Weekly Update

Dear WSES Families:

Please consider attending a community listening session. Families can attend any session; WSES is hosting a listening session on 2/4/25 at 5:30 in the WSES Library. 25-26 Kindergarten enrollment is now open. Registration information is listed below. Our students still play outside when it rains and snows. Please consider sending dry pants and socks in backpacks during our rainy/snowy season.

This update includes information about Community Listening Session, a new wildcat columnist article and a message from our PTO.

Ocean Kuykendall

Principal

Westside Elementary School

Hood River County School District (HRCSD) is enrolling kindergarten students for the 2025-26 school year. Families with children who will be five years old by September 1 can enroll their children here.

The Hood River County School District invites families and community members to join Superintendent Bill Newton for a series of listening sessions. These sessions are an opportunity to share your thoughts on what matters most in our school community and provide input on important topics, including budget priorities.

During each session, the school district will also share highlights from the recent Core Values Survey and discuss areas where improvements are needed. Spanish interpretation and child care will be available at all sessions.

Session Schedule: Families can attend any session

• Monday, Feb. 3: Cascade Locks Elementary School library, 5:30 PM

• Tuesday, Feb. 4: Westside Elementary School library, 5:30 PM

• Tuesday, Feb. 4: Wy’east Middle School library, 6:30 PM

• Thursday, Feb. 6: Hood River Middle School library, 6:30 PM

• Thursday, Feb. 13: Mid Valley Elementary School library, 5:30 PM

• Wednesday, Feb. 19: May Street Elementary School (Second Grade Neighborhood), 5:00 PM

• Wednesday, Feb. 19: Hood River Valley High School library, 6:00 PM

• Tuesday, Feb. 25: Parkdale Elementary School library, 5:00 PM

Families and community members are encouraged to attend any session that fits their schedule. While most sessions are held in partnership with the host school’s PTO and may focus on topics specific to that school site, the discussions will address district-wide priorities, and all participants’ voices are welcome.

During the listening sessions, we will briefly overview our school district's strategic goals and core values, invite feedback on specific core value areas (see below), discuss our school district's budget, and ask for input on priorities.

Core value areas of consideration:

• Community and family partnerships shared significant improvement: What are we doing well? Can any of these strategies be applied to other areas?

• We can improve in our cultural responsiveness: Are there specific cultures, histories, or viewpoints you feel are missing or underrepresented in the materials your student brings home? How can we better engage families in identifying and incorporating diverse perspectives in our curriculum?

• We can improve in family communication: How do you currently receive communication from your student’s teacher, and what works well for you? Are there specific types of updates or information you wish teachers shared more frequently?

Budget questions and information:

• Use this community form to submit questions or share feedback about the budget process

• Refer to this Budget FAQ document to find answers about common budget-related questions

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If you have questions or need information, please contact the Superintendent's Office. Your participation is important to shaping the future of Hood River County schools, and we look forward to hearing from you!

We are excited to offer out students a fruit or vegetable snack at their morning recess. We are looking for volunteers to support our kindergarten & 1st grade students with the snack cart. Responsibilities would include pushing out the snack cart, monitoring snack self serve pick up by students and at times support serving the students. The time commitment would be 9:45-10:15 on Mondays and 8:45-9:15 on Tuesdays. Please sign up for slots here. Please select the tab at the bottom with the title "Morning Snacks". District Volunteer Forms here

Dear Parents,

We encourage you to join us for a listening session with Superintendent Newton on Tuesday, February 4, at Westside. This will be an opportunity to gain more clarity on the proposed $3.5 million cuts for the 2025-26 school year. Following the session, the PTO will meet to discuss how we can best engage in this process, and we hope you’ll be part of that conversation.

Tuesday, February 4, Westside Library

5:30 - 6:15 pm Q&A with Superintendent Newton

6:15 - 7:00 pm PTO meeting: open to all parents

If you are unable to join but want to stay connected, follow us on social media or send us an email to be put on the Westside Parents PTO email distribution list.

westsideptopresident@gmail.com

Thank you,

The PTO Board

This week's Wildcat Columnist article is a biography on 4th grade teacher, Ms. Penney, written by third grade columnist Ella Rosonke.

Link to article

All proceeds from Westside Gear go directly to funding programs for the students and to fulfilling Teacher Grants. Thank you for your support and school spirit! Orders are fulfilled weekly and will be ready for pick up in the front office. You'll get a confirmation email when your goods are ready for pick up.

Please be aware of the amount of days your student misses by tracking the days your student is absent. If your child misses 10 days of school each school year, they will have missed 130 days of school by the time they graduate high school. That equals half a year of school missed!

For more information on the importance of attendance, please visit our school district website.

Print this sheet and hang it on your refrigerator or another central place in your home.

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.

2/12 Winter Walk and Roll to school

2/17 No School

2/18 Possible Snow Make Up Day or No School

• 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

  • School Webpage www.hoodriver.k12.or.us/Domain/511

  • All Updates Posted

  • Calendar Posted

  • Other School Information

To submit an anonymous tip or incident report, use one of the three following methods:

• Email tip@safeoregon.com
• Call or text 844-472-3367
• Enter information on SafeOregon website
• Enter information on SafeOregon webpage for Hood River County School District

CONSIDER FOLLOWING US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

FACEBOOK

On Instagram: @westside_elementary_school

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.

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

Araceli Avila Bilingual Family Engagement Specialist araceli.avila@hoodriver.k12.or.us 541-386-1535 ext 4737