Tiger Talk
07/30/19
Upcoming Events
by 08/09/19............Provide 2019-20 Student Dismissal Instructions
07/29/19................Re-enrollment for Returning Students Opens
08/06/19................Kinder Entry Assessment Day Sign Up Here!
08/06/19................Kinder Play Date from 10 am until Noon on the Kinder Playground
08/08/19................New-to-WCHE Parent Orientation 4:30 pm and Repeated at 5:30 pm
08/12/19................Teacher Assignments to be Emailed to Parents on or after 4 pm
08/13/19................Meet the Teacher Day!
08/14/19................First Day of School!
08/16/19................School Assembly in the Gym @ 7:40 am RSVP
08/23/19................School Assembly in the Gym @ 7:40 am RSVP
08/23/19................Summer Reading Forms Due Librarian today!
08/28/19................PTO General Meeting 9 - 10:30 am in the Tiger's Den RSVP
08/29/19................Kinder, 1st, & 2nd Grades' Curriculum Night 5:30 - 6:15 pm
08/29/19................3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades' Curriculum Night 6:30 - 7:15 pm
08/30/19................School Assembly in the Gym @ 7:40 am RSVP
09/02/19.................Labor Day Holiday. No School Today!
09/06/19................School Assembly in the Gym @ 7:40 am RSVP
09/13/19................School Assembly in the Gym @ 7:40 am RSVP
09/20/19................School Assembly in the Gym @ 7:40 am RSVP
Dear WCHE Parents and Families,
It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to all of our new and returning families to West Cypress Hills Elementary School! There are so many reasons to celebrate our school, and it starts with your being a part of this magnificent community. West Cypress Hills Elementary is a learning community where every learner is nurtured, respected, and challenged. Here at WCHE we believe learning should be a social, inspiring journey full of dynamic experiences that build the love of life-long learning in all of our students. This year we will continue to explore all of the ways West Cypress teachers build personal, inspiring and authentic educational experiences for our learners.
I am thrilled that you have chosen West Cypress Hills Elementary as your child’s school. Our staff is highly-qualified, hard-working, and dedicated to growing strong learners and leaders here on our campus. We deeply appreciate your sharing your wonderful children with us here at WCHE. We treasure the opportunity to learn and grow together with our WCHE families.
And, we look forward to roaring into year 6! Go Tigers!
With warmest regards,
Principal Melanie Beninga
WCHE Office is Open 9 am to 1 pm | Mondays - Thursdays | July 16 - August 6
On Wednesday, August 7, the Office will be open 1 pm to 4 pm
August 8 - 13, the office will be open weekdays 8 am to 3:30 pm
A special request from our neighbors....
Vehicles driving and/or parking on the median break the sprinkler heads.
Let's be good neighbors and park only in the school's parking lots, and, if the lots are full, park on the street next to the curb. Thank you!
2019-2020 School Supply Lists and Kits
- Kindergarten Girls......... Kindergarten Boys
- 1st Grade Girls ...............1st Grade Boys
- 2nd Grade Girls.............. 2nd Grade Boys
- 3rd Grade Girls* .............3rd Grade Boys*
- 4th Grade Girls*..............4th Grade Boys*
- 5th Grade Girls*............. 5th Grade Boys*
- Gifted and Talented Students - Grades 1 - 5
*3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Students also need to have student planners for the 2019-20 school year. These are sold separately from the prepackaged supply kits. Planners cost $6 each, payable in cash or check to WCHE. Planners can be purchased at the school during the Meet the Teacher event or from the front desk any time on or after the first day of school.
New-to-WCHE Parent Orientation
New to WCHE? Then please feel free to join us for one of our two new-to-WCHE parent orientation sessions. New Parent Orientation will be held on Thursday, August 8. For your convenience, we are offering orientation twice that day: one session will begin at 4:30 pm, and a later session will begin at 5:30 pm.
