WES UPCOMING EVENTS
- December 23 - January 2 - Holiday Break
- Wednesday, January 3 - School resumes, Ms. Mills returns
- Friday, January 5, Winter Workshops Begin
- Monday, January 8 4:30 p.m. - WES Board Meeting in WES Library
- Monday, January 8, 6:00 p.m. - WCSU/WCUD Board Meeting in WCSU conference room
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM THE WES MUSIC PROGRAM!
The WES music program, under the creative leadership of Ms. Ogilvy, sailed through three joy-filled concerts last week. Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade each had a special evening performance, plus family singing and dancing! All three concerts concluded with a lively family Hokey Pokey dance. The students did their very best and filled the WES gym with joy! WES band students greeted the WES community with holiday music in the lobby each morning this week as well! 
FROM THE WES KITCHEN!
Thank you to Señorita V and the fifth grade class for collaborating on our November World Flavors Day. We were in Ecuador, a small South American country that Señorita V has traveled to and that the upper grades learned about in Spanish class. The fifth graders made the signature Pan de Yucca bread to accompany the Gallo Pinto (rice and beans) that was served for lunch. The Pan de Yucca is a mild cheese bread made with Tapicoa flour which makes it gluten free. The recipe can be found by clicking here. The students and staff also enjoyed a Spanish Hot Chocolate tasting. 
NURSE NEWS
Winter is upon us in full force. This means that our playground conditions can change daily from dry, fluffy snow to wet and slushy and even muddy. Please make sure that your child has the proper clothing for playing outside. Here at WES, we go outside unless it is raining or it is below 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Students need winter boots, jackets, snow pants, hats and gloves or mittens everyday. Please send your child in with shoes or sneakers as well so they can change out of snow boots. A change of clothing in case they get wet is always helpful.
STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS
The Student Council would like to thank all the contributors to our food drive. We are proud to add to the shelves of the Food Bank and share our good fortune with others. Food Shelf Committee members: Remy Malik, Carter Willis, Claudia Shoemaker and Morgan Friedman are pictured in front of the collection. The Council is planning a "Snowball," a social gathering for the 5th and 6th graders. The event will be at WES on Friday, January 26, 6:30-8:00. WES CHESS CLUB
Chess Club is off to a great start and we plan to continue offering it after school on Thursdays through March 8. It runs from 2:50 until 4:00 in the WES library. Parents are asked to please come upstairs into the library to pick up their children. If the students are going to be walking home or to the library after chess, please let Mr. Miles know in advance.
Several children who did not do Chess Club in December have asked if they can still join and the answer is a resounding YES ! Sign-up forms are available in the front office and all students in grades 1 - 6 are welcome to join any time that their schedules permit.
Children may bring a snack, if they wish, to have at 2:50 as we first gather. Each session will begin with a short lesson and then everybody will play games against one another.
Beginners are welcome. Some of the older, experienced chess-playing students will help teach the newcomers and so far they have been doing a fantastic job of instructing.
DID YOU SPOT THE WES KINDNESS WILDCAT?
Every day of December, the WES Kindness Wildcat hid somewhere in the school. The cat had a note with some special words of kindness to share. The first student to spot the cat was allowed to bring it to Mr. Miles in the office and read the note aloud to the whole school during announcements!
THANK YOU, MR. PICKETT!
The WES staff, students, and school board want to send warm thanks and well wishes to interim principal Mr. Pickett. Mr. Pickett has been a steady presence at WES for the past 12 weeks while Ms. Mills was out on leave with her new baby, Sophia. Ms. Mills returns to WES on January 3rd after the holiday break.
