Principal’s Message

The WES students, parents, and community members have certainly been busy over the last several weeks. We have successfully navigated Fall Fest (thanks PTA), Halloween, Faculty Professional Development Day, and some very cold weather. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the parent volunteers who have donated their time working with students in the classrooms. Your support is greatly appreciated. Also, thank you to those families that have supported the PTA fundraising efforts as these funds go directly towards instruction. We are lucky to live, work, and learn in such a supportive community!

The teachers have also been very busy finalizing grades on Engrade and entering grades and comments on student report cards. Yes, the first marking period ended on Friday, October 28, 2016 and first marking period report cards will be distributed at the end of the day on Thursday, November 10, 2016. Understandably, children are excited about their first report card of the school year. Here are some helpful hints to keep in mind:

• Report cards are designed to be an official communication of academic progress between school and home. Please be sure to take the time to review this document with your student. Thoroughly reviewing this document says a great deal to children when parents take the time to share in their child’s success.
• Try to maintain a positive outlook regarding this report. Although you are encouraged to identify goals for improvement, it is equally important to celebrate areas of success.
• All Baltimore County elementary schools will be closed on Friday, November 11, 2016 so that parents may have a convenient opportunity to conference with teachers. Students accompanying parents to school on conference day must be supervised by parents at all times.
• All students are required to bring back their report card envelopes signed by a parent/guardian. Envelopes are expected to be returned to school no later than back in school on Wednesday, November 16, 2016. Envelopes may be returned to teachers following scheduled conferences on November 11th.

After reviewing your student’s report card, please be sure to discuss the grades for each subject area and discuss how the student may continue to earn high marks and/or assist with the development of a plan to raise marks in needed areas. Goal setting for the next marking period is certainly appropriate as our students are able to meet high expectations. As always, thanks so much for your continued support! The following websites may provide options/assist with discussing the quarter one report card with your student (these sites are from a simple google search, but provide sound advice regarding discussions about grades).

http://www.schoolcommunitynetwork.org/downloads/TipSheets_English/DiscussingYourChildsReportCard_Eng.pdf

https://www.understood.org/en/learning-attention-issues/understanding-childs-challenges/talking-with-your-child/tips-for-reacting-to-childs-report-card

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/Dealing_with_Report_Cards/

Well, it is easy to see the progress being made on the Westowne parking lot. If you have visited the school recently, and/or driven past, you are able to see that removal of topsoil is complete and the base layer of the lot is being raised to prepare for paving. Curbing will be completed by the end of next week and base paving, final paving and line painting will follow. Please keep your fingers crossed for good weather. As soon as the parking lot is complete, we will provide information regarding new Car Rider details. Additionally, a new hard court service was approved and will be added to the grounds at the back of the property, just prior to the sidewalks to the existing playground. This is certainly a nice addition for students and community!

The school year is in full swing! Now that things are settling down, it's time to talk about yearly physicals. Why is a yearly physical important? Some medical problems make it difficult to concentrate which can have a negative impact on a child's school performance. A physical will help identify any medical conditions or illnesses that could be affecting your child's academic progress. You and your child's physician can discuss your child's general health, proper nutrition, and normal child and adolescent development. You will have the opportunity to ask the doctor any questions that have come up during the year. It is an opportunity to partner with the doctor to reinforce healthy lifestyle choices for your child.

During a sick visit, the doctor focuses on the sick part of the child. During a physical, the doctor takes extra time to examine all of your child, including areas not inspected during a sick visit. Pediatricians check for problems by observation and palpation. They may do a vision screening, hearing screening, check urine/blood work. They check for scoliosis and spinal problems. They listen to the heart and lungs and screen for heart murmurs and Asthma. They palpate the abdomen and check the lymph nodes to help detect early swellings or enlargement of the organs that may be the first signs of a silent disease or even a tumor. Thankfully, the majority of physicals result in a clean bill of health.

When you schedule your child's physical, please contact the nurse to get the necessary school physical form. The form is a two part form. The parent completes Part 1 and the doctor completes both sides of Part 2. The completed physical form is an important part of your child's health record.

Reminder: Please ask the doctor, Patient First, Emergency Room staff for a note for school when your child has been seen for a sick visit or an injury.

Reminder: Please do not send medication to school with your child. This includes cough drops! All medication must be brought to school by an adult and signed in with the nurse.

Questions, comments, concerns may be brought to the nurse at 443-809-0023 or jmartin13@bcps.org.

Happy Fall!

Mondays, October 10-November 21 (NO CLASS 10/31 for Halloween), 4:00 - 4:45

Tuesdays, October 25-December 6 (NO CLASS 11/08 for Election Day), 8:15 – 9:00 AM

Wednesdays, October 19-November 30 (NO CLASS 11/23 for Thanksgiving), 4:00 - 4:45

There is a correction to the schedule previously sent out. 4th grade is moving from Thursday, Nov. 17th to Tuesday, Nov 15th the time will remain the same 9:30-11:30. Sorry for any inconvenience. Please see the new schedule below.

The link below is for a parent survey to solicit feedback on the Early Entry Day this past August. The survey will be posted on the BCPS website beginning this Wednesday, November 9 through Wednesday, November 23. The Community Superintendents request that the link be posted on your respective school web sites and be shared via your regular community communication methods over this time period.