November 9, 2025

November News #2

Dear West Families,

Happy first snowfall! The snow is a great reminder that students need to have outdoor clothing sent to school each day– Jacket, boots (if snowy or wet), snow pants, gloves and a hat. It is a great idea to write your student’s name inside each item in case they get lost. 

Speaking of items getting lost, our Lost and Found is overflowing!! Please encourage your student to look through the Lost and Found for any items that may be theirs, or stop in and check out the Lost and Found. All items from the Lost and Found will be donated at the end of the day on Tuesday, November 25.

Our amazing West PTO is putting on a Thanksgiving Food Drive Contest! The contest runs from Monday, November 10- Friday, November 14. Classrooms will be competing to see who can donate the most canned or pantry items. Our 5th grade POWER Squad will be in charge of counting donated items each day. All items will be donated to Community Action House.

Don’t forget to check out our daily announcements by going to this link: Nov. Announcements

Please contact our administrative team with any questions or concerns!

Warmly,

Chad Tolson, Principal

Jennifer Heinritz, Assistant Principal

Important Dates:

  • Thanksgiving Food Drive– 11/10/25-11/14/25

  • Friday, November 14– POWER Store shopping for 3rd-5th grade  

  • No School Wednesday, November 26 through Friday, November 28 

This Week’s PBIS Focus Lessons

This week’s focus lesson is arriving at school. The expectations for this week will be taught through multiple methods– The morning announcements, teacher-directed lessons and role playing the expectations. Help us enforce this week’s POWER expectations by asking your student to tell you about what they do when they arrive at school!  

West PBIS Power Store Donation and Volunteers

The West Power H Store has been a huge success! Thank you to all of our amazing volunteers as well as the families who have donated prizes for the store. We are always looking for volunteers to help run the store and donations of prizes! 

Swimming Lessons at HAC

The first session of Swimming lessons at the Holland Aquatic Center begins November 10 and runs through November 21. The classrooms swimming in the first session are Witters, Chamness, Murphy, Smith and Klein. The other sessions’ dates are January 5-16, February 2-13, and March 9-20. The swimming advisory slips for the first group of classes went home a couple weeks ago and should have already been returned. 

Below are some suggestions to help make swimming lessons successful:

  • HAC provides all swimsuits and towels.

  • Wear easy on and off clothing like stretch pants, track pants or sweatpants, pull on shirts without buttons, crocs or slip on shoes.

  • Students with long hair should come to school with it braided or pulled into a ponytail. You may also want to send a brush for your student to use.

  • You may want to send a plastic grocery bag with extra socks and underwear just in case items get wet by mistake.

November Attendance Update

This month’s attendance goal is to have a school-wide daily attendance percentage of 94% or higher. If we are able to hit our goal 12 times in November, then students will earn a Pajama Party, and possibly pie if we are able to get enough donations!!! If you are interested in donating a pie for the celebration, please check out this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4EACAD22A7FDC70-60022948-west

Consistent student attendance promotes improved academics, building relationships with friends, and helps meet the basic needs of all students!!

Recess Rangers

A new program is coming to West– Recess Rangers!! Recess Rangers will help support students during lunch or on the playground (11:00 AM-1:00PM). This is an opportunity for parents and guardians to be an extra helping hand during that time. If you are interested, please sign up for a time slot at https://signup.com/go/bjbThfB.

All volunteers must complete the HPS Volunteer Background Form at least a week ahead of time.