Transition to Middle School

Attention 5th grade students and parents:

Wheatland Middle School will host a parent night for all incoming 6th grade students and their parents on May 16th at 6:30 p.m. This event will be held in the middle school multi-purpose room. Parents and students are encouraged to attend.

On May 17th at 1:00 p.m., 5th grade students will go to WMS for a personal tour of the school. While on campus they will participate in the upcoming student council elections.

If you have any questions, please contact Steve Loyd at 322-1550.

Dads Do Make A Difference!

Fathers need to be involved with their children's education! Dads make a difference for their children! The Parent Education Network (PEN) provides us with the following information.
A report released by the US Department of Education shows that when fathers are involved:

• Children are more likely to get A's and less likely to repeat grades.
• Children do better in school whether or not fathers live at home or if the mother is involved.
• Children's success is significant regardless of race, social status, or father's education.

Benefits of Father Involvement for Boys:

Fathers who spend time with their sons- even as little as five minutes a day- are giving them a far better chance to grow up as confident adults. Boys who feel that their fathers devote time to them and ask about their worries, school work, and social lives almost always grow up to be motivated and optimistic young men full of confidence and hope. By contrast, boys who feel their fathers rarely or never did these things have lower self-esteem and confidence, and are more likely to be depressed, to dislike school, and to get into trouble with the police.

Benefits of Father Involvement for Girls:

Fathers who spend time with their daughters help them feel capable. A daughter who has been helped to feel feminine and powerful by a loving, caring dad knows that the world is an interesting and fascinating place. She has a higher self-esteem and feels confident to plan for and control her future. Girls who have positive father involvement are three times less likely to become teenage mothers.

The research overwhelmingly supports dads staying involved! Please continue to make a difference in the lives of your children.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2007! It is hard to believe that we are almost to the end of the second quarter. The second quarter ends on January 12th. Report cards will be sent home with students on Friday, January 19th.

With a new year comes a new round of PAWS testing. PAWS stands for Proficiency Assessment for Wyoming Students. Students here at West Elementary will only take the Writing subtests in January. If you have any questions regarding PAWS or what this means for your child, please give me a call at 322-4180.

Almost Christmas

It is hard to believe it is almost Christmas. The school year is going by so quickly! January 2007 and the end of second quarter is just around the corner. I hope that you all have a wonderful and safe holiday season. Enjoy the time with your family and friends. I will see you in 2007.