Every Friday is Spirit Friday!
See New & Purchase your WCE Spirit Merchandise to show your Wolf Spirit!
Weekly Family Update
March 9, 2017

Attendance Line 720.424.3168 |  WCE Website  |   WCE PTA Website

Office Hours 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
School Hours 9:00 AM - 3:45 PM
Morning Bell: 8:55 AM | Late Bell 9:00 AM

Activities & Events
To see all upcoming events, click the calendar.   

Also, check out the News on our WCE website, where specific events are highlighted.

Also, the DPS 2017-18 school calendar is now available!
In This Issue
WCE Auction News
SOAR Soiree Auction Donation Needs
Date: April 29, 2017
Place: The Hangar at Stanley Marketplace

Still thinking about donating an item to the auction to help WCE kids SOAR? Consider these ideas:
Vacation home rentals; VISA gift cards toward airfare and other items; sporting event and concert tickets; transferable frequent flier miles and/or hotel points. What about a gift certificate you received as a gift, but it wasn't the perfect "fit." Do you have a business with a service/item that you'd like to market to WCE's 700 families? Love to socialize? How about hosting a BBQ, tailgating party, bike bar tour or other fun experience. You can also donate to class baskets. Don't forget to ask family members (grandparents!) and business contacts for help as well. An online donation form is availabl here . For more information about donations and sponsorship, email  Erin Hoggan .
 
To buy SOAR Soiree tickets, click  here

Upcoming Events
BOOK FAIR:  March 6-10 | Library

*NEW Hours: 8-9:30am M-F | 3:30-6pm M-TH | 3:30-5pm Friday

*Preview and order books online:  https://goo.gl/YBQLlB

*HELP NEEDED:  If you can work a couple hours, sign up here:https://goo.gl/8IXcRv

*Contact Rebecca Minor with questions. [email protected]

Yellowbelly Restaurant Giveback | March 14
Our next restaurant giveback night is Tuesday, March 14 at Yellowbelly Chicken at Stanley Marketplace. Dine in or carry out, but you MUST mention WCE at time of order. View details & menu
VARIETY SHOW INFO
K-2nd Dress Rehearsal | March 15 | 6pm
K-2nd SHOW | March 16 | 6:30 pm
3rd-5th Dress Rehearsal | March 22 | 6p
3rd-5th SHOW | March 23 | 6:30 pm
Questions? Contact:  Mrs. Stacy
ALL SCHOOL Art Show | March 16 | 5-7 pm | Gym
Framed artwork fundraiser -- $40 cash, check or charge.  Click for Flyer
PTA Accepting Nominations for 2017-18 Board
Are you invested in your child's education?  Want to have an impact like no other?  Run for office on the PTA! Nominations are now being accepted for all Board positions.  Nominate yourself or someone you think would provide amazing leadership to our school.  Nominees must be members of the PTA for the current school year and if elected, must be members for the year they would serve.   Elected positions include: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Fundraising Chair, Membership Chair, Communications Chair, and Staff Support Chair.  Elections will take place at the March 7th general membership meeting.

For more information or to nominate please contact the Nominating Committee via [email protected].
LOST & FOUND CLEAN OUT COMING SOON!
Did your kid's expensive North Face jacket not make it home? Missing some hats or gloves? Or even a scooter? Check out the Lost & Found the next time you're in the building to see if you can claim any items. All will be collected shortly and donated to the Clothes to Kids Foundation. [The Lost & Found is located in the WEST lobby, underneath the stairs.]
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART MOVIE NIGHT | April 6| 5:30-7:30 | Gym
ANY student that raised money for Jump Rope for Heart is invited to relax, eat popcorn, and watch a movie with Ms. Katie in the gym. Stay tuned for more details!
    ** Great job, WCE - so far we've raised over $16K to help with heart conditions in our community, including heart research, life-saving equipment, and doctor care!   
    ** THANK YOU GIFTS ARE COMING SOON!! JRFH officially ends on March 10th. Ms. Katie will pass out JRFH gifts in April during PE class.
Enrichments & After School Activities
Enrichment Information can be found on the school website.  
D iscovery Link Service Project- 
Now until March 24th 
Join Discovery Link for a spring service project as they partner with a local agency that assists children in foster care. See the attached flier here for details or contact  Stephanie Hines.

SPRING ENRICHMENT SIGN-UP| Open now UNTIL March 10th
View Spring 2017 Enrichment Brochure here.
Everyday Safety around the School
BUILDING SAFETY - BEFORE SCHOOL ISSUES
HELP! Morning drop off issues are causing serious safety concerns for our students and staff:
[1] unsupervised students are entering the building before the bell and propping playground doors open, and  [2] gates are often left open, allowing children to easily leave the playground area.
a) Students should NOT arrive before 8:40 am [exceptions are breakfast and Discovery Link]
     ** Breakfast:  Begins at 8:30 am [w/adult] OR 8:40 am [student only] | Ends at 8:50 am
[NO exceptions!]
     ** Discovery Link:  6:30 am--8:55 am
[Parent/Guardian sign-in at lunchroom]
b) Students report directly to playground; limited supervision from 8:40--9:00 am
c) NO STUDENT IS ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING BEFORE 8:55 am UNLESS WITH A TEACHER!!
d) 
PLAYGROUND GATES ARE TO BE CLOSED AT ALL TIMES!!
Join the Safety Committee 
Please help us keep our school safe by joining the safety committee to address safety concerns at our school.  

