Dear Wise Owls Family,

As we continue our journey through this school year, I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate you—the incredible parents and guardians who play such a vital role in the success of our students.

Your dedication to your children’s education is evident in countless ways. From the early mornings ensuring they are ready for the day, to the evenings spent helping with homework or simply listening about their day, your unwavering support has a profound impact.

We understand that parenting is not without its challenges. Balancing work, family, and the demands of life while nurturing young minds is no easy feat, but please know that your efforts are seen and deeply appreciated. The time and care you invest in your child’s growth and learning do not go unnoticed.

At WES, we are committed to partnering with you in this important work. Together, we are shaping not only the academic success of our students but also their character, resilience, and confidence.

As we look ahead, I encourage you to continue to celebrate the small victories, support one another, and reach out to us whenever you need assistance. Our school community thrives because of the shared commitment we have to your children and their bright futures.

Thank you for everything you do, every single day. You are your child’s first teacher, greatest advocate, and constant source of love and encouragement.

With gratitude and admiration,

B. Gantt

#AllforONE!

Thank you all for your support in completing our WES Winter Family Feedback. We will actively use that data to help us grow into the school we want to be. We will be sharing the results and analysis from that survey at our January PTO Meeting.

Our mission is to cultivate a caring community that utilizes a multitude of teaching and learning experiences to prepare children for their next adventure.

1. We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and appreciated.
2. We believe that all children deserve a high quality education.
3. We believe in collaboration and making connections.

Staying Safe

Owning Your Actions

Acting Responsibly

Respecting Everyone & Everything

“South Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law requires that a parent or guardian shall require his child to attend regularly a public or private school or kindergarten of this State which has been approved by the State Board of Education, a member school of the South Carolina Independent Schools and Association, a member school of the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools, or some similar organization, or a parochial, denominational, or church-related school, or other programs which have been approved by the State Board of Education f rom the school year in which the child is five years of age before September first until the child attains his seventeenth birthday or graduates from high school.”

Please also submit any medical or additional excuses to the front office. We process our attendance forms once per week so you may not immediately see that the note has been accepted.

Tuesday, December 10th

Winter i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment (Reading)

Wednesday, December 11th

Winter i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment (Math)

Saturday, December 14th

Corn Hole Tournament

Monday, December 16th - Friday, December 20th

WES Holiday Market (at school)

Tuesday, December 17th

WES Chorus Holiday Performance / PTO Meeting / Evening Holiday Market

Friday, December 20th

Early Release Day

Monday, December 23rd - January 6th

Winter Break for Students

• Daleyza
• Bella
• Kristian
• Caleb
• Carmen

i-Ready is an online program for reading and/or mathematics that will help your student’s teacher(s) determine your student’s needs, personalize their learning, and monitor progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows your teacher(s) to meet your student exactly where they are and provides data to increase your student’s learning gains.

Our students (Kindergarten - 5th) will be taking their Winter i-Ready Diagnostic (assessment) December 9th through December 13th. We will use those scores to help guide instruction throughout the 3rd quarter.

Here are some testing tips for parents to ensure that students have the best experience:

• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest the night before the test.
• On the morning of the test, your child needs to get up in plenty of time so he/she won't feel rushed.
• Feed your child a good breakfast. Research shows that children do better on tests if they have had a good breakfast.
• Do as much as you can to make your child feel comfortable. Try not to say things to make him/her feel more nervous.
• Reassure your child that no matter the outcome of the test, you will still love him/her. Encourage them to simply do their best.
• Take an active role in your child's education throughout the school year. Let your child know you are interested in his/her learning by taking part in the entire process.
• When the scores are sent to you, talk to your child's teacher. This will help you understand them more clearly.
• Give your child praise even if he or she didn't do well on the test.

We moved the dates for i-Ready testing to allow students to get a week to prepare following Fall Break, and so that we can manage some logistical areas to ensure the best testing environment.

Students will be able to get some holiday shopping done at school. Natalie's Elf Shelf Holiday Shop will have some great, affordable gifts students will be able to buy for family members and loved ones.

If there is a change of transportation, a note with a parent/guardian's signature MUST be provided. Any student that tells staff that his or her parent/guardian told them to go home by another means will not be honored. For the safety of our students, a change in transportation must be submitted in writing to the student's teacher AND to the Front Office.

