Westgate Weekly News

Kindergarten Assessments 

We conduct quick assessments on our rising Kindergarten students before the school year begins.  Assessments will be held at Westgate August 3 - 5 and you may sign up here.  If you are unable to make an assessment time during those days, your child's teacher will just assess them when we return to school later in August.  As a reminder, these assessments are only used to get an idea of where your child is academically, and not for any placement purposes.  It is also a great opportunity for your child to get to meet some of our staff members prior to the first day of school.

New Student and Kindergarten Registration Information

Do you have, or know of a new student or rising kindergartener scheduled to come to Westgate next year?  Please spread the word that registration is underway as we are excited to meet our newest Wolves.  Registration information for kindergarten and new students can be found on our website here.  You may also contact our registrar, Tracy Green, at tmgreen@fcps.edu if you have additional questions.

Reminder - Westgate Yearbooks

Even through this unique school year, we are excited to again be offering a Westgate Yearbook!  This year’s yearbook is $15 and will be available for purchase next school year if you didn’t get your order in this school year.

This year's yearbook will be more unique than ever because we will be able to add promotion, and special end of year event photos to it.

In addition, Westgate will be doing a special 6^th grade section of the yearbook again this year.  It will include baby and family photos.  If you have a 6th grade student and wish to include your child’s photos, please email them to westgateyearbook@fcps.edu or send them to school in an envelope with your child’s name and teacher.  They will be scanned and returned.  

Due to current pandemic circumstances, yearbooks were not finished prior to the end of the school year.  However, you will still be able to purchase them in advance and can pick them up when they are delivered this summer. We are excited to be able to provide this opportunity for students again this school year.

To reserve a copy email westgateyearbook@fcps.edu

FCPS Transitions to Schoology on July 1

Fairfax County Public Schools’ contract with Blackboard ends on June 30. The new learning management system is Schoology (pronounced /SKOO-luh-jee/). Schoology is a learning space that enhances communication, collaboration, and personalized learning for students, teachers, and families. Schoology will be used division-wide starting in July.

Schoology was chosen to: 

• Support and implement instructional practices aligned to our learning model.  
• Help students reach the Portrait of a Graduate goals.
• Provide all students with equitable access to meaningful learning experiences.
• Offer anytime access to their virtual learning space.

Students will have a Schoology account by June 18.

• Students use their FCPS student ID and password to login to Schoology.
• Students will not see any classes until the grading period starts.

As a parent or guardian, you will be able to use Schoology to view:

• Your child’s class. 
• Your child’s assignments and participation.
• Your child’s calendar.
• Teacher comments, scores, and feedback.

Parent accounts will be available in mid-August. To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. 

More information about Schoology is available online. 

Free Meals Continuing from June 28 - August 5

FCPS is committed to providing all students access to no-cost meals over the summer months at meal kit sites and on bus routes. Each site and bus route will offer meal kits containing seven days of breakfast and lunch. Please note that locations of the meal distribution sites and all bus routes have changed from the school year plan. 

Summer Meal Kits 

• Summer meal kits will be offered on Mondays at 10 sites throughout the county beginning June 28 and ending August 2. 
• Please note that meal kits will be distributed on Tuesday, July 6, due to the Monday, July 5 holiday. 
• Meal kits contain 7 days of breakfast and lunch items packed in bulk. 
• The meal kits will be available for pick up from 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. or until supplies are exhausted. 
• All meals are available at no-cost to all FCPS students and children eighteen (18) years of age and under. 
• Parents and caregivers may pick up food for children and adults may purchase kits for $28. 

Meal Kit bus routes 

• Meal kit bus routes will run June 28 through August 5. 
• Buses will run weekly routes throughout the community distributing meal kits, containing seven days of breakfast and lunch items packed in bulk. 
• The buses will not distribute meals on a daily basis. The bus stops are weekly and run Monday-Thursday only. 
• Please note that on Friday, July 2, Monday bus routes will operate to cover the Monday, July 5, holiday. 
• Meal kits are available at no-cost to FCPS students and children eighteen (18) years of age and under. 
• Parents and caregivers may pick up food for children. 
• Adult meals will not be available for purchase on the bus routes. 

