Volume 14, Issue 5

January 4, 2012 Kansas Assessments Approaching

As we begin the second semester of school, it is important to remind parents and students of the upcoming assessments that students will be taking this spring. All students in grades 3-5 will take the Kansas Assessments in reading and math, as required by the No Child Left Behind legislation. Fourth grade also takes the Kansas Science Assessment. The state assessments provide valuable information on student progress toward the academic expectations set forth by the Kansas State Board of Education. They also provide us with information on how we as a school compare in performance to other schools across the state on the Kansas Curricular Standards. We use state assessment data to measure progress on our School Improvement Goals for QPA, as well. The NCLB legislation requires states to use state assessments to measure whether or not schools are making adequate yearly progress (AYP). To learn more about No Child Left Behind, please contact Mrs. Flinn, any West Site Council member, or visit the www.ed.gov web site. Student performance is rated in five categories on the state assessments: Exemplary, Exceeds Standard, Meets Standard, Approaches Standard, and Academic Warning. The testing window for all assessments is February 15 through April 20. A schedule for each grade level will be distributed as testing time draws closer. All Kansas Assessments will be given online this year through the Kansas Computerized Assessment system (KCA). We have found the KCA to be useful, as it provides immediate feedback on student performance and increases student engagement because of the format. Students will have opportunities to take formative KCA tests on both the mobile lab and in one of our computer labs prior to the official testing dates for each grade level. Our performance as a school is critical to maintaining the quality education we currently provide to our students. We know our students can and will continue to achieve excellence! See page 6 for exciting news regarding Wests performance on last years Kansas Assessments!

Happy New Year and welcome back to school! As we begin a new semester and a new year, I hope that each of you feel renewed from the break and are prepared to put forth your best effort for the second half of our school year. Our semester will be very busy with new learning, special events and activities, and various assessments! Our staff has confidence that our students will work their very hardest on each new challenge they face. We will continue to work together with our parents to make the remainder of the school year successful for each of our students. Please read the newsletter for more information on the upcoming assessments our students will take this spring.

Principals Points. . .

Last spring, Central and West Elementary Schools and Wamego Public Library Children's Program sponsored a literacy program for our community children ages 0-12. Books for Kids included a book drive for gently used and new books. We collected over 4,500 books last year for Wamego children! The goal of the program is to increase reading skills such as word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension by putting extra books and more opportunities to read in the hands of our local children and students. We would like to thank Best Buy of Manhattan and Operations Manager, Michelle Koch, for volunteering to help with our Books for Kids program. Best Buy donated $1,000 to the program last year through their volunteer efforts. This money was used to purchase two iPads; one for Title I Reading and the other for Special Education classrooms. The iPads will be used for various literacy activities. Our book drive will be held again this spring. Be watching for details in the next West Words!

Books for Kids Program Update

West Junior Raiders Day for January We will have West Junior Raiders Day on Friday, January 13 and Friday, January 27. Students and staff may wear their Junior Raider gear and/or red! Birthday Dinner Birthday dinner for January is January 18. Please call the school office by 8:30am the day of Birthday Dinner to make reservations. Grade Cards for First Semester Grade cards for second quarter/first semester will be mailed on January 4. If you do not receive your childs grade card, contact the school office immediately. Fifth Grade Robotics Club Session II The Fifth Grade Robotics Club for Session II will begin on Tuesday, January 24. The club will meet weekly on Tuesdays when school is in session for six sessions. Students will participate in a Robotics Share Fair on the last night the club meets to share their projects with their families (February 28). Spelling BeeFriday, January 20 The West school Spelling Bee will be held Friday, January 20 at 1:00pm in the gym. Teachers will select two participants to represent each classroom. One alternate will also be selected from each class. The school winner will represent West at the County Spelling Bee in St. Marys on January 28. Be Prepared for Cold Weather! Please remind your child that he/she needs to come to school dressed in appropriate winter gear (coats, hat, gloves, etc.). Snow boots are required for playing in the snow. Students go outside for recess unless the temperature or windchill is below 21 degrees. This is still very cold, so please make sure your children are dressed appropriately for cold weather!

West News You Should Know. . .

