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Good Afternoon Westgate Families,
In the season of thankfulness, I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for this amazing school community that I have been lucky enough to lead over the past 12 years. I am constantly amazed by the compassion, resiliency, and generosity of our staff, students, and families. I feel very fortunate to be a part of something so positive and committed to the well-being of each and every one of our students. I am thankful for each of you, and the support you show your student(s), and our staff, throughout the entire school year. We are certainly stronger working together, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.
May your long weekend be filled with making memories with family and friends. We look forward to seeing our students back on Monday, November 27, and I wish you a happy and healthy week ahead.
All my best,
Hallie Demetriades
Principal
Westgate Curriculum Night - RSVP by Nov. 27
Join us for Curriculum Night on November 30 from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Come visit classrooms to learn more about literacy, mathematics, art, music, Zones of Regulation, Portrait of a Graduate, ESOL services, and much more! Our Westgate teachers will be here to guide you through learning activities with your student. In order to best prepare for this evening, we kindly ask that you RSVP for Curriculum Night by Monday, November 27 so we can get a general headcount of students attending. We hope to see many of our amazing Westgate students and families at this fun event!
Window for Full-time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2023
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to Meg Sutton, AART, at mrsutton@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2023.
The window for families to submit a referral for full-time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for full-time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for full-time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for full-time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Meg Sutton, AART, at mrsutton@fcps.edu
Referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific AAP or part-time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for full-time AAP next fall.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
Charleston Wrap
Don't forget Charleston Wrap extended their date to allow Westgate community to order through December 2nd. There are lots of great items for purchase! Go to www.registercw.com (Westgate's code is 12222).
Westgate After School Program - Help Needed
Do you love Westgate's After School Programs? Then we need your help to keep them running! We have an urgent need to fill the After School Program Coordinator Role on the PTA or we will be unable to have a Spring Session.
Also, did you know that many of the events that the PTA hosts every year including free or low cost community events as well as teacher appreciation are supported by the funds raised from the afterschool programs. Without a Spring Session many of our events may not be able to happen as planned.
Please consider volunteering so we can keep this program at Westgate.
If you have any interest or questions, please reach out to president@westgatewolvespta.com
Noodles and Company - December 13
Get dinner from Noodles & Company (7511 Leesburg Pike) on 12/13/2023 from 4-8 pm and support the PTA. Use code “GIVING25” in the Coupon Code line at checkout or when ordering in-restaurant mention Westgate! You may even catch some friends picking up dinner that night!
Portrait of a Graduate – What is POG?
You might have heard your student talking about Portrait of a Graduate, or POG. What is POG? Very simply, POG is FCPS’ commitment to ensuring that all students have the skills to be successful today, tomorrow and in the future. POG is broken down into 5 important attributes: Communicator, Collaborator, Ethical & Global Citizen, Creative & Critical Thinker, and Goal-Directed & Resilient Individual. Consider how you, as an adult, use these skills to find success in your life!
Students use these skills in all school subjects, at home, in the community, with hobbies and interests, in future careers, passions, and relationships. We’re not focusing on these skills as an extra thing, students will use these skills to learn all content areas in a deeper, more meaningful way.
How will students focus on these skills?
- Learn about the skills, including what they look and sound like, and why they are important
- Apply the skills as they learn in their classes
- Reflect on HOW the skills helped them find success and WHAT they can do to grow
Throughout the year, you’ll see and hear how your child is learning to discuss their growth in these important skills. We’re excited to see them developing skills that will help them throughout life!
Family Engagement Month - November 1-30
November is Family Engagement Month and we have recently, and will continue to celebrate many student holidays and traditions this fall into winter. We are inviting you to your child’s classroom to share a tradition, craft, or presentation that highlights your culture or something you hold important as a family. This can be delivered in a myriad of ways. You can come in person, or share a presentation with the classroom teacher for your student to share with the class. The goal is for our students to learn more about one another through the amazing stories and rich history of the families in our school community. Classroom teachers will be reaching out directly on times that may be available to you. Presentations should last no more than about 20-25 minutes and should not include food due to allergy concerns. We hope to have a lot of family participation in this opportunity, and we look forward to seeing many of you in classrooms next month!
🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement
During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.
Staying Healthy This Cold/Flu Season
Cases of RSV, the flu, and other viruses often rise this time of year. It is important for students to wash their hands regularly and cover their coughs and sneezes. Please monitor your child’s health daily and keep them at home if they are sick. Visit FCPS' Health and Safety Guidance webpage for more tips.
Mantenerse Saludable Durante la Temporada de Resfriados y Gripe
Los casos de RSV, gripe y otros virus aumentan durante esta época del año. Es importante que los estudiantes se laven las manos con frecuencia y se cubran al toser y estornudar. Favor de monitorear la salud de sus hijos diariamente y mantenerlos en casa si están enfermos. Visite la página web de FCPS para Consejos sobre la Salud y Seguridad.
