EMAILEmail is a great way to com-municate with your child’s teacher. The Westside email format is as follows:Lastname.Firstname@west-side66.net Sample: Vann.Cindy@westside66.net

MissionThe mission of Westbrook Elementary School, together with family and community involvement, is to ensure our students a successful academic and social education that provides the foundation for life-long learning.

Summer 2016

Open HousePlease join us for our Open House on Monday, August 8th, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. This is a chance for you and your child to meet their teach-er and see their classroom. Of course, I am sure seeing all their friends will also be a thrilling part of the event. We hope to see you there!

Families and Friends of WestbrookLife is unpredictable and you never know what is coming next. Don’t ever get too comfortable. Always be ready to change. Unknown

This quote fits my situation. When I left Westbrook four years ago it was my intention to finish my Westside career at the Middle School. Then much to my surprise, I was asked to return to Westbrook as Mr. Jagels was moving to Oakdale. Westbrook has been a joy in my life, and I am very happy to come back “home” to the staff and families that I have grown to love. I am also very excited to meet the next families that are now attending Westbrook. I am looking forward to a year of learning, working together, and growing.

Just as change has happened with me, we also have some staff changes as well. Please help me welcome, Amy Falcone, Teacher Leader; Brooke Hansen, first grade, and Brandon Sperry, 5th grade. Change happens in many ways, and we have some staff members who are either in different teaching areas or are new to Westbrook, but not new to the district. Andrea Tex is moving from Special Education to 6th grade. Minnie Hansen is moving from Spanish to 6th grade. Kim Stungis is ex-panding her time with us to full time Special Education. Also, Debbie Nilius is new to Westbrook as an Early Childhood Special Education Teacher. Welcome everyone to Westbrook or a new position.

Rigor is ensuring that each student you teach is provided the opportunity to grow in ways they cannot imagine. – Barbara Blackburn

Rigor will be the theme for Westbrook this year. Some information was gathered about Westbrook last year from the Buffet Early Childhood Grant Committee. We looked at the scores and decided that rigor was an area of growth that we would like to focus on for the 2016-2017 school year. We have many strategies that we will be infusing in the classrooms this year. Everyone is excited to see the growth our students will make using this new information.

Again, it is very good to be back at Westbrook. Please stop in and say “Hello,” to the new staff and me. Have a great rest of the summer, and we will see you on Au-gust 10th. Just a reminder that half of the kindergarten students begin on August 10th and the other half will start on August 12th.

Sincerely,

Cindy Vann, Principal

Attendance & TardiesRegular and timely atten-dance is vital to your child’s education. Many important things occur during the first 30 minutes of school and missing those can negatively impact your child’s social, emotional, and educational growth. Please have your child to school by 8:30 a.m. when the doors open so they are in their class and ready to go for the 8:40 a.m. start of school. Students are con-sidered tardy after 8:40 a.m. This year we will be focusing on regular attendance and tardies so if you receive a let-ter or phone call, this is why. We fully understand some appointments cannot be scheduled outside the regular school day. Please contact the office if your child is going to be late or absent, or if you have any general ques-tions about our attendance policy.

Parent/Student

HandbookThis year the Parent/Stu-dent Handbook will be available electronically on the district website. If you would like a copy, please visit www.westside66.org. If you do not have internet access, please ask for a paper copy from the office.

Please remember that after school plans should be made in the morning. We cannot ensure that students will get messages at the end of the day. Students are expected to be off school grounds by 3:45 p.m. (3:15 p.m. on Wednesdays). Please remem-ber to notify the school if there is an unexpected change of after school plans for your child. If you know in the morning, a note to the teacher is always appreciated. Thank you for your cooperation in making sure your child is safe.

After School Plans

Welcome Breakfast

August 10 & 12

Please join the Community Club members for a “meet & greet” on Wednesday or Friday in the office area at 8:45 a.m. Learn about our activities for the upcoming year. Everyone is welcome, especially those new to the school and all kindergarten parents.