A representative from our Transportation Department will be with us for both sessions and will be happy to answer questions and provide information concerning LTISD bus transportation.
Welcome to West Cypress Hills Elementary School!
Welcome to Skyward Family Access!
It is very important that the parents/guardians of returning Tigers log in to Skyward Family Access (see the link in the red box above) to update the Tigers' records. The LTISD sent parents/guardians an email July 29 with the log-in credentials that are needed in order to let us know that your child(ren) will be returning to WCHE this fall.
For assistance with your login or password, contact the LTISD Help Desk @ 512-533-6565 or via email at skyward@ltisdschools.org. Your name, student's name, and campus will be required in order to locate your account.
Please be sure to complete the section pertaining to emergency contacts and persons authorized to pick up your child(ren.) Be sure to click the tiny box showing that we have your permission to allow them to sign your child(ren) out of school.
The site enables you to request LTISD school bus transportation and to update your own contact information.
Please help us to make your Tigers' return to West Cypress Hills as smooth as possible by registering the returning students in Skyward today. Thanks!
Meet the Teacher Day is August 13!
West Cypress Hills Elementary cordially invites you to our Meet the Teacher Day! We have set aside Tuesday, August 13, so that you can bring your 2019-2020 Tigers to school to meet their new teachers, see where their classrooms are located, and store away school supplies. During our Meet the Teacher Day, there will be opportunities to purchase Tiger Spirit Wear, join the PTO, and speak with staff from our Food and Nutrition Services (cafeteria.)
We will have available for pick up/purchase at the front desk:
- Car rider car tags (1st car tag is free, additional available @ $1 each
- Planners for 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders @ $6 each
We accept payment by cash or checks payable to WCHE. Exact change is GREATLY appreciated.
The LTISD Transportation Team will join us for the afternoon sessions. Due to a scheduling conflict, they are not available for the Kindergarten meetings the morning of August 13. However, the Transportation Team will attend our new-to-WCHE parents' orientation sessions which will be held on August 8. The parent orientation will be presented twice on August 8 with the first session beginning at 4:30 pm and the second at 5:30 pm.
In advance of our Meet the Teacher Day, you will be sent an email providing the name of your Tiger's homeroom teacher. The email will be sent to you Monday, August 12, around 4:00 pm; so, please make sure your enrollment or re-enrollment forms contain your current email address! The Kindergarten teachers will also be providing in that email the time they would like for you to arrive on Meet the Teacher Day, which will be some time between 9 and 11 am.
Our Meet the Teacher Day Schedule is:
Kindergarten: Your Scheduled Arrival Time will be included in your August 12 email and will be some time between 9:00 am and 11:00 am.
12:30 pm until 1:15 pm................1st Grade and 3rd Grade
1:30 pm until 2:15 pm.................2nd Grade and 4th Grade
2:30 pm until 3:15 pm..................5th Grade
The First Day of School is Wednesday, August 14! The school day is 7:40 am to 3:00 pm
Mrs. Beninga's Top Ten Tips for Tigers:
1. School Days, Arrival, and Hours
On the first day of school, parents may escort students to their classrooms. After the first day of school, the students are to proceed on their own to their classrooms between 7:20 am and 7:40 am. They will be in great hands, I promise!
Class Start Time: 7:40 am
Dismissal Time: 3:00 pm
Doors to WCHE open at 7:20 am. Students walking or riding their bikes/scooters to school enter through the front doors/main entrance. 2nd-5th Grade Car Riders should be dropped off at the main entrance. Vehicles with Kinder and 1st Grade passengers should drop off students at the side entrance located on Verbena Parkway (even if some of the passengers are 2nd - 5th Graders.) Staff members and Safety Patrol members will greet each car and assist students.
Students should be at their desks by 7:40 am. Students who arrive after 7:40 am are tardy and will need to sign in at the front office to receive a tardy pass to deliver to the teacher.