To ensure that our students remain safe while off-campus, we are asking families to purchase a WES School Spirit Shirt. Students will be able to wear their School Spirit Shirt on all of their Field Studies which has our 2024-25 AllforONE! logo and our school's contact information (on the front of the shirt). Also, 100% of the proceeds will go back in our field trip budget to ensure that we can keep costs down for families.

Shirts cost $10

Order your shirt using the link below

*shirts will come white with the blue logo or blue with the white logo

Show your school spirit and support our students by grabbing your WES Car Magnet! Every purchase helps fund exciting programs and activities, enriching your child's school experience. Plus, you are showcasing your WES pride in your community. Join us in making a difference—buy now and roll with school pride!

Car Magnets cost $10.

Mrs. Addy is in her 3rd year at WES and is a wonderful addition to our front office staff. She is full of positive energy and positivity, but beware... If you're in a hurry, you might not want to stop by because she is an excellent conversationalist. 😁 Mrs. Addy is a great listener and is willing to lend a hand whenever she's able. Although she serves as our front office clerk, she also supports with ensuring transportation for nearly 1300 students goes smoothly. When she's not changing the world, Mrs. Addy enjoys music, cooking and gardening!

Mr. Wyatt is the definition of "hang around the barbershop long enough..." Mr. Wyatt is in his 1st official year at WES; however, he's supported our Wise Owls as a long term substitute for the past two years. Not only is Mr. Wyatt 1/2 of the Nairn/Wyatt team, he's also the father of two Wise Owls. Mr. Wyatt is a proud Marine Corps veteran. During his off time he can be found spending that time with his daughters or off-roading in his jeep. 🦆

Mrs. Quinlan has been an integral Wise Owl and key member of the Whitesville community for eight years, with this being her 9th year. Although she is originally from Pennsylvania, she is more than home at WES! Mrs. Quinlan is one of the most positive, supportive, and patient person you could ever hope to meet. Along with Mrs. Hall, Mrs. Quinlan supports our 4th and 5th grade Wise Owls, helping to prepare them for middle school and beyond!

Mrs. Elmore is in her fourth year serving as School Counselor at WES. She is notorious for being a kind, supportive year who knows how to bring out the best in the students she serves and the other Wise Owl staff members. Mrs. Elmore supports our Kindergarten through 2nd grade students in the areas of mental, social, emotional, behavioral, and even academic well-being. She is always available to be a thought partner and a trusting adult to all of our Wise Owls. One thing to know about Mrs. Elmore is... even though she is one of the best listeners on Earth, she is very, very, very nervous about speaking in front of others. 🎤

Ms. Campbell is in her second year at WES, hailing from the Keystone State (PA). She serves as our 5th grade Math and Science teacher, partnering with Mrs. Garrett-Manigault. Mrs. Campbell is a passionate teacher, able to bring her instruction to life. If you want to hear some good music and learn, go to Campbell. Mrs. Campbell wants the best for all of her students and will stop at nothing to ensure their success. When she's not at school, she enjoys four-wheeling, kayaking, camping, walking ont he beach, the outdoors (by any means), and reading many different genres of books.

Saturday, February 8th - Sweetheart Dance

Friday, March 7th - Boosterthon Fun Run

Thursday, April 10th - Spring Fling (a part of STEAM Night)

Friday, May 23rd - 5th Grade Celebration

Breakfast and lunch will be served on every day. If your student wants to eat breakfast at school, they should arrive to school between 6:50 a.m. - 7:18 a.m. Breakfast will no longer be served after 7:45 a.m.

• Our school's website is found at https://www.bcsdschools.net/o/wes
• WES Facebook page is Whitesville Elementary School Wise Owls
• The Weekly Hoots newsletter will be emailed & texted to families every Sunday evening. Please be sure to have your updated information in PowerSchool.
• Our PTO's website is wiseowlspto.com.
• Our PTO's Facebook page is Whitesville Wise Owls PTO.
• Schoology: Teachers will update their grades weekly.
• Rooms: Our two-way form of communication at WES. Every teacher at WES will use Rooms as a tool for communication.