From the Principal's Desk

From the Principal's Desk As I write this, we are expecting 56 degree weather. In January?! It has been a different type of winter this year. Please be sure to listen or watch the weather as it is VERY unpredictable this year. Students in grades 3-6 just finished their mid-year assessments in Math and Language Arts. We are seeing some FANTASTIC scores. Students are growing in both areas. We are super excited to see this improvement as the assessments are very similar to what students will see on the ISTEP tests. Our Third graders are also preparing and working hard for the IREAD assessment which is also quickly approaching. Our first round of ISTEP+ testing will be in late February. Please discuss these assessments with your child and ask them what they are learning. This helps them recall the information that they are learning in the classroom. Our Robotics team is gearing up for their first competition on Saturday, January 28th at North Liberty. It is really exciting to watch these students work together to get the robot to perform. The competition starts about 8:30 and will last the entire day. Mrs. Kaser has the Math Bowl team already practicing for their competition in March. We are looking forward to another great team. We are having some issues with students keeping their hands to themselves. When they get in trouble, the response is always, "We were just playing." Please talk to your children about respecting other people by not touching them. I have talked to many students about this issue. The 5th and 6th girls are working hard, preparing for the upcoming basketball season. Our first game for the 6th grade is February 2nd vs. New Prairie at Home. The 5th Grade open their season on February 6th vs. OD, also at home. This is a 5/6th A team game. There is a lot of great information within this newsletter. Please take a moment to look through. Tim Davis Principal

MESSAGE FROM YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Well, here we are in 2017! It’s a new year and full of wonderful possibilities, if we can just keep a positive attitude. A positive attitude is important but at times can be difficult. Between dealing with colds, stomach sickness, and long dark days finding that positive energy can seem almost impossible. Students also deal with school work and friendship issues that may seem like a struggle. This is why it is important to build in our children, a sense of inner strength and resilience to make it through difficult times in a positive manner. We often talk with students about making right choices like, not being a bystander when observing issues where students are not kind to each other. This involves a real need for courage. Or they may need an ability to persevere and not give up when learning a new skill or new way of doing things. There are ways that we can help our students at WES develop a positive approach. One thing we have been working on, in our third grade classrooms, has been a respect unit that recently covered the topic of having respect for yourself. This involves acting in such a way that you can be proud and positive about yourself. The Live Strong web site identifies ways to teach positive attitudes to our children that includes teaching positive self talk, creating a positive home environment, giving plenty of affection and hugs, and developing healthy hobbies of things your children are good at. Whatever our approach, we need to make an effort to help our students develop a positive attitude. Each morning, Mr. Davis reads an uplifting message for our morning announcement to get the day started in a positive direction and each message ends with the words, “Make it a great day, or not, the choice is yours.” Positive attitudes and actions are a choice we want all our students to make. In the coming days, I will be working with our 4th graders on issues of drug abuse using the Keep a Clear Mind Series. These are lessons that students bring home to work with parents on, so 4th grade parents be looking for more on this. I will also be using the Auto B Good program to teach character lessons to 1st graders. Worksheets will be provided that parents can use to talk with their students. WES is a wonderful school with positive loving staff that make it their goal each day to have a positive effect. Let’s all work towards making it a positive 2017.

Sincerely, Rich Stauffer Elementary School Counselor

NURSE'S CORNER

IMMUNIZATIONS Many of you have received letters regarding your child not being up to date on immunizations. Indiana code 20-34-4-2 states "all students should be compliant with state required vaccines on the first day of school or should be excluded until they are in compliance. There is a provision for a 20 day waiver if the student is trying to obtain the needed immunizations". In the past John Glenn School Corporation has not followed this state regulation. JGSC was audited last spring. WES had a large number of students at that time. We again had a large number of students this fall especially KDG and 6th graders. I've been trying to get as many students caught up as we can before the state runs their report the 2nd week of February. We will begin excluding after that time. PLEASE get those shots done and if unable to get done by the first of February, then please make an appointment. Call the school with appointment date and with which doctor. If you do get the shots done, can you please get me a copy. The doctors are required by state to enter them into CHIRP (the state site for immunizations) within a week but there are several doctors who don't enter them in a timely manner. If I get a copy, I can enter them and the state will then show your child up to date. I know many of you are worried about getting your child vaccinated because of side effects. As some would say the shots are better than getting the disease. One example is myself. When I was in elementary school the only vaccines available were Small Pox and new was Polio. Well, I got the measles which settled in my ear, damaged my eardrum. after 2 surgeries when I was an adult I now have 40% hearing loss in my right ear. Another example is on a TV commercial; an older teenager didn't get the vaccine and got meningitis and was in a coma on a ventilator. So if you have concerns, talk to your doctor about.it. One last comment is if you choose not to vaccinate your child and they become exposed to a certain disease, they will be required to stay home for the length of time of the incubation period of that disease to make sure they don't get the disease. Example: the incubation period for measles is 21 days. "CALLING ALL FIFTH GRADERS" All 5th graders will be required to have Tdap (tetanus, diptheria & pertussis) and MCV4 (meningitis) before they enter 6th grade. Please plan to get them early. Don't forget to get me a copy when you get the shots. MOBILE DENTIST Letters & permission forms were sent home last week. Please return them ASAP especially if you need a grant approved. The date the Dentist will be here is February 15th and 16th.

