Weekly Hoots

Dear Wise Owls Family,

I wanted to take a moment to share some important information regarding our approach to homework in the upcoming months.

As part of our continued efforts to improve communication and collaboration between home and school, we are increasing the amount of homework assigned to students which will also include practice in i-Ready. The goal is to provide families with a better opportunity to see firsthand the work students are doing in class and to give you a chance to support them in their learning at home.

We understand that the home environment plays a critical role in student success, and we believe that by increasing the visibility of what your child is learning, you will be better equipped to assist them in staying on track. Homework will be designed to reinforce classroom lessons and provide a meaningful review of concepts that support student growth and mastery.

While the volume of homework may increase, we are mindful of the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between school and home life. Our teachers are committed to providing assignments that are purposeful, manageable, and aligned with your child’s developmental needs.

We greatly appreciate your partnership in this endeavor. Should you have any questions or concerns about the homework, or if you need further support, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher. Together, we can continue to support your child’s learning and success.

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to the positive impact this adjustment will have on your child’s education.

B. Gantt

#AllforONE!

Our mission is to cultivate a caring community that utilizes a multitude of teaching and learning experiences to prepare children for their next adventure.

1. We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, valued, and appreciated.
2. We believe that all children deserve a high quality education.
3. We believe in collaboration and making connections.

Staying Safe

Owning Your Actions

Acting Responsibly

Respecting Everyone & Everything

“South Carolina Compulsory Attendance Law requires that a parent or guardian shall require his child to attend regularly a public or private school or kindergarten of this State which has been approved by the State Board of Education, a member school of the South Carolina Independent Schools and Association, a member school of the South Carolina Association of Christian Schools, or some similar organization, or a parochial, denominational, or church-related school, or other programs which have been approved by the State Board of Education f rom the school year in which the child is five years of age before September first until the child attains his seventeenth birthday or graduates from high school.”

Please also submit any medical or additional excuses to the front office. We process our attendance forms once per week so you may not immediately see that the note has been accepted.

Monday, January 20th

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Schools & Offices will be closed

Friday, January 24th

Stars & Strikes Spirit Night from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

4570 Ladson Rd

Summerville, SC 29485

Friday, January 31st (change from Jan 24th)

Tags of Honor Celebration for grades 1, 4, & 5

• 1st Grade - 7:45 - 8:45
• 4th Grade - 9:00 - 10:00
• 5th Grade - 10:15 - 11:15

Monday, February 3rd (change from Jan 27th)

Tags of Honor Celebration for grades K, 3, & 2

• Kindergarten - 7:45 - 8:45
• 3rd Grade - 9:00 - 10:00
• 2nd Grade - 10:15 - 11:15

Friday, February 7th

Early Dismissal for Students (7:20 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.)

Saturday, February 8th

Sweetheart Dance @ WES (6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.)

Friday, February 14th

Staff Development Day

Monday, February 17th

President's Day (School & Offices Closed)

We have noticed that there have been a number of families parking in front of the building (Front Car Rider Drop Off Line) to enter the school. If you need to park and come into the building, please be sure to park in one of our visitor parking spots or in one of the open parking spots in front of the school to allow the lane to continue moving for drop off.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Our primary goal is to ensure every child receives the support they need to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. From time to time, we may recommend retention—having a child repeat a grade—as a strategy to provide them with the additional time and resources they need to thrive.

Retention is not a decision we take lightly. It is carefully considered with input from teachers, counselors, and most importantly, you—the family. Here are some key points to help you understand the process:

• Skill Development: If your child is significantly behind in foundational skills such as reading, math, or social-emotional development, repeating a grade can offer a chance to build a stronger foundation.
• Maturity Considerations: Sometimes, a child’s developmental readiness for the next grade level may not align with their current age group.
• Long-Term Success: Retention can provide your child the opportunity to gain confidence and master essential skills to better prepare them for future challenges.

• Ongoing Monitoring: We closely monitor your child’s progress throughout the year. Concerns about potential gaps are addressed early.
• Collaborative Meetings: Teachers, specialists, and I will meet with you to discuss your child’s progress and concerns, reviewing evidence such as assessments, classroom performance, and observations.
• Family Input: We value your perspective and will work together to make the best decision for your child.
• Tailored Support: Whether retention occurs or not, we create a plan to meet your child’s unique needs.

Some of our Wise Owls received their child's i-Ready information this past week and a part of that information shared that students were at risk of being retained. If a student is truly at risk for retention at this point in the school year, parents have been contacted regarding concerns.

This is not the case with third grade due to Read to Succeed legislation that requires students scoring Not Met on SCReady (indicated by a score <489 on i-Ready) be retained. (please read Read to Succeed information below for more information)

The ACCESS for ML students testing window opens January 21 and closes March 7. Students will be tested at various times throughout that window. Families can reach out to Ms. Gallagher for more specific dates and times for their individual children.

If there is a change of transportation, a note with a parent/guardian's signature MUST be provided. Any student that tells staff that his or her parent/guardian told them to go home by another means will not be honored. For the safety of our students, a change in transportation must be submitted in writing to the student's teacher AND to the Front Office.

To ensure that our students remain safe while off-campus, we are asking families to purchase a WES School Spirit Shirt. Students will be able to wear their School Spirit Shirt on all of their Field Studies which has our 2024-25 AllforONE! logo and our school's contact information (on the front of the shirt). Also, 100% of the proceeds will go back in our field trip budget to ensure that we can keep costs down for families.

Shirts cost $10

Order your shirt using the link below

*shirts will come white with the blue logo or blue with the white logo

Show your school spirit and support our students by grabbing your WES Car Magnet! Every purchase helps fund exciting programs and activities, enriching your child's school experience. Plus, you are showcasing your WES pride in your community. Join us in making a difference—buy now and roll with school pride!

Car Magnets cost $10.

Friday, March 7th - Boosterthon Fun Run

Thursday, April 10th - Spring Fling (a part of STEAM Night)

Friday, May 23rd - 5th Grade Celebration

Box Tops is ALL DIGITAL and is still one of the easiest ways to earn money for your school on things you already buy! It’s easy: Simply download the app, select Whitesville Elementary and start scanning your receipts today. As a BONUS, connect your Walmart account in the app and earn automatically without scanning

Breakfast and lunch will be served on every day. If your student wants to eat breakfast at school, they should arrive to school between 6:50 a.m. - 7:18 a.m. Breakfast will no longer be served after 7:45 a.m.

• Our school's website is found at https://www.bcsdschools.net/o/wes
• WES Facebook page is Whitesville Elementary School Wise Owls
• The Weekly Hoots newsletter will be emailed & texted to families every Sunday evening. Please be sure to have your updated information in PowerSchool.
• Our PTO's website is wiseowlspto.com.
• Our PTO's Facebook page is Whitesville Wise Owls PTO.
• Schoology: Teachers will update their grades weekly.
• Rooms: Our two-way form of communication at WES. Every teacher at WES will use Rooms as a tool for communication.