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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
Để đọc bản tin này bằng ngôn ngữ khác, xin quý vị truy cập vào trang mạng của chúng tôi.
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A Message From Your Principals
Westlawn Families:
The forecast may be rainy outside, but the sun always shines at Westlawn! This week our 5th graders travel to Baltimore to visit the aquarium, Standards of Learning assessments continue on Wednesday, and our first annual Westlawn Musical Ensemble performance, KidFlix, will showcase to families on Thursday evening!
Please remember that every day is an opportunity for your child(ren) to learn, grow, and thrive. Consistent attendance is paramount to a child’s success, and every day matters. If your child is well, send them to school. Contact Ms. Savannah Ferster, Westlawn Social Worker, at SLferster@fcps.edu, for any attendance-related inquiries.
A reminder that Community Conversations with Principals are held virtually each Wednesday morning at 11:00 AM. Join Principal Hill, Tech Specialist Ms. Dushok, and Family Liaison Ms. Reyes to stay up-to-speed with the busy world at Westlawn ES! Check out the recording from this week's CCwP located here.
The Westlawn team is committed to providing a learning experience that nurtures your child’s natural abilities, advocates for growth and excellence, and empowers your child to reach their full potential.
Stay up-to-date with school events by accessing our Westlawn All Families Schoology Calendar. Access an overview of the entire school year, including holidays and cultural observance days, by clicking here.
And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram!
At Westlawn, we soar together.
At Westlawn, we soar together.
Individually Unique … Together Extraordinary
Somos Westlawn.
Your Proud Principals,
Christoph Hill, Anaya Bryson, and Stephanie Carpenter
Upcoming Dates:
May 6-10: Teacher Appreciation Week
May 6: 5th Grade Field Trip to Baltimore Aquarium
May 9: WES Instrumental Ensemble Performance of KidFlix (Westlawn Gym @ 6:30 PM)
May 9: Walk and Bike to School Day
May 14: Restaurant Night at Shake Shake (Mosaic District Location, 11AM - 10PM)
May 16: Family Adventure Night (5:00 - 6:30 PM on Westlawn Field)
May 18: Matilda Jr. Performance at Luther Jackson MS (2 shows, 2:30 and 7:00 PM @ LJMS)
May 23: Thomas Jefferson Librarian Visit (during instructional day)
May 23: Lost and Found Event at Kiss and Ride (during student dismissal)
May 27: Student Holiday (Labor Day)
May 31: Westlawn Talent Show (5:30 PM, Howe-Tillett Gymnasium)
June 4: Field Day (Grades K-3)
June 5: Field Day (Grades 4-6)
June 6: Spring Band & Strings Concert (6:30 PM, Howe-Tillett Gymnasium)
June 6: FCHS Seniors Walk the Halls (sometime after 1:00 PM)
June 7: FCHS Graduation Ceremony (Eagle Bank Arena, 2:00 PM)
June 11: 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony
June 12: Last Day for Students (Dismissal at 1:30 PM)
Teacher Appreciation Week: May 6-10
Celebrate the amazing staff at Westlawn with the PTA this week for Teacher Appreciation Week! Sign-up to volunteer using this link.
Monday, 5/6 - Taco Bar - Join in setting up or donate food toward the meal / Únase a la preparación o done alimentos para la comida.
Tuesday, 5/7 - Pancake Bar - Principal's contribution / Contribución de los directores
Wednesday, 5/8 - Snack Bar - Jake's Gourmet Popcorn, just need to setup tables / Jake's Gourmet Popcorn, solo necesitamos configurar tablas
Thursday, 5/9 - Candy Bar - Help setup or donate something sweet to enjoy / Ayuda a configurar o dona algo dulce para disfrutar.
Friday, 5/10 - Ice Cream Bar - Jake's Ice Cream Sundae Bar, just need help to setup tables / / Jake's Ice Cream, solo necesitamos configurar tablas
Westlawn Beautification Donation Link
With the Spring comes the need to ensure our Courtyard and Discovery Area are properly maintained. We are reliant upon our community to fund upkeep and improvements to our outside spaces. If you are able, we ask for a small donation to beautify these unique areas. The link to donate is below. Thank you for your consideration.
Westlawn Beautification Donation Link
SOL Testing Schedule
Standards of Learning Assessments continue this week at Westlawn. Below is the schedule for testing. The SOL Assessments are taken in math, reading/writing, science, and social studies, specific assessments differ by grade level.
