1. education
2. school

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1
DECEMBER 18, 2014
Headliner!
Assembly features
entertainment from
Wilmington librarian
By Gustavo & Allison
Tattler Staff Reporters
On October 17, 2014, Scooter
Hayes, better known as Melvil Dewey,
visited Westwood Elementary School
auditorium to sing library songs which
were all written by him. Scooter Hayes is a librarian in
Wilmington, NC, at the New Hanover
Public Library. He did many activities
to interact with Westwood students and to
keep them entertained, such as the tinfoil
head roll, where he got tinfoil and wrapped
it around students’ heads, and the toilet
paper roll where he covered students’
faces with toilet paper from the chin up. The songs he has written promotes
books and helps children realize that
literature is important. His songs makes
TATTLER PHOTO BY ALLISON
students want to read and have fun while
Melvil
made
a
hat
out
of
tin
foil
for
Zoey,
a
3rd
grader at Westwood.
doing it. Westwood spirit shows in October
By Ashley & Paige
Tattler Staff Reporters
Spirit week was held October
27- October 31 at Westwood. Spirit
week is also known as Red Ribbon
Week.
The purpose of Red Ribbon week
is to share drug awareness and how to
prevent drug use with students.
Monday we had red day. Students
were asked to wear red for Red
Ribbon week. Tuesday was mismatch
day (Don’t get mixed up in drugs).
Wednesday was orange and black day
(Orange you glad you don’t do drugs).
On Thursday we had silly sock day
(Kick drugs to the curb by wearing
silly socks). On Friday we had sports
day (Team up against drugs). Friday
was also Hat day. Westwood’s PTO
did this for a fundraiser. Students
were allowed to wear hats to school
on Friday if they brought in one
dollar. Westwood’s PTO plans on having
another hat day later on in the year as
another fundraiser.
December 18, 2014
news - Features
Page 2
Tattler
Staff
JOURNALISTS
Sarah
Claudia
Gustavo
Paige
Rhianna
Khela
Zoey
Emma
Maura
Caelon
Allyson
Haleigh
Allison
Myah
Braylin
Jadyn
Mattlyn
Leanna
Tatum
Katie
McKenzie Ashley
ADVISORS
Miss Absher
Mrs. Cool
Ms. Riffle
Community
Advisor
Dr. Larry S. Taylor
TATTLER PHOTO BY BRAYLIN
Some new chapter books recently purchased by the media center for students at WWES.
Library collection expands
Media coordinator
acquires new titles
for students to enjoy
By Braylin
Tattler Staff Reporter
Westwood’s media center coordinator,
Mrs. Bowers, bought many new books for
students “to love and read!”
Some of the new books she got are The
Year of the Rat, Racing Rain, Fantasy
League, Poached, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day and
many more great books!
One of the popular books that everyone
likes is the Guiness World Record Book, and
Mrs. Bowers is getting the 2015 Guiness
World Records book!
For Kindergarten through 2nd grade she
got the new Pigeon Needs a Bath, as well as
some new non-fiction books for these young
students.
Book Fair nets funds for new titles
By Braylin
Tattler Staff Reporter
Westwood had their
annual Scholastic Book
Fair from September 23rd
through September 26th.
During the Book Fair
we also had our annual
Family Night on September 25th. Some of the
best selling books at the
Scholastic Book Fair were
the Minecraft Books and
the Battle of the Books
titles that we have now.
At
the
Scholastic Book Fair we raised
around $2,000, and Mrs.
Bowers got to buy our
school $1,000 worth of
new books. December 18, 2014
news - Grade Level
Page 3
First graders hitting the road to learn
Students tour Ashe
sites, travel to Charlotte
to engage education
By Allyson
Tattler Staff Reporters
On October 13, 2014, first graders at Westwood went to the pumpkin patch, the public library, and the
Credit Union.
At the pumpkin patch, students
discussed adjectives to describe their
pumpkin and they learned about the
different types of pumpkins. This
went along with the first grade science curriculum because first graders
have to learn about the needs of plants
and animals. At the public library,
the librarians talked to them about a
library card and about being enthusiastic when they are reading because
sometimes if students aren’t good at
reading they just shut down and don’t
want to read. Their goal at the public
library was to try to get them excited
about reading. At the Credit Union,
the staff talked to them about needs
and wants which is in their social studies curriculum. On October 23, 2014, first graders
went to Discovery Place in Charlotte,
NC. It has a lot of scientific type experiments that the students can participate in. For example, it has tubes that
students can put newspaper in and the
newspapers come flying out. Students
could also make their own creations
out of duct tape.
In addition, it had an exhibit about
dinosaurs, which is in the first grade
reading series.
