Westside Elementary

Introducing... Mrs. Rachel Hammack Special Education Teacher Thank you for your dedication to Westside! _______________________________________________________ Rachel Hammack has taught 2nd/3rd grade special education for 2 years. Prior to that she was a paraprofessional for 9 years. She has a degree in Fashion Merchandising and currently in school at NSU to receive her special education degree. She lives in Claremore with her husband Alex and they have four children, Austin, Tyler, Nathan, and Carrie. She has two daughter-in-laws, Kyler and Shelby and a son-in-law, Jack. Rachel has one grandson, Cohen, who is 4 month old. She graduated from Claremore High School, attended the University of Oklahoma and loves to watch any OU sport, babysit her grandson, and spend time with her family. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

As parents, how we speak to our children is so important. Showing your child you believe in them through encouraging words is something that will empower them in ways unimaginable as they grow up — and those feelings of support and reassurance will stick with them well into adulthood. Giving a child a sense of empowerment doesn't have to feel like you're giving up your authority; it just means you're validating who they are and reassuring them that they're enough, they're important, and they can do whatever they put their mind to. A great message for all of our Westside students. Read through this list of empowering phrases you should be saying to your child daily to help them to feel confident and encourage their sense of self. 1. Your dreams are important. 2. You can do anything you set your mind to. 3. You are enough. 4. You make me proud. 5. It's OK to feel scared. 6. You can't always change the things you can't control. 7. Your attitude can change any situation. 8. It's OK to make mistakes. 9. Even if you make a mistake, you can fix it. 10. Your opinion matters. 11. You can try again tomorrow. 12. Always be true to yourself. 13. Nobody is perfect. 14. You are a great friend. 15. Don't let anyone put down your ambitions. 16. You can change the world. 17. Being kind does not make you weak. 18. Your words are meaningful. 19. You deserve to be happy. 20. You have amazing ideas. 21. You don't have to be perfect to be great. 22. I believe in you. 23. Let's try it your way. 24. Follow your heart. 25. Never stop trying. 26. You can do it! 27. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing. 28. You are worth it. 29. Your ideas are great. 30. Anything is possible. 31. Dream big. 32. You have a choice. 33. You can say no. 34. You can say yes. 35. Don't be afraid to be you. 36. You're making a difference. 37. You're important to me. 38. I value you. 39. Go with your gut. 40. You're not too young to do anything. 41. You don't need to be just like your friends. 42. It's your decision. 43. Never give up. 44. You are stronger than you think. 45. If you believe in something, it's important. 46. Don't compare yourself to anybody else. 47. I trust you. 48. You don't have to be perfect, you just have to try. 49. You can do hard things. 50. Don't quit until you're proud. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

"We must never forget that Black History is American History" We recognize Black History every month, but in February we take that extra time to focus on Black History. You know names like Martin Luther King, Jr, Ruby Bridges, and Rosa Parks. But do you know Raven Wilkenson? Bessie Blount Griffin? Harry Belafonte? Throughout this month, we will be posting about some of these famous people in Black History and what they've done for the United States and the world. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Welcome to #FridayFunnies, where we share funny things that happen in the classroom! Today's edition comes from the land of short attention spans.....Pre-K. _______________________________________________________ Teacher talking to child face to face about his behavior. Student: You're really beautiful. Your eyelashes are like butterflies. (pause) But your eyebrows are like caterpillars. _________________________________________________________________ This concludes today's edition of #FridayFunnies, join us next Friday for more laughs! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Miss Ashton Palmer just wanted to let everyone know that she is on her way to becoming a professional YouTuber. You may want to ask for her autograph now. 😂Miss Palmer commented, "I do have one problem though. I can’t stop thinking about my kid’s parents seeing how weird I am. When I teach new vocab words I say them in funny voices and have the kids repeat it using that voice." The second picture is her “listening” to my students while they repeat it. I think I know how Dora feels now. #DoDoDoDoDoDora #Wherearewegoing? #clapclapclap #NowhereWe'redistancelearning #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing... Mrs. Susan McGill Fifth Grade Teacher Thank you for your dedication to Westside! ___________________________________________________________ Susan McGill is a Claremore graduate that attended all of her years in our school system. Following high school she earned her Bachelor degree from NSU with an Early Childhood and Elementary Education degree. She has been teaching since 1997 and has been at Westside since 2000! Susan is married to Shane and they have two kids, Noble and Grace, attending Claremore High School. Her dad, Darrell, is the biggest Claremore sports fan in town, rarely missing a game or activity! Their favorite activities are sporting events, shopping, cooking, and gardening! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE _______________________________________________________________ Students are working on fractions in class! Creating a variety of opportunities to practice making, adding, and subtracting fractions makes learning FUN!