The next West PTO meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 6:00pm. All parents are invited and encouraged to attend. See page 3 for more info. The next West Site Council meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 7:00pm. The Site Council will hear a presentation on our MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) reading interventions: Corrective Reading, Phonics for Reading, and Rewards. Just a reminder that second semester milk/juice should be paid for by January 4. Second semester milk/juice is $27.30. Please call the office if you are not sure if you have paid for this or not and you want your child to receive milk/juice for their snack break.

If your child does not have a Junior Raider shirt, and would like to order one, please contact the school office. T-shirts are $8.00 and
hooded sweatshirts are $18.00.

Please remember that students are to be dropped off on the south side of 6th Street. We
have more and more parents pulling into the parking lot and dropping students off at the curb, which is against our policy. This is a

safety issue! Also, please always give buses the right-of-way. Never pass a bus! The only time

child off on the north side of 6th Street, as this too is very dangerous. Students should not arrive to school earlier than 7:45am if they are dropped off by their

parents should pull into the parking lot is if you plan to park and COME IN to the building, or in the event of inclement weather (heavy rain, lightning, ice). Also, please avoid dropping your

parents or caregivers, or if they walk to school!

West Elementary PTO News General PTO Information. . .

All the News Thats Fit to Eat

Brought to You by Food Service I Love School Lunch! I Love It a Bunch! Celebrate Kansas School Lunch Week January 2327! We are celebrating Kansas School Lunch Week by heading to Dr. Seusss Lunchville. Each day we will highlight a different Dr. Seuss book, and as a result, we will have some fun, mixed up menus! Read along with your kids as we eat along with these books: Green Eggs & Ham; Oh, The Places Youll Go; WaCkY WeDnEsDaY; Oh, The Things You Can Do That Are Good For You; One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

The next West PTO meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 2 at 6:00pm. We hope to see many parents there! We will NOT be meeting in January! If you have any questions about PTO or would like to volunteer for any committee, please contact one of the following officers: PresidentAmy Schwein-456-8014 Vice-PresidentAngie Matthews-456-7527 SecretaryAmy Donahue-456-8985 TreasurerJill Hupe-456-7113 PTO meetings for the remainder of the school year are as follows:

February 26pm March 26pm April 66pm May 46pm

Room Parents should be in contact with their childs teacher to arrange Classroom Valentines Day Parties scheduled for Tuesday, February 14 at 2:30pm. We encourage parents to bring healthy treats and ask that no additional treats be served (only those that signed up to bring treats should do so). Thank you to the PTO for providing the yummy hot chocolate bar and other goodies as a Christmas gift to staff this year! It was enjoyed by all! The West PTO will again be providing parents with the option of ordering prepackaged school supplies from the School Kidz company for the 2012-2013 school year. The kits are complete with items for the respective grade levels. Purchase of the kits is strictly optional, but may make life easier for parents when attempting to prepare for a new school year! More info to come at a later date!

Do you like dark green and orange? Try them and you may, we say! You do not like them. So you say. Try them! Try them! And you may. Try them and you may, I say. If you will let me be, I will try them. You will see. Say! I like dark green and orange! And I would eat them in a boat. And I would eat them with a goat..

See you in Lunchville!

Fourth Grade Music Program

The fourth grade music classes will present a concert on January 30, 2012 entitled "Lets Sing, America." Mrs. Beason and Mrs.Vargas classes will perform at 6:00pm. Ms. Rice, Mrs. Cowan and Mrs. Woodyards classes will perform at 7:00pm. This should be a very entertaining performance for all. We hope you can join us for an evening of fun and good music!

Welcome Home, Flat Stanley! Third Graders will welcome home Flat Stanley on Friday, January 13. The students will decorate cookies in the image of Flat Stanley, as well as envelopes to serve as their suitcases for the many artifacts that were collected throughout this project. Students will also predict the number of letters received and the number of states and countries Flat Stanley visited. They will then learn the correct answer to these questions. Each class will also find the median for letters received, states visited, and countries visited. These figures will be shared with all third graders during the assembly. The Flat Stanley project began earlier this fall after students in third grade read this book and created their own flat people to send to two different individuals. These individuals were to respond to the students letters and then send the flat person they received on to another address. Students learned much about different parts of our country, as well as different cultures from around the globe. This is a wonderful project to connect reading, writing, and literature with social studies. Students learn about different communities, historical landmarks, cultures, geography, and much more from the letters they receive at school. Thank you to all of the teachers and parents that made this project a success!