PTA School Supplies - Order NOW!

The PTA is once again offering families the opportunity to order all their school supplies online for next school year.  Order online now and in the fall the supplies will be shipped to the school and delivered to your child's classroom.  This is not a fundraiser, just a courtesy to our community. Deadline for ordering is July 6th. Order today by clicking here.  Westgate's school ID is WES461. 

FCPS Summer Practice Books Coming in June

To help support continued learning throughout summer break, practice books are being mailed to homes of many FCPS students. Families who have opted-out of paper mailings from the division will only receive a digital link. 

Students will receive the following books:

• Pre-kindergarten students will receive one interdisciplinary summer practice book.
• Students enrolled in grades K-8 in 2020-21 will receive one Language Arts practice book and one Math practice book by course enrollment. These books will also include information and guidance about digital tools that can be accessed by students and families to support learning throughout the summer.
• English learners and students receiving Special Education services may receive additional or customized books. 

Please see the Summer Practice Books webpage for more information and details about customized books for English learners and Special Education students.

Activate Your Parent SIS Account Today

Parents & Guardians, please take a moment to activate your SIS Parent Account today.

Request your activation key here: https://itweb.fcps.edu/ParentView/index.cfm Once you have the activation key, activate your account here: https://www.fcps.edu/node/31379 Your SIS Parent account will provide you with access to your student’s grades and allow you to update emergency contact information online as soon as your account is activated.

For next school year, this account will be vital to accessing school and class information through our Schoology (pronounced /SKOO-luh-jee/) our learning management system beginning at the start of the 2021-22 school year. We will share more information about Schoology as the new school year approaches.

Summer Arts Opportunities for Rising 3-12 Graders

Does your child love the arts? Are you looking for a wonderful summer enrichment opportunity for them? Institute for the Arts and Elementary Institute for the Arts registration is open now for students currently in grades 2 through 11. Don't delay, seats are first-come first-serve and registration closes June 25. 

Tuition waivers are available for students who qualify. Questions? Email: ifta@fcps.edu or efita@fcps.edu. 

Registration is available online.

Immunization Requirement Updates

Effective July 1, 2021, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) will require new school entry immunizations. All grade levels will be affected by these additional immunizations.

Required for School Entry:

• A minimum of two doses of Hepatitis (A) vaccine are required: For SY 2021/2022, Kindergarten students must have two doses of Hepatitis A.
• A minimum of two doses of Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine are required: For SY 2021/2022, 7th grade students must have one dose and 12th grade students must have one dose. 
• A minimum of one dose of Rotavirus (RV) vaccine is required: One dose is required for students less than eight months of age.

FCPS PreK and Early Head Start is Accepting Applications for 2021-22

• Watch this video to see if your 3- or 4-year-old may qualify for PreK. 
• To apply online, visit the FCPS website and search “PreK” or fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu. 
• For more information, call 703-208-7900.

¡FCPS PreK y Early Head Start ya está aceptando aplicaciones para el año escolar 2021-22!  Por favor mire este video para ver si su hijo de 3 o 4 años puede calificar para PreK. Para aplicar en línea: www.fcps.edu busque: PreK Correo electrónico: fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu. Para más información llame a la línea de español: 703-208-7901.

Amazon Smile - Support our School!

Looking for an easy way to support Westgate? We have an AmazonSmile account! Every time you shop at Amazon and select the Westgate PTA as your designated charity, and .5% of your purchase will be donated to Westgate. You can click here (https://smile.amazon.com/ch/54-1561076) to get started! Just remember, to shop at smile.amazon.com instead of the regular Amazon page each time you make a purchase! Supporting Westgate couldn't be easier!