Starting Time for the School YearWhen the 2016-2017 school year begins on Wednesday, August 10th, all Westside elementary schools will start the school day at 8:40 a.m. Please do not arrive at school before 8:30 a.m. unless you are participating in the breakfast program, which begins at 8:10 a.m. There is no supervision outside before school. Additionally, like last year, every Wednesday we will end the school day at 3:00 p.m. instead of 3:30. This will give our teachers throughout the District collaboration time by attending weekly professional learning communities or PLC’s.

The Westbrook Early Childhood Center would like to welcome families to their Open House on Monday, August 8th from 5:00-6:30 pm at the Westbrook Early Childhood Center. The Early Childhood teachers will be available to answer any questions you may have as well as give tours of the toddler, pre-school and school-age classrooms. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kaycee Meister at 390-8205.

Club 66 and Early Childhood Center Open House

You are always welcome at Westbrook Elementary School. When visiting any part of the building or playground area, you will need to sign in at the office and wear a visitor sticker. If you are bringing a forgotten item to your child during the school day, please leave it at the office. We will make sure your child receives the item. Students leaving the building during the day need to be picked up from the office. If students return during the same day, they must sign back in.

Beginning of the Year Reminders

Lunch and Breakfast PricesThe lunch price for the 2016-2017 school year will increase to $2.25 for students. The breakfast price will remain the same at $1.40 for students. Please keep a posi-tive balance in your child’s lunch account. Each student has their own account. We cannot remove money from a sibling’s account to cover a negative charge. Adult breakfast and lunch prices will be $2.25 and $3.50 respectively. The website myschoolbucks.com is a convenient way to keep your child’s lunch account balance up to date. The Free and Reduced Lunch applications can completed online, short-ening the time to be approved. You can check the district website for a link to this application as the school year approaches. If you do not have online access, please speak with our front desk to complete a paper application.

Fifth Graders and Parents take note! Your 5th Grade child will have the opportunity to try out Band & Strings Instruments during the first two weeks of school. We will send home information with interested students after each try-out process is completed. Westside Community Schools will host an Elementary Instrumental Curriculum presentation to give information about our Band and Strings programs for all incoming 5th Grade students and their parents. This presentation will be held Thursday, August 25, at 6:00 p.m. in the Westside Middle School Performing Arts Center. We are looking forward to meeting you there!

School SuppliesFor the 2016-2017 school year, we are once again asking families to consider donating school supplies. Doing so will save the district approximately $25,000 annually. Please see the attached supply list for your child’s grade level list of supplies. As you are purchasing supplies, please consider purchasing a few additional items for those families who are unable to provide these supplies for their children. Please turn these extra supplies in to your child’s teacher at the beginning of the year. We will continue to provide supplies for all children who do not wish to voluntarily contribute.

Calendar Aug. 8 Back to School/Open House 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.

10 School Begins 8:40 a.m. School Ends 3:00 p.m.

10 New Parent Coffee 9 am - Office Area

12 New Parent Coffee 9 am - Office Area

18 Curriculum Night 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

25 Band Parent Info Mtg. @ WMS

6:00 p.m. 5th grade - 6:45 p.m. 6th grade

29 Outdoor Education Parent Meeting @ WMS 6:30 pm

Sept. 2 Professional Development Day - No School

5 Labor Day - No School

13 Community Club Meeting 6:00 p.m. - Library

In an effort to save paper resources and to reduce printing costs, we will continue to put the newsletter on our school website and will email a copy to families every month. Students will still bring home flyers advertising various non-profit activities, along with a printed monthly school lunch menu. We will also print a limited number of newsletters for those families who request them. Please make sure we have your most current email address. If you would still like a printed version of the weekly newsletter, contact the office at 402-390-6490.