Fifth Graders Selected for KMEA Honor Choir

On February 4, 2012, eight fifth grade students will participate in the KMEA North Central District Elementary Honor Choir at Junction City Middle School. Students will prepare five songs with a clinician to be performed with a group of about 200 other fifth and sixth grade students from the North Central part of Kansas. Students participating are as follows: Kylee Gardner, Blaine Hupe, Kylee Jones, Emma McKee, Jessie Fortin, Leone Nelson, Jacalynn Nider and Victoria Pettay. The concert will begin at 12:00 p.m. Congratulations to each of these students for achieving this prestigious honor!

Literacy Corner for Parents

Reading with your child spells success for early literacy. Putting a few simple strategies into action will make a significant difference in helping your child develop into good readers and writers. Through reading aloud, providing good materials, and promoting positive attitudes about reading and writing, you can have a powerful impact on your childs literacy and learning. Consider the following: Invite a child to read with you every day. Read a child's favorite book over and over again. Read many stories with rhyming words and lines that repeat. Invite the child to join in on these parts. Point, word by word, as he or she reads along with you. Stop and ask about the pictures and about what is happening in the story. Read from a variety of children's books, including fairy tales, nursery rhymes, poems, and information books. Discuss new words. The following is a website with numerous resources for parents of children of all ages: http://school.familyeducation.com/reading/activity/34563.html?de toured=1. This website includes such resources as Fun for Kids, Explore the World of Words with Your Kids, Top 10 Kids' Books Turned Movies, Inside the Wimpy Kid Series, Ten Favorite Books for Kids, Great Reads for Kids, Fifteen-Minute Reading Activities, Great Odds: Ideas from a Master Storyteller, Harry Potter's Sorcerer's Corner, Reading Games, and more!

Fourth Grade MTSS Math Groups

Fourth grade has been working very hard to meet the math needs of all students. This challenge has led us to form MTSS (Multi-Tier System of Supports) math groups to meet students diverse needs. Students are tested on different math standards. This testing is done on the computer or in the classroom as a paper and pencil test. Once students have been tested, they are grouped according to their level of need of support to master each standard. Each teacher is then responsible for finding activities and lessons that will support students to achieve mastery of that standard. Some activities are hands on. Some groups work on re-teaching the concept or skill, others work on reinforcing the concept or skill, and at least one group works on enrichment activities. The focus on each standard helps students achieve success on the Kansas Assessments each year. The support system helps each individual student build confidence to master each standard. Students enjoy the opportunity to be grouped with students from other fourth grade classes and feel comfortable working at their level.

West Geography Bee Champion Named

The National Geographic Geography Bee is a nationwide contest for schools in the United States. The bee is open to students in grades 4 through 8 whom are not over the age of 15. The bee is an educational outreach program of the National Geographic Society. The national first place prize is a $25,000 college scholarship plus other prizes totaling nearly $100,000. There are three levels of competition: school, state, and national. At the school level bee, there is a minimum requirement of six students from any of the eligible grades. To compete for advancement from the school to the state level, the winning student in each school must take a written, multiplechoice, qualifying test. As many as one hundred of the highest scoring students in a state or territory will advance to the state level. The first place winner from the state bee advances to the national level. The National Geographic Society provides the questions and answers for the bee. Bee questions, which follow guidelines established by the National Geography Standards, are designed to test a students knowledge of geography. The format calls for brief answers such as a word or phrase. Questions may require interpretation of maps, graphs, and photographs also. West Elementarys School Geography Bee was held Monday, December 19. Two students from each class were selected to participate in the School Bee from a Preliminary Classroom Bee. Participants included the following students: Seth Holle, Ethan Lincoln, Allison Mason, Hunter Fitzgerald, Trevin Schmidt, Jonah Jantz, Gracyn Nutsch, Andy Parnell, Bryan Holz, Ethan Billings, Leone Nelson, Blaine Hupe, Emma McKee, Matthew Solomon, Fayeth Pitchford, Nicolas Ginavan, Cassidy Filbert, Logan Ebert, Erik Lewis, and Sydney Hefty. The winner of the West Geography Bee was fifth grader Logan Ebert. Runner-up was fifth grader Nicolas Ginavan. Thank you to fourth grade teacher Becky Cowan for organizing the event and to the fourth grade team for helping with the judging. Thank you also to retired fourth grade teacher, Memory Maginley, for announcing the Bee this year! Best wishes to Logan, as he competes at the state level!

