Westport Mission & Vision

Mission: Leverage the strengths of the Westport community to ensure academic growth for ALL!

Vision: Westport will be a venue for academic success!

Westport’s Collective Commitments: Our Team will:

Make decisions which are student-centered and aligned to our WHY!
Be present to model consistent processes and expectations!
Leverage learning opportunities to increase instructional minutes!
Presume positive intent in order to maintain positive mindsets!

Click On

Reminder to pay attention to the clickable links to the right and along the top. As we continue to add sections making the BLOG a one-stop-shop for all Westport information. We still have several sections UNDER CONSTRUCTION…This means the link may be there, but there is nothing to see yet.

Key Spots for the Start of the Month:

Cooperative Learning Corner
Westport Social Committee
Instructional Coaches
Monthly Instructional Highlights
Staff & Student Spotlight
Social Committee
PBIS Lessons located in PBIS (ELEM)
Attendance Information

Key Spots for the Start of the Week:

Week at a Glance - WAAG
Must Do/May Do
Nurses Notes
Counselors Notes
Elementary Events Page

Annual Crossing Guard Appreciation Day

Crossing guards work 55 minutes in the morning and 35 minutes in the afternoon to keep students safe– rain or shine. It is a huge commitment! To help crossing guards feel appreciated and connected to their school, we would like to encourage you to participate in SPS’s annual Crossing Guard Appreciation Day on Tuesday February 11th.

ELEMENTARY HEALTH

4th and 5th Grade Elementary Health - Body Systems and Growth and Development (Brad Brummel) Action Item

Reminders related to instruction for the 4th and 5th grade body systems/growth and development lessons:

Video (3 min) communicating the implementation plan.
The current intended curriculum includes a Body Systems (4th) and a Growth and Development (5th) lesson from Quaver Health that are NOT specific to gender.
Everyone will be receiving the same lesson aligned to Missouri Learning Standards.
These whole group lessons should be facilitated by the person who is responsible for delivering Elementary Health instruction at your site.
The scope and sequence has this lesson intended to be taught the last week of Quarter 3.
School Board policy and MO state law requires districts to provide guardians the right to withhold students from instruction related to body systems/growth and development. The Parent Communication OPT OUT form also provides access to Quaver lessons and lesson plans. This allows guardians and schools to be partners in providing this important content. Please ensure print and digital communication are sent.

Below are the 4th and 5th Grade Parent Opt Out Letters. There is one that may be printed and sent home with students, as well as one to only email, as there are QR codes and access credentials for parents to view the content ahead of their child.

4th Grade Parent Opt Out Form to Print - linked here
4th Grade Digital Parent Communication and Opt Out From to Email- linked here
5th Grade Parent Opt Out Form to Print - linked here
5th Grade Digital Parent Communication and Opt Out Form to Email - linked here
Digital access to Parent Opt Out Form can also be found on the SPS Curriculum website

Superbowl Preparation

Red Kingdom Spirit Week with 100th day of School:

Each day we will take a staff photo in the commons at 2:45 for those who participated.

Throughout the week, please take pictures of students participating in the spirit days and text them to Mrs. Ross for social media 417-300-3559.

Please make sure all students photographed are media approved!

Student Jobs

Middle School Student Jobs: Elementary teachers please sign up to host a few middle school student workers in your classroom; these students have graduated from strategic classes, have applied and been hired for specific jobs! (action required by Wednesday 2/5)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QDjEBEgq0EI2xyFYR9iXxQ0x3SK3NhcEwaoZnYIfVVU/edit?usp=sharing

Westport Cleaning

Disinfectant Procedures - Last week we communicated a need for staff to frequently spray, clean surfaces within their classroom to ensure we are disinfecting surfaces as our community deals with illness. Please continue these practices throughout the illness seasons, so we can continue to protect ourselves and others.

Additionally, the custodial team will begin disinfecting Westport using a stronger sanitary spray, QT5. They will be applying the solution with a misting gun to all high-contact surfaces, including door handles, seating and tables, restrooms, and any sleeping areas, focus rooms, and serving lines for Nutrition Services. Please note that this spray will not be used on any food or drink items.

