Weekly Update
September 8, 2024
Dear Westside Families
The first weeks of school at Westside are about Care & Connection. Teachers and staff promote activities with a focus on healthy behaviors, safety and well being. These activities help us create the conditions where students can learn, and staff can teach and nurture our learners. Please take some time to review or social emotional learning program below. We are looking forward to seeing you all at Open House & BBQ Thursday, September 12th, 4:00PM-6:00PM. The Open House schedule is below. The online fee payment system if now up and running. Details below.
Ocean Kuykendall
Principal
Westside Elementary School
New Online Payment for School Fees
Our school district is committed to ensuring all students have the supplies they need for a successful year. We will be collecting monetary contributions to cover the cost of these grade and teacher-specific supplies. A suggested contribution of $25 will help us provide everything necessary for your student's classroom experience. Please follow this link to the online payment system
Please Join Us for Open House!
We will have our Open House on Thursday, September 12th. Our building will be open from 4:00-6:00 PM for families to visit specialists and teachers and tour the building. Please come at a time that works best for your family. Our teachers will be shutting classroom doors at 6:00 PM.
Westside’s PTO is hosting a BBQ dinner provided by Westside Fire Department. A contribution of $10 per family is encouraged, but any contribution is appreciated. Food will begin to be served at 4:30. Cash or Card, apple pay, Venmo will be accepted. See You There!
Purposeful People
We are thankful for you being part of our school community! The world is changing quickly and we want to do everything we can to help students be successful in school and life. At Westside we use a program called PurposeFull People this year. This program teaches skills that will help students be successful in school and in life. We believe that students should have safe, predictable places to learn where they feel included. Students should have healthy and helpful connections with teachers and classmates. They should also experience learning that will help them tackle challenges inside and outside of school. PurposeFullPeople is more than a set of lessons - it is a partnership between schools and families to create a place where students feel like they belong and learn skills that will help them be the best they can be!
Purposeful People has three main goals for students: Be Kind, Be Strong, and Be Well.
● Be Kind: Social skills like listening, friendship, solving conflicts, and leadership. These skills are taught alongside Empathy, Respect, & Cooperation
● Be Strong: Skills that help students focus, stay organized, and set goals. These skills are taught alongside Responsibility, Courage, & Perseverance
● Be Well: Skills that help students handle their emotions and deal with stress.
These skills are taught alongside Gratitude, Honesty, & Creativity This year, you’ll be invited to join the fun! Ms. Wish & Ms. Leah will send letters home about the skills and strengths being taught each month. Each letter will include some ways to build these skills at home, discussion starters, and fun challenges you can try with your family. We are looking forward to partner with you in this work.
● To teach students how to build strong friendships
● To work together to solve problems, big and small
● To grow skills for life
● To become PurposeFull People
PTO Information
T-shirt Orders End Sept.9th!
Order yours now! These Performance Dri Fit Tees are perfect for fall sports. The white color will be available at the Open House BUT only in kids sizes. If you like these colors or you are an adult, then this is your chance to order! You can order online until Monday Sept. 9, shirts will be ready for pick up at Westside on the 28th. All profits raise money for Westside Students and Teachers!
Go Wildcats!
Open House Volunteers Needed:
We've had a HUGE response from parents and just need 3 more volunteers for the Open House on Sept 12th! Please click this link to be taken to the sign up sheet. Choose a job/time slot and add your name/phone/email. If all slots are taken, then check out the Book Fair tab on the bottom page for more opportunities to "Give 5 for Westside". By giving 5 hours of volunteer time over the course of the school year, you are not only helping to support the students and staff, but you are making Westside GREAT. Thank you!!
💜 Love from the PTO team
WSES is an AVID Elementary
AVID: Advancement Via Individual Determination—fosters a safe and open culture, high expectations for teachers and students, and collaboration in all classrooms. AVID focuses on reinforcing academic behaviors and higher-level thinking. AVID strategies help Elementary students develop the academic habits they will need to be successful in middle school, high school, and college, in an age-appropriate and challenging way. Children learn about organization, study skills, communication, and self-advocacy. AVID Elementary students take structured notes and answer and ask high-level questions that go beyond routine answers.
School Calendar
School Communication:
The following methods will be used by the school to communicate with Westside Elementary families:
Weekly Family Update Link will be sent to email and through text message. The weekly newsletter will contain important school information. It is delivered on Sundays at 5:30 pm. It will also be posted on the website
Talking Points: You can opt to receive text messages or download the TalkingPoints for Families mobile app. You can also use TalkingPoints on the web. Talking Points is a great way to communicate with teachers, administrators, and office staff! There is no charge from TalkingPoints to use text messages, the mobile app, or the web. talkingpts.org
All Updates Posted
Calendar Posted
Other School Information
Important Dates
September 12th Westside Open House, 4PM-6PM
October 4th, Wildcat Chase, All Day
October 11th School Photos
October 15th-18th Scholastic Book Fair
CONSIDER FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Parent Volunteers
Peachjar shares resources and opportunities
We are now using Peachjar! Parents/guardians receive digital flyers containing school and community resources that aim to improve the trajectory of students’ lives. This transition will also save our schools time and money while ensuring important information makes it home to parents.
Please visit this Peachjar web page to see current opportunities for Westside Elementary School.
Contact Us:
Ocean Kuykendall Principal ocean.kuykendall@hoodriver.k12.or.us 541-387-5054
Dan Barnard Vice Principal dan.barnard@hoodriver.k12.or.us 541-387-5057
Julie Davis Secretary/Bookkeeper julie.davis@hoodriver.k12.or.us 541-386-1535 ext 4795
Erica Torres Bilingual Secretary erica.torres@hoodriver.k12.or.us 541-386-1535 ext 4796