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Dear Westgate Families,
I hope this finds you well and having a wonderful week.
During this week and next, Mrs. Manos and I will be visiting classrooms and grade levels to talk about the Westgate Way and the FCPS Students Rights and Responsibilities. The tenants of the Westgate Way are to Respect Yourself, Respect Others, and Respect Property. In addition, we have also been discussing the current safety measures we are implementing at school to make sure everyone is staying safe and healthy. Make sure you ask your child about the Westgate Way and how they may have practiced it at school this week.
As always, we continue to adjust and monitor our current mitigation strategies both inside and outside our building in order to keep student safety our top priority. In order to further support those strategies we have introduced outdoor lunch opportunities for all students on a rotating basis. We will be utilizing our beautiful courtyard spaces and are excited to have students outdoors while the weather remains warm and cooperative.
Thank you for your support of all things Westgate and wishing you a safe and healthy weekend ahead!
All my best,
Hallie Demetriades
Principal
PTA & Advanced Academics Meetings - Sept. 21 & Sept. 29
The first virtual PTA meeting of the year will be held next Tuesday, September 21 at 6:30 pm. Please log on using the Zoom link below to hear about our upcoming events and activities. After reviewing PTA business, our new Advanced Academics Resource Teacher (AART), Meg Sutton, will join us to discuss the AAP (Advanced Academic Programs) Levels of Service.
Please join the meeting using this Zoom link:
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/97232009223
The session will be recorded and shared if you are not able to attend.
Additionally on Wednesday, September 29th at 5:30 p.m., we will be holding another parent session via the same Zoom link above regarding how to refer your child for level IV AAP services. Information regarding screening will not be covered during our meeting on September 21st.
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Picture Day @ Westgate - September 29
Fall Fest is BACK!
The Westgate PTA is excited to announce that Fall Fest is back and scheduled for Friday, October 8th from 6:00 pm. - 7:20 p.m. The kids will be enjoying some of their favorite games of the past with some new exciting twists. Kids need wristbands to participate in Fall Fest activities, which are on pre-sale for $10 here (sold at door for $15). The event will be held outside in the baseball field behind school and surrounding areas.
At 7:20 p.m., when the sun goes down, everyone is invited to lay out a blanket and enjoy an outdoor, Halloween inspired movie. By ordering your wristband now, you and your family can vote on which movie it will be: Hotel Transylvania, COCO, or The Adams Family.
We hope families will help make this another great event by donating Peanut Free candy or treats for us to give out to kids. Donation boxes will be left by Door 1 starting Monday, September 20th. Any parent or family member interested in volunteering, please email membership@westgatewolvespta.com. We need all the hands we can get. We look forward to bringing this tradition back to Westgate!
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Chorus - 5th & 6th Grade
Is your 5th or 6th grade singer interested in joining chorus? If so, please complete THIS google form to register by September 30. Fifth grade chorus will meet every Tuesday from 2:30-3:00 and 6th grade chorus will meet every Thursday from 11:00-11:30. If you have any questions, please let Mrs. Schubert at vjschubert@fcps.edu or Mrs. Shumaker at akshumaker@fcps.edu know. We cannot wait to have your singer join our chorus!
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Lockdown Drill Information
Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for all of us. We have a crisis management and emergency preparedness plan for our school that is reviewed and updated regularly. Our plan includes procedures on how to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Students and staff regularly practice these drills every school year. We also practice lockdown drills.
A new Virginia Law (22.1-137.2) requires schools to notify parents at least 24 hours before a school practices a lockdown drill. However, we are not required to share the exact date and time of the drill. We are required to practice lockdown drills two times a year. FCPS lockdown drills do not include any type of active shooter scenario training, they are instruction and classroom based.
We will conduct a lockdown drill at our school soon. Our pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students are exempt from mandatory participation in lockdown drills during the first 60 days of the school year. They will participate in our second and final drill later this school year.
Additional information on our lockdown drill program to include parent tips and FAQs can be found on the Emergency Planning and Crisis Response web page. After reviewing this content, you should discuss the value of these safety drills with your child.
Keeping our school safe and secure for all students and staff involves the participation of the entire school community, and we thank you for your help to keep our school safe.
Westgate Attendance Information - Reporting an Absence or Tardy
Información de Asistencia de Westgate
Report an Absence/Tardy:
Absences and Tardies should be reported to school by 9:30 a.m.
Automated Attendance Notifications are sent out by the county if school is not notified by this time.
You may report an Absence or Tardy in these manners:
- Attendance Email Portal (on school web site) @ Attendance@fcps.edu
- Attendance Voice Mail: 703-610-5757. Please leave Student’s First and Last name, grade or Teacher’s name, and the reason for the absence or Tardy, including symptoms child is experiencing.
NOTE:
If student is recovering from Covid19, the parent and a completed Return to School Form or a Release/Clearance Letter from Pediatric Dr. or Health Dept. MUST be presented to the office at 8:40am to complete the return to school process.
Reportar una Ausencia o una Tardanza: Las ausencias o tardanzas deben ser reportadas a la escuela antes de las 9:30 a.m.
Las Notificaciones de Ausencias Automatizadas son enviadas por el condado si no se notifica a la escuela antes de las 9:30 a.m.
Usted puede informar la ausencia o tardanza de estas maneras:
· Portal de correo electrónico de asistencia (página web de la escuela): WestgateElem.Attendance@fcps.edu· Busón Mensaje de Asistencia: 703-610-5757. Deje el nombre y apellido del estudiante, el grado o el nombre de maestra/o y el motivo de la ausencia o tardanza, incluyendo síntomas que esté experimentando el niño.
NOTA:
Si el estudiante está recuperandose de Covid 19, el padre y el formulario completo de Regreso a la Escuela o una carta de autorización del Dr. pediátrico o del Departamento de Salud TIENE que ser presentado a la oficina a las 8:40am para completer el proceso de regreso a la escuela.
Join the PTA Today!
Our PTA is amazing and we would love for you to join and be a part of this great community of Westgate families. Signing up is easy and help us reach our goal and sign up today! See below for more details and click on the active links here.
FCPS COVID-19 Guidance
Health and Safety Guidance Webpage
Our Health and Safety Guidance Webpage has the most current information about our layered prevention strategies, what happens if your child becomes ill at school, and the process when there is a pause in instruction or activities after a positive COVID case.
Flow Chart
We know the pause process is frustrating and sometimes confusing for families. The flowchart below is posted to the FCPS website and is something you can share with your community to help them understand the process better.
Flowchart outlining process for students identified as a close contact
COVID Dashboard
All FCPS COVID-19 cases are reported via a dashboard posted to the FCPS website and updated daily. While this does not outline the number of students quarantining, it does allow families to understand changes in the situation at their school. Feel free to share this with your families in your newsletters!
FCPS Covid-19 Dashboard
Activate Your Parent SIS Account NOW!
Please activate your SIS Parent Account today!
Your SIS Parent account will provide you with online access to update emergency contact information, connect with the school and teachers through Schoology, and review grades. If you do not yet have your SIS Parent account, request your activation key here: https://itweb.fcps.edu/ParentView/index.cfm
Only one request needed per family needed as your account will allow you access to all of your children’s information. If you are not sure if you have activated your account or have forgotten your password, click the Forgot Password link here and enter your email address to reset your password: https://sisparent.fcps.edu/
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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!
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