It is important to keep our kids safe while online, and Claremore Public Schools is committed to providing software for our devices and resources for our parents. We have partnered with FamilyZoneUSA to ensure students’ cyber safety at school and at home. This #TechTipTuesday will show parents how to set up an account with FamilyZone and obtain the instructions on how to setup FamilyZone on all personal electronic devices that are not school-issued. https://youtu.be/Pi0u67bpoAk #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Well the verdict is in! Punxsutawney Phil did indeed see his shadow! That means 6 more weeks of winter, for those who believe.

Here's a riddle for you... Who has a heart of gold....Is always smiling....brings happiness wherever she goes??? If you guessed our school counselor, Teresa Hopper, You got it right! Mrs. Hopper is just about the sweetest person you will ever encounter! She brings lessons to each classroom that are fun and engaging. She teaches the kids about Honesty, Integrity, Respect, and many other life principles! She brought in a big paper heart. Each child took turns smashing, crinkling, and wading up the paper heart. Then she asked them to get the wrinkles out. No matter what you do, you can't unwrinkle a broken heart. She taught the students with this task that once you say something negative to someone, you can't take it back, and to think before you say or do something you'll regret. What a great lesson for our Westside students! Thank you Mrs. Hopper for all you do! You're the best! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing... Mrs. Michelle Sagely 5th Grade Teacher Thank you for your dedication to Westside! _____________________________________________________________ Mrs. Sagely graduated from the University of Oklahoma. She has taught for sixteen years, with the last ten being at Westside. Her son, Ashton, attends Will Rogers Jr. High, her daughters, Allison and Emma attend Westside, and she has a 10 month old, Olivia. Her husband, Michael, is a principal in Broken Arrow. When she's not teaching, she enjoys spending time with family, going on walks, playing games, and reading. _________________________________________________________________ Students earn rewards, such as reading to a younger class, when caught practicing one of the life principles. _________________________________________________________ Mrs. Sagely’s class is working on writing letters to their pen pals in Orebro, Sweden. This is such a neat opportunity for the students! They love learning about another culture, and oftentimes continue to stay in touch with their pen pals for years to come. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Chuck, woodchuck, Wood-shock, Ground Squirrel, Groundpig, Whistlepig, Whistler, Thickwood Badger, Canada Marmot, Monax, Moonack, Weenusk, Red monk and, among French Canadians in eastern Canada, Siffleux. No matter what you call them. Groundhog day is February 2nd. This is the time of year where we make predictions about what Punxsutawney Phil will see? Will he see sunshine? Will he see Shade? Is Spring around the corner? or Will there be 6 more weeks of Winter weather? Punxsutawney Phil makes the call! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Keep your distance 6 Feet apart! But don't forget we still have heart! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Tobi Riggs, a teacher at Roosa Elementary, tells us about the digital tools she received from the Claremore Public School Foundation and encourages you to participate in this year's virtual Brainiac Brawl. https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/article/390711

What are your goals for 2021? Westside wants to know! Comment on our Facebook post with your answers! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