Monthly Newsletter

Traffic & Safety ConcernsAs we get the new school year off to a great start, here is a quick reminder about traffic flow as well as the arrival and dismissal of students. Please use the loading zone on Robertson Drive for drop off and pick up only. For the safety of our students, please DO NOT leave cars unattended, especially in traffic lanes. If you want to park and enter the building to speak to a teacher or the front desk, please park in the south parking lot. All doors to our building will remain locked at all times. After a few days, students are well versed in the procedure of entering the building and do not need parents to walk them inside. This builds skills of independence for students as well as keeping our building safe and secure. Breakfast students will be let in the lower level doors at 8:10 in the morning. If you arrive after 8:10, please have your child walk to the front door to be let in. Thank you for your understanding in this mat-ter. The best time to pick children up from school is around 3:40 p.m. because most of the traffic has cleared from the front pick up area.

Please mark your calendars for picture day on Monday, September 26th. They will

begin at 9 a.m.

Picture Day is Coming!

2016-2017 Battle of the Books News

The Westside Community Council is excited to announce a traditional-format Battle of the Books event for the year 2016-2017. This event will be open to all 4th through 6th grade students in the District. It will be organized and run by parent volunteers. Organizers are planning for the Battle to be on Saturday, March 11, 2017 at the Westside Middle School. • There will not be a qualifying test prior to the Battle. All

teams will meet in March for the competition. • Each team should consist of three to four students. Teams

can have up to five students but only four students will compete at each round.

• Each team should have a team parent. • This year’s book list consists of 12 books.

Books were selected that deal with interesting subject matter and are readily available at the elementary schools’ libraries and the Omaha Public Library.

• All questions at the competition will be in the traditional Battle of the Books format where the answer is the title and author.

For example: In which book does a boy color his white sneakers black? Answer: “Charlie Bumpers vs the Teacher of the Year” by Bill Harley. • All teams will participate in two rounds. Then, a bracket will

be formed for the top 16 teams to move on in the Battle. • Due to the large number of teams that are anticipated,

students will not be asked to present projects at the competition. More details about the event’s format will be shared at your school’s Sneak-a-Peek Night in August.

