West End News

The 2022-23 school year is off to a great start at West End! Our teachers and students have been busy getting to know each other, working on routines, and preparing for a year of learning. It is wonderful to have our students back from summer break.

Our biggest challenge is the morning and afternoon carline. All school car lines have their unique challenges to work through, and West End's is certainly no different. There are some things we can do to make the car line go more quickly. If you do not have business in the office (morning and afternoon), you will need to go through the car line. Parking and getting out of your car to walk your child to the building or to go in and sign-out your child slows the car line for everyone. You may be asked to return to the car line to drop-off/pick-up your child.

Please remember that students should be seated in class when the 8:00 bell rings. If you are pulling in the car line at 7:55 or sitting in the car line at 8:00, there is a good chance your child will be late. The car line opens at 7:20. Please consider coming early and allowing your child to each breakfast at West End. (All students receive breakfast at no charge.) As you pull into the carline, ask you child to prepare their materials and be ready to get out of the car.

One of the best gifts you can give your child is the habit of being on time (or a few minutes early) wherever they go.

The afternoon carline runs more quickly and smoothly if all duty teachers can see student car tag numbers. Please hang (clothes hangers with clips are super helpful for this) your child's car tag and leave it hanging until your child is in the car. Car tags displayed by laying them on the dash or on the side window make it difficult to see them and call students in a timely manner.

At 2:00, our students begin winding down their day, discussing what they have learned, planning for the next day, gathering materials to pack-up to leave, etc. Because this time of discussion and planning is very important to the learning process, students should not be signed out after 2:00.

Thank you for your help as we work to improve the car line to allow arrival and dismissal to go as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Angie Garrison, Ed.D.

Principal

Any SDPC student who tests positive for COVID will need to enter their information on the SDPC Student COVID Reporting Form.

Students who test positive will need to quarantine for 5 days. At this time, there is no contact tracing. Siblings will not have to quarantine unless they are having symptoms or test positive.

Please let us know if you have questions. We hope everyone stays well!

We had 60 students return their completed summer challenge packet before or by the end of the day on the first day of school- WAY TO GO! We have planned a fun time of games, music, and a summer treat on Friday of this week.

Our celebration times are August 12:

3rd, 4th, and 5th graders: 8:45-9:15am

K5, 1st, and 2nd graders: 1:30-2:00pm

If you have not connected with your child's teacher(s) on our Schoology program, please contact them for your access code. These were sent home with all of our new students last week. Let us know if you have questions!

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.

We are currently working to unpack from summer, charge, update software, and prepare Chromebooks and Chrome Tablets to distribute to our students. Our goal is to begin getting those out to them next week. Help us to encourage students to take care of and protect them in order to keep working properly. 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

Scan this QR Code to begin the application process. You may also use this link.

Student COVID Info - 2022-23

A Positive COVID test means an student must quarantine (AT HOME) for 5 days after symptoms begin or if no symptoms, 5 days after COVID test performed.

• At this time, close/household contacts are not required to quarantine as long as they are symptom free.

• Classroom letters regarding COVID will only be sent home if there is an outbreak situation

• The district will not be offering COVID testing

  • Home test kits will be available from the school nurse as long as supplies are available

A Positive COVID-19 test for a STUDENT must be reported on the Google Form as detailed below.

Any SDPC student that has tested positive for COVID will need to enter their information on the SDPC Student COVID Reporting Form.

• Please answer all of the questions about your student's COVID circumstance.

• Please, do not send your student to school until you have heard from someone at the school

• Once the positive test result is reported, someone from the school will be back in touch with you with your student’s return to work date.

Here is the link for the form: SDPC Student COVID Reporting Form.

Scan QR to link to Student Reporting Form

Please visit this link to view our Family Engagement Opportunity Calendar for the year! Volunteer training dates are listed as well. We would like to challenge each family to attend both parent conferences this year and at least two family events. There are so many to choose from! Let's "dive deep" together!

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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