2. School Dismissal Information
Students go home in the afternoons by car, school bus, daycare bus, and some ride their bikes or scooters, some walk home alone, and some walk home with a parent or older sibling. Some Tigers stay with us and report to our Extended Care program.
We record and track the dismissal method of transportation used by your family in School Dismissal Manager. We will soon be sending you more information about School Dismissal Manager so that you can update the app throughout the school year.
3. All of the school day is important
Every moment of the school day is important. Our teachers have lesson plans to fill the entire day. Consistent school attendance is critical for the development of your child(ren.) When students miss school or are tardy, we miss them! To ensure a successful year of learning, students need to come to school and attend the full day unless they have fever, a communicable disease, or family emergency.
Please help us to communicate the importance of daily attendance to your child(ren) by making necessary appointments around school hours whenever possible. If an absence is necessary, please report the absence using School Dismissal Manager. For any questions concerning attendance, please feel free to e-mail our Registrar, Becky Wright, at WCHRegistrar@ltisdschools.org. A note explaining any absence is required upon the student's return to school. A quick and convenient entry of the information in School Dismissal Manager, however, complies with this requirement.
4. Communicating with the School
Communication is a top priority for the WCHE community. For classroom concerns, please begin by speaking directly to the classroom teacher. Teachers have limited phone and e-mail access while they are with our students. Our standard response time is within 24 hours. If a concern requires immediate attention from a campus administrator, contact Assistant Principal, Leanna Pesta, at WCHAsstPrincipal@ltisdschools.org.
If, after speaking with the classroom teacher, you wish to schedule a meeting with the Assistant Principal or Principal, please contact Administrative Assistant, Donna Richardson, at WCHSecretary@ltisdschools.org.
5. Campus Visits
Our wonderful Receptionist, Michelle Harper, will be the first friendly face you see when visiting our campus. She is happy to assist visitors and also administers our School Dismissal Manager app. Please introduce yourself to Michelle and feel free to ask questions.
When visiting the campus, be prepared to provide:
- Driver's License or other photo ID
- Purpose of your visit
- Length of the vist
- Destination(s) on campus
Visitors, other than a student's parent or legal guardian, must have written permission from the parent/guardian before they will be allowed to visit a student at school. For the safety of those within the school and to avoid disruption of instructional time, all visitors must first report to the campus main office. All visitors must sign in using the LTISD Raptor system. After checking in through Reception, visitors will be given a badge to wear throughout the duration of the visit. Badges must be worn on clothing above the waist where easily seen by staff and security cameras. Badges should be returned to the office when the visitor signs out.
- Visits are limited to the areas approved for visitation during check-in
- School-age friends and/or relatives of students, accompanied by a parent of the student, may visit only during the student's lunch time. Guests are not permitted to shadow LTISD students during the instructional day.
- Visitors to campus shall not interact with other students in an attempt to resolve a negative situation. All parents are directed to report problems to the classroom teacher, staff, and/or campus administration in lieu of personal intervention with a student.
- When visiting the campus for a special event or program, please RSVP through the RSVP links provided in Tiger Talk or via our school website. Visitors with RSVPs are given priority security check-in service!
- All visitors are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of courtesy and conduct. Disruptive behavior will not be permitted.
6. Friday Morning Assemblies
Avoid long security check-in lines by sending an RSVP!
7. Lunch Information, Restrictions, and Schedules
Student lunches will be offered each day for students who wish to purchase a school lunch. Students who bring a lunch may purchase a drink or snack a la carte through the lunch line. The Federal Lunch Program forms are available online here. Lunch accounts can be set up online at the “Online Meals Prepay” link. It is suggested that all students have an account with a few days' credit on it in case lunches or money are misplaced or forgotten. Please visit the WCHE website to access the district’s Food and Nutrition (FANS) website to add money to your child’s lunch account, view your child’s purchases, access the daily menu, and to set restrictions for your child’s lunch. It is not permissible for the cafeteria and school staff to restrict your child’s purchases. Please take the time to review the FANS site and establish your child’s lunch account.
