Weekly Hoots

Dear Wise Owls Family,

As we approach Fall Break and the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you. This time of year offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on all that we are thankful for, and at Whitesville Elementary, we have so much to celebrate.

I am deeply grateful for our students, who bring energy, curiosity, and a love for learning into our school every day. Their growth and achievements continue to inspire all of us. I also want to recognize our dedicated teachers and staff, whose tireless commitment to nurturing, educating, and guiding our students creates the strong foundation of our school community.

To our families, your support and partnership mean so much. Whether through attending events, volunteering, or simply encouraging your child’s learning journey, your contributions strengthen the bond between home and school. Together, we create a thriving environment where every student can succeed.

As we pause for the Thanksgiving break, I hope you are able to enjoy time with loved ones, create special memories, and reflect on the blessings in your lives. Whether your traditions include a big family meal, volunteering in the community, or simply relaxing at home, may this holiday bring warmth and joy to your hearts.

On behalf of the entire team at WES, I wish you a happy, safe, and peaceful Thanksgiving. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, December 2nd.

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, November 25th

Monday Morning Parliament

Wednesday, November 27th - Friday, November 29th

Thanksgiving Break

Tuesday, December 3rd

Winter i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment (Reading)

Wednesday, December 4th

Winter i-Ready Diagnostic Assessment (Math)

Friday, December 6th

Moncks Corner Tree Lighting on Main (Our Chorus will perform a few songs)

Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders will be pitted against each other to determine which class is #1.

The Challenge:

We are seeking to determine which of our classes (3rd, 4th, and 5th grades) is the most efficient in terms of their multiplication skills (10x10 / 10x12).

Help your Wise Owl remember to review their multiplication and division facts so they are ready for the competition!

i-Ready is an online program for reading and/or mathematics that will help your student’s teacher(s) determine your student’s needs, personalize their learning, and monitor progress throughout the school year. i-Ready allows your teacher(s) to meet your student exactly where they are and provides data to increase your student’s learning gains.

Our students (Kindergarten - 5th) will be taking their Winter i-Ready Diagnostic (assessment) December 2nd through December 6th. We will use those scores to help guide instruction throughout the 3rd quarter.

Here are some testing tips for parents to ensure that students have the best experience:

• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest the night before the test.
• On the morning of the test, your child needs to get up in plenty of time so he/she won't feel rushed.
• Feed your child a good breakfast. Research shows that children do better on tests if they have had a good breakfast.
• Do as much as you can to make your child feel comfortable. Try not to say things to make him/her feel more nervous.
• Reassure your child that no matter the outcome of the test, you will still love him/her. Encourage them to simply do their best.
• Take an active role in your child's education throughout the school year. Let your child know you are interested in his/her learning by taking part in the entire process.
• When the scores are sent to you, talk to your child's teacher. This will help you understand them more clearly.
• Give your child praise even if he or she didn't do well on the test.

Monday, December 16th - Friday, December 20th

WES Holiday Market (at school)

Tuesday, December 17th

WES Chorus Holiday Performance / PTO Meeting / Evening Holiday Market

Friday, December 20th

Early Release Day

Monday, December 23rd - January 6th

Winter Break for Students

Students will be able to get some holiday shopping done at school. Natalie's Elf Shelf Holiday Shop will have some great, affordable gifts students will be able to buy for family members and loved ones.

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.

Mrs. Jackson is in her "official" 2nd year as a Resource Teacher and her 2nd year of Teachers of Tomorrow, an alternative certification program. She loves her students and is an integral part of the WES community, also serving as a coach on our Run Hard Team. A self-proclaimed nerd, Mrs. Jackson - soon to be Dr. Jackson has proven to be a "student whisperer," building aWESome relationships throughout campus!

Mrs. Gustin has been in the Media Center at WES for the past 3 years, moving into a role that supports our students in the area of STEAM more this school year. Hailing from the Windy City, Mrs. Gustin uses her position to make a positive impact school-wide, leading STEAM lessons and supporting students in the media center for research and choosing those "just right" and "high-interest" texts. An interesting fact about Mrs. Gustin is that she loves astrophysics! 🚀

Mrs. Heyward is in her first year as Compliance Secretary at WES, a position that we are pioneering in our district to support our special education programs and families. She brings a positive energy to our front office and to our school every day! Mrs. Heyward enjoys going out and participating in activities around the school and community and it shows through her hands-on approach to learning and growing in her position at WES 😁

Ms. Einloth is in her first year at WES after being an art teacher for a number of years previously. She has come with a vision and a focus in art that we are excited to see. Ms. E has done an amazing job of inspiring our students to find the artist within them while using the art room to be the "A" in STEAM, incorporating exploration and technology into her classes weekly. Ms. E loves the beach, considers herself a food (The FIG is her favorite), and she's a board game/card game enthusiast!

Ms. Alessi is in her 3rd year at WES and in her 3rd year as a 4th grade teacher. She has really grown into an exceptional teacher at WES, and is guaranteed to be in the top 5 favorite teacher list of EVERY student she has taught. She is collaborative and willing to support her fellow teachers, providing an aWESome experience at WES!

Saturday, February 8th - Sweetheart Dance

Friday, March 7th - Boosterthon Fun Run

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

Friday, May 23rd - 5th Grade Celebration

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.