FROM OUR PRINCIPAL Hello Students & Families.

Our 3rd six weeks have come and gone! Our first full semester completed with our 371 students on campus.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas break with your loved ones. During this time, I hope families and staff took time to sharpen the saw and RESET for the New Year in 2022. Coming into the second semester with Renewed HOPE, New

OPPORTUNITIES, and FRESH starts.

One way my family sharpened the saw over the break was going to visit the Grand Canyon National State Park. This was definitely my RESET button as I was surrounded by such natural beauty of the Grand Canyon in time of reflection for the upcoming semester.

Second Semester we will begin our One School One Book. Information was sent out in Tuesday Folders on January 11th and posted on our Facebook page (TISD-Westlawn Elementary). The kickoff was rescheduled to January 24th, due to the school closure. Please contact Amberly Shaw at 903-223-4252 if you have any questions. We are looking forward to us all connecting through this great opportunity to bring joy in reading for our students.We will also continue to prepare our students for our second round of benchmarks in preparation for our STAAR test in the Spring. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teachers or myself if you have any questions about your child’s progress.

Tuesday folders will continue to come home each Tuesday with important campus/district information as well as graded work. Please ask your child for this information. It’s a great communication tool between school and home.

I hope you enjoy reading about the GREAT things happening at Westlawn Elementary!

With love,

Mrs. Elodia Witterstaetter Proud Campus Principal of Westlawn Elementary

WESTLAWN ELEMENTARY NEWSLETTERTHIRD SIX WEEKS 2021-2022

ELODIA WITTERSTAETTERPrincipal

Habit 1 — Be ProactiveYou're in Charge of YouI am a responsible person. I take initiative. I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods. I do not blame others for my wrong actions. I do the right thing without being asked, even when no one is looking.

Habit 2 — Begin with the End in MindHave a PlanI plan ahead and set goals. I do things that have meaning and make a difference. I am an important part of my classroom and contribute to my school’s mission and vision. I look for ways to be a good citizen.

Habit 3 — Put First Things FirstWork First, Then PlayI spend my time on things that are most important. This means I say no to things I know I should not do. I set priorities, make a schedule, and follow my plan. I am disciplined and organized.

Habit 4 — Think Win-WinEveryone Can WinI balance courage for getting what I want with consideration for what others want. I make deposits in othersÕ Emotional Bank Accounts. When conßicts arise, I look for third alternatives.

Habit 5 — Seek First to Understand, Then to Be UnderstoodListen Before You TalkI listen to other people’s ideas and feelings. I try to see things from their viewpoints. I listen to others without interrupting. I am conÞdent in voicing my ideas. I look people in the eyes when talking.

Habit 6 — SynergizeTogether Is BetterI value other people’s strengths and learn from them. I get along well with others, even people who are different than me. I work well in groups. I seek out other people’s ideas to solve problems because I know that by teaming with others we can create better solutions than anyone of us can alone. I am humble.

Habit 7 — Sharpen The SawBalance Feels BestI take care of my body by eating right, exercising and getting sleep. I spend time with family and friends. I learn in lots of ways and lots of places, not just at school. I Þnd meaningful ways to help others.

We are preparing our students to be leaders by teaching the

7 Habits of Highly Effective People:

COUNSELOR’S CORNERWhat our new year will bring depends on what we bring to our new year, and I know our Westlawn students are ready! This six weeks we reflect on all of the incredible things your children have accomplished, the growth they have experienced, and the connections they have made as this first semester has come to an end. I enjoyed time over break baking, playing games, and watching our favorite Christmas movies with my family, and I can’t wait to hear about the ways in which your families have celebrated the holidays!

Student Lighthouse continued to serve our campus in some amazing ways. Students welcomed and escorted our special guests during family meals and programs. They created connections amongst staff with a sock exchange and secret santa project. We had over 50 staff members participate, and the “elves” had so much fun delivering surprise goodies! My favorite, however, was watching student leaders, Kharma and Kaycee Cooper plan and facilitate our Christmas meeting which included a seven habits snowball fight, a synergy wrap

up game, and an update on our club. In addition to the fun, our focus this six weeks was on leadership qualities in the workplace, and we discovered many connections between the seven habits and obtaining our future work goals. We will be wrapping up our activities with a field trip to hear firsthand what it takes to lead in the restaurant industry!

Teach TISD is a unique program in our district that recognizes students who show characteristics of great

teachers in the classroom. These students, should they choose to go into education, will have opportunities throughout their time with us to develop skills and become future teachers! This six weeks we recognized third graders Illa Weekley and Leonora Leggiton. The girls had an opportunity to teach lessons during their classes, assist with administrative duties, and enjoy a special lunch at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers!

STUDENTS USE ALL OF THE HABITS ALL YEAR LONG TO IMPROVE THEIR ACADEMIC SKILLS AND WORK

TOWARD THEIR INDIVIDUAL GOALS. We celebrate these efforts every six weeks with grade level Awards Assemblies.