Special Education Resources for Families
Fairfax County Public Schools has the following resources available to assist families of students with special needs.
- The Office of Special Education Procedural Support helps staff, families, and students with the implementation of and compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.
- Kathy Murphy, the assistant ombuds for special education, provides information and support to caregivers and students regarding special education and Section 504 services. Contact the Ombuds Office by submitting a question, calling 571-423-4014, or emailing ombuds@fcps.edu.
Additionally, the Virginia Department of Education has updated the Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education. This state guide was developed to help those involved in special education including families, teachers, school administrators, advocates, and students.
Recursos de Educación Especial para Familias
Las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Fairfax tienen los siguientes recursos disponibles para ayudar a las familias de estudiantes con necesidades especiales.
La Oficina de Apoyo Procesal de Educación Especial ayuda al personal, las familias y los estudiantes con la implementación y el cumplimiento de la Ley de Educación para Personas con Discapacidades (IDEA) y la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación, según enmendada.
- El Centro de Recursos Familiares (FRC) ofrece seminarios web gratuitos, consultas, una biblioteca y recursos para ayudar a los adultos a apoyar el éxito de todos los estudiantes, incluidos aquellos con dificultades de aprendizaje, necesidades especiales y discapacidades. Suscríbete a su boletín de noticias. Póngase en contacto con el FRC en frc@fcps.edu o llame al 703-204-2941.
- Kathy Murphy, asistente de la Oficina del Ombuds para educación especial, proporciona información y apoyo a los cuidadores y a los estudiantes en relación con la educación especial y los servicios de la Sección 504. Para contactar a la Oficina del Ombuds, puede enviar su pregunta por correo electrónico a ombuds@fcps.edu o llamar al 571-423-4014.
Adicionalmente, el Departamento de Educación de Virginia ha actualizado la Guia para Familias de Virginia sobre la Educación Especial. Esta guía estatal fue desarrollada para ayudar a quienes participan en la educación especial, incluyendo familias, maestros, administradores escolares, defensores y estudiantes.
Community Review of Elementary ELA Basal Instructional Resources
A community review of the VDOE-approved Cycle II core instructional materials is scheduled for November 15, 2023, until noon on December 15, 2023. As part of the public review process, an open house has been scheduled during this period to allow community members to ask questions to members of the Elementary Language Arts team.
Digital materials for public review and comment will be available on the Elementary Language Arts Basal Resource Review website.
Hard copies of instructional materials will be available for review at:
Pimmit Hills Center, Room 207 7510 Lisle Avenue Falls Church, VA 22043
Materials may be reviewed at Pimmit Hills Center Monday - Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitors should enter through door #4 and check in at the main office or with the building coordinator on duty.
An open house with representatives from the Elementary Language Arts team will be held on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting.
Join the PTA Today!
Our PTA is amazing and we would love you to join and be part of this great community of Westgate families! Signing up is easy and you can help us reach our membership goal by signing up today! You can sign up here.
SIS ParentVue
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Multilingual Parent Information Line
☎️ Parent Information Phone Line Available in Eight Languages
Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
Spanish: ☎️ Línea Telefónica de Información para Padres Disponible en Ocho IdiomasPadres/cuidadores que hablan Amárico, Árabe, Chino, Farsi, Coreano, Español, Urdu o Vietnamita pueden llamar a una línea telefónica de información para obtener información general sobre FCPS. También pueden obtener apoyo para comunicarse con la escuela de su hijo. Vea la lista de números de teléfono.
Zones of Regulation
This year we are excited to have implemented the program, Zones of Regulation at Westgate school wide. This program teaches students how to name their emotions and build strategies to help manage them. Emotions are categorized by blue, green, yellow, and red and each color represents a state of alertness. The green zone is the calmest and a place where we are ready to learn. You can find out more by clicking this here (English) or here (Spanish).
Second General PTA Meeting - November 14
Join us at 6:30pm in the Cafeteria on November 14 for the second general PTA meeting (in person ONLY). Following the meeting, you will get a tour of our amazing school! When is the last time you have been in the school building? Join us for a tour of the building and see the learning and growth on display. (Childcare is available during this meeting.)
We will also have a collection box available if you would like to drop off a donation to our Thanksgiving Grocery Store Gift card Drive.
Free, On-Demand, Online Tutoring
Does your child need homework help or feedback on their writing? How about a practice quiz to get ready for a test? FCPS students who’ve used Tutor.com have provided positive feedback:
- “This tutor was very helpful! She didn't tell me the answers. When needed, she helped me solve them! She was very kind and she really helped me!” –Elementary Math Student
- “This was an awesome tutor! She explained why I needed to do specific steps, and she gave me practice problems! Best tutor I have had!” –IB Chemistry Student
Unless they’ve been opted out, students can access Tutor.com through Schoology. Every session is personalized to meet students’ needs from remedial to advanced levels. Sessions focus on conceptual learning and critical thinking—not quick answers.
Learn more on FCPS’ Tutor.com webpage.
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