This week's Fridays With Frazier features another finalist for the District Teacher of the Year, Andrea Ratcliff. Mrs. Ratcliff is an Art Teacher at Westside Elementary and also oversees the yearbook. Although she started teaching in 2006, she joined CPS in 2017. Mrs. Ratcliff and her husband, Chris, have two children who attend school at Westside and WRJH. She holds certification as a Secondary Principal (5-12), Elementary Principal (PK-8), Art (PK-12), and Physical Education/Health/Safety (PK-12). She taught and/or coached students from ages 4 to 24 throughout her career. She had an article published in a national magazine covering PLCs' principles and how they apply to sports teams. When asked what was her why and she told us, "The students, always the students. They are my why. The students, their enthusiasm and their creative minds." She felt an immediate draw at Westside when she brought her daughter in for a school tour. Westside felt like a place of belonging, a place of potential, and a place to grow professionally. Always giving credit to her fellow peers and administrator, she is also thankful for coworkers who have made the move from Arkansas a warm, welcoming environment & a place to grow as a teacher. Favorite Quote - "Your life is your life don't let it be clubbed into dank submission. be on the watch. there are ways out. there is light somewhere. it may not be much light but it beats the darkness. be on the watch. the gods will offer you chances. know them. take them. you can't beat death but you can beat death in life, sometimes. and the more often you learn to do it, the more light there will be. your life is your life. know it while you have it. you are marvelous the gods wait to delight in you." -- by Charles Bukowski Watch her in action in this video. https://youtu.be/Oy-_hznwOh0 #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Mrs. Sayre Whitaker, Westside Elementary teacher, wants you to know how CPSF has made a difference in her classroom and with her students. If you have ever received a grant from CPSF, comment on the CPS FB and tell us your story. Bonus points for a photo! https://www.claremore.k12.ok.us/article/388886 #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Welcome to #FridayFunnies, where we share funny things that happen in the classroom! Today's episode comes from a 3rd grade classroom. _______________________________________________________ I always talk to my kids about their light bulbs going off when they understand a concept that I have been teaching. One year a little boy was struggling in math and had been all year. We were going over a concept and all of a sudden he sat up straighter, smiled and said, "I get it!" Yes, he did. I told him that I saw his light bulb go off. He sat there with the most bewildered look on his face, looked above his own head and said, "where, I don't see it?" But he DID understand the concept that I had been teaching. Proud moment for me. _________________________________________________________________ This concludes today's edition of #FridayFunnies, join us next Friday for more laughs! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

4 Ways to Prepare for Distance Learning Fridays! 1. Find a quiet place in your house. Turn the tv off, make sure there's no distractions! 2. Make sure your device is charged and ready. Sometimes they need up update, so the night before. Plug it in and turn it on. Check for updates. Then shut it down and keep it plugged in overnight. 3. Don't give up! Everything is hard until it's easy. Keep working hard! Keep trying! Ask your teacher if you have questions. 4. Take a break if you need to. Sometimes you need to take a break, and then start again with a fresh set of eyes. #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Let's make a Mix Tape! Comment on our Facebook post, with a song you remember singing when you were in school! Some might remember singing the school fight song every day at school, others might remember singing "The Wheels on the Bus" or the "Days of the Week" sung to the tune of The Addams Family. What fond memory do you have of singing at school? #CPSZEBRAPRIDE

Introducing... Miss Tracie Frost Fifth Grade Teacher Thank you for your dedication to Westside! _______________________________________________________________ Tracie Frost has taught 5th grade at Westside for 2 years. Prior to that she was a paraprofessional 3 years. She lives in Claremore with her two children, Andrew, who is in 5th grade at Westside, and McKenzie who is in 7th grade at Will Rogers Junior high. She has a Bachelor's degree in Administration and is finishing her Master's in Elementary Education for the University of Phoenix. Mrs. Frost enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching her kids play sports, and hiking. Her favorite subject is Science! #CPSZEBRAPRIDE