A Note From Mrs. Bennett...
Tomorrow marks the start of our Bears, Books, and Blankets Drive! Our student council is excited to collect new stuffed animals, books, and blankets to donate to the Children's Advocacy Center. Please remember that all items need to be new. Students can bring their donations to their homeroom teacher, and on Friday, March 14th, they’ll get to celebrate by wearing a hat or bringing a fuzzy friend!
Also, if you purchased pictures with the Easter Bunny, they’ll be happening tomorrow too!
This Friday, March 14th, is the last day before Spring Break and we will have early release at 12:00. We hope you have an exciting and restful Spring Break!
Thanks,
Sasha Bennett
Announcements
Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!
West Elementary’s yearbook for 2024-2025 is in the works! We are looking for pictures of events or daily activities at West. If you would like to share please follow the link below and enter our project number 529779.
https://studio.balfour.com/ezpix/.
Thanks in advance! -Mrs. LeCroy
Parent Volunteer Opportunities
Helping Hands
Parents and guardians meet once a month, as available, to help with projects in the work room that have been created by teachers. This includes activities like making copies, laminating, binding, etc. We have everything you'll need! The next workday is April 2nd. If you're unable to come but would still like to help, you can sign up to have things sent home with your child to complete when it's convenient for you. To sign up to help or have things sent home, please reach out to the committee chair, Haley Byrd at haleystans@yahoo.com
Arrival and Lunch
Parents and volunteers are invited to greet students in the morning, help at the crosswalk, and assist students in the cafeteria at lunch! If this is something you'd be interested in, please reach out to sbennett@lcisd.net
Upcoming Events
March 10
West Eagle Tour Shirt / Down Syndrome Awareness Day
Pictures with the Easter Bunny
March 10-14
Bears, Books and Blankets Drive for the Children's Advocacy Center.
March 14
West Pink Stars Shirt/ National Pi Day
Wear a hat/Bring a fuzzy friend if you participated in the drive
12:00 Early Release
March 17-21
Spring Break
No School
March 24
Professional Development for Staff / No School
March 25
West Cowboy Shirt
April 1
West Cowboy Shirt/ National Child Safety Month
April 2
Helping Hands
Eagle tour shirt/ School Librarian Day
April 7
Eagle Tour Shirt / Assistant Principal Day
April 9
Pre-K and Kinder Registration
April 10
Kindergarten cap and gown pictures
1st grade music performance
April 11
Fire drill 10:30
no guests in or out until the drill is over
1st grade field trip
Technology Connection
Reminders
Water Bottles
Parents, please make sure your child is bringing a water bottle to school each day!
Student Badges
All LCISD students have been issued ID badges. The purpose of the badges is to maintain the district's high standard of safety and security and to help streamline a number of student and teacher activities. Click here for more information about student ID badges. Students will have one on their backpacks as well to help with dismissal. The first replacement badge is given to the student, but each following one will be a charge of $5.
How-to Add and Change Emergency Contacts
If you are checking your student out, please remember that a driver’s license is required. We will take a picture each time, and if you have multiple children at West, we’ll take a picture for each. Your patience is appreciated!
If someone else is checking out your child, ensure they are on the emergency list in Skyward with permission marked "yes" to pick up your child. We cannot allow anyone to leave with your child if they aren't listed, even an older sibling. Please note, the office cannot make changes to Skyward contacts or accept verbal permission over the phone—this must be done by the parent/guardian in Skyward.
If you give your car tag to another person, you are consenting for them to pick up your child in the parent pick-up lane.
Starting in September, we will no longer accept Door Dash or other food deliveries for students, as we will be installing a buzzer system for visitors. This system may cause entry delays, and food deliveries could add to the congestion. Parents are still welcome to bring lunch for their child and dine together during their child's lunch time.
Check out the video below for a guide on how to add and change emergency contacts in Skyward. The video also explains how to add people who can check out your student(s).
Dear Families,
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve security, we need your help during one of the most critical times of our day—dismissal. To ensure a safe and smooth process, please be aware of the following important times:
2:00 PM – Change of Dismissal Closes:
From 7:15 AM to 2:00 PM, any changes to your child's regular dismissal can be made by contacting the West office. You can do this via phone or email using the contact information listed in Skyward.3:00 PM – Early Sign-Outs End:
Parents/guardians can sign their child out for early dismissal until 3:00 PM. After this time, students will need to follow their regular dismissal routine. Parents are welcome to wait in the office until 3:30 PM when dismissal ends to sign their child out in the office.
These deadlines help our office and teaching staff focus on ensuring all students are safely transitioned to the correct dismissal location and supervised while buses, daycare vans, and vehicles are loaded.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping our school safe!
Let's Celebrate Our Staff!
Staff Member of the Month
Our teachers are wonderful. Each month we celebrate a staff member of the month. If you would like to nominate a West staff member,
Here is a link to do so. Your words of affirmation and encouragement mean so much to them.
Teacher on the Rise
Is there a West teacher you or your student thinks goes above and beyond? If so, nominate them for the Mrs. Baird’s “Teacher on the Rise” award. Winning teachers receive great prizes, and the students who nominate them will also receive a $50 gift card. Parents, guardians, and students can nominate a teacher. To access the nomination form click here. Each month a teacher will be selected across the south plains.
Staff Spotlight
Maggie Bedwell
Our Staff Spotlight this week is first-grade teacher, Ms. Bedwell! Here is a little bit about her: "I am from Amarillo, and I have grown up traveling to Lubbock to visit family and attend Texas Tech football games for as long as I can remember! The first two years of my college career, I attended the University of Arkansas. When COVID hit, I decided to transfer to Texas Tech to be a little bit closer to home. I graduated in 2022 with my Bachelor's degree in Education EC-6. I am currently in my third year of teaching and my first year teaching 1st Grade. I have the most amazing team and such special kiddos in my class. West has been such a blessing to me, and every member of the staff works diligently to serve, care for, and celebrate their students. The leadership of West makes it a place where we can all grow in our educational experiences and have fun while doing it! I am truly thankful for the opportunity to be a part of this staff and learn from them every day. My students have been such a bright spot in my life, and their eagerness to learn fuels my desire to be the best teacher that I can be. When I am not teaching, you may find me hanging out with my friends and family, playing with my Golden Retriever, reading a book, or shopping! I am so grateful to be a First Grade teacher at West!"
Attendance
ATTENDANCE AND DISMISSAL CHANGES
Please inform the office via email (twithtrow@lcisd, khilton@lcisd.net, and kstrube@lcisd.net) or phone 806-993-2345 of any changes to dismissal plans by 2:00pm. Note that students cannot be signed out between 3:00 and 3:30 PM, as staff are focused on ensuring a safe and orderly dismissal process.
All Dismissal Changes must be received by 2:00 pm.
Watch D.O.G.S.
District Announcements
Optional Student Insurance
Only $30/year for each child
www.texaskidsfirst.com
Adopt-a-Pirate
LCISD students in grades PK-5 can adopt a Pirate Varsity Baseball player for the upcoming season! The cost is $50, which includes an Adopt-a-Pirate t-shirt and child's admission into home games! For more information and to sign up, please see the flyer below! The deadline to register is Wednesday, February 5!
If you have questions about Adopt-a-Pirate, please email erica@elitehomeslubbock.com.