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Good Afternoon Westgate Families,
I hope this finds you having a fantastic week!
Please join us tonight, March 12, for our general PTA meeting. We will be sharing what assessments students participate in at Westgate. There is a zoom option available for those of you that can't make it in-person.
Also, the wait is over! Our PTA Bingo is THIS Friday, March 15. Pre-order pizza and bingo cards by March 13. Feel free to bring the whole family to join in on the fun! Please see below on how you can pre-order food and cards!
As always, thank you for your continued support of all things Westgate and have a wonderful rest of the week and weekend ahead!
All my best,
Hallie Demetriades
Principal
Kindergarten Registration
Do you have, or know of a rising kindergartener scheduled to come to Westgate next year? All students that turn five by September 30, 2024 are eligible to attend Kindergarten this fall. Please spread the word that registration is underway as we are excited to meet our newest Wolves. Please consider registering asap since our staffing reflects the number of registered students. Registration information for kindergarten and new students can be found on our website here. You may also contact our main office at 703-610-5700 or tmgreen@fcps.edu if you have additional questions.
Westgate Parents - We Need You!
To ensure the success of planned events we need parent and family volunteers. We want you to be involved with us and need your help to ensure items like Fallfest, BINGO, Teacher Appreciation, Spirit Wear and so much more can continue.
This year we were fortunate to have board members that represented students in all grades (except for 3rd) and we want parents' voices from all grade levels. Please consider investing your time and talent into your child's experience at Westgate Elementary. Thank you to everyone that contributed either on the board or through events and activities to help make this year a successful return to the school building! Special thanks to Jessi Papapietro for stepping in mid year to ensure the after school programs were an option for our children this spring.
Please look out for information that will be coming soon in Tuesdays folders and upcoming PTA communications with more details about the roles on the board as well as event chairs and committee coordinators. You can also reach out to any member on the board to learn more! Please share your time and talents. Email president@westgatewolvespta.com
General PTA Meeting - March 12 @ 6:00 p.m.
Join us on Tuesday, March 12 at 6 p.m. in the library. In addition to our General PTA Agenda, Ally Gilmore, School Technology Specialist and School Testing Coordinator, will join us to talk about the assessment process and answer questions.
What are assessments? Assessments are part of the teaching and learning process in Fairfax County Public Schools and at Westgate. Our teachers give assessments to students on an ongoing basis to check for understanding and gather information about students' strengths and areas of growth.The state and school division also expect students to participate in certain tests to help with monitoring school and student performance and to provide information about additional services that may benefit the student. Please plan to attend this session with any testing questions or for additional information about how our school and teachers use test results to support student success.
For those who need to participate virtually, please use this Zoom link (Meeting ID: 920 5943 1149 and password: wolves)
PTA BINGO - March 15 @ 6:00 p.m.
If you're a BINGO veteran or have never played before, join us for a night of fun on Friday, March 15. We will play 5 regular rounds and 1 blackout round. The winners of each game gets to select a prize from the table. Order your pizza and bingo cards now! Pre-Order ends March 13 at 5:00 p.m.
Doors open at 6PM and the first game starts at 6:30PM sharp! We need volunteers to make this evening fun for all! Please sign up. Students who require volunteer hours (6th grade and up) can sign up as well.
Spring After School Programs- Registration opens at 8:00 p.m. on March 12
Looking for fun enrichment activities for your student(s)? We have lots of exciting offerings this Spring for after school activities including some repeats and some new items. Registration opens on March 12th at 8:00 p.m. via our website (www.westgatewolvespta.com) and closes at midnight on March 19th.
Classes will run from Wednesday April 3rd (the first day back from Spring Break) until Friday May 31st.
Spaces are limited so mark your calendars to sign up and join in these wonderful activities. Limited scholarships available for eligible families. Questions? Check out our website or email: afterschool@westgatewolvespta.com
Taco Bamba Fundraiser- March 19
Dragons love Tacos and so does Westgate! Grab food at the Falls Church location of Taco Bamba on Tuesday, March 19th and support Westgate's PTA. If order in the store just mention the fundraiser and if ordering online use coupon code: WESPTA. If you have other plans that day or need a wonderful gift, you can also buy a gift card on March 19th and it supports the fundraiser!
