Not so spooky October!

WOW, you all brought the FUN and magic to school this week!  Pumpkin parties, AMAZING staff costumes, RRW dress up days, math tailgate to stretch those multiplication skills, book tasting to kick-off new modules, pumpkin patch/farm field trips, worm lady science investigation, and student pun costumes - there's truly NO better place for students to experience the joys of learning than right here in our hive!  Thank you for showing up this week with intentionality, and a little spark of magic for Halloween!  How grateful I am for each of you!

For everyone who stays off social media - watch these gems!  (Not featured:  Kinder & 1st from the pumpkin patch & 5th grade keeping the puns in line)

2nd Grade!

3rd Grade!

4th Grade!

Specials!

Palm Pals! (or SPED)

Your BIGGEST fans!

STINGER STORIES

Read the latest edition of Stinger Stories, shared with families this week, at the link below.

https://secure.smore.com/n/yp7bk

HOCUS, POCUS EVERYBODY FOCUS!  JUST 4 WEEKS LEFT UNTIL THE START OF MOY ASSESSMENTS!

Now that Halloween is behind us, don't let the candy crash take over.  As we welcome November, turn up our intentionality and focus.  We have 20 instructional days (minus any field trips, etc.) between now and the last day for reading and math small groups!!  How did that happen?  This time is CRITICAL for the progress of every student.  Keep up the intentional, data-driven focus to move every student to become a more skilled reader/writer & and more skilled in math concepts.  

THE HONEYCOMB HEADLINES!

Job well done to our newspaper club, led by Katherine & Kristin, for the first publication of The Honeycomb Headlines.  We hoped your students enjoyed reading about current events at West Side and celebrating the work of their classmates.  Thank you for carving out time this morning for students to enjoy the newspaper.  The Honeycomb Headlines will be published monthly!

THE HIVE FIVE!

Studio cheers to The Hive Five, dropping the first episode of Season 3.  NEW this year!  The Hive Five has created a listening guide (suitable for 2nd-5th grade students) to practice gathering information from multi-modal text!  This real-world application will build critical listening and researching skills for students.  How to use the listening guide?

1. Play The Hive Five for your class.  You will need 5-8 minutes.

2.  While listening, students complete the listening guide.  LINKED HERE.

3.  The teacher can turn in completed listening guides to the yellow mailbox outside Mrs. Beaman's room for a chance for students to win a prize!

UPCOMING PLCs

• 11/4 - Math Benchmark Data Review & Lesson resources for Q2
• 11/11 & 11/12 - SOR PLCs

SOR WALKS, 11/3-11/5

Walks for the next SOR Cycle will take place on 11/3-11/5.  Teachers part of walks for this cycle will receive an email from Katy.  All walks will take place during small group instruction.

Cycle FOCUS

• K-1st - Fluency (page 11) - CHOOSE 2 of these high impact practices to include in your small group lessons!

Fluency Activities

Fluency Grid       Fluency Grid          Template Spin, Say, Write  Spin, Say, Write    Template High Frequency Word Mat Key Sentence Tally Read  Tally Read ng/Paintbrush Reading I Read, We Read, You Read  Read Aloud, Read Along, Read Alone LAVA Read    LAVA Roll, Read, and Tally  Template Whisper Phone ReadiScooping Poetry Notebooks/ Fluency Folders

• 2nd-5th - Vocabulary & Text Comprehension (page 13 & 15) - CHOOSE 2 of these high impact practices in your whole group & small group lessons!

WORD CHOICE & MAINTENANCE	DEFINITION	CONNECT	REPRESENT/ VISUALS	USE /  SPEAK & WRITE
Refer Daily	Word Maps	Semantic Maps	Pictures / drawings / regalia	Sentence Stems
Lists Burke Academic Text Project List	Four Square	Scaling / Semantic Gradients / Shades of Meaning	Vocabulary Videos	Purposeful Paragraphs / Paragraph Frame
Tiers 1-3 Choosing Words Video	Morpheme Word Web	Morpheme Matrix	Parts of Speech Word Wall	Academic Vocabulary Logs / Notebook
Examples / Non-Examples	Frayer Model	Word Harvesting	Word Pictures	Academic  Conversations
Direct Instruction Vocabulary Routine		Word Spokes	Semantic Features Grid	Socratic Circles
Word Jars		WordMarks	3 Column Organizer (TTT)	Fill in the Blank Sentences  (TTT)
Word Play		List Group Label / Concept Sort	Vocabulary Wall with Picture Supports	Spin/Say/Write Vocabulary
Post & Tally		Word Sums
Word Ladders (w/meaning cues)		Use Productive (Tier 2)  Vocabulary Words
Possum Strategy		Word Associations

ALL OF THESE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE IN STINGER UNIVERSITY!

• FLUENCY
• VOCABULARY

HICKORY HILLS VISITORS, 11/6

HH teachers will be visiting K-2 classrooms.  Teachers part of the visit have already been contacted

FIRST FRIDAY CANNED FOOD DRIVE, 11/7

As previously shared by Dr. Rivera in October, Marietta has partnered with a local business to host a monthly canned food drive. While this was planned prior to national events, there's even greater need to stock our local food pantries with non-perishable items. Families and staff are encouraged to bring canned foods on the first Friday of every month. All donations will be matched by the local business. The collection bin at West Side is located in the lobby.

