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Good Afternoon Westgate Families,
I hope many of you had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. We are officially in our last month of the school year, and things are busier than ever.
We want to thank our amazing PTA who organized an incredible teacher appreciation week. Our staff felt loved, and supported, and we thank each and every one of our parents who donated their time & energy to make it a success. We equally thank our students for their tokens of appreciations, cards, and words of affirmation to our teachers. We certainly have such a generous and caring school community.
We hope many of you can attend our first ever student led event, West Fest, this Friday, May 17, from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. Our 5th and 6th grade students have been working all year to create an event that celebrates the diversity in our community and builds a sense of belonging. At West Fest, you can taste some of our community's favorite dishes, watch performances of our talented students, play games, and participate in a variety of activities! We hope you will join us!
Please see below for the remaining events of the school year, including our last PTA meeting tomorrow evening, May 14, at 6:00 p.m. As always, thank you for your continued support of all things Westgate and have a wonderful week 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. If you have already registered, please sign up for a summer assessment here. Registration information for kindergarten and new students can be found on our website here.
Panera Bread Fundraiser
Pick up dinner at Panera break on May 13th from 4-8pm at the 8365 Leesburg Pike Vienna VA location and support Westgate. Do not forget to mention the fundraiser in the store or use code when ordering online: FUND4U
May PTA Meeting- May 14th
Join us Tuesday, May 14th for the PTA meeting at 6pm in the library. Ms. Demetriades will share highlights from the year and we will hold our elections for next year's PTA Board.
For those who need to participate virtually, please use this Zoom link (Meeting ID: 920 5943 1149 and password: wolves)
Book Exchange
Clean off your bookshelves and donate to the Westgate Library Book Exchange! All students will visit the exchange during their final library week to choose a book for summer reading. We’d love to have gently used books for PreK to 6th grade students. Beginning chapter books and graphic novels are especially popular. If you have books to donate, please drop them off at the Westgate office.
Rising Kindergarten Playdates
Do you have a child who will be starting Kindergarten at Westgate in the Fall? Join us Sunday, May 19 from 4-5:30pm at the Westgate Elementary School Playground. Come out and meet other new students and their families for our upcoming playdates. PTA members will be on hand as well to answer any questions you may have. Please help spread the word.
Other Playdates include:
- Friday, June 14, from 4 p.m. until 5: 30 p.m. at the Westgate Elementary School Playground
- Sunday, July 21, from 5 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Westgate Elementary School Playground
Westgate - We Need You!
Do you love Fallfest and the yearly Volleyball game? Do your students enjoy after school programming or the PTA sponsored assemblies? Then we need you!
In order to keep these amazing programs going and more we need an active PTA board. Westgate needs you to consider joining the PTA board as we are still in search of nominations for many positions including but not limited to President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and more!
Interested in learning more? Reach out to membership@westgatewolvespta.com or annoucements@westgatewolvespta.com and we can share more about different roles.
Without your support or engagement we will not be able to have a PTA board which is integral for continuing all these activities. Board nominations due by May 10th.
West Fest - May 17
Please join Westgate Elementary School for our spring event, West Fest!
A group of Young Scholars and student leaders in 5th and 6th grade have been working all year on creating a community event that celebrates the diversity in our community and builds a sense of belonging. This event will take place on May 17th from 5:30 - 7:30. At West Fest, taste some of our community's favorite dishes, watch performances of our talented students, play games, and participate in a variety of activities! We hope you will join us!
In order for this event to be a success, we need your help. Please consider signing up to:
Volunteer
Bring one of your family's favorite foods
Perform
Order School Supplies Online!- Due June 25
The PTA is once again offering online school supply ordering. These kits are exactly what teachers have requested for next year. It's one stop, easy shopping for our community. You order online and in the fall the supplies will be shipped to the school and the PTA will deliver them to your child's classroom. This is not a fundraiser, just a courtesy to our community. Deadline is June 25th. Order today!
Order Online: here
School Code: WES461
Rising Longfellow MS - Important Dates
Jump Start Registration Now Open!
Jump Start registration is now open on myschoolbucks. Choose between session 1 – August 5th – 6th or session 2 – August 7th – 8th.
Hours are 8:30a.m. – 12:00p.m. Look forward to learning about Longfellow with school tours, ice breakers, scavenger hunts, team building and more. If you have any questions, contact Lavina Gangwani-Colaco at lkgangwanico@fcps.edu
Register Today for FCPS Summer Camps
Registration for FCPS Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA/E-IFTA) camps closes on Friday, June 7. Tuition is waived for students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Bus transportation is available from select FCPS high schools and middle schools. Learn more about Summer Learning and Fun for Students.
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Spanish:Inscríbase hoy para los Campamentos de Verano de FCPSLa inscripción para los campamentos de Educación Profesional y Técnica (CTE) de FCPS y los campamentos del Instituto para las Artes (IFTA/E-IFTA) cierra el viernes, 7 de junio. Los estudiantes elegibles para comidas gratis o a precio reducido no tienen que pagar matrícula. El transporte en autobús está disponible desde determinadas escuelas secundarias y escuelas intermedias de FCPS. Aprenda más sobre Aprendizaje y Diversión de Verano para Estudiantes.
☀️ Enjoy Learning, Fun, and Helpful Information at the Extravaganza!
Stop by Woodson High School on Saturday, June 1, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., for the FCPS Summer Extravaganza! Families are invited to participate in engaging educational activities designed to spark curiosity and inspire growth. In addition to learning activities, enjoy tips and helpful information for families. Enjoy face painting, food, music, a moon bounce, a petting zoo, storytime, and student performances — 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.
Spanish:☀️ ¡Disfrute Aprendiendo, Diversión e Información Útil en el Evento de Un Verano Extraordinario! Venga a la Escuela Secundaria Woodson el sábado, 1 de junio, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., ¡para el evento de FCPS "Un Verano Extraordinario! Las familias están invitadas a participar en actividades educacionales diseñadas para despertar curiosidad e inspirar crecimiento. Además de las actividades de aprendizaje, disfrute de consejos e información útil para las familias. Disfrute de la pintura de caras, comida, música, un brincolin , un zoológico de mascotas, hora del cuento, y actuaciones de los estudiantes - ¡Todas las actividades son gratuitas!
Visite la página web Summer Extravaganza para obtener más información e inscríbase para asistir. La inscripción no es obligatoria, pero es útil para la planificación.
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.
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.
⏰ Share Your Thoughts on Middle School Start Times
Attend a forum to hear about adolescent sleep research from an expert, learn about FCPS’ ongoing middle school start times study, and participate in small group discussions. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Breakout sessions will be held for middle school students to share their voices. Students are encouraged to attend!
Register by clicking on one of the following dates:
While registration is not required, it does help with planning. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.
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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