April 23: 5th Grade Integrated Reading and Writing Assessment (new this year) -COMPLETED
May 1: Grades 3-6 Reading Assessment
May 8: Grades 3-6 Math Assessment
May 14: 5th Grade Science Assessment
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Not So Secret Staff and Student Spirit Days!
This Wednesday, May 8, is School Gear Day! Dress your child(ren) in middle, high, college, or online school clothing. A Talking Point message will go out with a reminder.
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Matilda Jr. - May 16-18
The Jackson Middle School Drama Troupe (which includes former Westlawn students) will perform their Spring musical, Matilda Jr., beginning on May 16. There are shows scheduled for May 16 (Thursday) and May 17 (Friday), as well as two shows on Saturday, May 18. Tickets are $6. Go support our former Westlawn Soaring Eagles!
https://jacksonms.fcps.edu/announcements/spring-musical-matilda
☀️ Save the Date for FCPS’ Summer Extravaganza
Don’t miss a day of family fun and learning at the FCPS Summer Extravaganza!
Stop by Woodson High School on Saturday, June 1, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., where students will be able to take part in engaging educational activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire growth.
Representatives from local businesses, Fairfax County Public Library, and the Fairfax County Park Authority are participating in the Summer Extravaganza. Community organizations, such as Neighborhood Community Services, will be at the event as well. All will have learning activities, tips, and helpful information for families. Enjoy face painting, food, music, a moon bounce, a petting zoo, storytime, and student performances — all at no cost!
Visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage for more details and register to attend. Registration is not required, but it's helpful for planning purposes.
🩹 Required Immunizations for Rising 7th and 12th Graders
Immunizations are required for all students entering 7th and 12th grades this fall. Visit the FCPS immunization webpage to learn about the required vaccines. Caregivers should ask their private healthcare provider or the health department to review their student's immunization record to ensure that their student has received these required immunizations.
It is important to schedule immunizations early in the summer, as seventh-grade students must submit documentation of the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines before they begin school in August. Twelfth-grade students must submit documentation of the Meningococcal vaccine. Get more information on all student immunization requirements.
Resources for Newly Registered Families
Being connected to your school community helps you stay informed and support your child’s success. Take some time to get familiar with the many resources and tools available to FCPS families, including:
There’s an easy to follow five-step process outlined for parents registering their children for kindergarten. Be sure to register your child as soon as possible!
Register Your Children Online
Online registration is available for new and returning (re-enrolling) FCPS families! Apply today to help us plan for the 2024-25 school year.
Summer STEAM with Virginia Tech
There are a number of STEAM summer programs, hosted by Virginia Tech affiliates. See a brief description of each camp below. Sign-up here if your child is interested.
- StellarXplorers – A space system design camp where students focus on team problem-solving associated with sending objects to space.
- Robotics Camp – Students will engage in coding and programming VEX Robots.
- Drone Camp – A hands-on, technical application camp where students learn the basics of coding, programming, and flying drones.
Coding Camp – Students will engage in hands-on coding activities using block coding and Python programming languages.
💪 Let's Finish the School Year Strong! Student attendance at school is important all year long, up to the last day of school. Attendance has an effect on student performance and on school accreditation. See how to:
- Check your child’s attendance record.
- Help your student stay engaged at school.
- Report future absences.
- Understand the FCPS school calendar.
🖍️ It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us plan so that we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school.
Prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms. We are happy to support families with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For more information in other languages, visit FCPS’ Kindergarten Registration webpage.
📞 FCPS Ombuds Provides Confidential GuidanceThe Office of the Ombuds engages with families, students, and staff to offer resources and improve the experience of each and every member of the FCPS community. They work as an independent confidential resource to help get answers to questions, offer options to resolve concerns and hear complaints regarding FCPS matters.
Anyone seeking assistance from the Office of the Ombuds may call 571-423-4014, email ombuds@fcps.edu, visit their webpage, or submit a question. Ombuds staff do not change or make decisions, policies, or regulations; take sides; or provide legal advice.
Community Conversations with Principals
Join Mr. Hill, Ms. Carpenter, and Dr. Bryson for Weekly Community Conversations this school year. Weekly sessions will be held virtually on Wednesday mornings at 11:00AM. You can access these sessions using this link. Slide decks and recordings will be posted to the website as quickly as possible after the close of the week’s conversation. Families can access all materials here: https://westlawnes.fcps.edu/get-involved
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Do you want to celebrate a Westlawn staff member who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way, or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to share with everyone. |
Collecting a Student for Early Dismissal
Families are reminded that they should call the main office at 703-241-5100 to arrange to get a student for early dismissal. We do not monitor our TalkingPoints account all day, and we may not receive messages about early dismissals in a timely manner. We ask that families picking up children early do so before 3:00 PM to avoid conflicts with the schoolwide dismissal process.
