West University Elementary
School
The West U
Pony Express
Spring Edition, 2015-2016
Volume 9, February 29, 2016
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Principal’s Place
PTO By-Laws Change
1
Art Night Volunteers
2
Birthday Book Club
2
iKids After-School
2
Girl Scout Info
2-3
HISD Promotion Standards
3
WULL Carnival & Bazaar
3
Upcoming Events
Happy Leap Day! As we all know, February 29 occurs once every four years. For those whose birthday is today we can officially wish you a ‘Happy Birthday!”. Wednesday, March 2, is Texas Independence Day. One day before, on March 1, 1836, The Convention of 1836 convened at Washington‐On‐
The Brazos. Due to the urgency of the matter, with the Alamo under siege, a committee of five of the fifty‐nine delegates met and drafted The Unanimous Declaration of Independence. The final was document was approved and signed the next day on March 2. You can read the text of the Texas Declaration of Independence at: http://lsjunction.com/docs/tdoi.htm Have a liberating week! John T. Threet, Principal The PTO Executive Board is proposing a change to the PTO By‐Laws to enable us to work more effectively. The proposed changes are written in red below: ARTICLE VI: OFFICERS AND THEIR ELECTION Section A. Officers and their election: 4. No elected officer shall serve in the same office for more than two consecutive terms. One who has served more than one‐half of a term shall be credited with having served that term. An officer appointed by the president may serve in the same office for more than two consecutive terms subject to the approval of the newly elected officers. Per the requirements of the By‐Laws, this change must be announced 30 days in advance of the meeting Karen Yeager, PTO President‐Elect Mark Your Calendars:
 All Grade Level Registration
For 2016-2017 begins
Thursday, March 3
Registration continues each
day, Monday-Thursday,
8:00 a.m.-noon through
Thursday, May12
 Early Dismissal Day
Friday, March 11
 Daylight Saving Time
Begins
Sunday, March 13,
2:00 a.m.
 Spring Break
Monday-Friday
March 14-18
The West U Pony Express
February 29, 2016
We are still looking for some dedicated volunteers to help make this night a success. We particularly need assistance with volunteers to work and assist our incredible participants in their arts and crafts. Please sign up to volunteer in any of the open slots at http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f4aacab28a5fb6‐
artnight Save the Date: For all of our volunteers, we are hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast at Tiny’s No. 5 on March 8, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. (after drop‐off). Come meet and mingle with your fellow volunteers and Art Night enthusiasts. Participant Spotlight: Houston Grand Opera (HGOco) HGOco is a unique initiative of the Houston Grand Opera that connects the company to the community by telling stories in words and music. At Art Night, HGOco will be performing their Storybook Opera Program, and will also present an Opera Glasses Craft Project The Houston Grand Opera has generously donated to our raffle two (2) pairs of tickets to the world premiere of “After the Storm” on May 13, 2016 at the Cullen Theater. http://www.houstongrandopera.org/community‐
programs/hgoco‐event/after‐the‐storm/ Art Night Co‐Chairs: Greta Pliskin and Janet Feng Happy Birthday, 生日快乐, Feliz Cumpleaños, С Днем Рождения! The following students are celebrating their birthdays this week by donating a book to our school library: Sara Kannan March 2nd Chaahat Batra March 3rd Nalini Raghavan March 4th Calista McIntosh March 5th Isabella Sim March 5th Olivia Sim March 5th Evelyn Trudel March 6th If you signed up your child for the Birthday Book Club and their birthday already passed, but they have not chosen their book yet, please be sure to let them know to stop by the library as soon as possible! Also, remember…….. ‐ If you would like to order a Birthday Book Club membership for your child, all orders are due NO LATER THAN Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. to be included in the following week’s Pony Express. ‐ Submit your Birthday Book Club forms as soon as possible, to make sure we include your child in the Pony Express during their birthday month. ‐ Order forms can be found online www.westupto.org, or in the blue PTO box at the front office. Happy Birthday and thank you for supporting the West U Elementary library! Any questions? Please contact Tracy Benner (tracymbenner@yahoo.com) or Guadalupe Harper (guadacarlesso@hotmail.com). Registration is now open for School Year 2016 ‐ 2017! Priority registration is going on now. Open registration for incoming WUES students will begin March 28. Registrations may be turned into iKids or the WUES front office. iKids U offers a variety of after‐school opportunities onsite at WUES, including Stay & Play, Enrichment, and One on One services. Please contact iKids at 713‐665‐5200 or info@ikidsinc.com for any questions. Girl Scouts will have an opportunity to earn the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” fun patch at the upcoming West U Little League Carnival, Saturday, March 5 from 11:00– 2:30. The West University Place Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board has a very fun and informative booth at the carnival and is sponsoring the fun patch and board members will be there to help scouts complete the requirements. To earn the patch, Scouts must complete five requirements. Four of the requirements can be completed at the Recycling booth during the Carnival. The West U Pony Express
February 29, 2016
The fun patch will help you learn what can be recycled curbside and at other locations, you’ll make an up‐cycled craft, and either help get others to pledge to recycle more or write a letter in support of the Texas Bottle Bill. The fifth requirement is completed if you bring a waste free lunch or waste free snack to the event. To get a complete list of requirements for the fun patch visit http://www.westutx.gov/DocumentCenter/View/856 or email recycle@westutx.gov with any questions. Scouts are also invited to complete the Fun Patch requirements on their own with their troop. Any questions please contact me Edwina Forster e.forster@gmail.com Grade Level Promotion Standards 1st and 2nd  Students must pass the High Frequency Word Evaluation; recognizing and reading words that appear very often in written and spoken language.  State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and local requirement of an average of 70 or above in reading, other language arts, mathematics, and science or social studies. 3rd and 4th  State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and local requirement of an average of 70 or above in reading, other language arts, mathematics, and science or social studies. 5th  Students must pass STAAR (State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) in reading and math.  State requirement of overall yearly average of 70 or above and local requirement of an average of 70 or above in reading, other language arts, mathematics, and science or social studies. In addition to the above listed requirements, students are also required to have “Sufficient “Attendance”. This means a student’s total number of unexcused absences cannot exceed 10% of class meetings and must attend school for at least 90% of the class days. Come help WULL kick off the 2016 season at its annual Carnival & Bazaar. Thanks to The Woman's Hospital of Texas, the Carnival's Grand Sponsor, the event is FREE and open to the public. From giant inflatables and dozens of games, to much‐loved confetti eggs, there's something for all! Many food vendors will be there (accepting cash), and be sure to shop your favorite local retailers at the Bazaar! When: Saturday, March 5 from 11:00 a.m. ‐ 2:30 p.m. Where: University Blvd, in front of West University Elementary School Go to http://www.westull.org/page/show/294944‐
carnival for more info. West University Elementary School
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, Principal
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
TBEC Honor Roll School
NCEA Higher Performing School
No Place For Hate School
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.