April Python Post
2024-2025
Westwood View Elementary
4935 Belinder Ave
Westwood, KS 66205
Kathy Keith, Principal
Email: kathykeith@smsd.org
Website: Westwoodview.smsd.org
Phone: (913) 993-5800
Twitter: @wwvpythons
Vision
Instilling in students critical thinking skills and respect for core values of loyalty, perseverance and compassion.
Mission
Together We Succeed!
Monthly Character Trait
Courage
Courage Character Trait
Overview:
We are excited to focus on Courage this month! One way to think about Courage is “choosing what is helpful, right, and kind even when it is hard or scary.” Courage can look a little different for everyone. Get ready to explore as a family what Courage means to you! Courage is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Strong. Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.
Activities:
1. Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Courage. Here are 2 “PurposeFull Pursuits” you can complete together! Remember that Courage is choosing what is helpful, right, and kind even when it is hard or scary. Reflect, think, and discuss things you would like to do, but find intimidating or scary (individually or as a family). Maybe it’s a new hobby, trying a new game, sharing your art or invention with others, or going on an adventure somewhere. Give 1 of these things a try together this month and take a selfie to capture the memory!
2. We have all demonstrated Courage in our lives. Stories are powerful tools for connecting as a family. Protect time this week to share stories about Courage with each other (you can use the story prompts to get started). At the end of the conversation, think of 1 way you can practice Courage this week. Story Prompts: ● A time I (or someone else) showed Courage was _____. ● An act of Courage that changed/challenged me was ___.
Upcoming Dates
April
- 11 PTA Used Book Sale
- 15 Kindergarten Round Up 6:00pm
- 21 NO SCHOOL (Prof.Learning)
May
- 2 Field Day
- 8 Art Fair
- 16 Talent Show
- 22 6th Grade Graduation
- 23 Awards Assembly/K Music Program
- 23 Last Day for Students
- 27 Teacher Work Day/End of 4th Quarter
- 28 Teacher Prof. Learning/Grades Due in Skyward by 3:30pk
- 29 NO SCHOOL (Flex Day for Teachers - need 860 minutes of logged parent contact by 4/14) see link at bottom of newsletter
- 30 Grades Posted In Skyward for Parents
State Assessments
As we approach state assessment season we want to share some important information to help your child feel prepared and confident. These assessments are an opportunity for students to demonstrate the learning an help us understand how we can continue to support their growth.
Please see the schedule below to see when your child (3-6th grade only) will be testing the next few weeks.
To help your child do their best, please ensure they:
- Get a good night's sleep before testing days
- Eat a healthy breakfast
- Arrive at school on time
- Bring a fully charged iPad
Encourage your child to try their best and remind them that these tests are just one measure of their learning. We appreciate your support in making this a positive experience.
- April 1st (3rd, 4th and 5th Grade)
- April 2nd (3rd, 4th and 6th Grade)
- April 3rd (5th and 6th Grade)
- April 8th (3rd, 4th and 5th Grade)
- April 9th (3rd, 4th and 6th Grade)
- April 10th (5th and 6th Grade)
- April 15th (5th Grade)
- April 17th (5th Grade)
STUCO Socks and Underwear Drive
We met our goal and collected over 700 pairs of socks and underwear to support our SMSD students! All items were donated to our SMSD Clothing Center. We are incredibly grateful for your generous donations. Your support makes a meaningful impact to support all SMSD students. Student Council will be planning a school wide dodgeball competition to celebrate meeting our goal!
Kindergarten Round Up
If you have a kindergarten student that will be attending Westwood View for the 2025-2026 school year, a meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 15 @ 6:00 p.m. Parents and upcoming kindergarten students are invited to attend. Please call the school office at (913) 993-5800 so we can add your student’s information to our mailing list. If you have a neighbor that has a kindergarten student, please share this information with them. Students must be enrolled in Westwood View to attend. Please complete your ASQ Questionnaire prior to attending Kindergarten Round Up (both ASQ 2 and ASQ 3). You can click on the ASQ Questionnaire Button below to complete them. If you need support completing the questionnaires please contact the office.
Crisis Alert System Information
The Shawnee Mission School District is in the process of adding another layer of security for all of its schools and facilities.
The CENTEGIX CrisisAlert system is installed in our building, as well as in all buildings in the SMSD. Our building now has beacon lights and hubs that support the network operating the system. This system will be available to support us through a variety of emergency incidents including medical emergencies, weather emergencies, and lockdowns.
Soon, all staff members will also receive badges with CrisisAlert buttons. Training will take place between now and the next few weeks.
We anticipate the system will be entirely in place districtwide in April. Once training is complete and the system is operational, we will communicate ahead of time and plan drills with students.
We look forward to having this resource that will better help all of us respond quickly to any type of emergency.
You can read more about the Centegix CrisisAlert system here. Please watch for more information in the coming weeks.
If you have any questions, please do feel free to contact me.
Please take a moment to review lunch room procedures.
Lunch Room Procedures
Visitor Procedures
Visitors may bring outside food for their students only or purchase an adult meal from the cafeteria.
Reserved seating is on the stage for you and your student.
Due to limited space, only your student may join you for lunch.
Only adults may visit during lunch, two per student.
No reservations are needed, check-in and out of the office.
While we love having visitors, please be mindful of the number of visits per student and the limited space in the cafeteria. Currently, we are not limiting the number of visits but we hope that every student can have the opportunity to sit on the stage with their visitor.
PTA Used Book Sale - Wednesday, April 11th
To Donate: We will take any children's and young adult books in good to near-mint condition. Please drop off books in the WV Office on weekdays, beginning April 1st.
The book sale will be open to students during the school day and they will visit with their class. It will also be open to the public from 3:15-4:00pm.
SMSD Micdup
The team behind Shawnee Mission Mic’d Up would like to share their bi-weekly episodes with our school families! The podcast is a conversational storytelling platform that allows our community to hear directly from our superintendent while highlighting the people, programs, and plans that make us ONE Shawnee Mission. New episodes drop every other Thursday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube and other podcasting platforms. Here’s how you can help!
NURSES CORNER
As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure the health and well-being of all students, we kindly ask that you continue to check your child's hair regularly for any signs of head lice. Early detection and treatment help prevent the spread to others. If you notice any lice or nits, please notify the school and follow recommended treatment procedures before your child returns.
Playground Procedures
Playground Procedures for Parents
Please review the above link to help keep our students safe on our playground.
Golden Rule Award - Due May 9th
The Golden Rule Award is given in honor of Pat Antonopoulos, a teacher who retired several years ago from Westwood View. Ms. Antonopoulos taught kindergarten and first grade and thought it was very important to treat other people as you would like to be treated.
Do you know someone who plays fair, who always has a good word to say about someone else, who usually treats everyone with respect and is kind? Please use the link below to nominate someone you think is deserving of this award, then give it to your teacher or email your nominee to Kathykeith@smsd.org . This person could be a parent, a scout leader, a coach, a teacher, or another student.
Featured Staff Member
Interesting Facts
- Born in California and lived in Oregon until the sixth grade before moving to Kansas.
- Always wanted to be a teacher for as long as she can remember!
- Attended SME High School.
MVP Training for Volunteers - Field Trips
As spring arrives, so do field trips. Please see the information below regarding MVP training if you are not trained and plan on attending upcoming field trips.
