Kick-off to Football!

It was busy week at West Side - jumping into a FULL week of reading small groups, hearing screenings, dimissal changes and new afterschool programs, and Curriculum Night!  Thank you for all the extra effort you put into making it a smooth week for your students and our families!

If families did not attend Curriculum Night, please be sure to send home field trip permission slips and field trip lunch/t-shirt selection forms.  These can be sent home next week in Beelines, or in your daily folders (K-2nd grade).  All HR teachers should keep permission slips on file for the school year.

Next week will include a few schedule changes with MAP testing.  Schedule changes will take extra effort to keep the week focused and intentional - avoid other schedule interruptions or changes to maximize your instructional time.

Lastly, as you continue to build classroom routines remember the importance of creating routines that foster a language rich classroom.  Opportunities for oral language can be built in every lesson and every interaction.  Keep these ol' strategies as part of routines for every day learning across every content area!

  1. Frequent Responses - 3-5 response opportunities every minute (choral response, gestures, response cards, partner talk, etc.)
  2. Everyone does everything - Students are reading, writing, and speaking in all parts of the lesson
  3. Involve all students! - No opt out
  4. Structure Active Participation - choral responses, partner talk, discussion, hold-ups

READ THE LATEST EDITION OF STINGER STORIES!

Read Stinger Stories HERE!

UPCOMING PLCs

  • 8/25 - TKES Pre-conference Prep
  • 9/1 - MAP Data Dig

KICK-OFF TO FOOTBALL, FACULTY POT LUCK 9/4!

Wear college colors & join the pot luck!


FALL MAP TESTING REMINDERS!
  • Read Carla's MAP email.
  • Testing Sessions made BEFORE your first day of testing!
  • HR Teachers:  Remove students testing in SGs from your testing sessions.
  • Use outside paths for transitions.
  • No Class Restroom breaks in the 3rd grade hall on Tuesday & Thursday.

READING SMALL GROUP IMPACTS DUE TO MAP TESTING!

Due to MAP Testing, please note Reading Specialists are unable to meet with Reading SGs on Tuesday & Thursday for groups that meet before 12:30 PM. All groups after 12:30 will continue as scheduled.

PTA MEMBERSHIP DRIVE, ENDS 9/9

***PTA will place membership awareness stickers in teacher boxes. Please place these on students on 8/25.

All classes will earn a recess popscile party on 9/9! Popsciles will be available for teacher pick-up in the auditorium freezer.

PTA DIRECT DONTATION CAMPAIGN! ENDS 9/11

Learn more about the PTA Legacy Project at the video below! ***PTA will place Direct Donation stickers in teacher boxes. Please place these on students on 8/31.


Mrs. Sims's class may have won the Limo Ride & Pizza Party, but there's still time to win a Silent Disco Party! All classes with 100% participation in Direct Donation will earn a Silent Disco party on 9/17! Look for schedule to come for our winning classes!

CAFETERIA MONITOR STAFF

We have a new cafeteria monitor joining Ms. Marta! Mr. James, from the transportation department, will be part of our cafeteria monitor staff. Please let your class know Mr. James is part of our cafe staff!

CUSTODIAL UPDATES

We anticipate a new contracted custodial team will begin next week. Mrs. Julia will spend the first few days training the staff on our expectations for building cleaniness at West Side. We will support Mrs. Julia in making it a smooth transition for our new team! Reach out to Christina if you have continued concerns after next week.

DOOR SAFETY!

Maintaining a safe campus starts with exterior doors.

  • No doors propped open.
  • Students taught not to open exterior doors for others.
  • Teachers confirm door has closed after the class has used the exterior door (do a spot check after the caboose walks through the door).

ALL ITEMS BELOW THIS PINK HEADING ARE REPEATED FROM LAST WEEK - BUT STILL IMPORTANT!

BLOCKSI CHEAT SHEET
This Blocksi Cheat Sheet includes how to limit students to using a specific URL when on chromebooks. This keeps students focused on the task you have assigned.

CHROMEBOOK LOANERS
Our Chromebook Loaner process will begin on 8/31 after all Fall test administration.  If you have a student chromebook in need of repair, please complete an Tech Request in Incident IQ and leave the broken chromebook in your cart. 

WS ENRICHMENT CLUBS - STAFF LED!
Important dates coming soon for students to join a club!
  • 8/28 - Parent Communication sent by Club Sponsor
  • 8/31 - Clubs may begins
WSSN!  HOW CAN I ACCESS WSSN EACH WEEK?
WSSN will continue to be broadcast on Monday mornings.  News will begin as soon as our enrichment clubs are selected.

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.
PREFERRED SUB LIST
We do have several new subs that have been added to our preferred sub list.  If you have a sick/personal leave absence, please reach out to a preferred sub first!

UPCOMING DATES (Dates added since last week)

  • 8/24 - 4th Grade FT (Safety Village)

  • 8/24 - PLCs

  • 8/24-8/28 - Fall MAP Window

  • 8/28 - SonRise/Awakening

  • 9/1 - PLCs

  • 9/3 - Dress Down Day

  • 9/3 - MTSS During Planning

  • 9/2 - Vertical Teams

  • 9/4 - 1st Grade FT (Truist Park)

  • 9/7-9/11 - Book Fair

  • 9/8 - Vision to Learn (Schedule to Come)

  • 9/8 - Q1 Progress Reports DUE

  • 9/8 - PLCs

  • 9/9 - Faculty Meeting

  • 9/9 - Parent-2-Parent Series

  • 9/11 - GrandPals Day! (times vary)

  • 9/15-9/17 - 5th Grade Overnight FT

  • 9/15 - PLCs

  • 9/16 - 4th & 3rd Grade 1/2-day planning

  • 9/16 & 9/18 - 4th Grade FT

  • 9/16 - Leadership Meeting

  • 9/16 - PTA Pizza on the Playground

  • 9/17 - Dress Down Day

  • 9/17 - 1st & Kinder 1/2-day planning

  • 9/17 - 3rd Grade FT (in house)

  • 9/18 - SonRise/Awakening

  • 9/18 - Kinder FT

  • 9/18 - 2nd & 5th 1/2-day planning

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