Westgate Weekly News

Good Afternoon Westgate Families,

I hope this finds you having had a fantastic week.  It is hard to believe we are sprinting towards the finish line of the 2023-24 school year.  There is so much to celebrate, and we have many special events planned so make sure you continue to read important updates from your child's classroom teacher.

As as reminder, there is no school this Monday, May 27, in observance of Memorial Day.  Please make sure you make alternate arrangements for your child.      

As always, thank you for your continued support of all things Westgate and have a wonderful long weekend ahead!

All my best,

Hallie Demetriades

Principal 


Field Day - Volunteers Needed 

Westgate Elementary School's Field Day is on Thursday June 6 (rain date June 7). Volunteers are needed to make this day a success! Please consider signing up to volunteer and support field day here



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.


Return Library Books - Due May 29

All student library books should be returned by May 29 to prepare for inventory. Please help your students find any missing books so that they are returned on time.  If you have any questions about lost or damaged books, please contact Mrs. Scherbenske mbscherbensk@fcps.edu Thank you for helping to keep our library in great shape for all students to enjoy!


Book Exchange - Drop Off by May 29

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 books off at the Westgate office by May 29.


Rising Kindergarten Playdates

Do you have a child who will be starting Kindergarten at Westgate in the Fall? Join us for kindergarten playdates 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.

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.


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.

  • 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.
  • 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.


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).


tutor

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.