Dolphin Weekly Waves
Week of Sept. 4-8, 2023 OPEN HOUSE EDITION
From the Principal - Spotlight on Attendance
Regular school attendance is critical to the development of successful students. Did you know....
- ...a student who misses a couple of days a month will miss 18 days during the school year placing him/her in the chronically absent category.
- ...a missed day of school is instruction a student will never get back. This is particularly important for students in early grades who miss the foundational skills for reading.
- ...a student who does not learn to read well by the end of 3rd grade is more likely to drop out of school.
- ...the relationship between attendance, reading, and graduation is important. Students who do not graduate are more likely to live in poverty, suffer poor health, and become involved in the criminal justice system.
- ...poor attendance also has negative effects on social and emotional development. Students who are absent in the early years of their education may not learn important school readiness skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, and creative thinking causing them to fall behind their peers in social-emotional development.
Family Night is this Week!
We look forward to seeing you this Thursday, September 7, from 5:00-7:00 for Family Night!
Calendar Note.... Picture Days - Tuesday and Wednesday, September 26 and 27 - A schedule will come soon.....
We are continuing our journey to be the BEST each of us can be! Have a wonderful week!
Angie Garrison, Ed.D.
Principal
West End's Mission: Our West End Community maximizes students’ potential by providing instruction that builds our students’ knowledge, strengthens their skills, and develops in them career-ready characteristics for success in an ever-changing world.
Schedule for "Kick Off" Open House Night is below!
We can't wait to see you!
Draft Versions of our Title 1 Policies are Due this week!
Media Center News - Book Fair - September 18-22
Online Book Fair Now Open
The West End Book Fair is coming September 18 -22 and our Online Book Fair is NOW OPEN!
This is great way to shop if you know you will be unable to attend the fair in person or have family members who would love to support their student! The online book fair features an expanded catalog of books, so everyone can find their favorite! You can also purchase digital gift cards to make the book fair checkout process easier for your student. Gift cards make wonderful gifts for teachers and staff! https://efairs.literati.com/?school=west-end-elementary-school-easley-sc
Shop online until September 22, 2023. Please allow approximately 10 business days for orders to arrive, at the school, after both Fairs end. Books will be distributed to students as soon as possible.
Congratulations to our first "Distinguished Dolphins" this school year!
These students were chosen by their homeroom teacher for demonstrating "self-control" in the classroom as we focused on this core skill this month. They were celebrated with a breakfast and brand new "brag tag!"
"Your Opinion Matters!"
West End families, we value your opinion on school related matters! Please use the Google form below to give us input, feedback, new ideas, or ask a question! We appreciate your time and how you make West End better! This form will be opened all school year long!
Understanding Test Score Reports That Were Sent Home
Scan this QR Code to watch a short video from School Counselor, Ms. Smith, about reading your child's test score report that was sent home with interims last week. We will dig into these reports more during our Parent Conferences in October.
MAP testing continues! Please be sure your child is at school on time!
September's Core Character Skill is "Confidence"
For the month of September, we are learning about confidence. Confidence is the belief you are capable. It means viewing mistakes as learning opportunities, saying “I can” instead of “I can’t,” and believing you can face life’s challenges and succeed.
When defining confidence, it is also helpful to speak about what confidence is not. Confidence is not:
- Being arrogant or thinking you are better than others.
- Getting it right every time; being perfect.
- Burying your emotions; pretending you are never nervous or scared.
- A constant—everyone has moments they don’t feel confident and that’s okay!
Teachers will be choosing a student from their homerooms that have greatly demonstrated this core skill all month long to be our second "Distinguished Dolphin!"
Attendance Matters!
If your child is absent, please remember to send in parent notes, doctor/dentist notes, etc. so that attendance can be coded correctly in PowerSchool. You can also complete the Google form at the link below with details for the absence. A message is sent to our Data Entry Clerk via email including that information as a note for the absence(s).
Preschool Story Time is Back!
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
If you have a child birth to 5 years old, be sure to sign-up for Dolly Parton's Imagination Each month, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library mails a high quality, age appropriate book to all registered children, addressed to them, at no cost to the child’s family. Click the picture and scroll down to the "Can I Register My Child Box?" to sign-up!
Tech Fees are due!
Nominate a West End Teacher for "Teacher of the Month" Honors
Each month, you have the opportunity to honor a teacher of your choosing as the "West End Teacher of the Month!" Simply complete this form telling us why the teacher you chose is deserving. You may nominate as many times as you wish. Thank you for supporting our teachers and recognizing the hard work they put in to teaching your child each day. 😍
Title 1 Annual Newsletter
Parents- your child attends a schoolwide Title 1 school. We would like to tell you more about what that means. Please read the 2023-2024 West End Title 1 Newsletter. We will discuss this more in detail at our "Kick Off" Open House event on September 7.
Information, Reminders, Links
- MySchoolBucks - Sign up for a MySchoolBucks account for online payments for tech fees, field trip fees, t-shirt sales, etc.
- All students K5-5 will be assigned a device for classroom and home use. Before sending the device home, a $25 Tech it Home user fee to cover accidental damage to the device, charging device, and carrying case should be paid. More information about the Tech It Home Fee.
- Schoology is a learning platform that allows parents to communicate with teachers, stay on top of student assignments, and monitor student progress (grades 3-5). Access Codes will come home soon. Please let us know if you need help getting connected.
- Securly is a powerful tool designed to help parents monitor and set limits on their child's school-issued device. Please let us know if we can help with the program.
Connect with our West End Family!
Be sure to follow West End on Facebook!
Twitter- @westendelem
Instagram- @westendelem
Phone (864)397-2500
Dr. Angie Garrison, Principal Email: angiegarrison@pickens.k12.sc.us