Good Afternoon Wildcats!
🎉🐾 Wildcat Shout-Out! 🐾🎉
Our Wildcats are shining bright this week! 🌟
Students earn golden Cat Paws when they step up as leaders and show what it means to be a true Wildcat:
✨ P – Positive Attitude
✨ A – Achieving Success
✨ W – Working Together
✨ S – Safe and in Control
👏 A big round of applause to this week’s Cat Paw Champions:
Kindergarten – Elliette and Imran
Second Grade – Kenda
Third Grade – Zema and Korra
Fourth Grade – Katy H. And Elli C.
Fifth Grade – Liam and Jack
Way to go, Wildcats! Keep leading the way—your pawsitive actions make our school stronger every day! 🐾💛💙
🚗 Parking at West Park – Safety Reminder
Families, we have had several serious safety concerns during parent pick-up. To keep every Wildcat safe, we need your full cooperation with the following:
Respect cones and signs. These areas are off-limits so students and staff can move safely.
No parking in the lot during pick-up times:
• Monday–Thursday: 2:30–3:00 p.m.
• Friday: 1:45–2:15 p.m.
Children must not ride through the parking lot. They must be fully inside the car and buckled up before the vehicle moves.
Unsafe or illegal parking puts everyone at risk. Please help us keep the flow moving safely and smoothly.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our parking lot safe for all families. When we work together, dismissal runs smoothly and every Wildcat gets home safely. 🐾
🍎🥪 September & October Menus 🍕🥦
🤠 West Park Barn Dance 🎶
We’re excited to announce that this year’s Barn Dance is open to all students in Kindergarten through 5th Grade!
📍 Location: HIRC – 1724 East F Street
🚌 Transportation: All students will ride the bus to and from the Hamilton-Lowe gym. For safety and consistency, please do not request early pick-up.
Schedule by Grade Level:
8:35–9:20 → 5th Grade
9:25–10:10 → 3rd Grade
10:15–11:00 → 4th Grade
12:20–1:05 → 1st Grade
1:10–1:40 → Kindergarten
1:45–2:30 → 2nd Grade
🥕🍎 Paws Up for Produce! 🍌🥒
Here’s what our Wildcats will enjoy next week:
Monday: Apples – crisp, crunchy, and sweet 🍎
Tuesday: Bananas – creamy, sunny energy in a peel 🍌
Wednesday: Tangerines – juicy little bursts of sunshine 🍊
Thursday: Cucumbers – cool, refreshing crunch 🥒
Friday: Snap Peas – sweet, snappy bites of green goodness 🌱
We are so grateful for this opportunity and for our incredible team who helped make it happen. Here’s to healthy bodies, sharp minds, and happy Wildcats! 🐾
🍂🐾 PAT Fall Family Night! 🐾🍂
Our West Park PAT is thrilled to invite all Wildcat families to a cozy, fun-filled fall evening—and we’d love your help making it extra special!
🎃 Donations Needed: We’re asking for pumpkin and gourd donations to use in our decorating activities. Donations can be dropped off at West Park Elementary anytime before the event.
✨ Join us for an evening of fall traditions and community fun:
🍴 Dinner: Hot dogs for all
🍎 Drinks: Warm, spiced apple cider
🎨 Activity: Pumpkin & gourd decorating—let your creativity shine!
📅 When: Tuesday, October 21st
⏰ Time: 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
📍 Where: West Park Elementary, Front Lawn
This event is all about family, food, laughter, and fall fun. Come celebrate the season with us—we can’t wait to see our Wildcat community together! 💛🐾
🐾 West Park Fundraiser Update! 🐾
We currently have 38 students registered and have raised $1,769 toward our $7,500 goal—with only 20 days left!
All students and parents must register online:
Use Group Code: 3LWPE
Why Fundraise?
This fundraiser supports the PAT General Fund, helping fund field trips, classroom experiences, and student projects!
Class Competition Update:
Mrs. Schneegans’ class (K) is still in the lead—Go Kindergarten!