Portrait of a Graduate at Westlawn
Children at Westlawn engage daily in Portrait of a Graduate skills: Communication, Collaboration, Goal-Setting, Resilience, Critical and Creative Thinking, and Global Citizenship. Check out our First Friday Photos to see these skills in action!
How to Register for Pre-K or Early Head Start
Fairfax County offers pre-K for students 3-4 years old whose parents meet income requirements and Early Head Start is for infants, toddlers, and expectant mothers who meet income requirements. To register, parents or caregivers should:
- Complete the application form.
- Make a copy of the child’s birth certificate and a residency document (lease, dead, or mortgage).
If your child is selected for one of the programs, the following will need to be completed:
- A school physical.
- Dental exam.
- FCPS school registration forms.
Bus Delay Information
If a bus is delayed or more information is needed, parents and guardians can access the FCPS Bus Delay Website or contact the Area Transportation Office.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to sign up to receive Here Comes the Bus notifications.
Parents and guardians can be notified by text, phone call and/or email when a bus is delayed 30 minutes or more by indicting these options through their SIS ParentVUE account.
Child Find Screenings
Child Find is the process of identifying children with potential special education needs as well as educating the community about child development and the importance of early intervention. Child Find screenings and services are provided by the FCPS Early Childhood Identification and Services program for children ages 20 months through 5 years who live in Fairfax County or Fairfax city. Learn more on the Child Find website.
FCPS Early Childhood and PreK Programs
Fairfax County Public Schools offers programs for the youngest learners:
Community liaisons are available to assist families with the registration process and answer any questions. For more information, visit the Early Childhood Registration webpage.
What Is ParentVUE and How Can You Sign Up?
If you do not already have a ParentVUE SIS account, sign up now to monitor and support your child’s academic success! Through ParentVUE, you are able to monitor your student’s attendance, grades, and assignments at any time. You can also access special reports for your student like progress reports and assessments score reports.
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. SIS ParentVUE can be accessed using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks you through the steps on how to do so. You can also find out more about SIS ParentVUE on our website.
Update Your Emergency Care Information Through weCare@school
Fairfax County Public Schools provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system, to parents/caregivers who have registered for their own parent account. weCare helps manage emergency medical information by allowing parents to enter and update their children’s medical data online at their convenience. That contact information automatically enrolls parents/caregivers to receive eNotify communications from the district and their child’s school. eNotify is the communications tool for FCPS emergency, transportation, attendance, weather closing and delay, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent via email, text, and occasionally phone. Click to edit this placeholder text.
🔍 Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
Family Resources
FCPS’ Office of Family and School Partnerships would like to remind families of some of the many resources available to them:
- Bilingual community liaisons support student registrars by providing families with information about school and community services offered in Fairfax County. Liaisons are available to help families speaking Spanish, Korean, and Arabic. Once registered at a school, families can contact their family liaison for assistance.
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Early literacy programs are available to Fairfax County residents for parents of children up to 5 years old. These programs help prepare children for school and build confidence in parents as their child’s first teacher. They also help parents become active partners in their child’s education. Programs are available in African-Heritage, Arabic, Spanish, and Korean.
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Parent Information Phone Lines are available in eight languages for parents who speak languages other than English.
- A Multilingual Family Podcast is produced by the offices of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Family and School Partnerships, and Professional Learning and Equity. It covers important information for parents in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Korean.
- ESOL services are available in Fairfax County not only for students, but also for adults and families. Information on Spring classes will be posted in March 2023.
Visit the Family Engagement webpage for more resources.
Parent Advocacy Handbook
The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) has created a Parent Advocacy Handbook to provide information and support to families as they navigate the FCPS system for their children. It is designed to be particularly useful for families who may be less familiar with such a large school division and/or with schooling in the U.S.
Contact Hilda Reyes, Westlawn Family Liaison, with additional questions.
Westlawn on Social Media
Westlawn is active on social media, we encourage families to access our Facebook and Instagram accounts for a glimpse into daily school life.
Falls Church High School Athletics
FCHS offers a variety of athletic opportunities for students - and it’s never too early to get your children interested in different sports! Visit the FCPS Athletics webpage for team information, calendars, and more.
Westlawn 2023-2024 PTA Board
We are excited to announce our PTA Cabinet!
Simone Rose, President
Deirdre Ladd, Vice President
Christine Lusk and Dave Jones, Treasurers
Jordan Kislear, Secretary
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