West End News
Week of March 6, 2023
From the Principal
WE will conduct our yearly inclement weather drill (tornado) this week. Please be sure your family is prepared for difficult weather. The state emergency preparedness website has information to help us prepare in the event of a severe storm.
This newsletter is packed with information! Be sure to ready all the way to the bottom!
If you are currently attending West End on school choice, please remember to renew now for the 2023-24 school year. Please let us know if you have questions!
Reminder....We need your help! If you know of anyone who has a child who will turn 4 on or before September 1, please let them know that we are currently enrolling for K4 for the 2023-24 school year. This link will provide more information or they can call 864-2500 for more information. Please share this information!
Have a great week!
Angie Garrison, Ed.D.
Principal
West End's Mission: Our West End Community maximizes students’ potential by providing instruction that builds our students’ knowledge, strengthens their skills, and develops in them career-ready characteristics for success in an ever-changing world.
West End Library News- Greenville Drive Reading Challenge- Due Friday!
What a wonderful musical!
Under the Sea Glow Art Show- WOW!
Technology Free Family Challenge Details
While technology can be a positive tool for a child's education and development, the negative effects of overuse are hard to deny. That's why we are challenging all West End families to take a step back from technology as a family during the month of March!
Every student was given like the one here to take home and document ways that your family tried to "detox" from technology for a little while. Research shows the too much technology is detrimental to elementary students' developing brain. Going to bed at night with a tablet or TV leads to focusing issues in the classroom.
Read through this information as a family and do your best to limit technology for the next month. Your family will have a chance to win brand new family board games like Connect Four, Guess Who, Twister, Candyland, Wheel of Fortune, and more! Fill in those calendars and return them to Mrs. Simpson at the end of the month.
Learn about the negative effects of technology on young children and teenagers:
Lower attention span. Teachers, parents, and students themselves find that technology can have a direct impact on attention spans. The immediacy of technological interactions make waiting harder for children. With technology, they aren’t forced to wait. They can have their TV show immediately, they don’t get bored because they always have something to entertain them. Technology moves fast, instant responses and instant gratification are impacting attention spans for young children and teenagers alike.
Increased risk and lack of privacy. Teenagers and children have grown up in a technological world, and the idea of privacy is somewhat foreign to them. Cybersecurity is a huge element of tech today, but it isn’t always perfect. Hackers and criminals can utilize technology to steal identities and harass children. Technology has created an increase of theft, privacy issues, harassment, and more.
Risk of depression. Teenagers and children who report more time using media are more likely to also report mental health issues. Depression is a key issue that is correlated with more media use. This has increased suicide rates and has lead to more youth needing mental health interventions like medicine and counseling. Experts believe time spent on social media or using technology can directly be tied to increased depression.
Obesity. Children who spend more time inside on their phones or tablets don’t spend as much time running and playing outside. They establish habits of technology use that doesn’t involve exercise. This can lead to increased obesity rates in children and young adults.
Falling grades. Many students today can see their grades take a hit when they spend more time with technology. Increasing technology usage means less time spent on homework, and the kind of developmental changes technology can bring can make students struggle with homework like reading and writing.
Bullying. As technology flourishes, so does bullying. Children and teens are using technology and social media to bully other kids, without having to face them. Often called cyberbullying, this trend is increasing and getting more popular with even younger students.
Social interaction issues. With more time spent on technology, younger children are having issues with face-to-face social interactions. Many seem to prefer to text or talk on social media as opposed to talking to each other in-person. Even when children spend time together, they may spend more time texting or on their phones than actually being together.
Caught Reading Outside of School....
West End Library News
Have you applied for free or reduced lunch?
West End Teacher of the Month Nomination Form
Are you connected to your child's teacher on Schoology?
Absences, Tardiness, and Excuses
Please remember to turn in an excuse for each day your child misses school. Doctor’s notes, parent notes, emails, texts, and Schoology messages to the teacher all serve as excuses. Please note, doctor’s notes are required after the 10th absence. If a child accumulates 3 consecutive or 5 total unexcused absences, an Attendance Intervention Plan conference will need to be held. Continued absences could result in additional conferencing and/or referral to the district for truancy…leading to possible Court Order for attendance. This includes being at school on time each day. Students tend to perform better when they maintain a routine schedule and begin the day with their classmates.
Student Chromebooks
Student devices are in use by all students. Kindergarten uses Chromebook tablets in their classrooms. Help us to encourage students to take care of and protect their devices in order to keep then working properly all school year. This includes taking care of chargers and cases as well. Remember lost or damaged items can incur a fee to replace them. If you have not already, please sign in to your My School Bucks account to pay the $25 tech fee that is required of all School District of Pickens County students.
My School Bucks Link
"Families Diving Deep" -Opportunities for West End Families Throughout the Year
Follow West End on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube
West End News
Email: angiegarrison@pickens.k12.sc.us
Website: http://wes.pickens.k12.sc.us/
Location: Easley, SC, USA
Phone: 864-397-2500
Facebook: facebook.com/westendelem
Twitter: @westendelem