Opportunities for Parent Participation

September 18, 2009

Dear Families,

We have now completed our second full week of school, and everyone is now starting to settle in and get accustomed to the routines and the expectations at each grade level. During our first week of school you received information in your take-home packets asking for your assistance in supporting these routines by leaving the children at the front lobby after the first two weeks, rather than accompanying them to their classrooms. The children need the time to “get in the groove” each morning and to socialize and develop good relationships with peers. It helps us maximize the instructional time we have with them and cultivate the independence they need as part of their social and emotional development.

That doesn’t mean, however, that you’re not an important welcome part of West Side. We have set a goal this year to do everything we can to make the school welcoming and inviting to parents and visitors. To do that we’ll need your help. We’ll be looking at all areas of our school and asking for your opinions for how we can make the school more friendly and inviting. Teachers will be looking at specific ways we can work together on academics and projects of interest to children. Your comments and opinions are always welcome. If there’s something you would already like to suggest, please feel free to share it at any time.

This week we’ll be sending home two pieces of information to get started. The first is a parent resource book. It profiles our school and gives information about our parent group, the OPT, the volunteer process in our schools and ways that specific teachers at West Side would like to have parents and volunteers work with them. The resource manual also includes a Parent ABCs. This is a list of the common terms for programs and procedures that teachers use. We hope it will make it easier to understand letters, Friday folders and other communication home.

The other piece of information that you will receive is a specific way to participate in our reading and character education programs. We will kick off our character education program this month with friendship as our focus theme. A list of favorite student books in our library collection will come home with your child. You may wish to share one of these books with your son or daughter when you read with them at home.

We hope the materials will be helpful. Again, please contact me anytime with questions or comments.

Off to a Great Start!

September 10, 2009

Dear Families:

We had a great first week at West Side. This week our focus was on setting routines in the classroom and in those areas of the school where we all meet together. I met first with students in Grades 3-5 and later with theK-2 classes. Together we talked about the rules and procedures we’ll all follow in assemblies, the cafeteria, the playground and hallways. We form these rules and agree upon them together, and then we practice how to observe them. The students have done a great job so far of following their own expectations.

I’d like to ask all of you to join me in setting and following some expectations for student safety, especially at arrival and dismissal times each day. If you are dropping off your child at school in the morning, please enter the visitor’s parking lot and clear the entryway before you stop to let your child exit the vehicle. If you are behind a car dropping off a child, please do not pass that car since the children exit from the passenger side of the vehicle. It’s really worth those couple of extra seconds in line to be certain the children are safe.

At dismissal time please be certain your children stay with you until you reach your vehicle. Drivers may not be able to see a child darting between cars in the visitor’s lot as they exit or pull out from a parking space.

Our procedures have been developed from feedback that many of you have given us regarding student safety. Thank you for your suggestions. We believe that everyone can stay safe if we follow them. We’ll review these procedures at some time during the year and invite your ideas and comments at that time.

I know there are many little things you do at home each day that make the children’s day - and ours -a delight. Thank you for the support, encouragement and great effort you give!

Welcome Back to School!

September 4, 2009


Dear Families:

We had a great first day of school! As I greeted the students at the buses and passed through the classrooms during the day, I saw happy students and everyone starting to form good routines. Their eagerness to come to school and work with us is due to you and your support and encouragement for them to do well.

This blog is something new for me, and an opportunity for you to communicate or ask questions. Each week I’ll write a brief note about something that’s going on at school or some information that may be useful to you. Sometimes, I’ll ask you to give opinions about how things are going or about activities at the school.

This week you should have received a packet of information from us We ask you to review the student handbook and code of conduct, then sign the paper in the packet that says you have done so. We will also review the school rules and the handbook with students during the first few days of class.

Another paper you may wish to sign is the parent interest survey. Our volunteer process will be different this year. All elementary schools in the district will require volunteers for school projects and field trips to receive training before serving as chaperones. If such activities are of interest to you, please check those you would like to participate in. We will then send you a notice of the days that training is taking place in the district.

Just one more reminder. This coming Friday, September 11 is the first national pride day for West Side. On those days our students are invited to show national pride by wearing a combination of red, white and blue. We’ll remind the students on Thursday, but thought you’d like a reminder, too.

And don't forget - there's no school on Monday. It's unusual to start school before Labor Day, so I'll take this special opportunity to wish all of you a great day with family and friends as we celebrate the end of the summer season.