West Side Elementary School

Registration Deadline Extended! There's still time to sign up to attend the Sensory Friendly Time at the Walworth County Fair! This event is open to ALL students between the ages of 3 and 21—no residency restrictions! Sign up at www.walworthcountyfairgrounds.com/f/31 Walworth County Fair Association, in partnership with North American Midway, is excited to announce that they will be offering a sensory-friendly county fair experience for young people with special needs to come and enjoy the fair FREE OF CHARGE! This opportunity aims to provide a more calming and comforting atmosphere for young people with neurodiversity who may be especially sensitive to lights and sound. For two hours, the carnival will shut down the flashing lights and music for you to enjoy the rides and games. Ride staff will take extra time and care to load rides with a guardian or caregiver allowed to ride along. Please note: rides are not wheelchair accessible at this time.

Introduce your kiddo to STEM at the Pre-K STEM Exploration mini camp at Gateway Technical College. For ages 4-6 on August 22-24. Learn more and register at training.gtc.edu

Elkhorn Area High School Cheer is excited to host their Fall Youth Cheer Clinic. This two-hour clinic will run from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, September 13. All participants will receive a t-shirt and perform during an Elkhorn Area High School Football Halftime show. The Fall Youth Cheer Clinic is open to students in grades 4K-8th. Register at tinyurl.com/fall-cheer-clinic-23 Please contact Ryan Mittelstaedt (mittry@elkhorn.k12.wi.us) with questions.

Walworth County Fair Association, in partnership with North American Midway, is excited to announce that they will be offering a sensory-friendly county fair experience for young people with special needs to come and enjoy the fair FREE OF CHARGE! This opportunity aims to provide a more calming and comforting atmosphere for young people with neurodiversity who may be especially sensitive to lights and sound. For two hours, the carnival will shut down the flashing lights and music for you to enjoy the rides and games. Ride staff will take extra time and care to load rides with a guardian or caregiver allowed to ride along. Please note: rides are not wheelchair accessible at this time. Open to all students between the ages of 3 and 21 enrolled in a Walworth County school or residing in Walworth County. Register online at www.walworthcountyfairgrounds.com/f/31 by August 9.

Annual Returning Student Registration is now open! If your student attended an EASD school last year, please login to your Family Access account and follow the prompts to complete registration. Have questions? Call the registrar at 262-741-9138.

Registration Opens Tomorrow!!

Hello Fifth Grade Families, Hope your summer is off to a good start. Just wanted to share the West Side Fifth Grade Slide show that the fifth graders were shown on their last day. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/a8lRp6hMn-w We wish everyone the best as they start their journey at the Middle School.

Hello West Side 5th Grade Families, You are invited to celebrate your 5th grader's last day by joining us for the 5th Grade Promotion Parade at West Side at 3pm tomorrow, Thursday, June 8th. Families are encouraged to arrive and line the Sunset Drive sidewalk as the 5th graders exit on their final destination of the Promotion Parade. Families may bring signs, balloons and noise makers to make this a fun ending to a special elementary journey. Parking is limited, so please plan accordingly. Please notify the office if your student will be leaving with you after the parade. WS 5th Grade Teaching Team

Monday (6/5) is Field Day! Please send your child with a water bottle and tennis shoes. An extra set of clothes and sunscreen are encouraged.

Hello West Side Families, Looking for some fun in the sun? We are looking for volunteers for the West Side Field Day, Monday, June 5th. Please use the link to sign up https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4EABAA23A1FECF8-west1

Have a BIG (little) Elk fan? Sign them up for the Elkhorn Youth Cheer Program! All students entering grades 1-8 in the 2023-24 school year are invited to sign up. Visit tinyurl.com/youth-cheer-23 to learn more and sign your kiddo up!

The countdown continues...tomorrow is P for Pajama Day!

Join us Tuesday, May 16th at 3:45 for our last PTA Meeting of the school year. In person or virtual. https://meet.google.com/fun-zxat-fba

Yesterday we announced that EASD had been awarded the first #EnergyCLASSPrize through the US Department of Energy - we’re one of only 25 school districts in the nation to receive this award. Going forward, our team of Energized Elks staff and students will receive training from @energygov to identify, plan, and implement critical upgrades in our school facilities. What does that look like in EASD? Prioritizing rehabilitating our historic buildings, reducing our carbon footprint, exploring alternative energy sources sensitive to the protected marsh and wildlife area between the Middle School and High School grounds, improving air quality and learning environments districtwide, and reshaping our ongoing Capital Improvement Plan model. As part of the American-Made Program, this @energygov prize provides funding to 25 of the nation’s schools to support critical clean energy infrastructure and health improvements. Better facilities pave the way for better learning environments and better educational outcomes. Elkhorn will serve as an example for rural districts throughout the country. #EnergyClassPrize #RenewAmericasSchools #DepartmentofEnergy #1Herd

Hello West Side Families, On Thursday, May 11, students that ride the bus to school will practice an emergency evacuation drill once they arrive at West Side. If you drop off on Thursday morning, Sunset Drive will be reserved to practice this drill, so please plan accordingly to avoid that area, it will be blocked off for safety. The emergency drill will demonstrate where the fire extinguisher and first aid kit are located and how to open emergency service doors and windows. Students will be exiting the rear of the bus and walking around to the front door. Parents are encouraged to speak with their child about the evacuation drill. Here are a few talking points: Students should stay quiet and move quickly, but not run. Students should leave their belongings on the bus. Students should use the sit and scoot method to exit the rear of the bus. This brief exercise will give students a better understanding of the process if an evacuation would be necessary. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Kitslaar at 262-723-2397.

For those in our community in need of nourishment, a group of our neighbors is hosting a Community Meal Program at Matheson Memorial Library. On the second Saturday of the month, all are welcome to enjoy good company and a good meal. Meals are hosted between 12:30 - 2 p.m. on June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 7, November 11, and December 9. If you have questions or would like to get involved by hosting a meal, please email ElkhornCommunityMeal@gmail.com

Hello West Side Families, Today is the first day of Teacher Appreciation Week! PTA surveyed West Side staff to gather lists of some of their favorite things. If you are looking for gift ideas for this week or the end of the year, here is where the lists are located: https://wildcatptaeasd.weebly.com/staff-favorites.html Thank you! West Side PTA

Wear Green Friday, May 5th to bring awareness for mental health

Tomorrow, Thursday, May 4th is STAR WARS DAY at West Side. Wear your Star Wars shirts. May the fourth be with you!

Registration is now open for Elkhorn Youth Cheer Camp! All students entering grades 1-8 in the 2023-24 school year are invited to sign up. Youth Cheer Camp will be held July 10-13 in the EAHS Cheer Gym. Visit easdcommunity.recdesk.com to learn more and sign up. You can find Cheer Camp listed under Youth Programs.