Although we celebrate different achievements on a daily basis, after the end of each six weeks, each grade level gathers together in the cafeteria to celebrate the efforts and growth from that grading period. This encourages students to continue to set goals for each six weeks and is a reminder that each six weeks is a fresh start! We are always proud of how our students celebrate their classmates’ accomplishments with positive energy and applause. We even have a school A Honor Roll and A-B Honor Roll song that we sing to celebrate. If you’ve never heard it, be sure and ask your student to sing it for you!

Our second set of Awards Assemblies for the year were held on November 19. Students were recognized for Perfect Attendance, Golden Tray, Leader in Me, TEACH TISD, Excellence in Electives, Most Improved, AR Points, Math Facts, A Honor Roll, and A-B Honor Roll. We will continue these celebrations each six weeks!

HABITS 4, 5, & 6 HELPED US CELEBRATE VETERANS DAY!Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and working to really understand how they feel is part of HABIT 5: SEEK FIRST TO UNDERSTAND, THEN TO BE UNDERSTOOD. All students used this habit in EQ elective class (EQ=Emotional Intelligence) when they thought about how veterans feel and wrote thank you letters to them. This also involved HABIT 4: THINK WIN-WIN, which teaches us to do things that fill others up with positive feelings, like showing gratitude.

Students from the Student Lighthouse, Precious Gems, & Boys to Men leadership academy showed their gratitude by participating in the Veterans Day Parade. They also had the chance to meet and thank local veterans in person. Thank you to Mr. Beard and Mrs. Ethridge for setting this up for our students.

Finally, our 4th grade students SYNERGIZED (HABIT 6) to create a Veterans Day Program that was shared out on Facebook.

THANKSGIVING GAVE US MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO PRACTICE SOME OF THE 7 HABITS.

We hosted over 100 family members for Thanksgiving lunch. In order for this to happen, many different groups of people had to work together (HABIT 6:SYNERGIZE). Fifth grade students helped set up and take down tables and chairs. Parent volunteers decorated the tables in the gym. Front office staff sold tickets and helped family members sign in when they arrived. Student Lighthouse members greeted visitors and walked them to the gym. Food service staff (and even some parents and other staff) served the meal. Custodians helped us clean up. What amazing teamwork!

We also encouraged students to use HABIT 1: BE PROACTIVE while eating their Thanksgiving meal. This meant being on their best behavior and acting like “ladies and gentlemen” at a nice dinner, since we were dining on linen tablecloths with jazz music in the background! Students and families even had a chance to practice Habits 4 & 5 by completing their placemat which had them discuss points about Thanksgiving, including things they were thankful for.

Those students whose family members were not able to attend were not forgotten! Their tables in the cafeteria were decorated with “Gobble Grams” and turkeys that were created by students in EQ class, and staff members visited with them during their meals.

The Friday before we left for Thanksgiving Break, was “Gobble ‘Til You Wobble” Staff Appreciation Day. Our families donated many different types of individually wrapped snacks that were enjoyed all day long by staff! The board in the staff lounge was decorated with student-created art that demonstrated how they were thankful for staff, and staff had an opportunity to pin up a piece of paper telling something for which they are personally thankful.

CAMPUS JOBS PROVIDE

OPPORTUNITIESFOR LEADERSHIP

Campus jobs for students are a way to promote leadership and teach responsibility. Students have to BE PROACTIVE (HABIT 1) and

PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST (HABIT 3) when they have a job to do! There is a Campus Jobs board in the main hallway where students can pick up applications for six jobs: Breakfast Helper, Announcement Assistant, Lunch Helper, Recess Equipment Manager, School Store Cashier, and Arrival Experts. Students must turn in a completed application, where they explain why they feel they would be good for that position. Then they have to be interviewed and “hired.” We want many students to have the opportunity to have a job, so students only get to serve for a certain length of time. Then they pass the job off to the next set of students. To celebrate the completion of their time on the job, they receive a certificate and donuts with the principal! We are very proud of all of our students who have served in these “jobs.”

7 HABITS IN ACTION(Reported by Teachers & Students)

● Mrs. Sampson and Mrs. Ward’s classes worked hard when they returned from Thanksgiving break! Our students knew that their Benchmark was coming up, and so the students worked very hard on their reviews! We really synergized and have been working together to accomplish our goals!

● Mrs. Sampson’s homeroom class is using HABIT 2: BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND when we work to get our AR points! Get those points, boys and girls! We have a goal for 25 points each. See if you can beat that!

● Our students continue to practice the 7 habits with fun activities, like synergizing to assemble a Christmas puzzle, because together is better! - Submitted by Ms. Shimanek

THE 7 HABITS & Christmas Go Hand in HandStudents and staff SHARPENED THE SAW (HABIT 7) with 12 Days of Holiday Fun. Each day in December, leading up to Christmas break, there was a special dress up theme and staff activities.

We used HABIT 4: THINK WIN-WIN by showing some love to our bus drivers!

At our Westlawn Family Christmas celebrations, our family members joined us in SYNERGIZING (HABIT 6) to sing Christmas carols and BEGINNING WITH THE END IN MIND (HABIT 2) to make holiday sticker characters. We also had presentations from students who won the “How to Use the 7 Habits at Christmas” writing contest.

