Westside Elementary

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Thrillionaires at Westside Red Ribbon Week

For the culminating Red Ribbon Assembly on Friday, Oct.
23rd at Westside Elementary School, Speech-Language
Pathologist Melissa Burk brought some of her fellow actor
friends who perform with ComedySportz and Thrillionaires
(Provo-based improv troupes) to talk about drugs and share
their talents with the Westside Wildcats. Given
suggestions (robots, transformers and princesses;
man-eating pies and buying nachos) and acting assistance
(students played robots, doors, birthday cakes and
friends) from the students themselves, they created 2
fantastic musicals on the spot! Teachers reported that
kids were walking as robots and talking about man-eating
pies the rest of the day. Who knew pretending to be a door
could be so much fun! Stand Tall, Make a Difference, DON'T DO DRUGS!!

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The second-grade students from Westside Elemtary school went to a live stage musical based on the children’s book, Stella Luna, by Janell Cannon at the Scera Theater. Students were able to ask the actors questions at the end of the performance and learned how important it is to be yourself.

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Second grade students at Westside Elementary learned how to sing/sing the National Anthem in American Sign Language. On Veteran's Day, these students participated in writing letters to US troops serving in Afghanistan and performed the National Anthem for Veterans.

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The 405th Calvary at Westside

Mrs. Olsen organized a fabulous Veterans Day activity for
Westside Elementary first-graders to participate in. The
405th Calvary came and demonstrated some of the equipment
they use in serving our country and others around the
world. Students enjoyed climbing inside the Hummers, wore
army helmets, and talked on the radios. Students also
watched a slide show presentation about schools in
Afghanistan. The presentation explained how soldiers with
guns need to guard the schools to protect students and
teachers from the Talaban.

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The second grade classes at Westside Elementary participate in the Opera by Children Educational Outreach Program operated by the Utah Festival Opera Company. Each class writes an opera that is completely produced (story, music, costumes, sets, & choreography) by the students. The first opera was performed by Mrs. Banks' class on Nov 5. It included skeleton cops, mummies, vampire bats, and ghosts. Each class opera integrates the arts into the core curriculum and is a process that encourages creativity and builds self-esteem.

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Westside Preschool Bake Sale

The Title One Preschool at Westside Elementary holds a yearly fall bake sale. The preschool students make all the items they sell. Parents and others are invited to "buy" the items for sale. It's a wonderful learning opportunity for the students and a delight to all the lucky people that get to eat the treats! Pumpkin ice cream was a big hit this year!

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If You Want Friends You Have to be a Friend!

Mrs. Haymond's class performed their student opera as part
of the Opera by Children Educational Outreach Program
operated by the Utah Festival Opera Company. The students
decided the moral for their opera, brainstormed the story,
and wrote the libretto, complete with a problem and a
solution. A music specialist came to collaborate with the
class and each student participated in explaining how they
wanted the music to sound. The specialist wrote the
accompaniment according to student specifications. The
cast consisted of Witches, Princesses, Dogs, Ninjas, and
Jedi's. Kennedy Bird, a student, wrote this description
of the opera: "The Princesses are minding their own
business when the witches catch them and put them under a
spell. The Jedi's and Ninjas try to save the Princesses
but it doesn't work. Finally, the dogs save the day! The
Witches just wanted some friends. The Princesses sing,
'just ask us to be your friends and we will!' Now they
are all friendly!" Parents and the student body at
Westside were amazed at the performance!
 

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Recently, Cara Boyer, from Westside Elementary School, was
awarded the Title One paraeducator award for outstanding
service in Nebo School District. Cara Boyer has been a
Title 1 paraeducator at Westside Elementary for 6 years.
In this amount of time she has worked with students in
grades K-6 in Reading and Math, Music, Art, P.E.,
Resource, and in the Regular Education classroom.
Currently she is working closely with kindergarten
students helping them with letter/sound identification and
learning the basics of reading. Cara also assists Special
Education teachers in Math and helps regular education
teachers as an added adult in the classroom. Cara is
always willing to help with any situation. She will take
a whole class, work with small groups, or work with a
student one on one. She is willing and can do it all. The
students enjoy her happy smile each day and Cara can say
hi to most of the student body by name. Mrs. Boyer works
hard, has genuine love for the students, and is highly
respected by the Westside Faculty. Westside is an
outstanding school because it has paraeducators like Cara
Boyer that go above and beyond what their job description
every day.
 

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SJH Choir Holiday Concert at Westside

On December 11, two choirs from the Springville Junior
High School performed for the students at Westside
Elementary. Westside was proud to welcome back former
students that are currently in the choirs. The choirs had
the Westside students participate in a Christmas Rap song.
Along with "Where Are You Christmas? and "Baby It's Cold
Outside" the choirs helped Westside students feel the
holiday spirit.

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Westside Students Wins Design Contest!

Shay Hamilton, student at Westside Elementary, won the IHC
Christmas card design contest. Shay's entry was chosen
from fifth gratde students throughout Utah. Along with
her winning a Toys R Us gift certificate worth fifty
dollars, Shay's design was featured on all the Christmas
cards sent out by the Intermountain Health Care
Corporation in December. Westside Elementary is proud of
their students and the great things they can accomplish.