2016-2017 Westbrook Elementary School Calendar

August 8 Back to School/Open House 5:30-6:30 pm

August 10 First Day of School

August 10 New Parent Breakfast 8:45 am Break Room

August 12 New Parent Breakfast 8:45 am Break Room

August 18 Curriculum Night 6 - 7 pm

August 25 Band Parent Information Mtg @ WMS

6:00 pm - 5th Gr, 6:45 pm 6th Gr

August 29 6th Grade Outdoor Ed Parent Mtg 6:30 pm WMS

September 2 Professional Development Day - No School

September 5 Labor Day - No School

September 13 Community Club Meeting 6 pm

September 14-15 6th Grade Outdoor Education with Paddock Rd

September 19-30 Fall Fundraiser

September 26 School Pictures

Sept 29-Oct 4 Scholastic Book Fair

October 3&4 Parent Teacher Conferences

October 6 & 7 Intersession Break - No School

October 10 Professional Development Day - No School

October 11 Community Club Meeting 6 pm

October 28 Fall Parties 2:45 pm

October 28 Trunk-or-Treat 7 pm

November 1 Picture Retakes

November 8 Community Club Meeting 6 pm

November 11 Veteran’s Day Assembly 2:45 pm

November 17 5th & 6th Grade Music Program 2:45 & 6:30 pm

November 18 Bingo Night 6:00-7:30 pm

November 21 District Elementary Band Concert@WMS 7 pm

November 24-25 Thanksgiving Break

December 5 Strings Concert @ WHS 7 pm

December 9 Family Movie Night 6 pm

December 13 Band & String Concert 10:15 am

December 13 Community Club Meeting 6 pm

Dec 23 – Jan 6 Winter Break

January 10 Community Club Meeting 6 pm

January 16 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School

February 9 Community Club Meeting 6 pm

February 9-14 Scholastic Book Fair

February 10 Valentine’s Day Party 2:45 pm

February 13 & 14 Parent Teacher Conferences

February 16 & 17 Intersession - No School

February 20 Presidents’ Day – No School

February 23 Strings Solo/Group Night @ WMS 6:30 pm

March 2 3rd & 4th Gr Music Program 2:45 & 6:30 pm

March 9 Community Club Meeting 6 pm

March 10 Family Movie Night 6 pm

March 14 Band-o-Rama @ WHS 7 pm

March 21 Spring Pictures

March 28 6th Gr Choral Music Festival @ WHS 7 pm

April 6 Community Club Meeting 6 pm

April 7 Spring Party 2:45 pm

April 10 - 14 Spring Break - No School

April 27 1st & 2nd Gr Music Program 2:45 & 6:30 pm

May 4 Kindergarten Music Program 2:45 pm ONLY

May 8 Band & Strings Concert 10:15 am

May 9 Community Club Meeting 6 pm

May 11 Strings Concert @ WHS 7 pm

May 12 Picnic Lunch

May 12 Family Fun Fest 6 - 9 pm

May 24 Last Day Of School

6th Grade Celebration 9 am

Awards Ceremony 10 am

School Dismisses @ 1 pm

Please keep this page handy for important dates to remember this year.

Dates may change without notice. Please check the newsletter, website and/or Facebook page for all the latest information and changes.

Community Club Meetings and Opportunities GalorePlease join us for our first Community Club meeting of the year. The Community Club Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 13th in the library at 6:00 p.m.

If you are looking for ways to get involved at your child’s school, we have many things going on at Westbrook. For starters, our first Community Club Meeting will be held on September 13th, at 6:00 p.m. in the library. Have you ever wondered who decides what fundraisers or family activities to do throughout the year? Have you wondered who decides what to spend the money on for our school? PARENTS DO! Come get involved and meet new parents and families.

The Safety Committee will be a standing agenda item at each community club meeting. The topics include review-ing our Emergency Response Plan and any additional safety aspects of our school. Please monitor your Wildcat Newsletter, Westbrook Website, or the Westbrook Facebook page for more information.

Regular volunteer opportunities also exist ranging anywhere from reading in a classroom to shelving books in the Media Center to putting up the signs in our kiosk at the entrance to our building. We look forward to ANY assis-tance you would like to provide. Please call Mrs. Vann or Mrs. Falcone to discuss volunteer opportunities.

Again this year we will be collecting and turning in Box Tops for Education and Our Family Labels. Keep these at home until you hear from your child or the school regarding collection contests. These things help earn well-needed money for our school.

Westbrook Parents,District 66 has set forth on a monumental effort to improve how teachers and staff at all grades can better engage your child(ren). This effort is called Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBiS). PBiS is a process to in-crease student achievement, school attendance, and academic success while decreasing challenging student behaviors. Using a systemic approach that includes all students, staff, parents, and settings, PBiS creates safer and more effective schools. PBiS has met with resounding success nationwide and in Nebraska.

What is included? Everyone in your child’s ecosystem plays a part in the process. Westbrook teachers and staff will receive coaching and training to improve how we support children’s social and emotional development. A diverse team of various school staff, ECC staff and parents has been put together to work the priorities and guide the needed activities. Family involvement is a large part of this project. With your cooperation, school administration, teachers, and staff will be working together to teach your child the following behavior expectations:

Be Safe – using toys and materials appropriately, following classroom rules, healthy habits, etc.

Be Respectful – soft touches, take turns, share toys, using an inside voice, help a friend, use kind words, etc.

Be Responsible – take care of classroom materials, follow directions, be a good listener, etc.

The goal is to provide positive influence to EVERYONE, and that starts with evaluating and improving how we, as adults address each other and the children while focusing on the guiding behaviors.

What does this mean for you, as a parent? As a parent, you will experience and hear of changes in the approach for being more upfront with expectations and positive reinforcement versus the current approach which makes some of these attempts, but still has a depth of focus on the undesired behaviors.

As a parent, can I help? Do I need to do or change anything at home? You will be given information to better communicate the school’s expectations, learning and teaching materials for you and your child(ren), and guidance and tips for using the same approach at home.