There is a section reserved at each table for students with food allergies. Students may invite a friend from class to sit in the reserved section during lunch.
Students enjoy 30 minutes of recess each day. This is valuable time for your child to socialize and play with others. Parents are not allowed on the playground during recess.
After the second week of school, we welcome parents to visit their child at lunch during the following lunch times:
Kindergarten.....11:10 - 11:40
1st Grade........... 10:45 - 11:15
2nd Grade.......... 11:30 - 12:00
3rd Grade........... 11:50 - 12:20
4th Grade........... 12:40 - 1:10
5th Grade........... 12:20 - 12:50
Parents may begin visiting for lunch after the first two weeks of school. The first two weeks are spent with our staff assisting students with lunch account information, seating in the cafeteria, lunchroom etiquette, and arrival and dismissal routines. This time is important for us to establish the lunchroom routines. Please note that your visit to lunch is time to spend with your own child. Food may not be brought and shared with other children. If you wish to take a photo of your child, please respect the privacy of others by making certain that no one other than your own child is in the photo. For your convenience, we have cafeteria monitors who assist the children in the cafeteria. Please report any concerns to the monitors.
8. Student Medication
Nurse Hensel is our full-time nurse at WCHE. She will assist you in keeping your child's medication locked and stored in the nurse's office. Please refer to the Student Handbook for specific information on medications at school.
9. Birthdays @ WCHE
As teachers and staff begin to prepare our classrooms for another great year of learning, student wellness and safety are at the forefront of our efforts. All LTISD elementary campuses will be celebrating student birthdays in a consistent, safe and enjoyable manner. Birthdays are not celebrated with food in the classroom. On a student’s birthday, the student will receive a birthday coupon for a treat intended to be redeemed in the cafeteria. Parents, grandparents, and family members are welcome to join their student for lunch. Students whose birthdays occur on a non-instructional day will receive their coupon on an instructional day.
This practice is aligned with our updated FAMP policies and procedures outlined below. Teachers will also be recognizing individual students on their birthdays in a variety of ways in their own classrooms.
10. Food Allergy Management Plan (FAMP)
A state law passed in 2011 requires school districts to adopt and administer a policy for the care of students with diagnosed food allergies at risk for anaphylaxis. In response, Lake Travis ISD developed a comprehensive Food Allergy Management Plan which is implemented annually in various environments throughout our campus. Our Food Allergy Management Plan has been in place for several years. However, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year, additional measures were implemented to best support students and reduce the risk of exposure to common food allergies. These include:
Birthdays no longer celebrated in the classroom with food. Students celebrating a birthday will receive a coupon for a treat to be redeemed at our school café. Parents, grandparents and other family members are welcome to join their child for lunch. Students whose birthdays occur on a non-instructional day will receive their coupon on the next available instructional day.
On designated "party days" (winter party, end of year, etc), the following general procedures will be implemented in classrooms where one or more students have been identified as having a severe food allergy:
Food brought into the classroom must be store-bought or purchased from the LTISD Food and Nutrition Services Department. Other than fruits and vegetables, food must be delivered to the classroom in its original packaging.
Teachers and/or paraprofessionals assigned to the classroom will monitor the food brought in by students/parents for the identified allergen. Students/parents will not be allowed to bring in food with the identified allergen listed as an ingredient.
To review the District’s Food Allergy Management Plan in its entirety, please visit our Food and Nutrition Services Department website.
We continue to implement these important measures that will best support our student and ensure their safety. Please contact me with any questions or concerns.
It's going to be another outstanding year of learning here at WCHE! We look forward to welcoming new and returning families soon!
More Information about WCH
West Cypress Hills Elementary
Email: wchprincipal@ltisdschools.org
Website: https://www.ltisdschools.org/WCHE
Location: 6112 Cypress Ranch Boulevard, Travis County, TX, United States
Phone: 512-533-7500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ltisdschools
Twitter: @principalwch