Westside Elementary

Girls Scouts have 2 exciting events coming up for PreK - 5th graders. Girls Pre-K - 1st grade are invited to join us for a Science Fun Party! Come learn about the science of birds and make a bird feeder, while hearing about how you can become a Girl Scout along the way! gseok.org/daisystem Girls 2nd - 4th grade - come learn about the science of crystals and make your very own salt crystal, while hearing about how you can become a Girl Scout along the way! gseok.org/crystal

Thomas Jefferson, Leonardo da Vinci, Ulysses S. Grant, Maya Angelou, Booker T. Washington, Charlotte Bronte... What do all of these famous people have in common? APRIL Birthdays! Today we celebrate you April Birthdays! We hope you have a GREAT birthday month! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Reading Begins at Home Ages 4-6 *After you read a book with your child, choose a few words from the story that begin with the same letter and sound. Say the first sound in words like /d/ in dog and point out the other words that start with the same sound (like day and dig). *Point out words that rhyme in the story, such as bat, mat, and cat. *Introduce new words to your child, like bow and stern, which mean the front of a boat and the back of a boat. Point out signs and labels that have letters, like street signs, and ask your child to find a specific letter, like m in Main Street. *Talk with your child about the letters of the alphabet and notice them in books, like r for red and b for book. *Talk with your child about the stories you read together and make connections to things that happen in your own world. *Ask questions when you read with your child to help him or her follow along and understand the story. *Help your child hear words that rhyme, like moose, goose, and caboose. *Encourage your child to stage a puppet show based on a favorite book. Suggested Reading... *Books and magazines with appealing pictures that match your child's age and interests. *Also read signs, labels, and logos. Make it a game! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE #ZEBRASREADTHEWAY

Happy Paraprofessionals day! We are so thankful and grateful for our paras! We couldn't do it without you! Thank you so much for all your hard work! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

April 5th-9th is National Library Week. School libraries are vital to our schools, and city libraries are vital to our communities. We are so thankful for our awesome new library! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Just Breathe... Take this time to follow this activity. Breathe and clear your mind. Make sure you're in a quiet area! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Reading begins at home. Children tend to do well at reading when read to at home. They value your opinion and if you enjoy reading with them, they'll enjoy reading with you. For children Ages 2-4... *Read "with" your child, not "at" your child. As you read to your child, interject your own thoughts or emotions about the story as it unfolds. By sharing thoughts about the characters, the plot, the pictures, or what might happen next, you show your child that you are enthusiastic and thinking about what is being read. Similarly, encourage your child to talk about what was just read. Reading comprehension is as important as the actual ability to read. *Ask questions. If your child is stumped, reread part of the book. *Make reading fun! Read books together that will interest your child. Use expression in your voice when you read different roles. Encourage your child to repeat the story in his or her own words. *Enjoy your reading time together. There is nothing more rewarding than watching your child grow and learn. Be certain to praise your child for the knowledge gained from books and for making the effort to read. *Read with your child every day. Twenty minutes is preferable but even if it is only for five minutes, you are encouraging a habit that will last a lifetime. *Encourage your child to pretend to read a book--hold the book, go from page to page, say words, and tell a story. *Take your child to the library often and encourage him or her to choose books for you to read together. *Be patient when your child wants to read a favorite book over and over again. Suggest Reading for Ages 2-4 *Picture Books with rhythm, rhyme, and repetition. *Simple nonfiction books with short sentences and photographs. *Fiction books with short, simple text. At this age, the attention span of children is short and they don't have the developmental capability to sit through stories that are too long. *Interactive books with touch-and-feel texture pages or flaps that lift to reveal peak-a-boo pictures are excellent choices. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE #ZEBRASREADTHEWAY

Keep focused! Make sure you have these items around you so you can stay focused while distance learning or doing your virtual school work! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

The McDonald’s owner/operators in Green Country, Oklahoma will once again offer a free healthy breakfast on the first day of state testing to students in grades 3-8 accompanied by a parent or guardian; and teachers and administrators with valid ID. The student breakfast will include: One (1) order of Fruit and Maple Oatmeal, choice one(1) of low fat milk of Honest Kids® apple juice, and one (1) apple slices. The teacher and administrator breakfast will consist of: Choice of one (1) Egg McMuffin or Fruit and Maple Oatmeal, one (1) any-sized hot or iced drip coffee, and one (1) apple slices. This offer is valid on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 from 6-9 a.m. at participating McDonald’s in Rogers County. The offer is valid as an in-restaurant take out only, and students must accompany their parents to redeem the offer. There is a limit of one free breakfast per student. Please note that McDonald’s Corporation follows strict COVID-19 safety protocol and anyone entering a restaurant to pick up food must wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines. On behalf of the owner/operators of the McDonald’s restaurants in Green Country we remain proud supporters of the communities where we live, work, and play. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