We all had a chance to SHARPEN THE SAW (HABIT 7) on the last day before break at our class Christmas parties and our staff party. We were blessed by Chick-Fil-A Richmond Rd. with a chicken nugget tray for each class! Students wrote thank you notes to express our gratitude.

AWARDS

ALL “A” HONOR ROLL ~ THIRD SIX WEEKSLogan AkinTkyndra BlackmonZakaria ButlerZane CoxOrion CreedonImani DewberryKeymariyah Hillis

Tracy LarryLeonora LeggitonJeremiah MooreReagan NguyenLylah NortonLaddey TallantCarlos Vasquez

Lilium BarnesBrandon BarryJaylen FranklinYoselin Garcia OlaldeBarry HarrisDaniel HogueJianna SansonAlexander Solkema

Decourion GantDevin JonesJacob LeeI’Mya MorrisMalachi NoblesMadison RichardsJamir RobersonNoah White

“A-B” HONOR ROLL ~ THIRD SIX WEEKS

AWARDSLeader In Me Champions

Every 6 weeks, teachers from each TISD elementary campus are asked to nominate a small number of students to be considered for the honor of Superintendent’s Leader in Me Champions. THE HABIT 3: PUT FIRST THINGS FIRST winners from Westlawn for the third six weeks were: Jeremiah Moore & E’Leiah White.

The other nominees were:

3rd Grade: Allie Taylor, Lakeljist Long, Donivan Gray & Jaime Barker

4th Grade: Carter Dansby, Brenton Aubrey, Kamron Davis & Jakaria Hawkins

5th Grade: DeAnna Puga, Antwan Murray, Ariel Hernandez & Vincent Vo

3RD GRADE 4TH GRADE 5TH GRADE

Jykeice AldridgeKaiden BensonKeijuandree BrownMalcolm BurksCameron CambleJocelyn DelgadoDemariona DudleyAdrian EstradaJacadence GreenAiden HollinsNy’Omi HymanParris JacksonHeaven JohnsonLyrikal JohnsonSoloman JohnstonZaylah Leaks

Dalvin Lee Daviyah LockettLakelijist LongZakadyn MuldrewMelody RomineKhloe SavageNiche SingletonAllie TaylorNathan WashingtonJordan WatsonAvonna WelchRashid WhiteKalyne WilliamsMessiah WilliamsSherniyah WilliamsHarmony Wrightner

Destiny AkkardBrenton AubreyLondyn BlackLapayton BraggKeylon ByrdRylie CannonTy’Asia CollinsKaden ConcepcionKeyarah ConcepcionKharma CooperKamron DavisImmanuel DemostheneMarcus FinleyJazlyn ForteJonathan GailesTaylyn HamiltonEric HancockTreneashia HankinsJaKaria HawkinsAyDreean HendersonShantrell Henderson-OliverRamiro Hernandez-CastilloNathaniel House

Aubree JeffersonHykeem LeeNaLayah LittrellTarajii ManleyColten MyersCarson NealLamiya RobersonAlana SheppardMakayla SloanCaleb SmithAubrielia StricklandRakayla TurnerMikailah WalkerSidnei WashingtonJayden M. WatsonJayden E. WatsonBrashya WebbJeremiah WhiteJoel WhiteJnasia WilliamsTayla WilliamsJasmine Wrightner

Bryant BarksdaleSha’Ciayah BushKa’Mire CarriganMichael ChambersZayvion ColemanKaycee CooperKaniyah CoxDzariah CrockettGabriel Diaz-BaneKryslyn ForteCardamon HarperAnthony HernandezAriel HernandezOshei JackRodney Jackson

LaDoria LeaksBraidan LongKadarrius MasonAntwaun MurrayDeanna PugaBrooklyn ReynoldsJa’Kyia RobinsonA’Aliyah RossJacquette SimpsonChristopher StricklandS’Quoya TaylorZaria TysonVincent VoZayde White

3RD GRADE 4TH GRADE 5TH GRADE

Making a Difference!

Westlawn Elementary thanks all of ourPartners In Education Business Partners

for their continued support of our students and staff.BOARD OF TRUSTEE

SUPERINTENDENT First Baptist Church

Golden Circle United Way of Greater Texarkana

PRINCIPAL

Patterson Troike Foundation, Inc.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Junior League of Texarkana

Patterson’s Photo Studio & Imaging

Pi Beta Phi Texas Roadhouse Vickie Treece - REMAX

COUNSELOR Gamma Kappa Zeta Chapter

of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Kohls Scrapbook Emporium St. Lukes UMC Texarkana Baptist

OrphanageRed River

Federal Credit Union

TEACHER 7/11 Creations and Co.

Deliverance TempleDunbar Class of 1968

El Chico’sJack and Jill of Texarkana

Literacy Council of Bowie & Miller CountiesMiles Chapel CME

Oubre Animal ClinicPediatric Dentistry of Texarkana

Sam’s ClubShambarger Orthodontics

Sid’s AutomotiveSlim Chicken’s

StarbucksSunrise Rotary

Tardy BellTexarkana Zeta AMICAE

Top Teens of AmericaWalk-Ons

1632 Richmond Rd [Pump 15 & 16]

Richmond Road