Coin Harvest for Ethiopian Orphans a Huge Success!

Thank you again to all students and staff of West that were able to participate in our Coin Harvest for Ethiopian Orphans. It was a great success! We raised a grand total of $1,177! Mrs. Doak said, I love how big the hearts are of all the kids, and how willing they are to give! I hope that they learned that every penny counts, and let me tell you, we had a lot of pennies! West exceeded my goal of each class being able to sponsor one child.... We raised enough to sponsor 39 children! Mrs. Doak is currently in Ethiopia and will return to work on January 12. She will share information from her travels with our students when she returns. The winning class was Mrs. McCunes with $251.39.

Healthy Habits for a Healthy New Year

by Mrs. Callender, West Physical Education Teacher

Steppin Into the New Year With the Multiple Intelligences

Students at West Elementary have been busy taking a Multiple Intelligence survey in their specialized area classes. The survey is based on the work of Howard Gardner and is divided into nine sections; one section for each type of intelligence. The students then graphed their scores so they could identify their intelligence profile. After the break, the students will learn more about the areas of intelligence during their specialized classes. The metaphor of shoes will be used as an image for each of the intelligences. Just as shoes are varied in style and interchangeable based on preference or need, so are our multiple intelligences. Students will be participating in activities to learn more about how they can use the knowledge of their intelligence profile to help them study, learn, and excel. This information will also be used to show students how their intelligence is malleable and what they can do to grow their intelligence. Watch for more information on our individual blogs or our team blog at www.wamegoeffort.wordpress.com.

Healthy habits equal a healthier child who has the opportunity to be more successful in all areas of his/her life. Bring in the New Year by adopting healthy habits for you and your children. Start by eating more fruits and vegetables. Choose fresh, frozen, canned, or dried fruits of all kinds for more nutritional value than juice alone. Fruits and vegetables provide you with fiber, starches, and vitamins and minerals, which in turn help you have healthy skin and bones and good vision. They also help heal sores and fight infections. Choose carrots sticks or sliced apples instead of potato chips to eat with your meals or for a healthy snack. Make it a habit to eat more whole grain cereal, breads, and pastas. Healthy grains provide you with complex carbohydrates that help brain function and fiber that helps move food through the body, which can reduce cholesterol and the risk of cancer. That is why oatmeal makes a great breakfast choice! Whole grains also provide minerals and vitamins needed for healthy growth. Choose cereals that are not coated with sugar. Make an effort to eat foods high in protein like beans, beef, pork, chicken, fish, peas, nuts, and seeds. Reduce the amount of fried foods you eat and switch to more baked foods, for example baked chicken versus fried chicken. Also, nuts and seeds can make a very healthy snack, rather than sugary candies, as they are packed with good nutrition. Encourage your children to practice healthy habits like brushing their teeth to prevent cavities. Have them drink more milk to build their bones and grow strong teeth. Try to choose water or milk especially at mealtime over higher sugar drinks. Avoid caffeinated or sugary drinks before bedtime. Go to bed early and get a restful nights sleep. Increase you and your childs physical activity everyday and reduce the amount of television or computer game time. Every day, encourage your children to get out and play at least 60 minutes. Exercise increases alertness, attention, and motivation. Exercise strengthens your heart, increases your endurance, and helps you control your weight. Connect with your kids and get out and play with them! Build that snowman, go sledding, and enjoy the outdoors. Aristotle said, We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try. My hope for you and your children is that you make small efforts toward a healthier lifestyle. Repeated effort day in and day out will result in the reward of a healthier, happier child.