While there is a developmental sequence of stages in literacy, not all children learn to read at exactly the same time. Young children needs A LOT of opportunities to practice reading in order to grow as literacy learners. Learning to read and developing literacy skills take time. Follow these tips to encourage your child to find the joy and fun in reading. 💕Read with your child every day and let your child see you reading, whether it's the newspaper, a magazine, or a best seller. 💕Get your child a library card and visit the library often. (Will Rogers Library has a summer reading program where you child can earn cool prizes!) 💕Discuss the books your child is reading in school and the ones you have read at home. 💕Take your child to story times at the library, author visits at a local bookstore, and other public programs that foster a love of books and reading. 💕Create a comfortable reading space for your child in your home. 💕Give your child paper and crayons so he or she can scribble, make pictures, and create his or her own book. 💕Play rhyming and word games, sing silly songs, or write stories and poems together. 💕Talk about daily activities to help your child develop language skills. 💕Read street signs, billboards, menus, and labels out loud. 💕Carry books to read to your child wherever you go. It is important to remember that what doesn't work one day may work well the next day. Keep trying! Keep Reading! and #ZebrasReadtheWay

Happy Easter! We’d love to share your holiday with you. Comment your favorite Easter photo, past or present, & tag your school on the Claremore Public School Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ClaremorePublicSchools #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

SAVE THE DATE! Westside's Family Fun Night is scheduled for May 7th, 2021! Mark your calendars! It's sure to be a ton of fun! It will be outdoors this year! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Sign up for Zebra Stripes Summer Camp! #CPAZEBRAPRIDE

☀CPS Zebra Stripes Summer Camp☀ Now Accepting Applications Kindergarten - Fifth Grade 2 Sessions ☀June 1 - July 2 ☀July 12 - August 6 6:30AM - 6PM Full Time l Part-Time l Drop-In Rates Available Find more information here: https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/page/zebra-stripes-child-care #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

The fourteenth annual World Autism Appreciation Day is April 2, 2021. Joined by the international community, hundreds of thousands of landmarks, buildings, homes and communities around the world come together on April 2, Autism Appreciation Day, in recognition of Austistic people and those who love and support them. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE #GoGoldForAustism

Welcome to #FridayFunnies, where we share funny things that happen in the classroom! For today's edition we have a hilarious story from the early childhood side of the building. ______________________________________________________________________ In the car rider line..... Student A: I’m going to teach here when I grow up, like you! Teacher: I’d love that! I’d love to teach with you! Student A: you’ll need to make me a space at your desk and get me a phone. Teacher: oh! You mean teach in my room with me! Student A: yes!! My mimi is going to buy me a phone. And I’m going to learn math and then I’ll grow up. You’re already grown up. Then I’ll do literacy centers and pull sticks. Teacher: it sounds like you have a plan. Student B: (that had been eavesdropping the whole time): what is she saying? Teacher: she wants to teach with me when she grows up. Student B: she does know that when she grows up you’ll probably be in heaven, right? __________________________________________________ This concludes today's edition of #FridayFunnies, join us next Friday for more laughs! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Imagine your excitement as a student to hear your teacher say "Today class, we are going to make brownies!!". However, she then tells you "Please pull out your scissors, while I pass out the construction paper". Imagine the perplexed look on your face and your friends faces. 🤔😕🥴🤭 When you see the construction paper you know. and your teacher shouts out, "APRIL FOOLS!" This happens every year in some classes. This special teacher then gave her class real edible "brownies". 💗❤💗❤💗 Hope you have a happy April Fool's day! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

National Crayon Day on March 31 sparks fond memories of childhood creations in full color as we celebrate one of America’s most beloved toys, the crayon! Crayons delight our senses not just with their brilliant colors but also with their distinct smell, the feel of them in our hands, and for some kids, the waxy taste. 😋 With over 12 million crayons made daily, one is never far from reach. So, grab your box of 64 crayons, sharpener included, and get ready for some artistic expression and nostalgia. HISTORY OF NATIONAL CRAYON DAY Crayons have a colorful history. While hued wax molds have existed for centuries, the modern-day crayon got its start in the 1900s. Crayola crayons were introduced in 1903 by Binney & Smith as a safer and cheaper alternative to the art utensils in use at that time. Binney & Smith premiered their famous eight-pack of crayons with the color line-up: Black, Brown, Orange, Violet, Blue, Green, Red, and Yellow. This color mix, along with their names, remained unchanged for 45 years. Since then, many colors have been added, color names and packaging have changed, and color styles such as neon, metallics, and glitter have emerged. A few colors have even been retired from the color wheel, typically on March 31. The Crayola crayon has a special place in the hearts of Americans and Americana. It was one of the original inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame in November 1999. It is estimated the average American will have used 730 crayons by their 10th birthday. Even Mr. Fred Rogers has had his hand in the history of crayons by molding the official 100 billionth crayon in February 1996 at the Crayola plant in Easton. Crayons not only add color to our lives, but they’ve also been held as an analogy for the colorfulness of the human race and our ability to live together in a diverse world. Robert Fulghum, the American author, once said, “We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box.” #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

🐣 CPS will be closed Friday, April 2, 2021 for a egg-ceptional Easter holiday weekend. 🐣 We are egg-cited to celebrate the holiday with our families. Anyone got a good egg pun to crack us up? Share it in the comments. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Due to the holiday Friday, April 2nd - Weekend meals for distance learners will be available for pick up Thursday, April 1st. Pick-up times and location will remain the same. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE