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Dear Westgate Families,
I hope this finds you having a wonderful start to our second week of school. I want to first thank you for all the positive feedback we have received over the past few days as we have navigated opening a school year completely virtual. It has been amazing to see our students back in classrooms learning and interacting with one another. We also acknowledge that this past week may have not been perfect, and we appreciate your patience concerning any hiccups you may have experienced with technology or accessing your child's virtual sessions. Luckily, last week was very successful overall, and we have a lot to celebrate as a school and community.
The phrase "it takes a village" has never felt more true than it does during these times. While you are looking to us for support and guidance surrounding your child's education, we are equally looking to you to help us achieve that goal. We know that many of you are juggling different responsibilities as our students work from home and we so appreciate your commitment to this new normal. We know that week by week this will get easier, and our students will begin to know exactly what they need to do and where they need to go. In the meantime, make sure you give yourself a huge congratulations as well for doing a fabulous job as parents during this first week back.
Please make a note to your calendar that next Tuesday, September 22 from 6:00 - 7:15 pm, Westgate will be holding its Virtual Back to School Night. You will find more information below, but we hope that you make this a priority as it will help further forge that positive home/school partnership for the year to come.
As always, we welcome your feedback on how we can make this experience a positive one for both you and your child. Our teachers are working really hard and we are excited for what is in store for our students as we move throughout the next few weeks. We thank you in advance for the continued support from our amazing Westgate community.
All my best,
Hallie Demetriades
Principal
Back to School Night
We are excited to host our Virtual Back to School Night next Tuesday, September 22 from 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm. The night will be split into two sessions so you can attend more than one teacher's session. Those two sessions will run from 6:00 pm - 6:40 pm and from 6:45 pm - 7:15 pm. If you only have one child, we encourage you to attend the first session. You will receive specific information regarding your session details and your Blackboard Collaborate Ultra (BBCU) link from your child's classroom teacher. Please note that Back to School Night sessions are intended for parents/guardians only. Teachers will review the curriculum, schedule, important updates, and strategies you can use to support your child at home. We hope you make it a priority to attend one of the sessions that are offered.
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Library Curbside Checkout - Begins September 21
We are excited to announce that next Monday, September 21, we will begin offering curbside checkout from our very own Westgate Library from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Please see the flyer here for more information regarding the details surrounding this event. We are thrilled to be getting real books back to students and hope you take advantage of this opportunity. If you have questions, please contact your child's classroom teacher or Mrs. Scherbenske at mbscherbensk@fcps.edu.
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2019-2020 Yearbook Distribution - Monday, Sept. 21
We are excited to share that our 2019-2020 yearbooks have finally arrived! If you purchased a yearbook, you can pick it up during our library curbside checkout this Monday, September 21 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. You will use the front bus loop (by doors 9&1) to retrieve your items. Please place a piece of paper with your students’ name(s) and hold it up to the window for easy viewing. If you missed the deadline for online ordering, don’t worry we will have extras for sale at $16.00 cash or check (made out to Westgate ES). If you want to buy a yearbook please include that on the paper with your students' name. It was definitely a year we will never forget and are happy to finally get these to our students and families.
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Digital Resources - Consent Form - Please Complete
Westgate teachers will use a variety of digital resources to support student learning and promote communication and collaboration with students and families. Some of the digital resources your child may use this year will require your consent before they can be used. The enrolling parent or guardian will need to indicate whether or not their student is allowed to use the list of digital resources this year. Thank you to those who have already given consent. If you have not, please provide your consent on this form.
You can find Westgate’s list of the resources that require parental consent and more information about the form here: https://westgatees.fcps.edu/adopteddigitalresources This page also provides more information about how FCPS carefully reviews digital resources for approval and why we must request your consent before using certain tools.
We would like to be able to start using these digital resources next next, but cannot do so without response from all parents. Your child will not be able to use the digital resources until we have received your permission.
Please reach out to your student’s teacher if you have questions or concerns about the digital resources we’ve chosen to use this year.
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Band & Strings - Information
This is for 4th, 5th and 6th grade families! We want to let you know about Band and Strings this year at Westgate! Mr. Erickson is back teaching band, and we have a new strings teacher, Dr. Reed. They have created a new google slide presentation in order for you and your child to learn all about band and strings offerings at Westgate this year. The google slide presentation MUST be viewed using your child’s google fcpsschools.net account. This is almost the same as last spring’s presentation but includes Dr. Reed and does not have chorus since chorus will not be offered in the Fall.
Please click on this link to be taken to the presentation: Westgate Band/Strings Google Slides Presentation
PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT! Thursday, September 17th at 5:00 pm. We will introduce ourselves and our programs and take questions. Please access the Blackboard Collaborate video session through this link: Westgate Band/Strings Live Parent Info Session
STUDENT RECRUITING - We will be meeting with the students during the second week of school during their general music classes so that they can also ask us questions and get to know us.
REGISTRATION GOOGLE FORM! If your child knows what they want to sign up for right now, you may fill out the registration form now. ALL STUDENTS MUST FILL OUT THE FORM! This is slightly different than the one we sent in spring which was in anticipation of in-school learning. Due to our virtual start, students must submit a new form. Please also access this through your child’s google fcpsschools.net account. Here is the link for that: Westgate Band/Strings Registration Google Form
Please email either Mr. Erickson at pgerickson@fcps.edu or Dr. Reed at eareed@fcps.edu with any questions you have! We hope to see your kids in band and strings this year!!!”
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Fall 2020 iReady Assessment
The online iReady assessment (also known as the universal screener) provides an initial view of all students’ foundational skills to help teachers identify students who may have challenges in reading or mathematics. Students in grades K-6 will take the iReady reading assessment. Students in grades 1-6 will take the iReady mathematics assessment. More information about the assessment can be found on the FCPS Universal Screener Parent Notification webpage.
This fall, students will take iReady at home instead of at school. Teachers will discuss the assessment with students in advance, including how to log in and what to expect. Resources to help families administer the assessment at home can be found on the FCPS Universal Screener webpage.
For questions, please contact your child’s teacher or our School Testing Coordinator & Assistant Principal, Ted Cooper @ egcooper@fcps.edu.
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Technology/Support for Families
Parent Technology Help Desk
FCPS has launched a toll-free Parent Technology Help Desk to assist families with technology issues. The number is 1-833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS). It will be answered 7 a.m.-11 p.m., seven days a week. Parents who need help in a language other than English should let help desk staff know, and an interpreter will join them on the line. (FCPS has Parent Information Phone Lines available in eight languages to assist with general questions about FCPS.)
FCPS has also created an online portal for older students and parents/guardians to request technology help.
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