Spring Edition, 2015-2016 Volume 17, May 2, 2016

Principal’s Place Upcoming Events HISD recently received information from the Texas Education Agency regarding next year’s school calendar. As you know, for the past number of years we have been able to select our own early dismissal days and have had one early dismissal day each month for staff development. This has changed for 2016-2017. There is no option to move or reschedule early dismissal dates. We have to take the HISD days or take none. Early Dismissal Days are critical to faculty and staff training. Upon my recommendation, our SDMC decided to take the five days selected by HISD: September 21, October 11, November 16, January 25, and February 22. We will send home a revised calendar next Monday. The HISD approved calendar contains all of the dates for holidays and early dismissals. You can download a copy here: HISD Academic Calendar 2016-2017. Have a wonderful week. John T. Threet, Principal

This Friday we will celebrate Lunch Lady Day at West U! Please help us show our cafeteria staff a big thank you by wearing yellow to school on Friday. If you haven’t checked out the Lunch Lady book series by Jarrett Krosoczka yet, it is a sure winner with the kids! As we are nearing the end of library for the year, please be sure to turn in all outstanding books. After school library will continue through May 11th. Starting today, students are welcome to take AR quizzes, use tables for homework, and look at books but there will is no check out available during after school hours. AR will be completed for the year on Friday, May 15th. . This will allow us time to make sure all students get the

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Mark Your Calendars:

• High School Seniors Reunion, Thursday, May 5, 4:30 -7:00 p.m. MPR CORRECTED DATES

• STAAR Testing Monday-Wednesday May 9-11 3rd & 4th Grade Math Monday, May 9 3rd & 4th Grade Reading Tuesday, May 10 5th Grade Science Wednesday, May 11

West University Elementary School

The West U Pony Express

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Library Book Nook 1-2

Love & Logic Speaker 2

Online Speaker 2

Safety Patrol Thanks 2

appropriate AR tags for their excellent reading and point club achievements.

Keep your eyes on the PONY express for upcoming news about our school’s One Book, One School, One Summer program and the districts summer reading program.

Kelly Russell, School Librarian

Join us for the PTO Meeting on Tuesday, May 17, 8:00 – 9:15 a.m. in the MPR. Following the meeting, we are delighted to have Phylis Tomlinson, LPC, LMFT, ATR-BC, and Facilitator for Parenting the Love and Logic Way®, share great information to help us support our children: Managing "I want it; therefore, I get it!" with our Children - Parenting Strategies Around Entitlement Being loving and logical is the best parenting. How do we accomplish this? Learn techniques to help our kids develop a responsible attitude towards what they receive vs. what they think they are entitled to – changing the “I wants….” to “How can I earn this?” We can allow kids to learn the value and meaning of money with hands-on experiences that allows parents the opportunity to prepare our kids for their future. Kids can develop key emotional intelligence traits including delayed gratification and managing their emotional responses to respect our parenting decisions. Questions: heather.curran.kelly@gmail.com

View Barbara Gruener’s presentation from the comfort of your home!

Unfortunately, due to the floods and now busy schedules as we near the end of the school year, we are not able to reschedule our guest speaker, Barbara Gruener who was orignially scheduled for April 19. However, you can watch her talk on YouTube by following this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8crWPgbI64

It is an excellent presentation and well worth your time to gain insights to build your children's character by teaching empathy, compassion and kindness.

Special thanks to all of our 5th Grade students who served

as Safety Patrol Members this year. Each year our 4th graders take over this important job to prepare them for next year. Our Safety Patrols are identified by the orange belts they wear. These children are selected for Safety Patrol based on their citizenship and leadership.

These students must maintain good conduct and grades during their time as a patrol member. Rain or shine, hot or cold, these boys and girls are helping keep our school safe at the beginning of the day and at dismissal. Please join me in thanking them for their service to West U Elementary! Coach Jones, Safety Patrol Sponsor

The West U Pony Express May 2 2016

It is the policy of the Houston Independent School District not to discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, sex, handicap or disability, marital status, religion, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or gender expression, or any other basis prohibited by law in its educational or employment programs and activities.

West Univers i ty Elementary Schoo l 3756 University Blvd., Houston, TX 77005

Phone: 713-295-5215 Fax: 713-667-8514

We’re on the Web!

visit us on the web at: www.westues.org

John T. Threet, Princ ipal Tracey L. Wyatt, Instructional Coordinator

Amber Pinchback, Assistant Principal Daphne Rawlinson, Teacher Specialist

Texas Education Agency Exemplary School

Texas Education Agency Met Standard with Academic Distinction in All Areas

Children At Risk, Ranked #2 Among All Texas Public Elementary Schools

Texas Honor Roll School