MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL: Student-Staff Successes 2019-20

Dear Parents/Guardians:

I hope you are enjoying the start of summer with your family.  While the challenges of COVID-19, school closure, distance learning, and grading and reporting were significant, they also allowed us to show as a school and community our resilience, perseverance, and overall caring culture.  I want to THANK YOU for the kind words you shared with me and staff members, the gift cards you sent during teacher appreciation week to our teachers, and your overall patience as we worked to promote learning this school year. 

We would also like to extend our thanks to the Westfield PTSA for their continued support of our staff throughout the school closure, and the Westfield Business Owner’s Association for their support of various programs in our school.

I would like to add a special THANK YOU to our Senior Photo Op photographers Fred Ingham, John Caccivio, and Will Palenscar who spent 3-days creating and capturing photos of our Class of 2020 graduates and their families.   Your hard work and dedication provided our families with lasting memories and beautiful keepsake pictures of this milestone achievement. 

I am also proud to report we sold 948 yearbooks this year which was the entire order.  Congratulations to Mrs. Naeve, Yearbook Sponsor and the yearbook staff.

Before the closure, we partnered with Ruval Enterprises and Mr. Rubin Cuffee, a certified corporate leadership development coach who helped pilot a new program called STEPS, (Strengthening Traits to Encourage Positive Solutions) to teach goal setting and other life skills to selected students.  Mr. Cuffee also continued his work as one of the facilitators of the Erin Peterson Fund Young Men’s Leadership and Girls Reaching Academic and Cultural Excellence (GRACE) groups. 

Back in December, we held an assembly titled, “Beautiful Tomorrow”.  The motivational speaker, who goes by the name Humble Tip, is a music artist and college enthusiast who travels around the country speaking to youth promoting peace, hope and empowerment.   Topics discussed included anti-bullying, depression, college readiness and substance abuse.  This modern and relatable approach had an immediate positive response from both students and staff.

As you may recall, we started the year celebrating our 20^th anniversary.  While I am sure no one wanted the school year to end as it did, I am confident we are prepared for whatever challenges we may face as a school and community moving forward. 

As we transition to planning in earnest for the 2020-2021 school year, we have captured below students’ and staff members’ successes from the 2019-2020 school year. 

Stay healthy; Be safe; GO BULLDOGS!

Anthony E. Copeland, PhD

Principal

2019-2020 Student & Staff Successes

ATTENDANCE

Continuous Improvement Awards were presented to 375 schools statewide, based on the following criteria: Schools recognized for continuous improvement were rated Accredited or Accredited with Conditions for 2019-20 and met at least one of the following four criteria based on performance during 2018-19:

• A 10-point increase in the combined rate in reading and math, and in the pass rate in science;
• A 10-point increase in the combined rate in reading and math for 2 or more student groups across 3 years;
• A decrease in the chronic absenteeism rate for three years; or
• An increase in the Graduation and Completion Index and a decrease in the dropout rate for three years.

VDOE Continuous Improvement Awards were presented to 46 Fairfax County schools, including Westfield High School.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The Class of 2020 amassed over 8,351 hours of community service doing a myriad of tasks throughout our community.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SGA led the following events/activities during the school year:

• Homecoming 2019
• Parade for the Community
• Our Neighbors Child - an organization in the Westfield community that serves families around the Holidays
• Westfield’s Got Talent Show
• International Night
• Assisted with Virtual Teacher Appreciation Week – our students made videos each day to thank each department

ATHLETICS

• Varsity Football - District and Regional Champions
• Varsity Volleyball - District Champions
• Girls Indoor Track - District Champions
• Wrestling - Regional Champions

CAREER/TECH ED

DECA:

• 15 top 3 medalists at our District Competition
• 17 top 10 finalists overall at our State Competition
• 17 qualifiers to participate in our International Competition (cancelled due to COVID-19)

TSA: (Technology Student Association)

• Earned the following at the Northern Virginia Regional Fair:
• Digital Video Production (HS)- One team placed 7^th and one team placed 10th
• Photographic Technology (HS)- One student placed 9^th and one student placed 10^th.