In summary, this is a new approach to behavioral management that will take time to achieve with continual reflec-tion and improvement. Westbrook is embarking on this with all other schools in the district starting this year. We will be sharing more information on this in upcoming communications. If you would like to learn more about the program, please visit https://npbis.org/.

Kindergarten #2 Pencils (non-mechanical)-1 box of 12 Large Pink Erasers-2 Crayola Crayons-2 packs (24 count) Crayola Colored Pencils (12 count) Crayola Markers-1 pack (10 count-thin) Elmers Glue Sticks-8 sticks EXPO Low Odor Dry Erase Markers 4 color pack skinny Pencil Box (8.5” x 5”) 4 - two pocket folders WITH BRADS 3 Ring Binder - 1 inch width Clorox Wipes-1 container Tissues-3 boxes Hand Sanitizer-1 bottle One towel for resting (NO blankets) Water Bottle Small Headphones

1st Grade #2 Pencils (non-mechanical)-1 box of 24 Pencil Cap Erasers - 1 pack Crayola Crayons-1 pack (24 count) Crayola Markers - 1 pack, 10 count EXPO Low Odor Dry Erase Markers 4 color pack Glue Sticks-6 sticks Fiskars Student Scissors (rounded ends) Pack of Felt Tip Markers-1 black, 1 multi Pencil Box (8.5” x 5”) Tissues-3 boxes Small Headphones Water Bottle

2nd grade #2 Pencils (non-mechanical)-1 box of 24 Pencil Cap Erasers-1 pack Crayola Crayons-1 pack (24 count) Crayola Markers-1 pack (10 count) Elmers Glue Sticks-6 sticks EXPO Low Odor Dry Erase Markers 2 packs ( 1 black) Felt Tip Markers-1 pack 3-two pocket folders (no brad, solid color) 2 spiral notebooks (1 subject, wide rule) Clorox Wipes-1 container Tissues-3 boxes Hand Sanitizer-1 bottle Ear Buds or Small Headphones

3rd grade #2 Pencils (non-mechanical)-1 box of 24 Pencil Cap Erasers-2 packs Crayola Crayons-1 pack (24 count) Crayola Markers-1 pack(10 count) Crayola Colored Pencils-1 pack 12 Glue Sticks-6 sticks EXPO Low Odor Dry Erase Markers 1 pack - black Felt Tip Markers-2 black Felt Tip Markers-4 any color Pencil Box (8.5” x 5”) 4-two pocket folders (no brad, solid color) 4 spiral notebooks (1 subject, wide rule) Clorox Wipes-1 container Tissues-3 boxes Hand Sanitizer-1 bottle Ear Buds or Small Headphones Student Scissors

Westbrook Elementary School 2016 - 2017 Supply Lists

4th grade #2 Pencils (non-mechanical)-2 boxes of 24 Pencil Cap Erasers-1 pack Crayola Markers-1 pack (10 count) Crayola Colored Pencils-1 pack 12 Glue Sticks-2 sticks Student Scissors EXPO Low Odor Dry Erase Markers 1 pack black thin Felt Tip Markers-2 black, 2 red Highlighter Pencil Box (8.5” x 5”) 2-two pocket folders (no brad, solid color) 1 spiral notebook (1 subject, wide rule) 2 composition notebooks (1 subject, wide rule) Tissues-3 boxes Clorox Wipes-1 container Hand Sanitizer-1 bottle Water Bottle Ear Buds or Small Headphones

5th grade #2 Pencils (non-mechanical)-2 boxes of 24 Pencil Cap Erasers-1 pack Crayola Crayons-1 pack (24 count) Crayola Markers-1 pack (10 count) Crayola Colored Pencils-1 pack 12 Highlighter Hand Held Small Pencil Sharpener EXPO Low Odor Dry Erase Markers 2 packs black thin 5-two pocket poly folders (no brad, solid color) 4 composition notebooks (1 subject, wide rule) Tissues-3 boxes Clorox Wipes-1 container Hand Sanitizer-1 bottle Water Bottle Ear Buds or Small Headphones

