WPES
WEST SIDE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
02
Message of Gratitude
11
Spotlight: Ms. McCarthy
03
Campus
13
Spotlight: Mr. Yugo
04
Scholar Photos
15
Notes of Appreciation
07
Notes of Appreciation
17
A Message from WPES
09
Scholar Photos
18
Scholar Photos
THE STUDENTS AND STAFF OF WPES PRESENT THIS BOOK AS A TOKEN OF OUR GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION FOR ALL YOU DO!
WEST SIDE PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth
“The root of joy is gratefulness.” - David Steindl-Rast
We Appreciate your HARD WORK
We Appreciate you BEING ALL HANDS
To the world you may an educator, and school leader, but to your students you are a HERO!
“In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.” – Flora Edwards
Taysiah Varnie Dear Ms. McCarthy, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things”. It's not easy to find a true leader to look up to, so it’s been a wonderful experience to work with a great principal like you. You have fostered a sense of support and appreciation that allows us as educators to improve our practice daily. Your long hours and hard work make a difference to ensure the learning and growth of both our students and staff. We are forever grateful for all you do! Dear Mr. Yugo, I am writing to express my sincere thanks for all you do to improve our school. Without your impressive organization and incredible passion for the students, our community would not be what it is today. You continue to take on multiple roles at our school and it is done effortlessly. I appreciate all that you do, and I thank you for your hard work and dedication.
Ebony Joseph Nick: Thank you for everything you do to make sure our school runs as efficiently as it does. We know how hard you work for operations but you also fiercely love our scholars and their families. You are the calm in the ever ending storm of if it can go wrong it will and we appreciate you. Kristen: Thank you for being an amazing leader. I appreciate how you push all of us to be better for every scholar. We appreciate the love and energy that you bring to the school. Thank you again from us all.
Walline Alphonse Nick, your commitment to WPES extends far and wide. I have witnessed you take on the responsibilities of multiple positions to ensure that WPES never skips a beat. I have observed as you readily make yourself available to address spontaneous parent concerns and quickly deescalate situations. You work relentlessly to support the greater community at both the elementary and middle school level and for this you are greatly appreciated. Thank for all you do for our scholars, staff, parents and community.
Walline Alphonse Kristen, you set the start of the day by welcoming our scholars to the building with high and positive energy, warmth and challenging problems to get their brains going. You enthusiastically energize the community through chants reminding both staff and scholars of the collective mission and how it will be accomplished. Your presence is felt and appreciated by our scholars and staff alike reminding us of the ultimate goal even when our own energy may be lacking.
We Appreciate Your KINDNESS & SMILE
We Appreciate You MAKING US FEEL HEARD
“A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles.” – William Hazlitt
"The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them." — Ralph Nichols
We Appreciate Your "A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way." LEADERSHIP -John C. Maxwell
We Appreciate Your STRENGTH
“A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve
MS. MCCARTHY, WE APPRECIATE YOU “At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” – Albert Schweitzer
MS. MCCARTHY, WE APPRECIATE YOU
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” – Lionel Hampton
MR. YUGO WE APPRECIATE YOU “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.” – Gilbert C. Chesterton
MR. YUGO WE APPRECIATE YOU
“Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.” – Henri Frederic Amiel
Valbona Pahumi
Dear Kristen, Your excitement for learning is contagious! Whether it be Morning Meeting ideas like the Friday Song or pumping up scholars and teachers to tackle school-wide goals, you get everyone invested! When we were in the WPES building, you tutored teachers to help them become better educators, you pushed scholars thinking during Circle to make them more flexible, and you always made yourself present in classrooms to celebrate scholars’ successes and supported teachers in getting comfortable with living in the messiness of learning. You did this all with your genuine style. Your passion and joy still lives as we do our work remotely. You reach out to families and offer comfort through your kind words and support. You join us in virtual cooking sessions to support our inner food enthusiast and laugh with us about the strange new things happening around us. You are always inspiring us to be our best even when things are changing. You remind us that the part of courage everyone needs right now is consistency. Thank you for always inspiring us to be our best and always doing this work with love and compassion!
Dear Nick, A professional who walks with purpose. A purpose that stems from a deep love and dedication to our community. The sound of your keys bring a sense of relief to everyone because we know you’re responding to our needs. Although, we cannot hear your keys during this time, we know the same urgency and dedication still lives remotely. From when you first started at WPES you always had a calm presence about you, this energy is still palpable. Whether it be something urgent or a request, you’re consistently there to help make sure things run smoothly. As our “Superman”, some may think it leaves you little time to connect with our kids, but you defy time and still find a way to be present. Whether it be at arrival, lunch, or dismissal, you were there for all of us. Now, you still find a way to be there, like when you hand delivered packets to families and made sure everyone’s questions were answered about remote learning and technology, or just to engage in some after work zoom activities! You give everyone a sense of relief and we know that everything will be ok. You have built such strong relationships with so many of our kids and that is evident in their drawings, letters, and requests to come and visit you during downtime. Our families know you love them and want what is best for them. It’s admirable to watch you effortlessly do your work- that we know requires so much sacrifice, especially during this unprecedented time. Thank you for always handling your role with humility and grace.
Justine Ramos Kristen, Thank you so much for everything you do for the WPES community. Your bright face, loud and proud voice, and constant positivity make coming to work every day such a joy. It’s so refreshing to know that we have such a proactive, hardworking, and determined school leader. Not only do teachers appreciate your support, but the students and families do as well. They love you so much! Kristen, your hard work and diligence does not go unnoticed. I consider myself blessed and lucky to have a leader and friend like you. We appreciate you more than you know! Nick/SUPERMAN, You literally are Superman. It’s incredible how you can solve multiple problems at once, complete multiple tasks at once, and be in multiple places at once! Thank you so much for everything you do for WPES. Your behind the scenes work does not go unnoticed. We appreciate how hard you work to get teachers what they need each day, in addition to supporting our scholars and families. WPES is so lucky to have you. We appreciate you more than you know! Now, close your laptop, put your feet up, and relax!
“Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.” – Karl Barth