Westside Elementary

Mark your calendars... February 4th is our District-wide Parent/Teacher Conference Night from 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM. We will begin scheduling appointments soon. Links will be posted on all our communication platforms to schedule your conference next week. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Every day.... Don't forget to bring The BIG Three! Your Mask, Your Fully Charged Device, and Your Water Bottle! You will need these every day! Don't forget! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing.... Miss Cynthia Nicks Third Grade Teacher Thank you for your dedication to Westside! _______________________________________________________ I attended college at Oklahoma State University. Go Pokes! I have been at Westside for 10 wonderful years and have been teaching 3rd grade for nine of those years. I could not imagine my life without teaching. It is my passion and I am beyond lucky to do what I love each day. I have an amazing team I work with. We strive to give our kids the best education we can. _____________________________________________________________ In my room, we have been working on responsibility and self-discipline. We have been working on setting goals and working toward those goals in the New Year. In addition, we have been working on staying focused and organized in order to help us reach our goals. __________________________________________________________ These students did a project over Native American Tribes. The students had a tribe assigned to research and write a report over as well as having a project to go with the report. The students get up and present their reports and projects to the class practicing their public speaking skills and listening skills as well. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Stickers! 💕🦓🖤😍⚽⚾😋🥎🏈🏐😍🏀🎵🎸🍕🍔🍟🍭🍦Just the word has a happy feel to it. And why wouldn’t it? We love stickers. They are all around us and a part of every day life, though we don’t often realize it. January 13 is National Sticker Day and it’s the perfect day to go crazy with your love of them! The first stickers began as tax and postage stamps in the 1800s, but they have come a long way since then and there are a variety of uses and styles today. There are political stickers, band stickers, and bumper stickers. There are funny, cute, congratulatory, and animal stickers. They are especially popular with children, who often collect them in sticker books, but are for everyone and every taste, regardless of age. When a child receives a sticker they wear it like a badge of honor on their shirt, sometimes their face. On January 13, unleash your inner child and get creative with some stickers! Send a special pack of stickers to your child's teacher! They'll love it! The students will too! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing... Mrs. Ruth Stone Thank you for your dedication to Westside! ______________________________________________ This is Ruth Stone. She graduated from Langston University in Tulsa through UCAT. She has taught 3rd grade at Westside Elementary for 31 years. She has a husband, Ross, and together they have 3 sons, 3 daughter-in-laws and 5 grandchildren! Ross and Ruth love spending time together shopping and playing tennis. She loves when she sees the "light bulb" go off when students understand a concept that she taught. It makes her heart very proud! She has been working on Author's Purpose and the children enjoyed working on their "special" pies that are now hanging in our 3rd grade hallway. I love being a 3rd grade teacher! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Congratulations to Mrs. Andrea Ratcliff! She is our Westside Teacher of the year! She is ALSO one of two finalist for District Teacher of the Year! She is so deserving of this honor! We are so proud of her hard work and her heart work! She loves every single student at Westside fiercely! She does everything she can to reach all students and to have a connection with each student! If you see Mrs. Ratcliff tell her Congratulations! She earned it! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Due to Covid and school closure at the end of last year we did not have a chance to acknowledge the running club leaders for the 2019-2020 school year. Here are the Final Results: Boy Top Runners: 1st Philip Eckert 2nd Raul Perez 3rd Beckham Davenport Girl Top Runners: 1st Finley Faulconer 2nd Elana Enyart 3rd Marlissa Basks Congratulations to these fine Runners! We are so proud of you all! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE **Due to the Covid, the 2020-2021 Running Club is on hold until further notice.**

@Claremore Public School Foundation's biggest fundraiser of the year will look a little different this year due to Covid-19 BUT it will still be fun and competitive with all the #CPSZEBRAPRIDE bragging rights! Please go to their website to register for this virtual competition! https://claremorepublicschoolsfoundation.org/events/

National Fourth Graders Day is celebrated on the second Monday in January, which this year is January 11th. Fourth-grade students are taking on more challenges in Math, Reading, Writing, Social Studies, Science, as well as Art, Music, World Language, and Physical Education. They work hard, yet still are guided by a wonderful imagination. They really shine when they are in charge of their own learning and usually shimmer brightest when they are able to use their creativity along with their newly-acquired skills. Let’s celebrate the magic of being 9 or 10 and show the world what fourth graders can do! HISTORY OF NATIONAL FOURTH GRADERS DAY National Fourth Graders Day was originally the suggestion of two teachers from New Jersey. Jillian Hagberg and Donna Hennessy are both fourth-grade teachers at the Community Charter School of Paterson who begin each day by having a discussion with their students about the national holiday being observed that day. The fourth graders love learning about the various holidays on the calendar, but noticed that one holiday was missing, National Fourth Graders Day. Fourth grade is a huge transitional stage for kids. Elementary schools started getting promoted in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1647. Since then, students have been stepping their way up the educational and social ladder. In fourth grade, academic expectations take a big leap, friendships become more genuine, and personalities start taking shape. There is also more emphasis on writing in fourth grade. Along with learning different writing styles, kids have to write longer assignments and learn to be more organized. An important aspect of fourth grade is to introduce kids to the larger society — how to behave in social situations, honing their communication skills while interacting with others, creating lasting friendships, and respecting those in authority, starting with their teachers. Building close relationships with their classmates and with their class teacher becomes more apparent, as children become more aware of their surroundings. This supportive and harmonious social environment encourages character development and personality growth in children to form what is essentially the extension of a happy family. The 4th Grade Class of 2021 This has been a school year like no other and we want to pay a special tribute to the fourth graders who have persevered through the pandemic and still created some amazing work. The Teachers of the 4th Grade Class of 2021 This year has especially been hard on teachers. Teachers have had to learn new skills, work with technology, more than ever before. Teachers this year have had to be ready at the drop of a hat to go on quarantine and teach from home. These 4th grade teachers have handled it with grace and ease! _______________________________________________________________ We are so proud of our 4th graders and 4th grade teachers and all their hard work! #itsagreatdaytobeazebra #itsagreatdaytobea4thgrader #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