THANKSGIVING LUNCHES, 11/19 & 11/20

The final lunch schedules will be sent in Stinger Stats next Friday. For now, plan for the following:

• 11/19 - 2nd, 4th & 5th Grade Thanksgiving Lunch (K, 1st & 3rd grade eat lunch in classrooms)
• 11/20 - K, 1st & 3rd Grade Thanksgiving Lunch (2nd, 4th & 5th grade eat lunch in classrooms)

STINGERS SERVE COLLECTION WEEK, 11/17-11/21

PTA is planning another impactful Stingers Serve Day, a day of community service at West Side. During the week of 11/17-11/21, PTA will collect donations for Stingers Serve. Collection boxes will be placed outside your grade level on 11/17 for Stinger Serve Collection Week.  Stingers Serve event is on 12/12.  

Kindergarten	SafePath (Stuffed Animal Drive)
1st Grade	MUST Ministries (Hygiene Kits)
2nd Grade	Cobb Collaborative (New & Gently Used Books)
3rd Grade	Blue Skies (Christmas in July)
4th Grade	Center for Family Resources (child snack bags)
5th Grade	Park Street Winter Festival

Q2 PROGRESS REPORTS

Look for email directions to come regarding Q2 Progress Reports.

Q2 Progress Reports DUE Dates
Progress Reports EMAILED	November 18th
Progress Report Record Completed	November 18th

REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK ARE BELOW!

THIRD GRADE WAX MUESUEM, 11/4

Join us for the annual 3rd grade Wax Museum!!  These Stingers have worked hard on reading, research, writing, and presentation skills to bring to life an engaging learning experience.  

8:35-8:55	2ND Grade (exit the back stairwell)
9:00-9:30	Parents
1:30-1:50	4th Grade
1:50-2:10	1st Grade
2:10-2:20	Kinder
2:25-2:45	5th Grade

VETERANS DAY, 11/7

Our 3rd grade students and Singing Stingers will celebrate Veterans Day on Friday, 11/7.  RSVPs requested by 10/30.

Who performs?  All 3rd grade students, 4th/5th Grade Singing Stingers ONLY

Who attends?  K-2 & 4th-5th grade students with a Veteran in attendance.  Teachers will receive the list of student attendees by 11/5.

Who participates in the parade?  All K-2nd grade students.  Look for the parade route to come.

OPEN ENROLLMENT, DEADLINE APPROACHING! COMPLETED BY 11/7

As a reminder, Open Enrollment for your 2026 benefits will take place October 20 – November 7, 2025. From the EBC, select Enroll Now to review enrollment steps and schedule a meeting with a benefits counselor. Note: The enrollment platforms will not be available until October 20, 2025.

For any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the MCS Employee Benefits Center at 1-833-587-2109 (Monday – Friday; 8:00 am – 5:00 pm). You can also email MCS Human Resources at humanresources@marietta-city.k12.ga.us.

PTA SILENT AUCTION, 11/11

PTA is offering a discount ticket price for West Side Staff.  Use the promo code: teacher.  Tickets can be purchased at the link below.  Come out for a night of fun to support our school!

UPCOMING GIFTED DATES

• 10/27-11/14 – NO MILE, due to gifted testing
• 10/27-11/20 – Fall Gifted Testing
• 11/3 – GRS DUE
• 11/17 – MILE Resumes
• mid-December – MSO DUE

WSSN!  HOW CAN I ACCESS THE WSSN EACH WEEK?

We have created a show page for teachers to easily access WSSN each week from your ViewBoard.  Follow these steps to create a shortcut to keep the show page one click away:

1. Open the WSSN Show Page
2. Click 3 dots on Google Toolbar
3. Choose Cast, Save and Share
4. Create Shortcut (It will appear on the Desktop)
5. When you open the Shortcut, click on the Monday morning date to access WSSN for that week!
6. Watch with your class. :)

STAFF ABSENCE REMINDERS!

There are THREE steps to follow, if you are going to out unexpectedly.

1. Text both Carla and Lindsay.
2. Fill out Employee Leave Yellow form (DIGITAL FORM HERE).
3. Complete absence in Kelly/Frontline.

UPCOMING DATES (Dates added since last week)

• 11/3-11/5 - SOR Facilitator on Campus
• 11/4 - 3rd Grade Wax Museum
• 11/4 - PLCs
• 11/6 - PTA Reflections Reception
• 11/7 - Veterans Day
• 11/10-11/13 - SOR Coaching Week, Cycle 5.2
• 11/11 - PLCs
• 11/11 - PTA Silent Auction
• 11/12 - Vertical Team Meeting
• 11/13 - 2nd Grade FT (Funk Museum)
• 11/14 - PTA Staff Chili Luncheon
• 11/17-11/21 - Stingers Serve Collection Week
• 11/17 - Kinder FT (Atlanta History Center)
• 11/18 - 3rd & 4th Grade FT (Christmas Carol)
• 11/18 - PLCs
• 11/19-11/20 - Thanksgiving Luncheon
• 11/19 - Faculty Meeting
• 11/20 - Dress Down Day
• 11/20 - Kinder Thanksgiving Play
• 11/21 - 5th Grade FT (High Museum)
• 11/24-11/28 - Thanksgiving Break!