Getting a new look in Second Grade
TATTLER PHOTOS AND STORY BY MAURA & HALIEGH
This year there is a new teacher in 2nd grade, and
her name is Ms. Paige Matheson. She’s originally from
Ashe County and her family lives here also. She went
to Appalachian State University for college. Ms. Matheson completed her student teaching experience with
Mrs. Michele Lemly last year, and was also hired as
a third grade tutor. Ms. Matheson wanted to teach in
Ashe County because, in elementary school, she went
to Fleetwood and she believes that this is a wonderful
school system. Her favorite thing about second grade
is the kid’s ages. Ms. Matheson thinks that the second
graders are also hilarious. They fill her with joy each
and every day. “There are a lot of hard things about second grade. But by far the most challenging thing is getting my students to work independently without having
to sit on top of them!” says Ms. Matheson. December 18, 2014
news - Grade Level
Page 4
WWES creates behavior “PACK”
PBIS Team sets year’s
behavior expectations
for Westwood students
By Jadyn & Zoey
Tattler Staff Reporters
In 2012 the PBIS Team, or the positive behavior intervention and support
team, sat down together and created the
Pack rules. The Pack rules are a set of rules that
give behavioral expectations for everyone, kindergarten through the 6th grade,
at Westwood. P stands for being prepared, A stands for having an awesome attitude, C stands for cooperation,
and K stands for kindness. These rules were implemented so
everyone would know what to do wherever they go and so there will be the
same rules in all areas of the school. For
example, the music room, computer lab,
art room, and the classrooms all have
the same expectations. There are Pack
rules for the bathrooms, the cafeteria,
and the hallway as well.
They are enforced by all teachers
and staff. Mr. Farmer stated, “Behaviors are better throughout the school
than they have been in the past.”
TATTLER PHOTO BY JADYN
Kindergarten students move down the hall taking care to follow PACK
expectations.
Making healthy fun
PE works to meet standards in an entertaining way
By Tatum
Tattler Staff Reporter
Kevin Miller is our physical education teacher at
Westwood. He has to meet National and State standards and wants to accomplish them in a fun way. Mr.
Miller’s goal for this year is for students to accomplish a
lifetime activity, such as bowling, individual sports, and
team sports. In elementary PE, Mr. Miller tries to modify
each activity to increase the level of success and fun. For
example, when playing volleyball, students use a larger
ball and let the ball bounce one time to create more fun
and success. During the first and second nine weeks Mr.
Miller had a student teacher, Daniel Waln. He is a student at Appalachian State University and is the Assistant
Coach at Lees McRae College. In the past he has been the
head coach of the Junior Varsity basketball team for the
Ashe County Huskies. Kevin Miller describes him as a
very knowledgeable person.
December 18, 2014
news - Features
Page 5
Project puts recycling on track
Fifth graders
at Westwood
make race cars
from recycled
materials
By Caelon & Claudia
Tattler Staff Reporters
Fifth grade students constructed recycled race cars on
December 15-17th at Westwood. They constructed their
cars out of recycled materials. Students were responsible for bringing in recyclable
materials to school to use to
construct their cars. Fifth graders first had to
create a blue print of their car
and then complete the construction of it. Their car had
to have a body, wheels, and
axles. On the third day, students
raced their cars down a ramp
to calculate the speed of their
car. To calculate speed, students had to measure the distance their cars traveled and
the time it took to travel the
distance.
TATTLER PHOTO BY LAURA ABSHER
Groups in Ms. Absher and Mrs. Reavis’ classes are constructing their race cars.
Westwood teacher takes up fifth grade post
By Caelon & Claudia
Tattler Staff Reporters
Mrs. Erin Hayes is the new fifth
grade teacher this year, but she is not
new to Westwood. Last year, Mrs.
Hayes taught kindergarten here at
Westwood. When asked if she liked
teaching fifth grade she said she liked
teaching 5th grade, but missed all the
hugs she received from kindergartners. Mrs. Hayes is teaching Language Arts and Social Studies this
year in fifth grade. She likes to make
her kids laugh when she is teaching
so she uses her hands and runs around
the room to describe what she is teach-
ing. When asked what her favorite
subject to teach is, Mrs. Hayes stated,
“I like teaching history and I know history is a hard subject because there are
a lot of dates, but I like to teach from
different perspectives.” Mrs. Hayes
said, “I really like teaching. It makes
me feel good!”
December 18, 2014
news - Grade Level & Features
Page 6
Kinders get a new teacher
By McKenzie & Khela
Tattler Staff Reporters
Mrs. Worley is a new
kindergarten teacher here
at Westwood Elementary.
She likes teaching at
Westwood. She said,
“Everyone is friendly and
everyone works together.”
Mrs. Worley is from
Raleigh, NC. She has been
teaching for four years, but
she has only worked two full
years as a teacher. She has
taught first grade, second
grade, and also substituted
for middle school classes.
Her husband works for GE.
Prior to moving to Ashe
County, she moved around
a lot due to her husband’s
job. Mrs. Worley stated, “I
plan on staying here as long
as I can.”
TATTLER PHOTO
BY MCKENZIE
Mrs. Worley watches her
class working hard.
Sixth grade raises money for D.C. trip
By Sarah & Katie
Tattler Staff Reporters
Sixth grade students at Westwood Elementary held their annual Jog-a-thon Fundraiser on Monday, November 24, 2014.
The Jog-a-Thon raises money
for the sixth grade students’ annual Washington D.C trip. Students
ran, jogged, and walked, and for
every lap they got a rubber band to
keep count of how many laps they
jogged.