GOOD HANDWASHING! "SNEEZE IN YOUR SLEEVE IF YOU PLEASE" Flu season is in full swing. The best prevention is Good Handwashing. If someone sneezes (or coughs) the entire room is covered in a few seconds. So anything you touch is now contaminated. Make sure you wash your hands often. Ask your child when they should wash their hands. We talked about it in the fall. Do not touch your eyes, nose and mouth if sick to prevent the spread of the virus. Also, disinfect frequently touched items. Refer to the symptoms on the Cold vs The Flu chart. Stay Healthy this Winter. Have a Good February and Happy Valentines’ Day!! Donna School Nurse

2nd 9 Wks Honor

Roll

3rd Grade DISTINGUISHED Finn Chamberlin

Sophia Curtis Joseph Divine Anna White

HONOR ROLL Elijah Blodgett Gavin Bowman Rylee Cuskaden

Anna Deel Abrianna Elkins Nora Guseilla Cole Jasinski

Riley Ludington Kendra McClellan

Brady McLean Kercklyn Miller Landon Moren Colton Oden

Matthew Pearish Austin Pranger Analiese Vinson Maggie Walker

Andreia Weddington

4th Grade DISTINGUISHED Danielle Divine

Olivia Foresman Michaela Hurford Keagan Kaminski

Izzy Kogiones Daelynn Nance

Bryden Nystrom Addison Reese HONOR ROLL

Emmajo Barden

Jared Basham

Tatiana Bell

Abigail Chapman

Kaleb Cobe

Alexis Dare

Kaiden Dohner

Natalia Dominguez

Mandelyn Dreibelbis

Madison Ellis

Adrianna Farkas

Seven Flagle

Nina Foresman

Carlos Galvez

Ariel Gates

Zaiden Geddes

Kaden Gustafson

Carlos Herrera

Glory Hummel

Rebekah Ickes

Julie Irvine

Royce Johnson

Jasper Kellems

Benjamin Kozora

Alexis Leffert

Julian McMahan

Bryce Personette

Anthony Rivera

Trenton Rush

Evan Schroeder

Gavin Smith

Kirstin Stambaugh

Alivia Turnage

Kaylin Turnage

Heather Tyler

Madison VanHulle

Samantha Westfall

Scout Wilsey

Brainna Wolff

5th Grade

DISTINGUISHED

Gary Alexander

Emma Knowlton

Isaiah Payne

Kamryn Pendl

Kaylee Schneider

Alisha Smith

Katelyn Vermilyer

Grace Wade

Tara Woods

HONOR ROLL

Aiden Banicki

Lorelei Burdick

Austin Burns

Matthew Chaffin

Brianna Colin

Evan Giese

Helen Guseilla

Erika Harding

Hannah Hensell

Alicia Jacobs

Taelynn Kaser

Brodey Knizner

Mason Kobelt

Gage Macias

Carlie Martin

Lily Medich

Cheyanne Nelson

TJ Park

Ava Pearish

Hunter Redlin

Shatner Rensberger

Yavarion Rice

Michael Swiger

Blake Temple

Shannon Vermillion

Natalie Wilton

6th Grade

DISTINGUISHED

Madyson Gross

Sophie McLochlin

Rowdy Smith

HONOR ROLL

Kaitlyn Burns

Madison Dare

Malayna Day

Jose Diaz

Noah Dreibelbeis

Alex Emerick

Wayne Flora

Van Foresman

Karla Galvez

Brycen Hannah

Alex Kaser

Joshua Knowlton

Emilee Marzean

Olivia Norem

Kadence Pranger

Kaiya Raby

Emma Schalliol

Bali Smith

Alex Smith

Donovan Stewart

Sam Strange

Sophie Strange

Summer Swiger

Brooke Vermillion

Sada Walker

Jasmin Wigent

1st Semester

3rd Grade

Distinguished

Finn Chamberlin

Sophia Curtis

Anna White

HONOR ROLL

Adyn Bajer

Elijah Blodgett

Rylee Cuskaden

Anna Deel

Joseph Divine

Abrianna Elkins

Nora Guseilla

Riley Ludington

Brady McLean

Kercklyn Miller

Lucille Morgan

Matthew Pearish

Analiese Vinson

Maggie Walker

4TH Grade

Distinguished

Danielle Divine

Nina Foresman

Olivia Foresman

Michaela Hurford

