Weekly Update

Dear WSES Families:

This update includes information about Oregon State Assessments, arrival times, a new wildcat columnist article and a message from our PTO.

Ocean Kuykendall

Principal

Westside Elementary School

• Oregon State Assessments will begin at WSES the week April 21st, 2025 for grades 3-5 only.
• The assessments are created by educators in Oregon and across several other states
• The assessments challenge your child to think critically and apply their knowledge across a variety of contexts
• The assessments go beyond multiple choice and ask your child to explain their answers
• The assessments act as a snapshot of your child’s progress that may be considered along with other pieces of information to determine your child’s academic success
• The assessments help schools and districts evaluate their systems of teaching and learning, as well as identify groups of students whose academic needs may not be adequately met
• The assessments help communities understand how well their public schools are performing

Oregon law (ORS 329.479) permits parents and adult students to annually opt-out of Oregon’s statewide assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and/or Mathematics by submitting an annual form to the school the student attends. Schools will provide parents with the appropriate form at least 30 days prior to the start of testing. Opt out forms are listed on the here

Late arrivals disrupt the rhythm of a class that is already in progress. Teachers invariably must stop class to welcome the new student and catch her/him up on the lesson in progress.

• Late students are typically rushed, thus their entry to school is accompanied with anxiety and stress – not a great way to begin anyone’s day.

• Students benefit from social time before school which does not exist when they are late. As other students develop morning routines and relationships, chronically tardy students miss out on those opportunities.

• Habits established in elementary and middle school persist through high school and into adulthood.

• Increased levels of tardiness may be associated with school difficulties throughout students’ academic and professional lives.

• Being part of a community requires mutual respect, including respecting others’ time. Habitual tardiness undermines crucial working relationships between students and teachers.

This week's Wildcat Columnist article is a biography on Mrs. Bauman written by fourth grader Frankie Bynum.

Link to article

Skate Nights are here and we need your support! Check out the link to see the time slots and roles for Skate Night Volunteers offerings for January, February and March. Volunteers are what make this evening happen and we can't do them without parent volunteers! Click here to check it out and sign up!

Fun Food Friday Volunteer Shifts are posted for January, February and March. Many 4th and 5th Grade parents are needed. Click here to check it out and sign up!

Click here to check it out and sign up!

Emergency Closure Make-Up Days are built into the school year calendar to ensure we meet the required number of instructional days, even in the event of an unexpected school closure due to weather, emergencies, or other circumstances.

If a school closure occurs, the missed day will be made up on the next designated Emergency Closure Make-Up Day. For example, if a closure happens on a weekday, the make-up will take place on the next scheduled make-up day, helping us keep students on track with their learning.

So far, we have been fortunate not to have any closures this year, and our calendar remains unchanged; however, if closures occur later in the year, we will notify families promptly about the adjustment to the calendar and the use of make-up days.

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.

1/17 No School

1/20 No School

1/21 No School

1/24 Skate Night

• 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