Windermere Mustang Monthly
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Mustang Families,
As we “spring” into April and celebrate National Volunteer Month, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the heart of our school community: our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), our Mustang Education Fund (MEF), our Room Parents, and our dedicated parent volunteers.
At Windermere Elementary, we often say it takes a herd to raise a Mustang, and your commitment of time, energy, and resources makes all the difference. Whether you are helping in the classroom, organizing school events, or supporting our staff behind the scenes, your impact is felt every single day.
This year, we are especially proud to recognize two outstanding individuals who have gone above and beyond for our students and staff.
Windermere Elementary Volunteer of the Year: Mrs. Alyson Hupp
We are thrilled to announce Mrs. Alyson Hupp as our Volunteer of the Year. Alyson’s dedication to our school has been nothing short of transformative. Her contributions are best exemplified by her approach to School Improvement. She began her tenure by meticulously assessing the entire school property, identifying tasks and projects, ranging from minor repairs to ambitious enhancements. Her crowning achievement this year was single-handedly leading the vision and execution of the new Student Rec Room (WES Rec Room). Mrs. Hupp spent last summer on campus, where she was personally responsible for painting, furniture assembly, and organizing this space, turning an unused area into a vibrant, inspiring lounge where students can thrive. This project, which required significant physical labor and time, now serves as a tangible testament to her belief that a positive environment shapes students’ experience. Thanks to her vision and hands-on support, our students now have a beautiful space to connect and recharge. Alyson, thank you for your tireless service and for making our school a better place for every Mustang!
Windermere “Senior” Volunteer of the Year: Mrs. Wendy Darre
It is also our great honor to recognize Ms. Darre as our “Senior” Volunteer of the Year. Ms. Darre has served our first-grade students for several years, consistently dedicating several days each week to support their growth and love of literature. Ms. Darre’s commitment goes far beyond the typical volunteer role. She is not merely present; she is an integral part of our early literacy program, demonstrating reliability, enthusiasm, and a deep-seated belief in the power of reading. Mrs. Darre possesses a unique talent for engaging young readers. She uses her patience and life experience to connect with students on an individual basis, tailoring her approach to each child's needs—whether they need help with phonics, sight words, or building comprehension skills. Her patience and passion for literacy have helped our youngest learners gain confidence and a love for books. We are so lucky to have her wisdom and kindness in our hallways!
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To every parent and community member who has lent a hand this year: Thank you. You are the reason our school shines so brightly.
Happy National Volunteer Month!
With gratitude,
Ms. Bittick and Ms. Brooks
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It is hard to believe that we are even thinking about the end of the year. Our kindergarteners have grown so much! Speaking of growing...
We will celebrate that growth with our end of the year celebration as we “Fly Up to First Grade!” Please note the date and time change. We will meet at the PE Pavillion on MONDAY, MAY 18th at 1:00 pm. Friends and family are invited to attend. Parents are encouraged to carpool as parking is tight. Please park on the grassy area next to the cafeteria parking lot and walk around to the bike racks. There, you will be let in to the PE pavillion. The presentation will last about 15 minutes. You may then sign your child out and take them home for a little special family time, if you wish.
We are so proud of our kindergarten students and all that they have learned, but it's not over yet! Students can practice all short vowel words, silent e words, irregular words, addition and subtraction math facts, counting to 100, counting by tens and writing their names correctly. Now is a great time to do some extra Lexia Core 5 practice on Classlink. Students can access this with their student number and password (YYYYMMDD). Check your child’s binder for login information.
Our end of the year state testing dates are May 1 (Reading) and May 8 (Math). Please make sure that your child is well rested and on time on those dates.
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April has been filled with so many wonderful activities for our first graders. The children observed caterpillars going through their metamorphosis and turning into beautiful butterflies. They loved releasing them into the butterfly garden. We were treated to a special chorus performance by our 4th and 5th grade Chorus students. To finish off the month, The Art Bus came and the children had a great time exploring.
Our firsties are getting ready for 2nd grade! We are working hard on our end of the year lessons in reading, math, science, and social studies. The first-grade team would like to thank each and every family for all the support and help that you have given us this year. We have enjoyed the year with your children and look forward to watching them grow and blossom in the coming years at WES.
