West Point Elementary School Bulldog Blast 10 February 2017 Parent Newsletter #12 Telephone: 938-2313/3827/2997 Nurse: 938-2069 http://www.dodea.edu/westpointes/index.cfm Morning Bell: 8:30 Tardy Bell: 8:35 Dismissal Bell: 2:50 Early Dismissal Bell: 11:30 WEST POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT Educate, Engage, and Empower Each student to succeed in a dynamic world. VISION STATEMENT West Point Elementary School provides opportunities for all students to achieve their personal best and to become caring, respectful, and responsible citizens. Our school strives to create a differentiated learning environment to ensure that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. We work with the community to motivate and enable all students to be life-long 21 st century learners. Lunch + Recess Schedule 11:10-11:50 Fourth Grade 11:30-12:10 First Grade 11:50-12:30 Second Grade 12:10-12:50 Third Grade 12:30-1:10 Kindergarten GRADES Kinder to 4th 5 Day Rotation (A-E) MON 2/13 TUE 2/14 WED 2/15 THU 2/16 FRI 2/17 D E A B NO SCHOOL MON 2/20 TUE 2/21 WED 2/22 THU 2/23 FRI 2/24 NO SCHOOL C D E A SPECIALS SCHEDULE 8:50-9:40 Fourth Grade 9:45-10:35 Third Grade 10:40-11:30 Second Grade 1:00-1:50 First Grade 1:55-2:45 Kindergarten SPECIAL SCHEDULE FOR 2 HOUR DELAY 10:40-11:10 Fourth Grade 11:15-11:45 Third Grade 1:00-1:30 Second Grade 1:35-2:05 First Grade 2:10-2:40 Kindergarten SPECIALS SCHEDULE FOR EARLY RELEASE 9:00-9:25 Third Grade 9:30-9:55 Second Grade 10:00-10:25 First Grade 10:30-10:55 Kindergarten 11:00-11:25 Fourth Grade WEST POINT SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY FRIDAYS Show your school Spirit by wearing BLACK & GOLD every. FOR SAFETY REASONS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL, PARENTS ARE REMINDED TO USE THE KISS & DROP LANE TO DROP-OFF CHILDREN. PRIVATE VEHICLES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN BUS LOOP AT ANYTIME, ESPECIALLY DURING ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL TIMES With the exception of handicap marked vehicles. Any vehicles that are witnessed passing a school bus with flashing lights on will be ticketed by an MP per NY state law. Please see Kiss & Drop Rules & Procedures that are listed in the back in the Parent Handbook. REMINDER: Please EMAIL the school @ WPES.Attendance@am.dodea.edu by 8:30 am when your child will be absent or tardy. STUDENTS WHO ARRIVE TARDY AFTER 8:30 AM MUST COME IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR, BE SIGNED IN BY A PARENT AT THE FRONT WINDOW AND OBTAIN A TARDY SLIP BEFORE PROCEEDING TO CLASS. For the safety of our students, when the office does not receive notification of an absence, the office will call the home/ cell numbers listed to verify the absence.
From the Principal Dear Parents, West Point Elementary School would like to invite you to participate in the 2nd Black Knights Reading Program. The Army West Point Women s Basketball team facilitates this program in an effort to encourage students to read and learn. The following is an overview of the program: Eligible Participants: West Point Elementary and Middle School. Rules: -Each child will record the number of pages read each day during the week of 10 February to 17 February. Parents and guardians must initial the student s reading sheet as provided. Newspapers and educational magazines will count. -Parents/guardians may read to their children. -The name of the book is requested to provide information to the teacher as to the type of books the children are reading at home. Please make sure the books are geared to help the children learn and grow. Awards: Students participating in the program will be eligible for several prizes, including a certificate, Army West Point Women s Basketball game tickets, and recognition at halftime of the Women s Basketball game on February 25th, 2017. Every student who participates will receive one ticket to the Army West Point vs. Lehigh University Basketball home game. Additional tickets will be available at a discounted price of $7. Also, the school with the most pages read, as well as the class with the most pages read will receive a visit from the Army West Point Women s Basketball Players/Coaches. Prizes will be awarded for: -Highest Class Total -Highest Individual Total -Highest Individual from Each Grade -All Participants The reading log for this program is linked to the Bulldog Blast. All reading logs must be turned in no later than 21 February so that totals can be tallied and prize notifications arranged prior to the game on the 25th. Denise Cochenour Principal, WPES
Counselor Corner Attention all Third and Fourth Grade Parents and Students! TWO IMPORTANT TESTING DATES! #1: The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Grade 4 February 23, 2017 NAEP dates have been identified and will take place in your child s classroom on February 23, 2017. Please mark your calendar with this important date in February. (See attached Parent Letter) #2: TerraNova Grade 3 and 4 March 6-10, 2017 Testing days for TerraNova are March 6-10. Please avoid scheduling doctor appointments and family trips during the week of testing. WPES Last call at Lost and Found Inventory The end of this school semester is approaching and we still have, array of Lost and Found items were left behind. We would like for elementary schools students and parents to come and claim any lost items. Lost and found is located in at the entrance of the elementary school. After February 15th all unclaimed items will be donated to the local non-profit organization or local shelter.
