West Elementary Weekly Update
Dear West Elementary Families,
As we look ahead to next week, I want to highlight two very special celebrations. May 4-8 is Teacher Appreciation Week, and Wednesday is School Nurse Day. Our teachers and nurses are the heart of our school community. Teachers do so much more than deliver lessons; they inspire curiosity, build confidence, and provide a safe space for our children to grow every single day. Our school nurses ensure our students are healthy, safe, and ready to learn, often providing a comforting hand when it is needed most. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated staff. Please join me in showing them our gratitude next week for the vital role they play in our children's lives.
Field Day Highlights
Yesterday, our fifth graders represented West Elementary with pride at a track meet against North and East Elementary. You can view a video of the event highlights on our school Facebook page. We would like to recognize our medalists:
Boys Softball Toss: Owen Pichee (1st Place)
Girls Softball Toss: Gariyah Garrison (3rd Place)
Boys Long Jump: Nico Ezeagu (1st Place) and Owen Crites (2nd Place)
Boys 100m Dash: Keith McCrady (1st Place) and Mason Bush (2nd Place)
Girls 100m Dash: Wren Mader (3rd Place)
Boys 200m Dash: Jeremiah Smith (1st Place)
Girls 200m Dash: Kymani Smith
Boys 800m Run: Levi Shulte
Girls 800m Run: Hazel Peipert
Boys 4x100m Relay: Duane Fox, Jasiayr Capers, Jeremiah Smith, and Jordan Alexander (1st Place)
Girls 4x100m Relay: Ines Adams, McKenna Winkler, Aubrie Grant, and Malajah Richmond (2nd Place)
Academic CompetitionsIn addition to our athletes, our math students will be back in action this Saturday. The math competition begins at 8:00 am in the AHS Gym. We wish them the best of luck as they showcase their skills.
The district spelling bee will also be held on May 6th in East Elementary's Gym.Senior Clap Out
West Elementary students from the class of 2026 returned to West one final time before graduation for a clap-out! Click Here if you would like to watch the video!
Weekly Academic Shout Outs
We are seeing fantastic progress across our grade levels as students master challenging concepts.
Third Grade: In Mrs. Bick and Mrs. Davis’ classes, students have been learning how to tell time and calculate how much time has passed between events. This can be a tricky concept, but the classes averaged 72% on their recent test, with ten students scoring over 80%.
Fourth Grade: Mrs. Kanallakan’s class worked on measuring and comparing length, liquid volume, and weight. These are essential real-world skills. The class average was 72%, and 13 students demonstrated they have mastered these concepts by scoring over 80%.
Fifth Grade: Mrs. Gorman’s class excelled in their geometry unit. Students worked on identifying and classifying different two-dimensional shapes. The class achieved an impressive 79% average, with 14 students scoring 80% or higher.
Tier One Updates and i-Ready Testing
Students enjoyed an extra recess today as a reward for being referral-free throughout the month of April. Looking forward, students will begin the i-Ready End of Year Diagnostic Test next week. This assessment is important because it shows us how much growth your child has made this year. Students who meet their growth goals or reach grade-level status on the math diagnostic will earn our Quarter 4 reward: an Outdoor Social on May 18th.
To help your child feel prepared for these assessments, we encourage them to complete at least ten minutes of i-Ready My Path lessons at home each day. This digital support reinforces what they are learning in class. To access My Path, your child should:
Sign into their Google Account (the same way they log into their Chromebook).
Visit portal.altonschools.org
Click on Clever
Select i-Ready and then My Path
Family Resources and Support
We have several resources available to help you support your student at home:
Tracking Progress: This document shows you how to track your student's i-Ready progress: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RVM5ahBg7EbnbA5twBSCOu6ODSP7kfmg/view?usp=sharing
Accessing Resources: This video explains how to access K-5 family resources: https://www.loom.com/share/a2608dca526f4e2eb9e5140ba1542a3b?sid=507307ba-03b1-4b42-b932-f8aa6dc75b9b
Character Trait: This month we are focusing on Cooperation. You can watch a video about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb30dFjXxJU&t=108s
Grade Level Curriculum Sites:
2nd Grade: https://sites.google.com/altonschools.org/alton-school-district-curricul/2nd-grade
3rd Grade: https://sites.google.com/altonschools.org/alton-school-district-curricul/3rd-grade
4th Grade: https://sites.google.com/altonschools.org/alton-school-district-curricul/4th-grade
5th Grade: https://sites.google.com/altonschools.org/alton-school-district-curricul/5th-grade
District Scorecard Progress
Our school is currently focusing on two major goals within our District Improvement Plan:
Goal 1: Increasing the percentage of students with perfect attendance weeks. Attendance is a primary predictor of academic success. We appreciate you making sure your child is at school every day.
Goal 3: Increasing the percentage of students passing every class. Our staff is dedicated to providing the targeted support necessary to help every student master their grade-level standards.
Communication and Transportation
Please ensure you are connected to ParentSquare for all school communications.
West Elementary School: 618-463-2134
Bus Garage: 618-466-5400
For transportation updates, please use the My Ride K–12 App. You will need your student’s 6-digit Other ID from Skyward Family Access to register. Please note that students must be registered by August 4 to have bus transportation for the first day of next school year.
Important Dates
May 4-8: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4-8: i-Ready End of Year Math Diagnostic Test
May 11-15: i-Ready End of Year Reading Diagnostic Test
May 21: Last Day of School
Thank you for your continued partnership and for everything you do to support our students and our school.
TaRael Kee