Your WES First Ladies,
Mrs. Beavin, Ms. Knight, Ms. Lipp, Mrs. Moore, and Ms. Shreves
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What’s going on in second grade?
The students are getting ready to head to the Zuckerman farm! This week, we are kicking off our highly anticipated Charlotte’s Web unit. This beloved story is more than just a tale about a pig and a spider; it’s a beautiful exploration of friendship, loyalty, and the cycle of life.
We are officially "shaping up" to be experts! We are wrapping up our final unit on geometry. Students have been busy identifying polygons, lines of symmetry, and perimeter.
In science, we are diving into the basic needs of plants and animals. We will be comparing what different organisms need to thrive, focusing on the "Big Four".
In social studies, we are looking at the world around us and asking: "How do people use our environment?" Nature is important to us.
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We had the best time at Field Day! Third grade is now busy reviewing for our final FAST testing. We are doing this by reviewing our ELA stacks in Canvas, reviewing incorrect answers by using evidence, and also reviewing morphology. We are finishing up our time and measurement unit and moving into our unit on data. We have also worked hard to master our multiplication facts!
In science, we are learning about interdependence. In social studies, we are learning about our economy. In writing, we will be writing an argumentative essay. We are working hard to review all we have learned this year.
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Hello Fourth Grade families!
Our Famous Floridian Living Museum was a huge success! Thank you so much for your support during this project!
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In ELA, we are continuing to review for the ELA FAST, which means we are revisiting skills and concepts that we have covered throughout the year.
In math, we are wrapping up our unit on angles. Students need to feel comfortable reading a protractor and determining the measurement of unknown angles. We are also incorporating reviews into our daily lessons.
In science, we are continuing to learn about heredity and the reproduction of plants and animals, and as historians we are learning about the contributions of famous Floridians.
Our final transformation will be on April 30th! If you would like to help by purchasing an item off our Amazon wish list, that would be great!
Students will be taking the ELA FAST on May 4th, and they will be taking the Math FAST on May 6th. Please note that May 6 is a long Wednesday and there is no early release.
Lastly, please keep reminding your student to show all their work on their math homework. We reinforce this daily in the classrooms. As they move into more challenging concepts, it is essential that they are identifying key words.
Thanks for your help!
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Hello Fifth Grade families!
The fifth graders played great and pulled out a huge win against the teachers at the annual Mustang Scrimmage. It's only the fourth time in the history of the game that the students have won. The students showed excellent sportsmanship and brought tons of energy!
We are excited for our last trip of elementary school to Universal Islands of Adventure.
In ELA, we are continuing to review for the ELA FAST, which means we are revisiting skills and concepts that we have covered throughout the year.
In math, we are finishing our last unit on converting units of measurement. We are also reviewing previous skills to begin our preparations for FAST testing.
In science, we are reviewing for FAST Science.
Our final Glow Day transformation is approaching quickly. Teachers sent out a wish list for the transformation.
Students will be taking the ELA FAST on May 4, and they will be taking the Math FAST on May 6. Please note that May 6 is a long Wednesday and there is no early release.
As we prepare for the FAST tests students can review previous science study guides which can all be found on Canvas as well as in their binders. Also, students can work on Reading Plus to practice reading skills.
Thank you for all of your support.
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Happy Spring!
Featured this month is Mrs. Beavin’s class with their famous flower pots. We are learning about still life, landscape and portraits in art.
5th grade is working on a sea turtle project. Other projects include still life with fruit, landscapes with dinosaurs, Rodrigo blue dog paintings, and some weaving and sewing.
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The WES Newsroom is LIVE!
Thanks to the generous support of our WES families, local businesses, and our broader community through the Mustang Education Fund, the WES newsroom and its crew are back LIVE with upgraded newsroom equipment!
This investment supports:
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Hands-on learning in broadcasting, media production, and technology
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Updated newsroom software and tools with more enhancements planned
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Technology across the school supporting the digital tools students and teachers use every day
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Real-time announcements bringing the news to life for our school community
The Mustang Education Fund continues to invest in meaningful technology upgrades like these, helping students build practical skills and fueling innovation in the classroom.
Thank you to our amazing WES community for making it all possible!
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