The students would either earn
a flat fee or, for example, they
would earn a dollar for every lap
they ran or walked. Prior to the Jog-a-thon students were responsible for asking people in the community for
pledges.
All 100% of the money they
earned went toward their Washington D.C trip. Students practiced for the Jog-a-thon every Friday before the actual event.
December 18, 2014
news - Grade Level & Features
Page 7
Fourth grade gets a fresh face up front
By Rhianna & Myah
Tattler Staff Reporters
There is a new 4th
grade teacher at Westwood
Elementary School named
Tara Cool. Mrs. Cool went
to school at Appalachian
State University before
moving to this area for
the 4th grade teaching
position. She was an intern
at Westwood during the
2013-2014 school year for
Miss Absher’s 5th grade
class. She applied for a job
at Westwood in July and
started teaching on August
25th, 2014. She has never
taught 4th grade before and
says, “It is an interesting
challenge trying to jump in
with 4th grade when you’ve
never done it before.”
TATTLER PHOTO
BY LAURA ABSHER
Mrs. Tara Cool’s students
listen as the new fourth
grade teacher delivers a
lesson.
Third grade preps for EOG challenge
By Mattlyn
Tattler Staff Reporter
It is that time of year when the
EOGs are just months away. Third
graders are learning new strategies that
will help them pass the EOG. Students
have been working very hard. One
strategy they have been using in reading is to read different genres in small
groups to help them prepare for the
EOG. They read one-hundred minutes
each week, which increases their reading fluency and skills.
The students are doing very well
with preparing themselves for the
EOG. Students have to complete a
spelling contract as well. In math class they’re also doing a
very good job preparing themselves for
the EOG. They do a lot of hands-on activities that make it a more fun and
meaningful learning experience. Third grade is not all about taking
the EOG however. Third graders have
kept busy in other ways as well.
In social studies they have learned
about the United States government
and laws. In science they have learned
about the skeletal system and why it’s
important to our bodies.
In November, third graders took a
field trip to Old Salem to learn about
life in colonial times. They experienced
cooking and candle making as part
of their trip. They visited a gunsmith
shop, a cobbler shop, and a bakery.
Third graders learned that life in
colonial times was hard work for adults
and children, too.
December 18, 2014
news - Grade Level & Features
Page 8
Art takes part in PTO-sponsored fundraiser
Fundraiser was one among many projects
taken up during first half of school year
By Emma
Tattler Staff Reporter
Mrs. Stepp, the art teacher at Westwood, had many projects going on during the first and second nine weeks of
school this year. The biggest project
she helped with was the Art to Remember fundraiser for Westwood, sponsored by Westwood’s PTO. Mrs. Stepp
said, “I believe this fundraiser will be
a success.” Art to Remember was not
the only project going on in Art this
year so far. Kindergarten and 1st grade
completed leaf rubbings, and 2nd grade
did People in Motion, based off of the
artwork of Miriam Shapiro. Third
grade worked on recreating pictures of
Mona Lisa and drawing fairytale backgrounds, while 4th grade worked on a
whole unit based on the Cherokee Native Americans, which included making baskets, masks, and pottery. Fifth
grade just finished their Mandalas that
Mrs. Stepp said “turned out beautiful-
Westwood music class
explores lyrical variety
By Leanna
Tattler Staff Reporter
Mrs. Greene, the music
teacher at Westwood Elementary School, teaches
all kinds of music, such as
folk music and bluegrass.
She teaches many different
instruments, too, such as the
dulcimer, recorders, drums,
keyboard, Gong, TONS of
percussion instruments, xylophone, temple blocks, real
instruments from Africa,
thumb piano, talking drum,
Goat hoof rattles, and dancing man. She teaches every
grade level something different. All students that are in
6th grade are in chorus. They
are learning how to read music and have been practicing
for the chorus festival. The
6th grade chorus performed
December 4th at the Ashe
Civic Center for the Ashe
County Choral Festival.
On December 4th, 6th
grade students participated
in a rehearsal that morning
for the festival and then performed two selections that
night.
The 6th graders sang
“Happy Kwanzaa” and
“Night of Stars/Silent
Night”.
The 6th graders from Westwood also
joined up with the chorus
students from Blue Ridge
Elementary,
Mountain
View, Ashe County Middle
School, and Ashe County
High School.
Mrs. Greene said “it was
a wonderful opportunity for
our students to share their
musical gifts and also to see
and hear what singing opportunities await them in
middle and high school”.
ly.” The word Mandala means circle. Students created pieces of art work
that when put together created a circle. Sixth grade worked on creating Cave
and Egyptian art. She also stated that
she loves the new weekly schedule for
the older grades because she likes having consistency and finishing projects
in a week. Last year, upper grades were
on the 4-day rotation, ABCD, for enrichment. This year, each enrichment
teacher has a group of students for five
days in a row. Mrs. Stepp said that all
grades did really well the first and second nine weeks, and she expects it to go
just as smoothly the next time around.
Thank you
TATTLER PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURA BOWERS
Veterans enjoy a lunch provided by Westwood
Elementary School to honor and thank them for
their service and acknowledge what they mean to
the Ashe County community.