6th grade #2 Pencils (non-mechanical)-2 boxes of 24 Pencil Cap Erasers-2 packs Crayola Markers-1 pack (10 count) Crayola Colored Pencils-1 pack 12 Student Scissors EXPO Low Odor Dry Erase Markers-2 packs 1 thin and 1 fat - black Felt Tip Markers-2 black markers Pens-1 pack blue or black Pencil Box or bag 6-two pocket folders (no brad, solid color) 4 spiral notebooks (1 subject, wide rule) 3 Ring Binder - 1 inch width College Ruled Loose Leaf Paper (1 pkg) Tissues- 3 boxes Ear Buds or Small Headphones

These items are consumable and may not be returned at the end of the year.

Rev 6/13

Notification of Rights Under the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) The PPRA gives parents certain rights regarding surveys given to students and the collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include the right to: Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that asks questions about one or more of the following protected areas (protected information survey) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education:

1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent 2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family 3. Sexual behavior or attitudes 4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior 5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships 6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers 7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or parents 8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility

Receive notice and opportunity to opt a student out of:

1. Any other protected information survey (see 8 areas listed above – regardless of funding).

2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance,

administered by the District or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under Nebraska law.

3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information obtained from students for

marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others. Inspect, upon request and before distribution or use:

1. Protected information surveys.

2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes.

3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum. The District will notify parents of specific or approximate dates when such surveys are to be given. These rights transfer to the student at age 18 or upon emancipation under Nebraska law. The District has adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights - See Board of Education Policies 2235 and 5220 and regulations thereto. These may be accessed on the District’s website at www.westside66.org. This Notification of Rights Under the PPRA will be provided directly to parents at least annually at the start of each school year (and after any substantive changes to any applicable Board Policies). It will also appear on the District’s website. Questions or concerns about the PPRA may be directed to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment at 390-2127. Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with: Family Policy Compliance Office

U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202

Student Educational Records The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also known as “FERPA”) is a federal law that protects the privacy of educational records, specifically the use and disclosure of a student’s educational records, access to records, and information about students that may be disclosed without parental consent. The 2016-17 Annual Notice of FERPA Rights is published on the District’s website ~ www.westside66.org and is located under the “Student Services” tab. A copy of the Notice may also be obtained by contacting the Office of Student Services at 402-390-2107. The following is a summary only of some of the information in the 2016-17 Annual Notice: FERPA allows each school district to establish its own list of information that can be released publically without parent (or student if age 18 or over) consent. Westside has designated these items of “directory-type” information that may be disclosed without consent (unless you opt-out): • Student’s name, address and telephone listing • Student’s school e-mail address

• Photographs – including in school yearbooks, District publications, calendars and other printed materials and on District social media.

• Video/Film of Student when filmed by the District for educational purposes or for promotional use, and film by news media. • Date and place of birth • Major field of study • Dates student became enrolled/dis-enrolled in the District, enrollment status and grade level • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports • Weight and height of members of athletic teams • Degrees, honors and awards received • The most recent school or school district attended by the student prior to Westside

• Class lists. This information may appear in school publications, yearbooks, the District’s website, calendars, newsletters, and any other District publications, honor roll or other recognition lists, graduation programs, sports and other activity sheets, and released to the media.

Parents/eligible students may opt-out of the disclosure of any or all of the above information. To obtain an Opt-Out Form, contact your building principal. Opt-Out Forms must be returned by September 1 of each

year (or, for students enrolling after the start of the school year within 14 days of enrollment).  

All new enrollments will take place online and at the district office, located at 909 S. 76th St. We hope that this streamlined procedure will simplify the enrollment process and allow for consistency and reliability throughout the district. If you have questions, feel free to call your building principal or secretary, or go to the district website, westside66.org.

New Enrollments

NON-PROFITORG.

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

PERMIT NO. 861OMAHA, NE

68114

Westside Community SchoolsWestbrook Elementary 1312 Robertson DrOmaha, NE 68114