Dear Parents and Students,

 Welcome to the 2021-22 school year. Despite the ongoing struggles with COVID 19 and its variants, we are very excited to have students return to face to face learning. We will continue to follow the guidance of our County and State Health Departments to maintain a safe learning environment for our students. 

We will require that all individuals wear masks in the school building. Although wearing masks is not the optimal situation, face to face learning is and there isn't a substitute for it. We asks that students bring their own masks daily. We will continue with our disinfection protocols, as well as the practice of proper hygiene to prevent the spread of germs.  We also have new refillable water stations for students to refill water bottles. They can bring their own bottle but we will also supply them one that will stay at school. We would like to be environmentally sound and reduce the plastic waste and the amount of wasted water. While the pandemic continues to alter what we remember as normal, I remain optimistic that it will eventually leave us.

On another note, our playground has been ordered but probably will bot be installed until late October or early November.  I believe we will be able to save the two tree in the back parking area, which were our only two sources of shade from the heat. We'll be back up and playing in no time.

West staff is committed to giving your child the best experience possible. We will need the efforts of teachers, parents, and students in order to be successful. We are looking forward to a great year.

If you have any questions or concerns throughout these trying times, please feel free to call us at 463-2134 or e-mail at bsaenz@altonschools.org / jbrannon@altonschools.org.

Best Wishes and Stay Well,

Dr. Saenz and Mrs. Brannon

___________________________________________________________________________