TJ Techstravaganza - May 18
We represent the leadership of Tomorrow’s Women in Science and Technology (TWIST), a student organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). Each year, we promote STEM through our annual flagship outreach event, Techstravaganza, and we would like to invite your school’s students to attend! Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia. In previous years, we've hosted more than 4,500 students and 70 labs presenting STEM activities. Our exhibitors range from TJHSST clubs and our own TWIST volunteers to organizations like NASA SCaN, Art of Problem Solving, George Mason University, American Society of Naval Engineers, and the National Air and Space Museum. This year, we will be holding the 20th annual Techstravaganza on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10 AM to 4 PM at TJHSST. Admission is free, food will be for sale, and we hope that you can spread the word in your school. Here is our registration link: https://tinyurl.com/techstrav24, and attached are flyers (in English and Spanish) that can be used to advertise this event. We would appreciate you sharing this with families in a newsletter or your school's social media. Please let us know if translating the flyer into other languages will help. More information about the event can be found on our website at tjtechstrav.org. Thank you so much, and please let us know if you have any questions! Sincerely, TWIST Coordinators Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology 6560 Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA
SOL Dates - 3rd - 6th Grade Students
Please note that students in 3rd - 6th Grade take end of year SOL tests. We ask that you avoid scheduling out of school appointments and vacations during the testing window. The following are our tentative SOL dates. If you you have any questions or concerns please reach out to your child's classroom teacher or our School Testing Coordinator, Ally Gilmore. Thank you for ensuring a smooth testing window for your child.
SOL Testing Dates:
- Wednesday, May 15 – Grades 3-6 Reading
- Friday, May 17 – Grade 5 Science
- Wednesday, May 22 – Grades 3-6 Math
Arrival/Dismissal Safety Reminders for Westgate
Please remember to be mindful of our important safety procedures during arrival and dismissal.
- There are NO left hand turns allowed in, or out of, Kiss & Ride during arrival or dismissal.
- There are NO illegal u-turns allowed in front of the school on Magarity Road. Please enter kiss and ride from the correct side (towards rt. 7) and follow the traffic pattern, as we've witnessed both student and staff safety being compromised too often.
- Please ONLY cross your child at the dedicated cross walk (with police officer). Crossing you children at any other location is not safe.
- There is NO parking on either side of Magarity Rd. right in front of the school. Please do not park in these areas.
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Cars are not permitted in the bus loop between 8:20 - 9:00 a.m. and between 3:00 - 3:40 p.m.
Our number one priority at Westgate remains student safety. Thank you for adhering to these very important safety reminders. Please note that the Fairfax County Police Department will be closely monitoring this situation.
🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:
- Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
- Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
- Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
- Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
- Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
- Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.
Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
🎤 Nuestras Escuelas, Nuestro Futuro: Las Conversaciones Comunitarias Continúan
Únase a la Superintendente Dra. Michelle Reid para Nuestras Escuelas, Nuestro Futuro Una Conversación Comunitaria. ¡Su voz es importante! Comparta sus pensamientos acerca de FCPS y traiga sus preguntas a una conversación el:
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Martes, 16 de abril, 6:30-7:30 p.m., en la Escuela Primaria Graham Road.
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Martes, 30 de abril, 6:30-7:30 p.m., en la Escuela Intermedia South County.
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Jueves, 2 de mayo, 6:30-7:30 p.m., en la Escuela Primaria Terraset.
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Miércoles, 8 de mayo, 6:30-7:30 p.m., en la Escuela Primaria Hybla Valley.
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Jueves, 16 de mayo, 6:30-7:30 p.m., en la Escuela Intermedia Poe.
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Martes, 21 de mayo, 6:30-7:30 p.m., en la Escuela Intermedia Katherine Johnson.
No es necesario inscribirse con antelación para asistir a una conversación comunitaria, pero nos ayuda a planificar el evento. Se ofrecerán servicios de cuidado de niños y de interpretación para todos las conversaciones comunitarias. Estos eventos están abiertos para todos. Infórmese sobre otras oportunidades de conectarse con la Dra. Reid.
Magnet School Application and Lottery Information
The Magnet Program registration window will be open from Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12, 2024. No late applications are accepted.
To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Information Nights:
- Bailey’s Upper, February 6, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. (Virtual only)
- Hunters Woods Elementary, February 12, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. (In-person)
- Snow date: February 26, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
- Bailey’s Primary, February 13, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
- Snow date: February 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m
Learn more about the FCPS Magnet Programs here.
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).
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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