Parental Contact

Please REMEMBER!!!!

Any illness or medical concerns MUST come from SCHOOL NURSES. Many parents are upset that students are being marked elective absent when picking up their children because the nurses have not even assessed them for illness.
We are having an increase in the number of parent pick-ups when not medically needed or a miscommunication between nurses and parents. Due to this, we cannot monitor illnesses, speak to parents regarding symptoms, or keep accurate logs.
Before referring students for minor behavior, call/text/email parents to enlist their support and help with improving the behavior.

Parental Meetings

SAFETY - Please ensure when having meetings with parents/guardians (during the school day) we reserve the OFFICE CONFERENCE ROOM with Stacy. We cannot have parents/guardians in the building during the school day without following protocols, additionally it is safer to ensure meetings are in an area which provides security.

Westport Professional Learning

For the 2025-26 school year, your campus will receive targeted professional learning for all certified teachers at your site, focused on implementing high-quality Professional Learning Communities, establishing effective systems of intervention, integrating meaningful differentiation, and extending classroom instruction.

In addition, Westport will receive additional on-site coaching and consulting quarterly during the 2025-26 school year. The Coaching Academy support will kick off this summer on July 9th and 10th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day.

Each certified teacher who attends will be paid according to the 2025-26 Salary Schedule. If attending, please have each staff member who plans to attend register using THIS link.

Read to Succeed

Read to Succeed: February Read to Succeed Literacy Tool Kits:

EXPLORE Site

Westport will be an ELEMENTARY ONLY Explore site this summer during the month of JUNE. Myself and Rebekah Kirby will be the principals. Please start planning to ensure personal items are taken care of over the summer.

Hiring Timeline: Winter 2025

February 1: Intent form sent to all SPS staff eligible for certified positions (Virtual and Seated)

Teachers will complete the intent form to state their interest in teaching Explore. Teachers will provide building preference, years of experience in Explore, and other relevant information to assist with placement in accordance with Explore Side Letter.

February 14: Intent form closes
February 15: Internal posting will go live and remain open for those who missed the intent process. Employees who apply via the internal posting will be placed after the intent form applicants have been exhausted.
March 1: External posting goes live

District Info

Springfield Public Schools is dedicated to retaining, supporting and recruiting the best teachers, leaders and staff to meet the needs of students. Identifying potential vacancies for the upcoming school year as early as possible helps SPS fill these positions with qualified candidates.

SPS offers an early notification incentive for eligible contracted (under either a Teacher, Administrator or Professional Employment Contract) and for eligible non-contracted employees per Board Policy GCPB and Collective Bargaining Agreement requirements, as applicable to the position. The deadline to request the $750 incentive is Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025.

School Deliveries

Friendship Parties: please add in the time of your party for 2/14 (action required)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-I2Fu0W21kI5l6WXCQ1Q5y_eOfztsXQOpjuNnomQpyo/edit?usp=sharing

Please remember - we will not accept deliveries for students-including Valentines Day.

We are offering Candy Grams through the school however!

Surprise someone special (students or teachers) with a sweet treat for Valentine's Day!

Parents to students
Students to students
Students to teacher
Students to guardians

All orders are due by 2/12 and will be ready for pick up, or delivered, on 2/14!

Order forms can be picked up during lunch, copies will be sent home with envelopes, or extras can be picked up in the front office; total cost must be paid for at the time of the order.

*continue to communicate this with parents via SeeSaw and Remind

Yearbook Information

Please share out with students frequently and in your Seesaw & Remind App communications.

ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARBOOKS on sale now! 🧡🐯💙

ELE Link to order: https://www.yearbookforever.com/school-store/vpq1M33fyab5BAGwpetMQS90
MS Link to order: https://www.yearbookforever.com/school-store/3m7jr6X9FBdImyTYY0wNx1Rv

Attendance Challenge:

Elementary Memory Book Ad Purchase:

Own a business, or know someone who owns a business and would like to buy an advertisement in the elementary school memory book? Please share the information below!