Westlawn Family Message - May 7, 2022

Westlawn Family Message

May 7, 2022

Keeping Families Connected!


pta

Hello Westlawn Families,

Thank you to the over 40 volunteers, including former students, families, community members, and Westlawn graduates that made the Westlawn Art Night Spectacular a smashing success.  And a big, BIG thank you to Alice Long, Sean Stuebner, and our PTA for the hours of planning and preparation that went into that beautiful event.  Ain't no party like a Westlawn party!!

We also want to acknowledge and thank the Westlawn PTA for a lovely Staff Appreciation Week.  Westlawn staff was pampered and stuffed!  Tacos, smoothies, pancakes, our community shows us love every chance they get!

Next week we continue SOL testing.  Please ensure children are well-rested and at school on time.  

For daily snapshots into the Westlawn Community we encourage families to follow us on Twitter

As we continue on through these challenging times, families seeking resources and assistance are encouraged to visit the Fairfax County Coordinated Services webpage.  

Upcoming Dates:

  • May 10 - May PTA Meeting
  • May 20 - Bingo Night
  • May 27 – Full Band/Strings rehearsals during specials
  • May 30 - Memorial Day Holiday
  • May 31 – Band/Strings concert – 6:00pm
  • June 2- Patrol Picnic @ Mason Crest Park
  • June 6 and 8 - Field Day (primary and upper)
  • June 9 - 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony at FCHS
  • June 10 - Last Day of School (2 hour early release)

Next week we take another step on the road to recovery.

Together, we are strong. Together, we transcend.  Together, we soar. 

We are Westlawn.

In Proud Partnership,

Christoph Hill, Anaya Bryson and Stephanie Carpenter, Westlawn Principals


COVID-19 Message to Families

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) continues to monitor cases and report COVID-19 outbreaks, as outlined by the Virginia Department of Health. Currently, Fairfax County's Community Level remains low as determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our layered prevention strategies are being implemented based on our COVID-19 Community Level, as recommended by the CDC.

However, FCPS has seen a recent increase in COVID-19 cases and outbreaks and parents/legal guardians are reminded of the daily health screening requirement to check their students for mild, cold-like symptoms each day, such as fever, runny nose, cough, or shortness of breath. Parents and guardians are advised to keep their students home if sick and get them tested to help stop the spread of COVID-19.


arbor day

 

Ms. Phuong and Ms. Hunt organized some Arbor Day activities for students: they planted a dogwood tree in the courtyard and students put dirt on it and watered it, and for afternoon snack time they made dirt cups with gummy worms and Oreo crumble “topsoil.” 

 


scouts

Sign-ups for Band and Strings Starts Now!

Please watch the google slide presentation (ONLY available to view through students’ fcpsschools.net accounts) to help you make your decision about instruments in the Fall!  If you know what you want to sign up for already, click the Google Form directly!  (Should be available through any account).

Google slides presentation - English (only from fcpsschools.net accounts) - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1m-2hMcfSf3YQumbwQbLA7v2a4-9ATQni16GViXrq0Ww/edit?usp=sharing

Google slides presentation – Spanish (only from fcpsschools.net accounts) - https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1C9Og5DAnL9At2OXF7i9_ZTD9VyAeRoWsQWRYBsNdjkQ/edit?usp=sharing

Google form – English - https://forms.gle/Rr3fQfxg474hh9JJA

Google form – Spanish - https://forms.gle/LjvrfHBcnkckwcsw9

Any questions?  Please contact Mr. Erickson for band – pgerickson@fcps.edu or Ms. Emery for strings – aremery@fcps.edu.  We hope to see you in band or strings in the Fall!!!


Westlawn PTA Presents The Italian Place Community Meal Drop

Families must place their orders no later than noon on Wednesday, May 11.  

pta

Meet Dr. Reid!

Our incoming superintendent, Dr. Michelle Reid, is visiting FCPS next week to learn more about our schools and community. During her visit, there will be a special, in-person event for staff, families, and students on Tuesday, May 3, starting at 7 p.m. More details, including how to register and submit questions, will be shared with you directly via email in the coming days. 

On Tuesday, May 17, Dr. Reid will join staff, families, and students for a multilingual virtual town hall, starting at 7 p.m. We will share details about this event in newsletters and directly via email.


6th Save the Date

Community Conversation - Thursday, May 12

Join us for our weekly Community Conversation with Principals on Thursday, May 12 @ 10:15AM.  Access our virtual session here

Here are the slides and recording from last week's CCWP.  


Reminders


Updated COVID-19 Isolation Procedures

Beginning May 1, 2022, your child may return to in-person instruction and activities, including athletics, when your child has met the following criteria:

  • Student has completed at least five days of isolation; AND 
  • Student is fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication; AND
  • Student’s symptoms have improved or resolved
  • Student wears a well-fitting mask for 5 additional days (day six through day 10) after the end of the 5-day isolation period, in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance

If students are unable to wear a mask when around others, they are to continue to isolate for a full 10 days at home.

Children who are in isolation will continue to have access to our StreamIn/CheckIn during this time. 

The new procedure aligns with the timeline recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). It also follows improving vaccination rates in the Fairfax Health District, as well as a continued community level of low in Fairfax County.


SMART

Spring Music Shirts are Here!

The music shirts are back and we have many new spring colors for sale! All shirts are $10 + shipping. Everything is sold ONLINE ONLY and will be delivered directly to your house. We will also be sending home a flyer with a QR Code you can scan with your phone to get to the website. Use the link below to order!

https://www.customink.com/g/rrp0-00ck-7mhp

Blue Music Ensemble Shirts (Band Chorus & Strings students ONLY)

For Band, Chorus, & Strings students ONLY: you will need a Royal Blue shirt for your concerts. Again, these are sold ONLINE ONLY. These shirts are $6 and will be delivered to the school for Band Chorus & Strings students only. Use the site below.

https://www.customink.com/g/rrp0-00cj-vz5r


End of Year Standards of Learning (SOL) Test Dates

SOL

How to Survive Middle School

For rising 7th Graders who will attend Luther Jackson MS. This program will run the week of July 25-28. This year, students can choose one of two sessions:

Session 1: July 25 and 26
Session 2: July 27 and 28

The in-person portion of the program will run from 3:30pm-7:00pm and include transportation to the school, dinner, and an LJMS T-shirt. (Students need to be picked up by a parent after the program ends each evening).  Access the registration form here


JF

toy drive

Kindergarten Registration

If you have a child five years of age on or before September 30, 2022, they are eligible for Kindergarten in the 2022-2023 school year. Please contact Silvia Caballero, Student Registrar, via email at scaballero@fcps.edu, or by phone at 703-241-5100, with any questions. You can also find information about the registration process on our school website.

Falls Church Kindergarten Orientation_2022.pdf


Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs

FCPS offers high-quality Pre-Kindergarten and Early Head Start Programs to income eligible families at no cost, including children with disabilities.  View the attached flyer for more information.

2022-2023 PreK and Early Head Start - English and Spanish Translations


Laptop Activity Reports

Parents can get information about their child's activity on their FCPS laptop. Sign up to receive a weekly Parent Report from Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, which will provide a list of the top sites the child visited that week. Learn more about the Lightspeed Parent Report and sign up process.

Request Lightspeed Parent Reports


Temporary Expanded Child Care Eligibility

The Child Care Assistance and Referral Program may be able to help with your child care expenses.  Read the attached flyer and see if this initiative could benefit your family.  

Temporary Expanded Child Care Eligibility Flyer


Cub Scout Shoe Drive

Positivity Project

Westlawn has partnered with the Positivity Project to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships and become their best selves.  

The Mission: To equip educators with the resources, training, and strategy to teach their students positive psychology’s 24 character strengths.


Techstravaganza

Mark your calendars for Thomas Jefferson High School’s Techstravaganza, on May 14, 2022 from 10am-4pm! This is a FREE hands-on STEM Fair for students of all ages. 

Note: students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone.

Contact Meghan Winters at mbwinters@fcps.edu with questions.


Cornerstones Eviction Prevention Unit

Anyone currently residing in Fairfax County who is behind their rent should contact Coordinated Service Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. CSP will complete an assessment with the tenant and determine their eligibility for rental assistance. If they are determined to be eligible to receive assistance the tenant will be referred to one of the Community Based Organizations (CBO) in Fairfax County who are distributing these funds and payment will be sent directly to the landlord. 

CSP Community outreach English Spanish Large RC print 4UP 12x18 (1).pdf


COVID-19 Testing Sites

If you are in need of a COVID-19 test please see the attached PDF for information and site locations.

covid19_testing_fairfax.pdf


Health Screening Questionnaire

To keep our community safe and our children in school it is imperative that we carefully monitor our students for signs of illness, and keep kids home if they display possible symptoms of COVID-19.  We ask that each morning families self-assess their children using the Health Screening Questionnaire provided below.  

HealthScreeningQuestionnaire.pdf


Westlawn Computer and Technology Support 

Our Technology Team has created a step-by-step resource to support parents in Schoology, Zoom, and other student learning applications.  Access this website here


Income Discrimination in Housing

The Housing Rights Initiative is a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting tenants’ rights.  See that attached flyer to learn more.

Know Your Rights (Virginia).pdf


Forms, Documents, and Apps

Students' Rights and Responsibilities 

Here Comes the Bus - Information on bus schedules, routes, and live notifications

Opt-Out Forms 


Join the Westlawn PTA

 

PTA Flyer

Follow Us On Twitter!

https://twitter.com/WestlawnES