The power of the mind is becoming increasingly more apparent. That’s why you’re seeing focus on activities such as mindset development, meditation, and mindfulness. Our mindset forms the foundation and plays a big role in our overall success and happiness. That’s why it’s so important for us to find ways to improve our mindset. Failing to do so puts you at a significant disadvantage as you will allow your mindset to hold you back. That is why we encourage you to start daily affirmations with your child! Daily affirmations are a great way to build confidence in kids! ____________________________________________________________________ Tell your child: "You are special and you have something you can feel positive about every single day!" Try out these Affirmations! You will LOVE the difference it makes in the life of your child! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

National Law Enforcement Day is a day that is dear to our hearts! We appreciate our School Resource Officers SO much, as well as the Claremore Police Department and Rogers County Sheriff's Office. Thank you all of Law Enforcement in Claremore for ALL you do! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Congratulations to the CPS District Teacher of the Year Finalists... 🥇 Mrs. Andrea Ratcliff teaches Art at Westside Elementary. 🥇 Mrs. Karin Howell teaches 2nd grade at Claremont Elementary. These teachers truly radiate what it means to have #CPSZEBRAPRIDE!

Welcome to this week's edition of #FridayFunnies where we share funny things from the classroom. This week's episode, if you will, comes from a Kindergarten classroom. Teacher (while holding up a picture card of a bird): "Class, this bird's name starts with an R. What is the name of this bird?" Student (quite agitated) : "How are we supposed to know his name?" __________________________________________________________________ This concludes our first #FridayFunnies thank you and as always... It's a great day to be a ZEBRA! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Please make sure to send a jacket or coat with your child! If the temperature is above 32 degrees including the wind chill, we go outside to recess! Your child will thank you! Bundle up! It's cold outside! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

To our Westside Educators, on behalf of the children you serve, THANK YOU for trying to do your best during these difficult times. You are seen. You are appreciated. You are loved. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

The federal government has extended the Free breakfast and lunch program through the remainder of the school year. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

National Cuddle Up Day falls on January 6 for a very important reason. Since January has some of the coldest temperatures of the year, it’s a great excuse to warm up by cuddling with those closest to you! Plus, if you’ve got a fireplace, cozy blankets, or even a puppy, it’s even better. ________________________________________________________________ Students in Mrs. Book's class were in for a treat this week! Mrs. Book for Christmas received this super cute gift (Otis the dachshund) and brought him to share with her class! _________________________________________________________________ Did you know you can even pay someone to let you cuddle with their puppies (in certain cities)? Find a puppy and get ready to cuddle up this January!

National Cuddle Up Day falls on January 6 for a very important reason. Since January has some of the coldest temperatures of the year, it’s a great excuse to warm up by cuddling with those closest to you! Plus, if you’ve got a fireplace, cozy blankets, or even a puppy, it’s even better. ________________________________________________________________ Students in Mrs. Book's class were in for a treat this week! Mrs. Book for Christmas received this super cute gift (Otis the dachshund) and brought him to share with her class! _________________________________________________________________ Did you know you can even pay someone to let you cuddle with their puppies (in certain cities)? Find a puppy and get ready to cuddle up this January!

Introducing.... Mrs. Karly Banks Second Grade Teacher Thank you for your dedication to Westside! ____________________________________________________________ Karly Banks has worked for Claremore Public Schools for eight years and has taught second grade for three years. She received her degree from Rogers State University. Her husband of two years, Kyle Banks, also works at Westside. Their son, Brayden, attends school at Will Rogers Jr High. _____________________________________________________________________ " I am grateful to have a job I love and students I adore! When I’m not teaching I enjoy hiking, kayaking, going to concerts, and spending time with friends and family" says Mrs. Banks. _____________________________________________________________________ Students receive brag bracelets for following the 8 Expectations and our Life Principles. _____________________________________________________________________ After reading the story, “Night Tree” Mrs. Banks’ Class extends their learning by creating bird feeders like the characters from the book. ______________________________________________________________________ We spent a lot of time sharing about the traditions we observe. One student brought a special Rosca de Reyes or Three Kings Cake to share a special tradition she celebrates.

A picture is worth a thousand words. We hear it all the time. It can be especially helpful when communicating in our digital world to show a picture of something rather than typing it out. Or, maybe there is a certain point to be made by saving a portion of what is on the computer screen. Using the Windows Snip & Sketch application will help accomplish that. This #TechTipTuesday will demonstrate the many ways Microsoft’s Snip & Sketch can be used to capture images of what is on a computer screen and shared, posted, or saved for later reference. https://youtu.be/PZ_F60PbNPw