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Dear Westgate Families,
I hope this finds you having a wonderful summer break making lasting memories with family, and friends. We are beyond excited to be welcoming students back into our building less than a month from today!
As a reminder, the first day of the 2024-25 school year is Monday, August 19. School supply lists can be found here. Also, we will hold our annual Westgate Open House on Friday, August 16. This is an event for students to come to Westgate, meet their teacher, drop off supplies, and see their classroom. Open House for Kindergarten students only is 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. while Grades 1-6 will be from 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. If you have both a kindergartener and an older student you may come in at 10:00 a.m. but the upper grade classrooms will not be open until 10:30 a.m. Immediately following our respective Open Houses, we will have Popsicles on the Playground from 11:00 - 12:00 p.m. so that our students and families can continue to build relationships and meet one another.
**Please note that your student's teacher assignment will be sent electronically prior to Open House.**
Lastly, we will offer new family and kindergarten tours on August 5 and 6 at 9:30 a.m. We welcome anyone that may not have had an opportunity to visit Westgate prior to join us. We will also be offering optional kindergarten assessments at that time. If you are able to attend, and have not signed your rising kindergarten up for an assessment, you may do so here.
We will continue to update you with more information as we get closer to the first day of school. We look forward to welcoming our students and families back to Westgate in a few short weeks. As always, thank you for your support of all things Westgate and have a fantastic week ahead!
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.
Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Families that are earning less than 185% of the poverty level can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost.
Families must complete the Free and Reduced Price Meal application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. Look for the application in August, view criteria, and up-to-date information on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
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.
🗺️ School Board Updates Boundary Policy
The Fairfax County School Board approved updates to the Boundary Policy (Policy 8130) at its July 18 Regular Public Meeting, completing a years-long comprehensive review of the policy for the first time in nearly four decades. The updates provide a clear roadmap for any future boundary adjustments to help ensure better student achievement through enhanced instructional quality, budget optimization, and strengthened student well-being.
The revised policy does not propose specific boundary changes, nor were specific boundaries considered during the policy review. Instead, the updates create a framework for the division superintendent to follow when considering any potential future adjustments, which must prioritize robust community engagement throughout the process. Read more about the updated policy.
⏰ Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools
During the Academic Matters segment at the June 27 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed limited early release Mondays for elementary students during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act and other demands on their time.
A Steering Committee of school leaders, teachers, and families is working to support both families and teachers in this effort. See the list of early release dates and other information.
Summer Reading Resources
Westgate students enjoyed a visit with librarians from the Tysons Pimmit Library to learn about their Summer Reading Program. See the information below to help your student get excited about summer reading!
FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
Enjoy the 2024 Summer Reading Program at the Fairfax County Public Library. You can register online or in person and there are programs and prizes for all ages, including adults! Families can stop by their closest library and pick up a reading log. Help students record their summer reading to earn a coupon book full of wonderful prizes and freebies! Summer Reading Program
BARNES & NOBLE
Read 8 books, fill out the Barnes and Noble form, and turn it in at their store for a FREE BOOK! Look for more information about the reading program and special reading events: BN SUMMER READING
BOOK LISTS AND ONLINE RESOURCES
FCPS Online Resources
Enjoy online resources such as MYON, MackinVia Tumblebooks, and Pebble Go all summer! You’ll find databases, ebooks, and audio books to enjoy. These can count for your summer reading log. See the attached list of passwords you’ll need to access these resources. https://www.fcps.edu/resources/library/online-databases-and-e-books
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.
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.
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.
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