Contact Maggie Broadrick for details.
School Funding & Direct Giving
School Funding Gaps in Colorado
Colorado is the 14th richest state in the nation, yet our state government gives $2500 per student LESS than the national average (ranking 43rd nationally).  Your direct giving to our school matters because our base budget is often lower than that of schools with greater numbers of students in need.  To put this in perspective, a school not far from WCE, that is half the size but has much larger enrollments of students in need, sees an additional $300,000 in their base budget.  All students are deserving of a great education.  That's why your direct giving to WCE makes a difference.  Consider making your donation today.
Direct Giving to WCE 
$250 per student per academic year is essential to providing our children with the type of education we expect. If you can't donate $250 all at once, you can divide the amount into monthly installments! Please visit this page on the PTA website to donate.  Also ask your employer if they do gift matching which can increase your donation dollars.
Take Note & WCE Fun Facts
When to Keep Kids Home for Illness
Parents often wonder when it's ok to send a child to school who shows signs of possible illnesss...or who has been ill but hasn't quite recovered.  Our School Nurse suggests using this guideline, created by Children's Hospital of Colorado.  

Additionally, hand washing is a necessary preventive measure against spreading illness.  Please encourage students to wash their hands often or use hand sanitizers located all around the school building and in classrooms.  
The Giving Tree
We love volunteers!
Parent/Family volunteers help make our school great! Opportunities exist   through PTA  and in the classroom (contact your child's teacher).
Food Pantry Needs Donations!
The food pantry would LOVE donations of canned chicken, soups, vegetables and fruit, as well as pasta.  We support our participating families year long with weekly food and school snacks.  Donations can be dropped off in the shopping cart inside the front (east end) doors. You can also help by volunteering to fill backpacks for about an hour on Friday mornings after drop off in the cafeteria.  Thank you!!
WCE PTA Food Pantry
The WCE Food Pantry sends home food each Friday to families of WCE students that need extra assistance. It  is easy to sign up--simply contact your teacher, the front desk, or our social worker Barbara Robinson if you want to receive a weekly food pantry backpack.
 
The food pantry is funded by PTA donations, individual direct donations of food or funds, and the annual food drive. Donations in our cart in the school lobby are always appreciated, especially: peanut butter, jelly, canned fruit, canned chicken or tuna, pasta, and breakfast items. 
 
Want to be a Food Pantry Volunteer? Join us each Friday in the cafeteria immediately after drop off! For more information, contact Jo-Nell Herndon.
Got Clothes? 
The Clothes to Kids of Denver donation bins are located just inside the east/Akron entrance. Your gently-used clothing, shoes and books helps preschool-12th grade kids in need. Get more details here.
Quick Links
Spirit Merchandise - See New Items!
School Meetings
For details about all meetings view the calendar.

PTA General Membership
Meetings occur at 6:00 PM every other month throughout the school year. All members of PTA are invited to attend. Childcare and pizza will be provided.

Meetings Remaining:
May 2, 2017 (Elections)

Collaborative School Committee (CSC) meetings take place quarterly at 5 PM on the first Tuesday of the month during the school year. To learn more about this important governing body of each DPS school please visit the DPS CSC website or use the Quick Link in this newsletter.  

Meetings Remaining:
May 2, 2017
Our Sponsors
We love our sponsors!  Help us appreciate all their support.

If you'd like to be a sponsor contact the WCE PTA. 

Click on any logo below to learn more about each sponsor.







Community Events
Tours 


Help the Urban Farm
So many in our community are saddened by the recent tragedy at the Urban Farm and the terrible loss of their sheep, goats, and rabbits. Learn how you can support their organization here.

DSA - Mar. 11 Character Breakfast
Support Denver School of the Arts and join them for their character breakfast. $15/person and space is limited. See this flier fordetails.

LANGUAGE IMMERSION PROGRAM
Adolesco offers family-to-family language immersion exchanges in France, Germany or Spain for students 9-18 yrs.
CLICK HERE for info.
APPLICATIONS DUE: Sunday, March 26.
QUESTIONS: email Marie Meyer
School Choice
Elementary & Middle School Choice
Round one is currently closed.  Families will be notified in mid-March about school assignments. Once those announcements have been made, Round 2 of the choice process will begin.  Visit the DPS School Choice and Enrollment office website for additional information.
Westerly Creek Elementary
Main Office (720) 424-3160  
Attendance Line (720) 424-3168
8800 East 28th Avenue
Denver, CO 80238