November 1, 2023
Newsletter
November 1, 2023
Principal Message
Fall Greetings from Westside Elementary!
October 31st rarely delivers nice weather to walk around the neighborhood for trick or treating. If your child had to wear a winter coat over their AMAZING costume, you are in luck! The PTO is hosting a Halloween dance this Friday so they can wear their costume when it can actually be seen. Please see the flier included in these notes for specific details.
If you can believe it, we are finishing up the first quarter of the school year. Staff and students have been working hard and making amazing progress. In Kimberly we use the standards based approach to learning and problem solving. In each classroom students are up and running with this approach and it is super fun to be a part of. Students and teachers work on coming up with a learning intention (what are you trying to understand), success criteria (what do you have to do to prove that you understand it), a learning plan (what will you try to learn it) and they reflect along the way. It is so fun to watch the students share how they were successful during their lessons!
In many cases, students share out with their class a new strategy and act as the teacher. Through this learning process, teachers position the students as teachers too. In 5k to 2nd grade this time of year, it's the cutest darn thing to see a 5, 6 or 7 year old share an “author’s move” they did in their writing or how they were a “brave speller” under the document camera for their classmates. They are always so proud of their hard work and to be seen as an expert in their classroom. In 2nd through 4th grade, it is just awe inspiring watching the students tackle tough problems, setting personal improvement goals or teaching each other strategies to try. It is even more impressive when you remember what the first few days of school looked like! I’m not saying Westside was a zoo the first week or so, but creating a positive learning environment where students can make mistakes and grow together can be messy and chaotic at times.
Lastly, staff have been making an extra effort to connect with parents via phone calls as we march closer to parent teacher conferences. I am aware that many parents and teachers prefer to communicate through email, however, you all have to deal with an “old school” principal that values face to face and verbal communication. Westside is an amazing place to work and grow up, and I want everyone to feel part of the community. Parents should expect to hear from teachers a few more times throughout the school year whether it's face to face at field trips, phone calls, after school pick ups, PTO events or volunteering in the classroom; our staff hopes you will all feel more connected to Westside!
Warm regards,
Jonathan
Important Upcoming Dates
Nov. 3 - PTO Halloween Dance - 6:00-7:30 PM
Nov. 7 - Crazy Hair Day
Nov. 9 - Parent Teacher Conferences & 2:00 Dismissal (No Movie)
Nov. 13 - Parent Teacher Conferences & 2:00 Dismissal (No Movie)
Nov. 16 - Comfy Day
Nov. 17 - 12:00 Dismissal
Nov. 20 - PTO Meeting 5:30-6:30 (In the room just before the Art room.)
Parent Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Nov. 9 & Monday, Nov. 13 5:00-8:00 PM
To schedule your preferred time for a parent/teacher conference please do the following:
1. Go to https://www.ptcfast.com/schools/Westside_Elementary_School_3
2. Choose your student’s teacher(s) and click submit.
3. Enter student information.
4. Enter parent information.
5. After entering your information, you will receive an email with a link to select the date and time of the conference.
Traveling teachers/part-time teachers have the following schedules:
- 5K Music – Rhex Arboleda – Nov. 9, 5:00-6:25 PM
- School Psychologist - Katie Bork – Nov. 9, 5:00-8:00
- Art – Kimberly Medema, Vicki Lamers & Michelle Englebert – Nov. 9, 5:00-6:00 PM
- 5K Phy-Ed – Cole Tremble – Nov. 9, 5:00-6:25 PM
The following teachers will be here on Nov. 9 & 13 from 5:00-8:00 PM.
- Phy-Ed Grades 1-4 - Amy Phillips
- Music Grades 1-4 - Beth Kinzel
- School Counselor – Kayla LeBeck
- Speech – Amber Allen
We ask that you request your times by Tuesday, November 7th.
Conferences will be 10 minutes in length. (With the exception of 4th grade, please watch for a note from your child's 4th-grade teacher with more information.) Due to time constraints, we will schedule one conference per child. For families with more than one household, please touch base with each other so you can arrange a time that works for both households. Thank you for understanding and being there to support your children!
Grades 5K-4th will be dismissed at 2:00 PM on both days. We will not provide any supervision after 2:00 PM. Please make arrangements for your children.
Community First Credit Union Marathon Weekend Participants
Attention Families that participated in the Community First Credit Union Marathon Weekend Kids Fun Run and 5K this past September.
If your son or daughter participated in either the Kids Fun Run or the 5K, please have him/her wear his/her race shirt and bring his/her medal to school on Friday November 3rd. The school will be receiving a 2nd Place $500 check from Community First Credit Union that day. The students will be part of the ceremony.
Thank you so much for participating in the great weekend of Fun! We are very excited to have taken 2nd place again this year in the US Venture School Challenge.
Thanks so much,
Mrs. Phillips
PTO Halloween Dance
Our PTO is looking for volunteers to assist with set up, concessions and clean up for the Halloween dance. Click here to see the available volunteer opportunities.
A Note From our Gym Teacher Mrs. Phillips
Dear Westside Parents,
I am really excited about the Sport Stacking unit we will be doing in November in PE. Sport Stacking is an exciting sport where students stack and unstack 12-specially designed cups (Speed Stacks). Sport Stacking uses both sides of the body and brain developing important athletic and academic skills.
One of my goals, as a Physical Educator, is to promote activity at home through positive alternatives to computer, television and video game screen time. I believe that Sport Stacking is a unique, fun and simple activity that motivates kids to get up and move.
I have Speed Stacks Sets and StackMats for students to purchase here at the school with an added benefit of raising funds for our PE program. Here are a few great reasons to purchase equipment:
Sport Stacking is healthy for kids and a fun way to challenge the brain.
Regular Sets are $25.00. Pro Series Sets are $30.00. StackMats (mat, timer and gear bag) are $30.00. You pay no shipping, PLUS, the school will earn a percentage of your purchase in equipment for our PE program.
Speed Stacks Sets and StackMats are available for immediate purchase. First come, first served on color and design choices. Or you can order them online at speedstacks.com/go/72577-16317877/ This is Westside’s Page.
Act now, I have a limited supply of colors and quantities. A student form will be going home with your student. Please choose from the list on the form and encourage your student to have a second choice in mind. Return payment to the school (checks should be made payable to Westside) or order online at speedstacks.com/go/72577-16317877/ Remember, the items are first come, first served!
Sincerely,
Amy Phillips
Westside PE teacher
Thank You for Supporting Westside’s Physical Education Program!
Scholastic Book Fair
The Westside Scholastic Book Fair will be taking place November 7-14. Please click here for more information on our upcoming book fair.
Westside Stacking Day Food Drive
Lost & Found
Our lost and found is growing by the day. If your child is missing anything, please ask them to check the lost and found!
Community Events
We receive many worthwhile announcements to be included in our newsletters. Since we cannot include all information here, please go to the District's website and check out our Community Events page. Events and activities are listed there, and are updated often.
Additional Flyers
If you are unable to access specific content within this newsletter, please call us at (920)739-3578
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Pupil Nondiscrimination Statement: The Kimberly Area School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, sex, (including gender status, change of sex or gender identity), or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability ("Protected Classes") in any of its student programs and activities.