Paw Prints

In an effort to create life-long learners, the staff at Westridge Elementary School, working closely with parents and community, strives to realize each child's fullest potential in the areas of personal, social, intellectual, emotional, and physical development.

Dear Westridge Families,

Welcome back to the 2024-2025 school year! I hope everyone had a wonderful summer break. I am thrilled to welcome all of you to Westridge Elementary this fall.

Westridge Elementary is a special place where students, teachers, and parents work together to create a positive learning environment for all students. The start of a new school year is an opportunity to meet new students, new teachers, and new families. Whether you are a returning Westridge family, or this will be your first year with us, I hope this school year will be filled with opportunities for child to learn, grow, and make wonderful friendships.

I am very excited to introduce and welcome our new staff members to the Westridge family. New staff include:

Molly Asher- HALE

Ryan Ehle- Head Custodian

Jennifer Eidem- Special Education

Mackenzie McGuire- Special Education

Christine Turner- Teacher Assistant

I am very excited to welcome them to Westridge. I know they are excited to meet all of our Westridge families as well.

We have two staff members with name changes, due to weddings held this summer.

Maddy Nelson is now Maddy Filler.

Abbi Wendt is now Abbi Gibson.

Congratulations to both Maddy and Abbi!

Please make note of all of the back to school activities listed below. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via email or phone.

Thank you,

Ryan Broshar

Principal- Westridge Elementary

402-289-2559, rbroshar@epsne.org

July 29th- Online Back to School registration opens

August 5th- Students schedules and teacher assignments viewable via PowerSchool.

August 6th- PTO Meeting @ 6:30 PM (All meetings are held in the WR library on the first Tuesday of the month.)

August 7th- All staff are back!

August 8th- Open House @ 5:30-6:30 PM

August 13th- FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

Subscribe to our calendar at- WR Calendar

Detailed information will be sent to you via email on July 29, 2024 to access the online registration process using your PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you did not receive the email or your student no longer attends Elkhorn Public Schools, please contact the Westridge office at 402-289-2559. When registrations are complete you will be able to log in to PowerSchool to see the name of your child’s teacher on Monday, Aug. 5th.

Open House is a great time for students to come into the school, meet their teacher, and drop off all of their school supplies. Open House will start at 5:30 PM and end at 6:30 PM. Teacher assignments will be available through Powerschool starting on Monday, August 5th. Please be sure to login and find your child's teacher prior to the Open House event.

There will also be Kona Ice available for purchase (see below). We hope that everyone will be able to join us that evening!

We are excited and looking forward to the first day of school! Starting at 7:55 AM, all students in grades 1st-5th will meet their teacher in the front of Westridge Elementary. You are welcome to utilize the drop-off/pick-up loop to drop you child off on the first day of school. You will need to remain in your vehicle when dropping off your child. If you are wanting to walk your child up to the building, then you will need to park in either the upper or lower parking lot. Please do not park your vehicle in the drop-off lane.

Between 8:10 and 8:15, teachers will take their students into the building to begin the first day of school. Students dropped off once teachers have gone into the building will enter through the main doors and head directly to class. There is no walking club on the first day of school.

Kindergarten students will start their first day of school at 9:00 AM. Please wait until 8:50 to arrive. Kindergarten teachers will be waiting for students out in front of the school. The students will find their teacher and wait with the teacher until it is time to start the school day. Then teachers will lead their students into the building. Parents and families will need to remain outside. They should tell their child good-bye outside and allow the students to walk into the building with the teacher. Parents and families should use the parking lots if they choose to walk their child up to the building. Again, please do not park in the drop-off lane. Kindergarten students will come to school at the regular time on the second day of school, Wednesday, August 14th. Walking club will also be available on the second day of school.

7:35- Breakfast is available in the cafeteria for all students interested.

7:55- Walking club begins

8:10- 1st Bell

8:15- Tardy Bell- School begins

3:06- Dismissal

Walking Club

Walking Club is from 7:55-8:10 (1st bell). Walking Club is supervised by Westridge teachers to allow families time to drop-off students before the official start of the school day. There is no signup for Walking Club. Students can join other students at Walking Club when they arrive at school. Walking Club takes place on the blacktop area of the playground. If there is inclement weather, then Walking Club is moved indoors to the gym.

There is no supervision for students prior to 7:55, unless students are having school breakfast in the cafeteria. Therefore, only students having breakfast should arrive before 7:55.

Elkhorn Kids Campus (EKC) does provide before and after school care for students. For more information please visit the Elkhorn Foundation website.

As was shared with all families in an email from Elkhorn Public Schools on July 24, updated cell phone expectations will be implemented at all EPS schools for the 2024-25 school year. Links to our student handbook and the EPS email that was sent to families can be found below.

2024-25 Elementary Student Handbook -- Cell Phone Policy found on Page 8

Elkhorn Public Schools Email sent to all EPS Families on July 24, 2024

Please take a moment ahead of the first day of school to review the updated expectations as outlined in the handbook, and discuss them with your student.

Dear Parents,

As we begin the new school year we wanted to give you the following information for student meals.

We ask that you keep your students account funded to prevent any issues with their purchases.

Applications for free/reduced meals for the current school year must be submitted annually to receive free/reduced meal prices and the additional benefits that can be provided to families who qualify. Instructions for completing an online or hard copy application can be found at https://www.elkhornweb.org/parents/lunch/

2024-2025 Breakfast & Lunch Prices

Breakfast:

• Elem: $1.80
• Middle: $2.00
• High: $2.15
• Adult: $2.70

Lunch

• Elem: $3.00
• Middle: $3.65
• High: $3.85
• Adult: $4.80

*1 milk is included with a purchased meal. Extra or single milk (without a purchased meal) is $0.55 each. Extra entrée and ala carte items have an additional charge.