ENGLISH

• Successfully piloted the Film Study 2 class
• Overhauled bookroom with over 6,000 new books with an eye towards diversity 

FINE ARTS

• Digital Art, Animation, Design 1: Classroom successes of work ethic, tenacity, positive attitude: Ethan S.
• Scholastic Art Awards: 26 Regional Scholastic Arts Awards
• Visual Art Show – Best in Show to 4 Seniors: Louisa B., Anthony S., Devina B., Ellie R.
• National Art Honor Society Scholarship Winner: (For Service and Leadership in the Arts) Isla M.
• Outstanding Teacher Award: (Scholastic Art & Writing Awards (3 Regional Gold Key Portfolios) Ms. Johanson.
• Fine Arts Medallion Award: (Exemplary Studio Art and Art Community Service) Izzy T.
• Scholastic Award: (4 Gold key, Silver Key, Silver Key Portfolio) Izzy T.
• “We Strive” Online Photo Competition: Award Winner: Bhavya S.

MATH

• 128 new student members were inducted into the Math Honor Society. This is the largest number of students ever inducted!
• Westfield’s Computer Science Club sponsored a Hackathon in the fall with almost 100 attendees from all over Northern Virginia.  It was free for students and the club got local corporate sponsors that allowed us to provide a meal for each participant as well as awarding prizes valued over $1,000!  We also had guest speakers during the event including local politicians and corporate professionals. 
• Westfield Computer Science Club participated in the National ACSL Competition throughout the school year.
• 150 students participate in Junior Math Team competitions throughout the school year, and 220 students participate in Varsity Math Team competitions.  50 students participated in the American Mathematics Competition in January and 1 student’s high score qualified him to participate in the next level of competition - American Invitational Mathematics Exam.
• Mrs. Chrostowski and Mr. Hawkins received their Masters’ degrees this year.  Great job!
• Mr. Wultors was selected as Westfield’s Teacher of the Year by the Class of 2020.  Congratulations!
• The Math Department assisted 2 student-teachers in completing their student-teaching assignments this spring during the pandemic and our school closure. 
• And… The Math Department LOVES making connections with students through school spirit!  We won for most spirited department during Homecoming week and won the department Halloween contest!  So fun!

PERFORMING ARTS

• The Marching Band won the JMU Parade of Champions for the first time in the history of our school – over 50 bands participated in the competition.
• The Marching Band received straight “SUPERIOR” rating at the VBODA state marching assessment.
• 26 students were selected for all district band AND 4 students were selected for all state band

SCIENCE

• Westfield received the EcoSchool - Silver recognition.
• All students that were eligible for the FCPS regional fair were able to participate virtually - one student Mahika P. was a Grand Prize winner.
• Westfield placed 3^rd in the Science Olympiad

SOCIAL STUDIES

• The FCPS School Board recognized Westfield for our voter registration efforts.
• 4 projects were sent to state National History Day (NHD) Competition. All projects earned awards, and 1 project was sent to the national NHD Competition
• Multiple teachers selected as AP readers
• Model UN (MUN) won Best Small Delegation at the John Champe MUN conference, and 2 students achieved the best delegate award in 2 conferences.
• Self-Contained Psychology had a successful first year

Service-learning hours:

SPECIAL EDUCATION

• Successful graduation of all our special education students
• Another #choosetoinclude campaign was held this year
• The Westfield Chapter of the Bulldog Buddies Program continued to thrive and grow partnering with our general education mentors.

STUDENT SERVICES

• Westfield Cares
• Significant number of students earning scholarships
• Successful continuation of programming through closure
• First year of providing academic/career plan instruction to all 9^th graders on PSAT day
• Bulldog Bootcamp for Class of 2023
• YMLG & GRACE field trip to NMAAHC
• Pyramid wide bullying prevention week
• Quarterly Signs of Suicide Program implemented to 10^th grades in collaboration with HPE
• Academic Advising & Registration to all students
• Online AP Testing
• 99% graduation on time rate for Class of 2020

WORLD LANGUAGE

• 3 American Sign Language (ASL) Society students received the ASL Honor Society’s Laurent Clerk Medal of Distinction for their service to the deaf community.

Thanks to our students and staff for all the hard work and perseverance throughout the 2019-2020 school year. 

4700 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151  | Main Office: 703-488-6300
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