home. If you are driving a car, please follow the car rider procedures outlined above.
Other Important Transportation Information
Please have one main mode of transportation.
Any permanent changes in transportation must be sent into the office in written form.
If you need to make a change in transportation due to an emergency, please call the office prior to 2:00. You can always send in a note for planned changes in transportation.
Parent Contact/Signing Students In and Out
We want to keep in contact! Anytime you have a phone number, email address, or mailing address change, please let the office know so you continue receiving important information.
Also, make sure you have opted in to our district notification systems to receive important information from JCSD and West Elementary. Following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are also great ways to stay in touch.
Please make sure you carry your child's scan card or a picture ID when coming to pick up your child. It is possible that someone may be at the window that does not recognize you. If that is the case, it will be required that we see a picture ID before we are able to release your child. We have a new process for signing students out through a computer in the vestibule. Kati in the office will walk parents through this process the first few times it's needed.
If you are dropping your child off late to school, all students must be signed in at the office by an adult. Please do not send a student in alone, please come in with them to sign them in.
Free/Reduced Lunch Forms
Below is the cost for breakfast and lunch for this upcoming school year.
Breakfast - $1.25
Lunch - $3.00
We ask that each family complete a free and reduced lunch form, even if you are not interested in receiving free or reduced lunch. Below is a button to click to the link to complete online, or you can contact our front office for a paper copy to complete and return.
Thank you for helping get these forms completed.
School/District Flyers
All West and district flyers are in one convenient location, peachjar! Click the link below to view all flyers.
Birthday Treats
We will continue to allow store-purchased birthday treats to be sent in to school with students. We won't have in-class celebrations, but students are welcome to bring a treat for their class to enjoy. Thanks for understanding!
Parent/Student Handbook
Please take some time to click the link below and read the parent/student handbook. It contains important information about district guidelines.
PTO Information
Below is our schedule for our monthly PTO meetings. All meetings will be held in the library and will begin at 5:00pm. We hope you are able to join us.
March 12
April 16
May 14
West Social Media Pages
Click the buttons below to be redirected to our various social media accounts.
Dr. Dawn Day, Principal, West Elementary
Email: dawn.day@jcschools.us
Location: 100 Dix Rd, Jefferson City, MO, 65109
Phone: (5730 659-3195