Notes from the WGIS Principal

Dear WGIS Families,

Another great week of learning here at WGIS! It is amazing to think that we are just two short weeks away from reaching the midway point of the year! Our semester ends on January 31, which marks the start of new special area classes for students and a new checkpoint for everyone's learning.

We have conducted our Universal Screenings in classes this past week and new intervention groups will be created to target skills that students need assistance with, to ensure that all of our students are receiving the support they need.

All WGIS students receive intervention support based on their own needs whether that be in the classroom during class time, our daily WIN time in classrooms or as a part of more specific IS support. All students deserve the support they need whether that is filling in gaps that have formed our continuing to push them to reach their own personal potential!

Thank you for your continued support for all students at WGIS. As always, please reach out if you need anything.

Be Kind-Work Hard-Think BIG!

It's a great day to be a wildcat!

Mr. MacCollum

This page provides thoughts and commentary from Dan MacCollum, the Principal of West Genesee Intermediate School in the West Genesee Central School District.

Our clubs are up and running! Below please find the schedule for when each club will be meeting. As a reminder, we offer late buses on Mondays and Wednesdays at 3:15pm.

Monday January 20th:

No School in observance of Martin Luther King, JR. Day

Wednesday January 22th:

Battle of the Books, Changemakers Club, Chess Club, Interact Club, Steam Club- GOLD

Click here for Club Descriptions

This year, we will be using Second Step to promote positive character traits in our students here at WGIS. Each week, we will focus on a new character trait. Students who exemplify the character trait of the week will have an opportunity to be recognized on the Friday announcements and be featured in our weekly e-news.

This week, we recognized students who showed kindness throughout the week. Congratulations to Imogen, Morgan, Elliot and Michael, our Positivity Paw winners !

This week, WGIS Student Council brought back themed Friday with "Dress like you dream profession" in honor of MLK Day. Next week will be a Blue and Gold day with:

5th Grade wearing GOLD and 6th Grade wearing BLUE on Friday 1/24/2025!

The WGIS Book Swap is a PTA free book fair held in the spring where over 700 students pick out books for free. We need to collect at least 2,000 books for each child to find at least one they want to take home.

Please send in gently used, age-appropriate books for us to include in the swap. Your child can drop off the books at the cart located under the main stairwell in the front entrance of the school. Thank you for your support!

"IT" (Interaction Time) buses are available for students staying after for clubs and activities on Mondays and Wednesdays. IT buses pick students up from WGIS at 3:15. These buses are not utilized for musical practices since those rehearsals go past 3:15.

Last week, we held assemblies with every team to discuss physical safety for all students. Students discussed what it mean to stay physically safe and the importance of making sure you keep yourself safe before others. We encourage everyone to help each other at WGIS but we also must remember that sometimes the best thing we can do to keep others safe is to focus on our own personal safety.

Part of keeping ourselves safe is making sure we put ourselves in the best position to stay safe. Recognizing potential hazards, whether that be a slippery hallway or a peer that we do not usually get along with; it is important to recognize the situations we are in and put ourselves in the best position to be successful. Together, we will all do our part to make sure WGIS is a safe space for everyone!

Amazon Wishlists

Each year, we invite the teachers to submit an Amazon Wishlist that will be shared with the school community. These items are used to support and enhance instruction for our children throughout the year. The teachers and staff are so appreciative of the support. This is a way to show our gratitude for their efforts each day with our children. The links to the wishlists can be found here: https://2cde.edulnk.com/e/3z0w8/k8Kfdj?__$u__

Book Swap

The WGIS Book Swap is a PTA free book fair held in the spring where over 700 students pick out books for free. We need to collect at least 2,000 books for each child to find at least one they want to take home.Please send in gently used, age-appropriate books for us to include in the swap. Your child can drop off the books at the cart located under the main stairwell in the front entrance of the school. Thank you for your support!

Join the PTA

Lastly, the PTA would love your support! There is no commitment to participate in any meetings or events, but your $10 membership helps us ensure that we have the funds to continue the events that support our school community. You can join here: https://2cde.edulnk.com/e/3z0w8/faYJmN?__$u__

On Thursday night West Genesee High School hosted the annual district art show. Art Students were selected from every building and displayed their work around the auditorium. These students included 5th graders Bennett Hougaboom, Margaret Gross, Abigail Sprague, Kieran O'Connell, Giovanna Perfito, Zeke Riddett, Arden Terpening and Jackson Robertson. The 6th graders included Abigail McKee, Naudia Grabowski, Nico Bresadola, Ireland Healy, Eliana Jones, Theseus Jones, Guilanna Pawliw, Elif Duz, Harley Kreis, and Josué Guiterrez Ochoa.

Ms. Elmer and Mr. Haining are incredibly proud of all of the students' hard work and dedication this year. They will continue to highlight the work of their students in the upcoming semester though WGIS student galleries and future out of district art shows as well. Congratulations to our student artists!

• Monday January 20, 2025 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School

• Wednesday January 29, 2025 - Lunar New Year - No School

• Friday January 31, 2025 - Last day of 2nd Marking Period (Updated)

• February 17-21 - February Break - No School