Our teachers had to get in on the Christmas fun, too! #UnlockingGreatness







WSE has had lots of Christmas Fun this week! From parties, to games, and movies, thank you to everyone who helped make the week possible! #UnlockingGreatness




Mr. Caleb & Mrs. Debbie's 5th graders recently presented plays inspired by their reading of The Birchbark House to parents and students at West Side Elementary! #UnlockingGreatness https://www.canva.com/design/DAG74VNnDIE/sc-Svz53VrlkuJxDZ-WuPA/edit?utm_content=DAG74VNnDIE&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton










Christmas cookie decorating fun in Mrs. Polly's kindergarten class!




Christmas Fun at WSE! #UnlockingGreatness








Mrs. Danielle's first graders have enjoyed their critter visits for the new unit, "Creature Feature!"





Creative fun in Mrs. Sheppard's class! The kids rolled a dice to see how many "lights" they got to add to the tree! And they created stockings to get cozy by the fireplace!


Mrs. Traci's first graders are spelling "r" blend words and brushing them clean.
Reminder that the deadline to sign up for Gallery X is this Friday! There is a $10 entry fee as a fundraiser for the journalism club, and the winnings are up to $75 as of now! Email Faith Gray for more information.

The West Side High School Book Club participated in Blackout Poetry; an activity where students printed the first page of their book and blacked out words to create a poem. Students are reading their choice of Coraline or The Ruins of Gorlan.




Mrs. Amy Gentry had guest speaker, Tracy Starks, from the Department of Health, speak to our students about tobacco, drug, and alcohol dangers as well as hygiene and germs. #UnlockingGreatness


Game Day! Let's Go West Side!! 💚🤍🦅🏀

Throw on your PJs and join Dr. Erickson, the elementary Principal, for our first nightly Christmas Read Aloud! Check back nightly until Christmas Eve for a new read aloud!
Congratulations to Mr. Caleb Long, a fifth grade teacher at West Side Elementary, for earning his National Board Certification in Social Studies-History/Early Adolescence! We are so proud of you and your dedication to our school and students!

Santa's Eagles are preparing the student's stockings first thing this morning!

West Side Elementary is launching a new and exciting Christmas event this year with Christmas Read Alouds! Tune in to the school's Facebook page next week for a new read aloud each evening from someone special in our school or community! #UnlockingGreatness

In December, the student body voted coach Keith Cornett as the staff member of the month. Students said that Cornett is funny, always positive, and one of the nicest staff members on campus.
Cornett has been coaching for 29 years. He says that he had always loved sports, and that love and knowledge was something he wanted to pass on to others. In doing so, he has had many memorable moments. Cornett said some of the most memorable were winning the state championships in 2014 while coaching his nephew and again last year in 2025 while coaching his daughter, as well as making sure not to give up on players that most coaches would.
Cornett said if he is to be remembered by one thing, he hopes it is by how much he cares.
“I care, not that they are good, but about their well-being,” said Cornett. “I want all kids to be successful and make it in life.”
Interview by Carey Bunton
Cornett has been coaching for 29 years. He says that he had always loved sports, and that love and knowledge was something he wanted to pass on to others. In doing so, he has had many memorable moments. Cornett said some of the most memorable were winning the state championships in 2014 while coaching his nephew and again last year in 2025 while coaching his daughter, as well as making sure not to give up on players that most coaches would.
Cornett said if he is to be remembered by one thing, he hopes it is by how much he cares.
“I care, not that they are good, but about their well-being,” said Cornett. “I want all kids to be successful and make it in life.”
Interview by Carey Bunton

Congratulations to our Eagles of the Week! Not pictured, Mia Branch and JD Smith. #UnlockingGreatness

It's a tie!!! The catapult and snowball challenge in Mrs. Howell and Mrs. Rose's science classes were a STEAM challenge for the Christmas labs. Newton's Laws and fake snow chemistry were the focus. Students built catapults and launched fake snowballs at targets for points.






The West Side Yearbook Staff would like to thank Greers Ferry Vet Clinic for their donation to the 2025-26 yearbook!

