West EL Weekly Update

Thank you to our Student Council for hosting the first Spirit Day of the school year. Students and teachers alike proudly wore their blue and gold or their favorite West EL swag! If you are interested in purchasing West El Spirit wear, please visit our PTO fundraising page , the shop will close October 19, 2024: https://westelementary2024.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Thank you to the families, students, community and teachers who contributed to the Andover Public Television documentary 'Remembering West El'. This 25 minute film captures the rich history and spirit of our community. Please take a moment to view, Dr. Cobbs gives it two thumbs up! https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/andover/video/66f76c7faabc2ce18e4ca673?page=HOME

On Friday, October 16th, the acapella group Ball in the House, will be coming to West El to immerse our students in a day long event, culminating in our 5th grade chorus supporting a whole school performance. Grade 5 students will participate in the classroom workshop, "Totally Vocally" where they will discuss and teach many aspect of music including performance and team work. Using Motown as a backdrop, our guest speakers will highlight the impact of music and its response to the racial strife of the 1960's and today. Thank you to the Andover Public School Fine Arts Department and local grant contributors for this opportunity.

Join us for iWalk 2024 (International Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day) on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. We’re excited to come together with schools across the Commonwealth to celebrate students’ active commutes to school (or even during school recess or lunch). Thank you Andover Police Department and the MassDOT for their support!

West Elementary School is looking for 2-3 parent guardians to join the School Council. A school council is a representative, school building-based committee composed of the principal, parents, teachers, community members and, at the secondary level, students, required to be established by each school pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 59C. While not a governing body, the School Council meets in an advisory capacity to review and discuss the four following areas:

1. Adopting educational goals for the school that are consistent with local educational policies and statewide student performance standards

2. Identifying the educational needs of students attending the school

3. Reviewing the annual school building budget

4. Formulating a school improvement plan

The West El School Council will meet four times a year for hour long meetings after school (4:00-5:00PM). The council will determine if the meetings will be in-person, virtual, or a hybrid composition based on council member votes. The council is a 2-year parent commitment. Nominations will be accepted until October 7,2024. From there, representatives may be voted upon by the school community if the interest supports more than 3 team members. If you are interested please complete the following form https://forms.gle/34ve3v6yE5djtamh8

Pick Up Patrol

We know that there are times when families have a need to make a change to their child’s usual dismissal routine. PickUp Patrol is an app-based system where users can quickly alert the school of a change in dismissal routine for that day. Changes will be allowed until 2:30 PM each day, at which point no dismissal changes will be accepted.

How It Works:

1. Your child’s regular dismissal plan from Aspen has been entered into the system. This is called their Default Plan.
2. Whenever your child is following a plan other than their Default Plan you’ll submit the change using the PickUp Patrol app.

Examples of a plan change:

· Your child has a doctor's appointment and will be leaving early.

· Your child normally rides the bus but is getting picked up today.

· Your child normally goes to an afterschool program but will be taking the bus today.

• 3. When the change is submitted, the school will be notified. Before the end of the school day, the teachers are notified and we’ll relay the change to your child.

If you have any questions, please first check the PUP Parent Guide, then contact us in the main office. Please remember that PickUp Patrol changes only reflect that single day, not the on-going default plans. If you need to make a change to a default plan, please do so in the Aspen portal, or feel free to email Nicole or Rose in the office who will make sure that default plan is reflected.

West Elementary Breakfast

We need your help! Please remind your child that he/she should not access breakfast unless they have not otherwise eaten that morning. Many students are coming inside to socialize and too much food is being wasted. Our breakfast only runs from 8:45-9:00 AM and we still have nearly 40 children in the space at 9:00 each day. Children are late to class, marked absence and families worried when they receive a phone call stating the child was tardy or absent. With the exception of a late school bus, breakfast will have a 'hard close' just before 9:00 and students must report to class. Families who access our car pool lane or walk should plan on leaving with ample time to make the 8:45-9:00 AM . No food is permitted in the classrooms.

October 7: Deadline to submit interest in West El School Site Council

October 11: Yom Kippur begins at sundown

October 11: PTO Open Meeting & Principal Coffee 9:00-10:00 AM West EL Conference Room
October 12: Dasera/Dussehra

October 14: No School Indigenous People Day

October 15: Individual and Class Photo Day- Information to Follow

October 19: West EL Building Community Tours: 9:00-10:30 AM

October 20: PTO Spooktacular