Specialists Corner STEM 4th grade students are finalizing their research about a major oil spill that has happened and the effects it has had on the environment. Students have begun working on their presentation using Google slides to present their findings to their peers. 3rd grade students were rock hounds during STEM and will begin studying the three different types of rocks and physical properties. Parents we need volunteers for STEAM week which will be held April 3-7, 2017. Please email me if you are interested: Guadalupe.Contreras@am.dodea.edu FLES 1st grade students are becoming more familiar with winter clothing. Students are being challenged by describing their winter clothes using the Spanish language. They are having a great time by also expressing the colors they wear during the winter season. Kindergarten students continue to practice greetings, days of the week, months of the year, numbers, weather and season in Spanish. They are having a blast building Un hombre de nieve with the proper vocabulary words. Señora Contreras
Specialists Corner continued... Art All grades are finishing up their Square 1 Art pieces. Information about the Square 1 Art fundraiser will be forthcoming from the PTO. Once finished with this project we will begin working on special pieces to celebrate Read Across America week and Dr. Seuss s birthday. All classes are also in the middle of reviewing the Elements of Art, the building blocks we use every time we create art. Those include line, shape, color, form, texture, space and value. These elements are reviewed and discussed as we work on our projects. Music Fourth grade students have finally taken their soprano recorders home! They have learned the notes B-A-G along with traditional notation on the treble clef. They now have to opportunity to improve their playing techniques daily! The third graders have also begun the study of the recorder. We are still learning the basics of the instrument just as the fourth graders did weeks ago. It will be a while before they also can take it home to practice. The younger grades continue to play the instruments in the music room. They understand the differences in types of notes and their duration. In all grades, rehearsals have begun on their spring concert songs! It is never too early to start since the concert will be at the end of April. The theme will be a continuation of the winter program- songs that were popular and written during various periods in time here at West Point. The repertoire will consist of songs from the 1800 s to modern times. It will be a show celebrating our 2 Centuries of Learning at our school!
Wellness Corner Children s Dental Health Month Here are some tips for a healthy mouth: Brush 2 minutes, 2 times a day. Clean between your teeth daily. Limit snacks, eat healthy meals. Make water your drink of choice. Visit your dentist regularly. On, February 24 th, DENTAC will help WPES celebrate National Children s Dental Health Month with a visit from the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures mobile dental van. This health initiative provides free dental screenings and oral health education to children around the world. Students in K-4 th grades will have an opportunity to visit the dental van during the school day. Please remember to complete the permission slip and return it to school! For more information and helpful tips - http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/bright-smiles-bright-futures/ home http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/life-stages/childrens-oral-care/article/ada-02-nationalchildrens-dental-health-month# WPES is also very grateful for your volunteerism! We could not do what we do without your involvement at our school. If you haven't had a chance to, please connect with your classroom teacher(s) to see what is still needed. We value your time so much! If you have some time and are available, the front office of the school is looking for volunteers for sign in/sign out and phone coverage while we complete the hiring process for our Office Automation Assistant. We have many slots available for your planning! Please be in touch with the front office at 845-938-3827/2313. Thank you so much for your volunteerism!
February 2017 17 February No School Continuous School Improvement Professional Development 20 February Monday No School President s Day 23 February Thursday 4th Grade NAEP Testing 27 February- 3 March Monday- Read Across America Week March 2017 6-10 March Monday- 3rd & 4th Grade TerraNova Testing 10 March No PreK Teacher work day 13-17 March Monday No School Spring Break 23-24 March Thursday & No PreK Parent/Teacher Conferences 31 March No School Teacher work day MOVE TO LEARN This is a voluntary program where students in grades 2, 3, & 4 can jump start their day by being physically active. Research suggests students who are physically fit perform better academically. Time: 8:00-8:25am in the gymnasium Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade