Dear Parents and Guardians: I am sharing with you an extract of a message I sent to the staff last week.  The administrative team and I have received emails and messages expressing concerns about the challenges of online learning.  Everyone has also acknowledged and appreciated the efforts our teachers have given to promoting students learning.  It is my belief these adjustments will make a positive difference in our students learning success and overall well-being.  

“Colleagues: Over the past 10 weeks, I have seen and heard of the herculean effort you have exerted to learn to teach online, learn Schoology, and get to know your students.  This is only a summary of the more obvious things you have done.  From phone calls with students and parents, I am aware of the amount of GRACE you have shown our students and each other.  For this I am truly thankful.  I believe it will make a difference in how we navigate the remainder of the school year.

I will state the obvious.  Teaching and learning online is not easy.  While I have no idea when we will return to normal, I am concerned the stresses placed on you and our students cannot be maintained indefinitely.

There are a myriad of factors that have contributed to so many students doing so poorly - technology issues, technology knowledge, single learning model - distance learning, new learning management system - Schoology, etc.  While all of these are valid reasons, failure at this point of the year given our current condition benefits no one; moreover, we have a responsibility to give our students a fair opportunity to demonstrate learning despite these challenges.  

I am proposing the following options to allow our students to get caught up and allow you to “take a breath” and recenter as we continue with distance learning.  

Instructional Adjustment #1 - For the week of October 26, teachers will pause instruction of new content and allow students to make up missed assignments.  All classes will meet synchronously so the teacher can explain his/her expectations to the students.  A sample structure for an instructional block is as follows: 5 min: check-in/check-up; 10 min review of what work needs to be submitted; 30-40 min independent work; 10 min redirect, repeat independent work; 5 min wrap-up.  

In those classes where students are current with their assignments, the teachers may opt to continue uninterrupted.  This instructional adjustment does not eliminate the Monday, October 26 check in and office hours.

Instructional Adjustment #2 - Effective Wednesday, November 4, teachers are strongly encouraged to break up the 80 minute block by offering 60 minutes of instruction and 20 minutes of office hours for students.  This break in instruction can be in the midst of the 80 minute block or at the end, depending on the students’ instructional needs.  Ideas for structuring the 80 minute instructional block can be found in the slide deck about the Engagement Model in Virtual Learning.  The office hours portion of each class can be used to check in with students, provide work time, or meet with small groups to provide intervention.  

We are not in the business of failing students, and we believe these practices can make a positive difference for our students’ academic success and demonstrate GRACE.“ 

Stay healthy; be safe; GO BULLDOGS!

Anthony E. Copeland, PhD

Principal

NEWS AND INFORMATION

Tutoring Opportunities (Shared with Staff)

Our tutoring platform is ready to go! Yahoo!

We are excited to connect Westfield's Honors Society students with those students who need some additional support with content. 

Distance learning offers a variety of unique challenges and opportunities for learners and teachers so we will be assessing the functioning of the tutoring program throughout the year. Please feel free to provide feedback regarding your experiences with tutoring and that of the students you refer. 

Here’s how the process will work:

1. Access the Tutoring Master Sheet
2. Select the appropriate Honor Society Form based on the student’s need 
3. Each form will ask for students' areas of need, availability, and contact information. 
4. Honor Society representatives will regularly review Tutoring Form responses and contact students to set up tutoring conferences. 

We are sending this to Student Services Faculty members and Honor Society Sponsors today. It will  be advertised in the Bull@Ten all next week. 

Please feel free to email Jess Finley (jmfinley@fcps.edu) with questions or comments.

Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Deveyva Garcia to Westfield.  Daveyva has lived in Fairfax for more than 30 years.  Her background is in Hospitality and Human Resources.  She is married and has three sons and a Chihuahua.  She enjoys tea, entertaining, crafting, and reality TV.   Welcome to Westfield!

New Office Hours

Starting October 26, 2020, as our students begin returning to in-person learning, our school office hours will change as follows:

While we continue to keep the health and safety of both students and staff our top priority, access to our building will remain limited to those with pre-arranged appointments with Westfield personnel. 

Please refer to our website for news and staff contact information.

Attendance Emails

FCPS prepared an online portal where parents can submit their excused students’ absence via email.  As an administrative team, we decided this was not a prudent way for parents to submit their students absences because it was open to fraudulent entries; furthermore, we asked that the portal not be activated on our webpage, and we did not advertise it.  Unfortunately, some parents found the portal and have submitted absences using it. 

We want all parents, and particularly those who may have used the portal, to know we do not monitor it.  We have not accessed it, and we have no plans to use it.  We request parents continue to submit their excused student absences via our attendance line (703-488-6316).  Spanish attendance line: 703-488-6316.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Join the PTSA

We need your support to help us continue our programs at WHS.  You can sign up by completing the membership form and mailing it back to WHS or sign up online on the PTSA website.

Signup HERE to join the PTSA online or LINK to paper Membership Form

We also need some Class of 2021 Senior parents to volunteer to get ideas and plan for a end of the year Senior celebration (All Night Grad Party event).  We need Senior parents to step up and help plan an event!

If anyone is interested in helping with any or all of these committees please contact Volunteer Coordinator Regina Seetoo at volunteercoord@westfieldhs.org

Like us on Facebook “Westfield High School PTSA”

Any questions?  Contact Bonnie Donnelly HERE

Go Bulldogs!

www.ptsa.westfieldhs.org

4700 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151  | Main Office: 703-488-6300
Attendance: 703-488-6316 | Web | Twitter