Good evening, Gladys West Families,
I hope you all had a relaxing Thanksgiving break and are ready for a strong three weeks ahead. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back tomorrow morning. Let’s aim for 95% attendance as we close out the first semester together.
Please take a moment to review the important dates coming up in December, including benchmark testing, our dude.be.nice spirit week and pep rally, Math and Literacy Night, and more.
Looking forward to a great month.
Best,
Mrs. Wheeler
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Fall Semester Important Dates
📅 Important Dates (Add them to your calendar)
Monday, December 8-12: dude. be nice. week (see flyer below)
Thursday, December 4: Math and Literacy Night @ GWES (5:30-7:00 PM)
Tuesday, December 8: Benchmark Testing begins (see schedule below)
Tuesday, December 9: PTA Fundraiser at Silver Diner from 4:00-8:00 PM
Wednesday, December 10: 3rd Grade Spelling Bee @ 9:15 AM
Friday, December 12: 4th Grade Spelling Bee @ 9:15 AM
Monday, December 15: 5th Grade Spelling Bee @ 9:15 AM
Tuesday, December 16: 2nd and 3rd grade winter concert and art show @ 6:00 PM
Friday, December 19: End of Second Nine Weeks
Monday, December 22 - Friday, January 2: Winter Break (no school for students or staff)
Monday, January 5: No School for Students (Staff Workday)
Tuesday, January 6: School Reopens and Second Semester Begins
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Q2 Benchmark Dates
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Math and Reading Night on Thursday, December 4
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Save the Date
Join us for a fun night out at our PTA Fundraiser at Silver Diner in Central Park on Tuesday, December 9, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM!
Mrs. Wheeler is gearing up to serve some sweet treats—you can see below that she's already practicing. Come dine in with us, or order your meal to go and swing by to say hello when you pick it up.
Bring the family, enjoy a great meal, and support GWES at the same time.
More information coming soon!
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GWES dude. be nice. Food Drive
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dude. be nice.
💚🖤 dude. be nice. Week is coming to GWES! 🐊
We're excited to announce that Gladys West Elementary will be participating in dude. be nice. Week, happening December 8-12! 🎉
The dude. be nice. campaign encourages kindness, positivity, and treating yourself and others with respect—values we proudly celebrate here at GWES! 💫
👮 Officer Cash has planned a fun-filled week for our students and staff to celebrate and spread kindness throughout our school and community.
Parents, guardians, and GWES supporters are all invited to join in on the kindness! 💚🐊 
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2nd and 3rd Grade Winter Concert and Art Show
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Living Our Gator Core Values 🐊💚
Our students are doing an amazing job showing what it means to live out our GATOR CORE Values: Grit, Accountability, Teamwork, Optimism, and Respect. These values guide how we learn, work together, and grow every day. We appreciate your continued support in reviewing and reinforcing them at home—it makes a big difference! 
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Title I Information
Title I is the largest federal aid program for elementary, middle, and high schools. Through Title I, the federal government designates money to school districts around the country based on the number of students in need in each district. Each district uses its Title I money for extra educational services for children, such as:
Class size reduction
Additional teachers and paraprofessionals
Parent resources
Instructional materials and supplies
Tier 2 and Tier 3 support services
The focus of the Title I program is to ensure all students meet challenging content and achievement standards. Title I also authorizes federal grant programs that provide funds for reading instruction, services to migrant children, services to neglected and delinquent children, comprehensive school reform and dropout prevention.
All FCPS students in grades K-8 are eligible to receive programs funded through the Title I grant.
Gladys West Elementary School
Courtney Wheeler — Principal
Tony Lewis — Assistant Principal
Constance Malmgren — Assistant Principal (Title I)
(540) 372-1140
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My Ride K-12
We are transitioning to a new app for tracking your student's bus.
This year, we will be using My Ride K-12 to help parents track their student's bus. You can access My Ride K-12 through the app OR online. Please view the attached guides to set up your account before the first day of school. You will need your student's ID number to connect your account.
Transportation staff will be available at ALL school orientations to share bus routes and help you access the app on your phone. My Ride K-12 is convenient and easy to use, and we look forward to assisting our families with this transition.
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Bus Routes
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Transportation Changes
Submit your request using the link below by 2:45 PM.
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Why Attendance Matters
Consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in a student's academic success. When students miss school frequently, they miss out on valuable instruction, classroom discussions, and hands-on learning experiences that build the foundation for future skills. Chronic absenteeism—missing 10% or more of the school year—can make it harder for students to stay track academically, socially, and emotionally.
Every day in school matters. Together, we can help our students build strong habits, stay engaged, and reach their full potential! 
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Attendance Notes
Every day in school is a chance to learn, grow, and connect and we want your student here for all of it! If your child needs to miss a day, just submit your attendance note using the link below. Keeping us in the loop helps us make sure they don’t miss out and can jump right back in when they return.
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Interested in Volunteering? We'd Love Your Help!
Volunteers play a vital role in supporting our students and staff—thank you for being part of our school community!
Before you can begin volunteering, please complete the following steps:
✅ Volunteer Application Form
✅ TB Risk Assessment Screener
✅ View the Volunteer Expectations & Guidelines Presentation
✅ Complete the Acknowledgement Form (located on last slide) to confirm you've reviewed the guidelines
All forms must be submitted to the main office. The Acknowledgement Form will be submitted and tracked online.
All required forms and links are provided below. Thank you for helping us keep our campus safe, supportive, and stduent-centered!
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Meet Our Amazing School Counselors! 💚
Our elementary school counselors are here to support every student's academic, social, and emotional growth. Whether it's helping with friendship skills, problem-solving, and just being someone to talk to, they play an important role in making our school a safe and caring place. Please don't hesitate to reach out—they're here to help! 
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GWES PTA
Being part of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) means joining a team that works together to support our students, families, and staff. Membership helps fund school events, student activities, classroom resources, and teacher appreciation efforts throughout the year.
As a PTA member, you'll:
Stay informed about school happenings
Have a voice in decisions that impact our school community
Help create fun and meaningful experiences for our students
Connect with other GWES families and staff
Every membership makes a difference—whether or not you’re able to volunteer your time, your support strengthens our school community. 💚