Wamego Childrens Library News

Wamego Public Library will host "Amazing Snowflakes" with a master snowflake cutter on January 9 from 4-5pm. Registration is required and class size is limited. The library will have a $3 bag sale on January 6 and 7 with their used books and movies. Activities for all ages can be found on the WPL website: www.wamegopubliclibrary.com.

Coming Soon: After School Spanish Club! Starting in February, Central Elementary will be hosting a Spanish club for all interested students first through fifth grade. Please send an email to Mrs. Dow at dowt@usd320.com if you think your child will be interested. More info and a sign-up sheet will be sent out in early January.

West Students Recognized for Outstanding Performance!

West Elementary will recognize last years third, fourth, and fifth grade students who obtained an Exemplary rating on the Kansas Math Assessment, Kansas Reading Assessment, and Kansas Science Assessment (fourth grade only) taken last spring in a school assembly on Friday, January 6. Students who obtained the Exemplary rating met the Standard of Excellence set forth by the State. As a school, we made the Standard of Excellence in grades 3, 4, and 5 in reading, grades 3 and 5 in math, and grade 4 in science. We were also recognized for meeting the Building Level Standard of Excellence in these academic areas. We are very proud of all of our students and their accomplishments! We ask that parents encourage your children to do their very best on the upcoming Kansas Assessments. A testing schedule will be included in the February West Words.

Fifth Graders Study Explorers

Fifth graders are studying explorers in social studies. They are learning about the reasons for exploration, the technological advancements that aided exploration, and the different groups of explorers. Each student is researching a major explorer and will complete a project to present their information. Some examples of projects include PowerPoint presentations, brochures, posters, games, movies, life size models and many other creative ideas. Each project will be presented to the class to teach about the life of each explorer.

Third Graders Create Their Own Beat

To end our science study of sound, third grade students created their own musical instrument. Students used their imagination to make something fun. Their instruments were made from things found around the house ... empty soda bottles or food containers, pails, sticks, straws, cups, lids, rubber bands, boxes, string, bowls, pots, pans, plastic bags, balloons, paper bags, rulers, paper towel rolls, paper plates, bottle caps, rubber hoses, funnels, tissue boxes, etc. The instruments made musical sounds when students blew, shook, banged, strummed, or hummed into the instrument. Students instruments also had to be able to change in volume and pitch. Students really enjoyed this hands-on learning experience to explore the concept of sound!

Calendar of Events
Jan. 3 Jan. 4 Jan. 5 Jan. 6 Jan. 7 Jan. 9 Jan. 12 Jan. 13 Jan. 16 Jan. 17 Professional Development/Plan Day Students return to school! Grade cards mailed home today! SRO Presentation to Fourth Grade No PTO or Site Council tonight! Third Grade Literature Group 11:35am Standard of Excellence Assembly 2:50pm $3 Bag Sale at Wamego Childrens Library $3 Bag Sale at Wamego Childrens Library continues Amazing Snowflakes at Wamego Childrens Library 4-5pm BOE Meeting 7pm N.A.C. 7:45am Junior Raiders Day Fourth Grade Literature Group 12:05am Third Grade Welcomes Home Flat Stanley School in Session! Professional Development Day CANCELLED! Bullying Prevention Team Meeting Jan. 18 Jan. 20 Jan. 23 Jan. 24 Jan. 27 Jan. 28 Jan. 29 Jan. 30 Birthday Dinner Bigs in Schools Fifth Grade Literature Group 11am School Spelling Bee 1pm Kansas School Lunch Week through Jan. 27 Fifth Grade Robotics Club Session II begins! Junior Raiders Day Pottawatomie County Spelling Bee at St. Marys 11am Kansas Day Bigs in Schools Fourth Grade Music Program Mrs. Beason and Mrs. Vargas 6pm Mrs. Cowan, Ms. Rice, and Mrs. Woodyard 7pm Fifth Grade Robotics Club Session II West PTO and Site Council 6pm and 7pm KMEA Honor Choir at Junction City

Jan. 31 Feb. 2 Feb. 4