The YWCA afterschool program will be starting Oct. 15th. Applications are available in the Main Office. There are 90 spots for students grades K-8. That is correct the YWCA has found spots for a limited number of students in grades 6-8 to be part of the program. I am attaching a copy of the application you can download, complete and turn in. There are also applications available in the main office., please get your applications in as soon as possible. The YWCA program runs from 3:10-5:30, Monday-Thursday. There are a limited number of spots left, turn you packets in as soon as possible.

Fall clubs will also be starting on Oct. 15th. Sign ups and permission slips will be due back on September 25th. Clubs will run from 3:10-4:15, all students must be picked up by 4:30.

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With your support, we look forward to building on our school’s 30-year history

of educating our community’s children. With your help, we can grow our pride!

The most common advice parents are giving about literacy is to read a book to their child every night. A daily reading practice has a positive impact on student language skills, vocabulary building, and much more. Fortunately, reading out loud to children isn’t the only way to support them to become skilled readers. Families can still positively impact their child’s literacy development through every day learning moments.

Over the next few weeks I will share a different family-friendly activity that help cultivate literacy skills by utilizing assets and routines already at a family’s disposal.

Week 1 - Tell Stories

In nearly every corner of the globe, storytelling has and continues to be a fundamental part of the human experience. Families can tap into the power of a story with their children, helping them build comprehension, fluency, and even empathy. There are many more ways to use storytelling to build literacy.

For example, parents can share stories from their childhood or from their cultural traditions, or simply make up their own stories. By using silly voices, parents not only captivate children’s imagination, but they also model fluency in reading by correctly intonating certain words and phrases. Last, families can encourage children to tell stories to the adults, expressing curiosity by asking their child questions about characters, fantasy lands, and other details.

October 8th - Lion Sees Vison Screenings K-2

October 9th - Picture Day, students wear uniforms

October 9th - Chicken BBQ Fund Raiser, 3-6 pm

October 9th - Good for the Neighborhood 4:30-6:00

October 11th - 1/2 Day for Students, pick up at 11:30 am

October 14th - Indigenous People Day, NO SCHOOL

October 15th - After school programs start

October 16th - Unity Day - Wear and share orange to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying.

October 17th - Parent Meeting (PAC) 5:30-6:30.

October 25th - Early Release Drill - NYS requires that schools annually test their ability for emergency evacuation. A fifteen-minute early dismissal is planned for students, please be prepared to pick up at 2:30 instead of 2:45.

October 26th - Super Saturday - Trunk or Treat 9-11:30 am

October 28th - Lockdown Drill - NYS requires that the school conducts four lockdown drill each year. We will notify you of the drills at least one week in advance, and give you feedback on how each drill goes. The purpose of lockdown drills in New York schools is to help prepare the students and school staff prepare for and respond to an emergency. Drills allow students and staff to practice how they would respond in an emergency. Drills help ensure the safety of students and staff in a real emergency.

October 31st - Character Day - Dress as your favorite book character, bring the book with you to share with your class.

November 5th - 1/2 Day for Students, pick up at 11:30 am. Parent Teacher Conference 12pm-6pm

November 7th - End of First Quarter, all report cards published to the Parent Portal

November 11th - Multicultural Night 4:30-6:00, High School Application Night 4:30-5:30 pm.

November 20th - Picture Retake Day

November 21st -Parent Meeting (PAC) 5:30-6:30

November 27th - Friendsgiving

November 28th and 29th - No School

1. Send your children to school every day, starting in kindergarten, to teach your children that attendance counts. Continue to monitor their attendance through high school

2. Don’t let your child miss school without a good reason. Try to avoid medical appointments during the school day or vacations when school is in session.

3. Create routines and stick to them. Set a regular bed time and morning routine to get ready for school. For older students, be sure they get enough sleep.

4. Keep an eye on what’s happening with your children’s education. Look for signs that they are bored, struggling with school work or having trouble with friends. Seek out tutoring, talk with teachers. Nurture interest in being in school by finding engaging afterschool activities and encourage involvement in sports.

5. Learn about the school’s policies. What incentives do teachers offer for good attendance? What counts as an excused or unexcused absence? What are the penalties?

6. Find your own ways to reward good attendance. You know best what motivates your child.

7. Be open and honest with school officials. Make sure the school has your up-to-date contact information. Work with the teacher, counselor and principal on problems your children are experiencing.

8. Seek medical help when absences pile up. Anything from asthma to a bad bout of head lice can keep kids out of school. Work with your doctor or school nurse.

9. Turn to other families who can help you with dropping off or picking up children and with babysitting.

10. Seek help when you have a problem. If absences result from family issue—a sudden illness, a lost job, foreclosure or a broken-down car—the school can connect you to other families or to social service providers

Setting up a Parent Portal account allows parents and guardians to view their child’s assignments, report cards, attendance, and assignments. Follow the directions below to register.

**Note: You will need the 900 number (ID number) for each child you will be adding to your account. Most students in grades 3 and higher know their number, If you need the 900 number, reach out to your child’s teacher. **

1. Go to the Westminster website: www.westminsterccs.org. Under the “For Families” tab, click on “Parent Portal”.

2. If you already have a username and password, use them to log in here. If it is your first time logging in, click on “Online Registration”.

3. Fill in the boxes for “Account Information”. Note: the school district is ‘WestminsterCSD’. Be sure that the email address you provide is valid, you will be receiving an automated email at the end of the registration process.
4. Fill in the boxes on the ‘Personal Information’ page. This is information about the parent or guardian (the adult). Student information is in the next section.
   

5. Fill in the boxes for ‘Student Information’. You may add all students that you will need access for.

6. You will receive an auto-generated email sent to the email address you provided with your log-in credentials. Your account will be reviewed by the account administrator and will be available in about 2 business days.

7. Your registration process is complete! Once your account is activated by the account administrator, you can log in at any time to view your child’s assignments, discipline, attendance, grades, and report cards.

GRADES K – 8

Tops: Navy Blue School Logo Top

WCCS Embroidered short sleeve polo
WCCS Embroidered Sweatshirt

Bottoms: Khaki or Navy (color)

Uniform or Dress Pants*

Uniform or Dress Shorts*

Uniform Jumper

Uniform or Dress Skirt*

Dress Pants - do not include denim, ripped material, leggings, or jeggings. Dress pants would be made of cotton, polyester blend, or wool.

Dress Shorts - must be made of dress pant materials and have at least a 7-inch inseam; the bottom must be hemmed (no cut-offs).

Dress Skirts - must be made of dress pant materials and have at least a 9-inch inseam; the bottom must be hemmed (no cut-offs).

Short-Sleeve Polo shirts - students should not wear any visible shirt underneath their polo. If students are cold, they can wear a school sweatshirt.

Clothing that is ripped, cut, slashed, or has holes, is prohibited, even on dress-down days. Clothes with rips that are filled underneath are not allowed.

Footwear: Shoes or Sneakers

• Rubber Bottom Shoes - appropriate for running and playing

• Cotton, leather, or man-made leather, solid uppers

• Shoes must have enclosed heels and toes.

• No sandals, slides, slippers, high heels, house shoes, moccasins, boots, flip-flops, rubber body shoes, or Crocs are allowed.

• These footwear requirements are due to safety issues.

Shirts can be purchased at https://www.westminsterccs.org/ under at families tab, student will bring the shirts home.

If you are missing any documents we will be letting you know. These documents must be submitted in order for your child to be full registered for school, it is important to get everything turned in as soon as possible.

We are required to exclude students after Sept. 17th who are missing immunizations. If you need an immunization please make an appointment as soon as possible.