What's Happening at Western?
Dear Western families,
We finished our first full week of school and your children are continuing to do well with following our expectations and procedures. It was nice to see so many 7th and 8th grade parents at our first of two Open Houses. I hope you all walked away inspired by the teachers who are in front of your children each day. I am inspired and impressed on a daily basis, so it is only fair that you get a glimpse of what I see each day. Looking forward to seeing our 6th grade parents on Tuesday!
Students have really embraced the cell phone/personal device policy and demonstrated that they can follow the school expectations inside of the building. It is honestly the best start to the school year I can remember in the last 10 years I have been at Western. Unfortunately, we have had some reports from neighbors and bus drivers about some challenges our students are having following our behavior expectations on their way home. We even had one bus have to bring the students back to school last week due to some student behaviors. I reminded all students this week that the behavior expectations we have in school follow them when they are riding the bus, walking or riding their bikes home from school. If we find that they are being disrespectful to our neighbors, touching things on properties, riding their bikes in the middle of the streets, or are not following the rules on our buses, then we will be making you aware and holding them accountable for their behavior. If students cannot follow the rules on the bus, then they will be suspended from riding the bus for a period of time. We do not want to have to do this for any students. If your child walks, rides their bike, or takes a bus home, please review with them that they are expected to follow the same behavior expectations we have in school. They represent Western when they leave our building and walk/ride through our neighborhoods or step on a bus, and disrespectful behavior will not be allowed. The police are aware of the concerns some of our neighbors have reported about our bikers and walkers, and they will be monitoring the streets after dismissal.
This week we had our first season of sports tryouts. Some of your children came home excited to make a team, while some came home disappointed that they did not make the team roster. This may be the first time your child has not made a sports team. We have many students who don’t make a sports team the first time they try out, but then try out the next year and make the team. It is especially hard for 6th graders to make a team when competing with bigger and stronger 7th and 8th graders. Eventually, though, they become the bigger and stronger students who have a better chance of making the team. We hope they do not become discouraged and work in the off-season in order to try out again next year.
This weekend looks like a beautiful one. I plan to make my way to the beach for a little while to pretend that it is still summer. Hope you all get outside this weekend and enjoy some fun activities. Please keep reading for more important information about what is going on at Western.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Coyne
suzanne_coyne@greenwich.k12.ct.us
Si desea leer esta actualización en español u otro idioma, haga clic en "Traducir" ("Translate") en la parte superior del boletín (al lado de "Share" (Compartir)) y seleccione español o el idioma de su elección. Gracias.
- Tuesday, September 17, 2024: Math LinkIt Testing, 8:56 am-10:56 am
Tuesday, September 17, 2024: 6th Grade Open House, 6 pm- 8:15 pm
Wednesday, September 18, 2024: CHANGE IN DATE: 8th Grade DC Parent Meeting, Auditorium, 6:30 pm
Tuesday, September 24, 2024: PTA General Membership Meeting, Media Center, 6:30 pm
At this meeting, you will hear details about the trip, specifically the itinerary, deadlines for registration, how to register and make payments, and financial assistant options. A translator will be present.
This week, our 6th graders continued the tradition of creating painted rocks with inspirational messages for our Kindness Rock Garden. Our Kindness Garden honors our former student, Steven Sudell, who died in November of 2018 from brain cancer. Even while Steven was battling his disease, he tried to make others around him feel better and spread kindness. The students learned about Steven and designed and painted rocks that will be added to our rock garden, which is next to our front steps. Here is a picture of some rocks our students created today.
Here are some reminders about riding the bus:
Students are only assigned a bus if they live 1.5 miles or farther from school. The only exception is for students who usually walk through the path near our fields that connects to Hamilton Avenue, until the path reopens in December.
Students cannot ride on a bus unless they are assigned to it. This means that students cannot have a friend ride the bus home with them if they do not ride that bus normally.
The behavior expectations we have in school carry over to the bus. If a student does not follow the behavior expectations (stay in seat, use appropriate language, not throwing any objects, speak respectfully to all students and the driver), then they will be held accountable for their behavior. If the behavior continues, they may be suspended from riding the bus for a period of time. Students were made aware of this during an announcement this week.
In our main office, we have a table for items that parents bring to school after the school day has started. While we understand there are times that a parent needs to bring in something their child forgets at home (I have been that parent), we also are trying to help our children become more responsible. If your child forgets their sneakers for gym, their binder, an assignment, their Chromebook, or even their lunch, they will survive a day without it. We will make sure they eat if they forget their lunch. They may have to sit out of gym class, get a late score on the assignment, go to the Media Center to get a loaner Chromebook or eat a lunch from the cafeteria that they don’t love. Having to deal with these natural consequences will teach them to not forget that item in the future and save you a trip to school when you probably have something much more important to do! If you must drop something off, please make sure it has your child’s name on it.