Supporting Others

 

Super Bowl Food Drive

Our PTA is sponsoring a food drive to help West Genesee families in need over the February break. Here's how to play: bring your food donation to school and add it to the bin of the team you want to win Super Bowl LV. Food bins will be available at each entrance from January 27th through February 5th. If you need support during this time, please contact me (Mrs. Craig), or Mrs. Rose, our school counselor, or you can fill out this form. Each grade level is asked to bring in a certain type of food. See the flyer pictured below for details. Thank you in advance for your support.

Positivity Project

This week we are learning about the Other People Matter (OPM) element of supporting others when they struggle. According to the Positivity Project, supporting other people when they struggle is a critical piece of being human. There are many different approaches to helping people who are struggling. These can include: listening while they describe an event and their feelings about it, taking action to help people in need, or simply just being there and sitting together in silence. Talking through a problem is a common way to help a person who is going through a tough time. Please talk with your children this week about how they can help others who may be struggling.

Reminders

As we approach the midway point in the school year, I thought it might be a good idea revisit a few things:

• Please make sure your child brings in their completed screening slip daily
• Please keep your child home if they have any symptoms of illness
• Please make sure your child has a clean mask to wear each day
• Please make sure your child is dressed appropriately for the weather

Upcoming Dates - Mark your calendars!

• 1/27 - Super Bowl Food Drive begins
• 2/3 - Workshop Day, Half-Day for students
• 2/3 - Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m.
• 2/5 - Super Bowl Food Drive ends
• 2/5 - Valentines and treats are due to school
• 2/12 - Valentine's Day Parties
• 2/15 - 2/19 - February Break

Have a great week!

- Lisa

 

Perseverance

 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Perseverance is this week's character strength focus. Perseverance means you complete what you start despite obstacles; you never give up. This strength, coupled with last week's focus of hope and optimism, seems to be particularly important in our current circumstances. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, "We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope." Dr. King demonstrated perseverance through his endurance as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King persisted in doing what he knew was right, despite the many hardships that he and his family endured. He sums up this strength in his conclusion of this speech at Spelman College, by stating, "If you can't fly, run; if you can't run, walk; if you can't walk, crawl; but by all means keep moving." (Information provided by the Positivity Project.) For more information on perseverance, click here.

Students in Miss Spencer's and Mrs. Reilly's class read books about Dr. King and wrote their own "I Have a Dream" poems. Aiden read his on the announcements last Friday. Here is his poem:

I Have A Dream

I have a dream that one day I will live in a world where people will not be judged by their skin color.

I have a dream that one day people will respect the Earth and stop littering.

I have a dream that one day we will stop hunting and leave nature alone.

I have a dream today!

The picture below is from Mrs. Klablen's classroom where they also learned about Dr. King.

COVID Testing

Thank you to everyone that signed up for testing last Wednesday. We tested 77 students and 21 staff members. All negative (which is positive news)!

Save the Date!

Our PTA is planning to hold a Chipotle Night fundraiser on February 10th from 4:00 - 8:00. A portion of the earnings will support our PTA and school. You will also be able to place orders online with the app. Stay tuned for more information!

How are those desks looking?

Last Monday was National Clean Off Your Desk Day. Did you take the time to clean off your desk? I know that at least a few students did! Pictured below are Alex and Matthew's before and after photos. They look great!

Valentine's Day

Students planning to distribute valentines should bring them in to school by Friday, February 5th. The valentines should not have any treats (lollipops, candy, etc.) attached to them. Any treats for class parties must also be brought in by the 5th. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!

Upcoming Dates

1/19  Talk with the Superintendent, 7:00 p.m., Register Here

2/3    Half-Day, Superintendent's Conference Day, 11:15 Bus Dismissal

2/5    Valentine's cards and treats deadline

Have a great rest of the week!

- Lisa

  

East Hill Update

PTA Meeting this Wednesday

East Hill's January PTA meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 13th 6:30 via Zoom. Please RSVP to the East Hill PTA at wgehpta@westgenesee.org. You will be emailed the link for the Zoom and attachments just prior to the meeting. Hope to see you there!

COVID Testing 

Once again the slots filled quickly for the voluntary COVID-19 testing this Wednesday. Here is a short video from CNY Central showing what the testing process looks and feels like. It was filmed several weeks ago. If you have any questions regarding the testing, don't hesitate to contact me (lcraig@westgenesee.org) or call the main office (315-487-4648).

Talk with the Superintendent

Please join the West Genesee PTA/PTO District Council for a Talk with the Superintendent on January 19th starting at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. You will need to register in advance.

Prudence

Our character strength focus this week is prudence. Prudence means you plan for the future and achieve your goals by making careful everyday choices. It's the ability to do the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason. For more information on prudence, click here.

Remote Students
Did you know that today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day? I didn't either! Apparently it's always the second Monday in January. What does your work space look like? Is it tidy, clean and clear, or is it cluttered and disorganized? Take a few minutes to get organized and send me a picture of your nice, clean workspace and I might post it in next week's blog! Better yet, send me the before and after photos!

Workspace Before Cleaning

Workspace After Cleaning

Important Dates

Please remember that there is no school next Monday, January 18th, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and there is a half day on Wednesday, February 3rd for a Superintendent's Conference Day. Dismissal on 2/3 will be at 11:15 for buses, with parent pickup immediately following.

Have a great week!

- Lisa

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! 

I hope you enjoyed the holiday break with your families! I'm looking forward to 2021, that's for sure. I'm hopeful and optimistic that it will be a great year! Optimism is the character strength focus for this week. Optimism means you expect the best from the future and work to achieve it. For more about optimism from the Positivity Project, click here. 

School Resumes Tomorrow!

I'm looking forward to seeing the students and staff tomorrow. Please remind your children to come to school with their Chromebook, charger, and any other instructional materials that were sent home in December. Here are a few other important reminders:

• Have your child bring in their signed, completed purple slip daily
• Notify the school if your child is sick, has tested postive for COVID, or is in quarantine
• Keep your child home if they have any symptoms of illness
  

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Registration for the 2021-2022 school year opened virtually on December 1, 2020 and will go until March 31, 2021. This will allow our families to register their children from the comfort of their home or office. Please click here to start the Virtual Registration process. This will schedule a telemeeting with you.

Talk with the Superintendent

Please join the West Genesee PTA/PTO District Council for a Talk with the Superintendent on January 19th starting at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. You will need to register in advance.

Have a great week!