September 3

Dear Westshire Families,

Summer is still with us - last holiday fling! Hopefully all students can catch up from the early school-year fatigue with lots of sleep. Teachers have eased the start of school with good reasons to take the children out of doors to discover the teachings of our surroundings and let the children enjoy. We are gradually settling in to our school routines.

As we get into school routines, it is so important that your children attend school consistently. Please try to avoid any extra trips during our school days whenever possible; plan appointments and trips during our holidays and vacations - for the children’s sake whenever possible. Getting behind in their studies and projects is very stressful for children. It is also a great deal of extra work for teachers. Thank you.

June 18

The Rivendell Interstate School District Board, administration, and faculty warmly welcome Joan Holcombe

The Rivendell Interstate School District School Board is pleased to announce the hire of Joan Holcombe as Principal of Westshire Elementary School. Please click here to read the announcement.

Commonly Asked Questions

What are the school hours?

School officially starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. There is supervision on the playground starting at 7:30 a.m. Please do not drop off your child before that time, as there is no supervision. Our buses load around 3:20 p.m. each afternoon.

Where should my child go when I drop them off in the morning?

We ask that ALL children be dropped off on the playground. Please do not bring your child down to his/her classroom prior to 8:00 a.m. Teachers are very often in meetings or in different parts of the building getting ready for the day. It poses a safety concern for children to be in classrooms unsupervised. We also feel fortunate that children start the day with their favorite activity --- recess!

What is the best way to contact my child’s teacher?

Even though it is tempting to catch a teacher first thing in the morning, it isn’t ideal. Teachers start their morning routines as soon as children enter the room. The best ways to contact a teacher are to call between 3 and 4 in the afternoon, e-mail, or send in a note. Of course you are always welcome to call the office and let Sonya or I know you want to speak to your child’s teacher.

Where should I wait for my child in the afternoon if I pick him/her up?

Outside the front doors or just inside the building are the two best places to pick up your child. We ask that you not walk down to the classrooms and be careful not to block the intersection where the hallways meet. We do not want any children to be lost in the shuffle!

When will my child start to receive homework?

Some teachers have started sending homework. By the middle of next week your child should have math and reading homework. I would recommend finding a quiet place for homework to be done and setting up a homework routine. If homework gets to be a burden for your family, please communicate this with your child’s teacher. We want to work with you to make homework worthwhile and a positive experience.

What is the purpose of the homework folder that comes home each night?

Each night your child will be bringing home a homework folder. This folder includes homework and any important notices from the school – lunch menu, newsletters, notes from teachers, etc. We ask that you check this folder each night. Most folders have a “Stay at School” side and a “Keep at Home” side. This is one way that we get information about our school to you.

I want my child to have a great year, what are the most important things I can do to help?

At this point in the year there are two areas that will help to make a successful year. First is getting your child to school on time. Teachers start the day with a morning meeting where kids greet each other and have a sharing time. Kids who arrive late often miss this opportunity to start the day building classroom community. Second is to check your child’s homework folder daily for any notices and homework. These folders often contain important information about your child’s school life.

How should I send in lunch and snack money?
Please place any lunch or snack drink money in a sealed envelope with your child’s name on it. This eliminates lost money and any confusion about piles of money that show up on a teacher’s desk. We want to make sure that all accounts are credited the correct amount.

How does my child’s lunch account work?
Meals can be purchased in advance either daily or weekly. It is recommended that a minimum of 5-10 dollars be on account at all times. If the account remains in the negative your child will not be allowed to purchase snack beverages and their menus may be modified to oatmeal, milk, juice at breakfast and sandwich, milk and fruit at lunch. Breakfast meal cost $1.35 and lunch meals cost $2.25. Checks should be made out to RISD.