Bryden Nystrom

HONOR ROLL

Jared Basham

Tatiana Bell

Kaydence Borys

Amber Brems

Alea Brooke

Kaleb Cobe

Alexis Dare

Natalia Dominguez

Madison Ellis

Seven Flagle

Carlos Galvez

Ariel Gates

Zaiden Geddes

Kaden Gustafson

Carlos Herrera

Glory Hummel

Rebekah Ickes

Julie Irvine

Royce Johnson

Keagan Kaminski

Jasper Kellems

Izzy Kogiones

Benjamin Kozora

Alexis Leffert

Daelynn Nance

Bryce Personette

Addison Reese

Anthony Rivera

Trenton Rush

Gavin Smith

Hayden Smith

Kirstin Stambaugh

Leona Tibbs

Alivia Turnage

Kaylin Turnage

Heather Tyler

Madison VanHulle

Scout Wilsey

Brianna Wolff

5th Grade

DISTINGUISHED

Gary Alexander

Lorelei Burdick

Emma Knowlton

Isaiah Payne

Ava Pearish

Kamryn Pendl

Kaylee Schneider

Alisha Smith

Katelyn Vermilyer

Grace Wade

Tara Woods

HONOR ROLL

Aiden Banicki

Austin Burns

Matthew Chaffin

Brianna Colin

Evan Giese

Landon Glennon

Helen Guseilla

Emma Helmholdt-Dipert

Hannah Hensell

Alicia Jacobs

Taelynn Kaser

Brodey Knizner

Mason Kobelt

Gage Macias

Carlie Martin

Lily Medich

Cheyanne Nelson

Aiden Nicodemus

TJ Park

Hunter Redlin

Shatner Rensberger

Yavarion Rice

Michael Swiger

Blake Temple

Shannon Vermillion

Dean Whitmer

Natalie Wilton

6th Grade

DISTINGUISHED

Karla Galvez

Madyson Gross

Sophie McLochlin

Rowdy Smith

Sam Strange

HONOR ROLL

Kaitlyn Burns

Madison Dare

Malayna Day

Jose Diaz

Karlea Dominiack

Noah Drebelbeis

Adhemar Ennis

Wayne Flora

Van Foresman

Brycen Hannah

Josie Hummel

Alex Kaser

Joshua Knowlton

Emilee Marzean

Olivia Norem

Kadence Pranger

Jadynn Risner

Emma Schalliol

Braylon Smith

Alex Smith

Kayla Snyder

Donovan Stewart

Sophie Strange

Brooke Vermillion

Sada Walker

Jasmin Wigent

WE ARE SO

PROUD OF ALL

YOUR HARD

WORK!

DATE CHANGE!!!

KINDERGARTEN ROUNDUP!

NOW TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017

6 PM

AT BOTH WES AND NLES!

IS YOUR CHILD 5 BY AUGUST 1?

PLEASE BRING YOUR CHILD, COPY OF THEIR

BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND A COPY OF THEIR

IMMUNIZATIONS!

March Music Program Features Students in Grades 1, 2, and 3

This year our spring music program has been moved up to be earlier than in years past!!! To avoid that busy time at the end of the year, we are going to try having our spring music program in MARCH!! Please mark your calendar, especially if you have a student in grades 1, 2, or 3, for the Thursday, March 16thpresentation of "Wing It!", a musical about taking risks and taking flight! In our story, the baby birds in our nest are getting bigger and it's time for them to leave the nest and try to fly. But not this little batch of nesters! They have decided they like their snug little nest and all of the amenities it offers. Why leave home when it's so nice and safe right here? See how the story unfolds through the singing of our catchy tunes and fun dialogue. The kids are already enjoying putting the program together, and we're looking forward to your joining us for the finished product. Don't miss out! Mark your calendars today! (Mrs. VanDuyne)

STUDENT COUNCIL

We will be sponsoring a FOOD DRIVE the week of

February 5!

AS OF THIS PRINTING

VACATION DAYS

Feb 17 & 20!

NO SCHOOL!