Westside Elementary
December 2023 Newsletter
Important Dates
December
- 1st: Spirit Day (Wear Westside or Panther apparel)
- 4th-11th (week): Food Drive
- 4th-7th (week): MAPs and NSCAS Growth Testing
- 8th: NO SCHOOL-Professional Development for Staff
- 12th: Culvers Dine Out Night 5:00-8:00pm
- 19th: All School Field Trip to Norfolk 7. (Westside staff and students only)
- 20th: Westside Holiday Extravaganza
- 20th: End of 2nd quarter
- 21st-January 3rd: Winter Break-No School
Happy Holidays
I hope you all have a blessed holiday season.
I always love this time of year, especially the weeks leading up to Christmas. I am very fond of the decorations, the music, THE FOOD, and the experience of family traditions. I also enjoy reflecting on past Christmases with family that are no longer living.
It is a marvelous time of year. We have 15 days off for our break. I hope the extra time with your family is filled with joy and happiness.
Merry Christmas!
Tracy Lichty
Thanksgiving meals
Thank you to Midwest Bank, Daycos, and Tyson Foods for donating Thanksgiving meals to 12 of our families.
Westside All School Movie
Back by popular demand!
As a holiday treat, the PTO will be sponsoring a field trip to the Norfolk 7 to watch a movie.
During school on December 19th, the entire school will be bussed over to the Norfolk 7 to watch Disney's "Wish".
Students will also receive a free popcorn and drink.
This is a private event with only the Westside staff and students attending.
If you would like to see a preview of the movie, I have that below.
Annual Westside Holiday Extravaganza
This year's Holiday Extravaganza will be held on Wednesday December 20th. Students can wear their favorite holiday outfit to school that day. The more festive, the better!
See the flier below.
Staff Gift Ideas
Families,
If any of you are wanting gift ideas for a staff member, Mr. Lichty has a list of favorites for each staff member. Please email or Seesaw Mr. Lichty with the name of the staff member you would like gift ideas for. A blank copy of this sheet is below for your information.
Mr Lichty's email is tracylichty@npsne.org
Culvers Dine out Night
The PTO will be sponsoring a Culvers Dine Out Night on December 12th. Stop by from 5:00-8:00pm to order some food and help support Westside Elementary. A percentage from each order will go to Westside PTO.
Bucket Fillers of the Month
For the month of November we focused on Behavior Expectations on the Cafeteria.
I also included photos from our Minute to Win It game.
Food Drive 2023
Families,
We will be having our annual Food Drive December 4th-11th.
Every year we donate our collected items to a needy cause in Norfolk. This year we will be donating to Bright Horizons.
The class that has the most donated items will receive cookies and hot chocolate.
November Birthdays
Westside Thanksgiving Day Parade
Before Thanksgiving break, 4th grade students made balloon animals in Media class. At the end of the day on November 21st, we had a parade so all students could see their creations. Photos from that event are below.
Westside Social Media
Westside Twitter page. (maintained by Westside Elementary)
Westside Facebook page. (maintained by Westside PTO)
Drug free zone
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications still need to be filled out!
If you qualified for free or reduced priced lunches in the past (in the Norfolk Public Schools), you must fill out a new application every year. However, you may have had a new application mailed to you with info already filled in to make the task easier. Kindergarten and new students to the district will need to fill out a new form. If you have multiple students in our district, your family will only need to fill out one packet. If you lost your form, you can fill out a new one as well. Please fill these and all other forms out completely and remember to sign and include all Social Security numbers. This paperwork is also used for other programs and purposes like fee waivers for activity cards and fees for athletics participation.
Westside Calendar
https://www.norfolkpublicschools.org/calendars/
7:50 am - All students go to the blacktop in the back of the school. Breakfast served in gym.
8:05 am - Tardy bell rings
3:15 pm - Dismissal bell rings (M, T, Th, F)
2:00 pm - Dismissal bell rings (W)
Change of Information
If you have had a change of address, phone number, or place of employment, please send a note or contact the office at 402-644-2561 so we can keep our emergency information updated. This is for the safety of our students.
Thank you!
Classroom Rules
Prepackaged Treats
The safety of our children is of utmost importance. We have many students with a wide range of severe, life threatening allergies to various food products. To keep our children safe we are asking that any food products that are brought into the classroom as treats are prepackaged items with ingredients listed.
Thank you for your support in keeping our kids safe.
Toys, Trading Cards, Etc.
Box Top App
We have been asked if Box Tops are still a thing...well they are!
Box Tops has changed how they collect the Box Top. The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school's earnings online.
How does the new program work?
At its core, the program structure and purpose remain the same – to help schools get what they need. The main difference is how you’ll earn – instead of clipping, all Box Tops will be earned digitally via receipt scan.
You’ll now download the new and improved, user-friendly Box Tops app, register and select a school, and then scan an eligible receipt containing Box Tops products. You’ll earn 10 cents for each Box Tops product purchased plus extra earnings for any Bonus Box Tops opportunities. The app will automatically add Box Tops to your school’s earnings online, giving visibility to see how you are supporting your school in real-time.
Our family often shops online; how will that work?
Great news! If you shop for groceries online, you can now submit your email receipts from select retailers to earn Box Tops for your school. To ensure that earnings are properly credited to your account:
1. Make sure you have a Box Tops for Education account (you can create one via the Box Tops app or website)
2. Forward your email receipt to receipts@boxtops4education.com using the same email that’s associated with your BTFE account
3. Box Tops will be credited within 10 business days – view your earnings detail in the MY EARNINGS section of the app or website
A little humor...
Fox Trot by Bill Amend
Westside Elementary School
Email: TracyLichty@npsne.org
Website: http://www.norfolkpublicschools.org/schools/westside-elementary/
Location: 1703 Phillip Avenue, Norfolk, NE, United States
Phone: (402) 644-2561
Twitter: @WestsideElem