A Note from Mrs. Bennett ...

Dear West Families,

October is almost here! We hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend! We’ve got a lot of exciting events planned, so be sure to mark your calendars with the important dates listed below.

We’d also like to remind you that our new buzz-in system is now in place. Please expect a brief delay when entering the building, as the office staff may assist other parents, answer phone calls, or attend to other tasks. If you plan to join your child for lunch, don’t forget to bring your ID! Also, remember to sign out at the office and drop off your visitor badge when you leave.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we continue to ensure the safety and smooth operations of our school!

Sincerely,

Sasha Bennett, Principal

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Letter Tracing

This is a one-on-one activity that we do with Kinder and 1st grade students. Volunteers will be trained on how this activity works and will sit with students to guide them in learning and tracing their letters. This will be Monday-Thursday starting on August 19th for one hour each day. This also involves volunteer training and the completion of a volunteer application. Complete the Volunteer Application with the district HERE.

If you are interested in helping, please reach out to Sasha Bennett at sbennett@lcisd.net.

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 October 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, Kristin Compton at kristincompton0201@gmail.com

B.O.B. Narnia Creation

Calling all creative types! Our B.O.B. teams in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades are reading The Chronicles of Narnia, and we want to bring the story to life! We have a lot of decorations and props that we've used in the past to transform an empty classroom into the land of Narnia, and we will need some help to make it happen! Students will venture through the wardrobe into the land of Narnia on November 1st, so setup will take place for a few weeks prior. If this sounds like something you'd be interested in helping with, please reach out to sbennett@lcisd.net or tvaughn@lcisd.net

Upcoming Events

Oct. 1

Wear Pink Neon shirt/ BOB books released for 3rd - 5th grade

Oct. 2

Helping Hands / Wear West Eagle shirt

Oct. 7

Wear West Eagle shirt / Spirit Night at Blue Sky

Oct. 10

4th Grade Field Trip

Oct. 14

Student/ Staff Holiday

Oct. 15

Wear Wild West Shirt / Digital Citizenship Week begins

Oct. 15-18

Candy Drive for Fall Festival

Oct. 18

Pumpkin Patch on campus

Oct. 21-25

Pumpkin Decorating Contest

Oct. 21

Wear Pink Neon Shirt

Oct. 22

Fall Festival 6:00

Oct. 28

Wear Wild West Shirt / Red Ribbon Week begins

Oct. 29

5th grade Field Trip to LCHS

Nov. 1

2nd grade Field Trip / B.O.B. Narnia adventure

Nov. 4

UIL/No School for students not participating in UIL

Digital Connection

Digital Citizenship Family Tip

Upcoming Events

Battle of the Books

We are thrilled to share that our school is gearing up for the Battle of the Books, a fun and exciting event designed specifically for our 3rd - 5th grade elementary students! This year, students will dive into a selection of captivating books and participate in a variety of enjoyable activities and spirited reading challenges. This engaging and educational competition not only promotes a love for reading but also encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity. We believe this will be a wonderful opportunity for our young readers to challenge themselves and share their enthusiasm for books. It’s a fantastic way for students to explore new stories and enjoy reading in a dynamic and interactive setting.

Be sure to watch for signups starting on September 23rd!

If you have any questions or are interested in helping out, please don’t hesitate to contact our librarian, Terri Vaughn at tvaughn@lcisd.net.

Here is a short video to include as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryy2KUA15zE

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).

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.