Top 5 Teachers by Registered Students:
1-Schneegans (K): 6
2-Lots (3): 5 (up from 3rd to 2nd)
3-Herman (K): 5 (up from 4th to 3rd)
4-Herrenbruck (3): 4 (down from 3rd to 4th)
5-Walker (4): 4
Top 5 Teachers by Total Sales:
1-Schneegans (K): $636
2-Vogel (5): $305
3-Markley (1): $274
4-Walker (4): $247
5-Lots (3): $108 (down from 4th to 5th)
Week-to-Win Prizes (sent home on Friday!):
Registered students: earned a lanyard
500 coins: earned a Moola Glow
2,000 coins: earned light-up glasses
Bullz & Big Prizes:
Students earning Bullz will start receiving them next week. Classrooms may display the set of 12 Bullz in any format that works best.
Big prizes will be awarded after the fundraiser ends.
Way to go, Wildcats! Let’s hit our goal and make this fundraiser a huge success! 🎉🐾
Our next PAT Meeting is on Tuesday, November 11th at 6 p.m. Please contact our PAT for the location as a head count is needed: west.park.russell.pat@gmail.com
🌟 Community Schools Update 🌟
The Family Resource HUB (119 N. Adams St.) is open every Tuesday from 2:00–5:00 p.m. Families can access free clothing, toiletries, and school supplies to support student and family needs.
If you’d like more information or need to arrange a visit at a different time, please reach out to:
📧 Vanessa Flowers: flowersv@msd281.org
📧 Mrs. Hightower (West Park Counselor): hightowerj@msd281.org
📧 Ms. Lyons (West Park Counselor): lyonsm@msd281.org
The HUB is here for you—please don’t hesitate to connect if your family could benefit from these resources. 💛
📢 Stay Connected with West Park!
Your go-to spots for the latest Wildcat updates! 💛🐾
Stay up to date on events, news, and celebrations by following us:
Important Dates- Please note this list might not be all inclusive and it changes often.
Wednesday, September 24th
7:00 p.m. - School Board Meeting at Lena Whitmore Elementary
Friday, September 26th
9:20 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.- Third Grade students to the Hartung at UI for push/FOLD dance company-Please see information from your child’s teacher
9:50 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.- Fourth and Fifth Grade students attend the Young People’s Concert at UI- Please see information from your child’s teacher
Wednesday, October 1st
International Walk to School Day!
11:45a.m. - 12:30 p.m.- 5th Grade CHAMPS
Thursday, October 2nd
12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.- Fourth Grade Poetry at Ghormley Park
Tuesday, October 3rd
No School for Students- Professional Development for Teachers
Monday, October 6th
3 p.m.-3:40 p.m.- Third-Fifth Grade Game Club
Wednesday, October 8th
Picture Day-Individuals- More information to come
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.- 5th Grade CHAMPS
Monday, October 13th
3 p.m.-3:40 p.m.- Third-Fifth Grade Game Club
6 p.m. - 7 p.m.- PAT Meeting- Location TBA
Monday, October 20th
3 p.m.-3:40 p.m.- Third-Fifth Grade Game Club
Tuesday, October 21st
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.- Fall Harvest Fest at West Park
Wednesday, October 22nd
7:00 p.m. - School Board Meeting at the District Office
Monday, October 27th
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.- 5th Grade CHAMPS
3 p.m.-3:40 p.m.- Third-Fifth Grade Game Club
Tuesday, October 28th
K-5 Barn Dance at the HIRC-See information above
Thursday, October 30th and Friday, October 31st
No School- Parent Teacher Conferences-More information to come
Monday, November 3rd
3 p.m.-3:40 p.m.- Third-Fifth Grade Game Club
Friday, November 7th
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.- 3rd Grade “Fun” Financial Fitness
Monday, November 10th
3 p.m.-3:40 p.m.- Third-Fifth Grade Game Club
Wednesday, November 12th
Picture Day Make Ups- More information to come
Monday, November 17th
3 p.m.-3:40 p.m.- Third-Fifth Grade Game Club
Wednesday, November 19th
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 5th Grade CHAMPS
Saturday, November 22nd-Sunday, November 30th
No School- Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 1st
Back to school!
Wednesday, December 3rd
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.- Third-Fifth Grade UI Women’s Basketball Game
Thursday, December 4th
5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. - Math Night!
Thursday, December 18th
Winter Concerts- More information to come
Saturday, December 20th-Sunday, January 4th
Winter Break
Monday, January 5th, 2026
Welcome Back!
A big Wildcat ROAR of thanks for your continued support! 🐾💜
With appreciation,
Marianne Sletteland
Wildcat Principal