**You will receive an email when your students account is below $5.00 daily as a reminder. The easiest way to avoid any issues is to set up an Auto-Deposit function on your students account, instructions can be found below.

MAKING DEPOSITS

• SETTING UP AN ONLINE ACCOUNT INSTRUCTIONS - This will allow you to make deposits, view the account, set reminders and add an auto-deposit option if preferred.
• EPS partners with SchoolPay for student lunch accounts. To add funds, go to www.schoolpay.com and log into to your user account.
• MAIL CHECKS payable to EPS, that include your student name and student ID Number to Sodexo, EPS Food Service, 1401 Veterans Drive, Elkhorn, NE 68022
• SEND LUNCH MONEY WITH YOUR STUDENT TO SCHOOL, include student name and student ID number preferably in an envelope for elementary students to give to their teacher.

We look forward to continuing to serve our students healthy and nutritious meals!

Elkhorn Food Service

1401 Veterans Drive Elkhorn, NE 68022

402-289-0443

Lunch@epsne.org

EPS partners with SchoolPay for an online payment system. To utilize the system, parents will need a user account. To access your account or create a new one, follow the below instructions:

1) Go to www.schoolpay.com and enter your login information

2) To create a new account:

a) Click the green “Create an Account” button

b) Enter the “Payer” Information

c) Choose “Elkhorn Public Schools”, then choose your student’s assigned school* and

enter his/her Student ID number and Last Name.

*If you have multiple students, choose one student to enroll first and complete the

School Name, Student ID, and Last Name for that student. Upon account creation,

you will have the option to add additional students.

d) You will receive an email to set your password. Click the Login link within the email, set

a new password, then log in to make purchases or add additional students as needed.

e) To add additional students to your account, follow the instructions at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0ireLb_ht8

If you have any questions regarding your account or the process for creating one, please contact School Pay Support at 888.886.9729 or support@schoolpay.com.

EPS and individual buildings use a parent messaging system called SchoolMessenger to send emails, phone calls, and text messages to parents sharing district information, monthly updates about building happenings, and weather-related school closings. To ensure receipt of these updates, please verify that all contact information listed in your parent PowerSchool account, including phone numbers and email addresses, is up to date and correct.

Additionally, this system allows recipients to “unsubscribe” from its mailing list; however, by “unsubscribing” you are completely removing your email address and phone number from both District and building lists. If you choose to unsubscribe, you will not receive any communication from your child’s assigned school or the EPS District. If you accidentally unsubscribe or decide you would like to begin receiving emails again after unsubscribing, contact your building secretary to change your communication status.

EPS utilizes text messages to efficiently share important information with parents, including weather-related school closings and bus route delays. To receive EPS text messages, please text “Yes” to 67587 to opt in.

Physical and Immunization Requirements

Nebraska law requires that all school children have a physical examination upon entry into school, at seventh grade, and when transferring from an out-of-state school. Students must also provide proof of a visual evaluation to include testing for amblyopia, strabismus, internal and external eye health and visual acuity upon entry into school and when transferring from an out-of-state school. The law also requires your child be immunized and provide proof of immunization before attending classes. All 7th grade students are required to have a Tdap vaccine. If you have not turned in your Kindergarten, 7th grade, or new out-of-state student’s paperwork, please do so ASAP. This may be uploaded during the registration process but please be sure to select “actual size” so your documents are legible.

Medication Policy

If your student requires any medication (over-the-counter and/or prescription) while at school, each medication must have a Medication Authorization Form signed by the parent and a physician before we can administer. All medications must be unexpired and provided in the original packaging and/or pharmacy container. For prescription medications, please only provide a maximum of 30 day supply at a time. All medication must be dropped off in the office by a parent or guardian. Please do not send any medications with your student.

Students with Asthma, Severe Allergies, Diabetes, and/or Seizures

If your child has asthma, severe allergies, diabetes, and/or seizures, please submit an Action Plan signed by your physician. Plans must be updated annually. Blank forms can be obtained at the school office, or your physician’s office can use whichever form they prefer.

Sick Child Policy

**Please refer to the information from the principal and handbook regarding district guidelines for illness. Thank You!

More information and medical forms can be found here.

Calling all Wildcat Families:

On Behalf of the Westridge PTO Board we would like to welcome you to our first

PTO Meeting of the 2024-2025 School Year.

Join us Tuesday, August 6th at 6:30 in the Westridge Elementary Media

Center.

Use this time to ask questions about next year, network with other parents, and

learn about upcoming events.

We do have school aged childcare for this meeting so your Wildcats can tag

along.

We look forward to seeing you and sharing what we have planned to make the

2004-2025 school year one to remember!

We hope you had an amazing Summer Wildcats!

Megan Cain -PTO President

How can you stay in the know?

Follow us on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/westridgeelkhorn

Make Sure you sign up for text alerts reminding you of all Westridge Elementary School Happenings.

TEXT @wewildcat to 81010

Email: rbroshar@epsne.org
Website: https://www.elkhornweb.org/westridge/
Location: 3100 North 206th Street, Elkhorn, NE, USA
Phone: 402-289-2559
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElkhornPSWR/
Twitter: @ElkhornPS_WR