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Dear Westgate Families,
I hope this finds you having a wonderful week! We continue to have a great start to the school year and appreciate your patience and support during these first couple weeks of school.
We hope to see many of you tomorrow, August 28, for Back to School Night (BTSN). Our first session will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. and our second at 6:15 p.m. Aside from introductory videos, both sessions will be exactly the same. This is an opportunity to learn more about your child's classroom and what they will be learning about this school year. Individual parent/teacher conferences will be scheduled at a later date. If you have questions for any of our specialists (AAP, ESOL, Math, Reading, Art, Music, PE, Counseling, & Library) they will be located in the cafeteria right before, during, and in-between the BTSN presentations. Special Education Teachers will be rotating in and out of the classrooms they support.
Lastly, if you have not responded to the Early Release Monday Survey that was sent to all families via eNotify in early August, and today via Talking Points, please do so immediately. We need this information so we can accurately plan for our first early release day on Monday, September 23.
As always, thank you for your support of all things Westgate and have a fantastic rest of your week!
Best,
Hallie Demetriades
Principal
Back to School Night - Wednesday, August 28
Please join us Wednesday, August 28 to learn more about your child's teacher and the school year ahead at our annual Back to School Night. We will be offering two sessions for BTSN. The first session will run from 5:30 - 6:10 p.m. and the second from 6:15 - 6:45 p.m.
*As a reminder, this is a parent only event. Please make alternate childcare arrangements for your student if you plan to attend.*
After School Programs - Sign up on August 27
Are you looking for enrichment activities after school? The Westgate PTA sponsors an After-School Program in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. The Fall session registration opens on August 27th at 7pm. The last day to register is September 6th. Classes will start on September 16th and end on November 22nd. For a list and description of class offerings and to register, please see the Westgate PTA website After-School Activities page. Classes fill up quickly! Please email Jessi at afterschool@westgatewolvespta.com with any questions. You can register here starting on August 27.
Westgate Spirit Wear is on Sale NOW!
Westgate spirit wear is now on sale. You can order directly through the website here.
Find "Spirit Wear Store" and select Westgate Elementary Spirit Wear. The order can be sent directly to your child's classroom.
The last day to order is September 13th.
This is a great way for you and your child to feel connected to the community and show your Westgate spirit!
Room Parent Volunteer
Are you interested in being a room parent this year? Please e-mail RoomParents@westgatewolvespta.com to volunteer!
Responsibilities include: Distributing Teacher and PTA Announcements, Coordinating Classroom Activities, Organizing Teacher Recognition, General Classroom Liaison.
Join 5th and 6th Grade Chorus!
Do you have a 5th or 6th grader that loves to sing? If so, please have them join chorus! Your singer will come home with a yellow chorus handbook to read about all the important information as well as chorus dates. You can also access the chorus handbook on your singer’s general music Schoology classroom. If your singer wants to be a part of this amazing group of singers, please complete THIS google form by Friday, September 16, 2024.
Band & Strings Sign-up for 4th - 6th Graders
Attention 4th, 5th and 6th grade parents! Your child can sign up to be in the Westgate Strings or Westgate Band! 4th grade parents – your children can sign up to play strings. 5th and 6th grade parents – your children can sign up for either band or strings. Be part of the fun and watch your children grow as they learn how to play an instrument and perform two concerts! Sign up here - https://forms.gle/LWdnBRfVCtZAo1AZ8. Spanish version here - https://forms.gle/PJJ9qArb57iGUnxr5. Questions? Please contact Mr. Erickson at pgerickson@fcps.edu or Mrs. Howell at khhowell@fcps.edu.”
Restaurant Night - Ledo's Pizza - Sept. 11&12
Who doesn't love pizza night? Head to Ledo's pizza (7510 Leesburg Pike Falls Church, VA) on September 11th and/or 12th and make sure you mention WESTGATE! A percentage of the sale from both nights will go to the Westgate PTA. You may even catch other Westgate families!
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.
⏰ Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools
You should have received an email from Westgate via eNotify with a required survey about the Early Release Mondays. Dr. Reid initially communicated the plan for these days in mid-June. This survey was due August 19 and is crucial to our planning. Please fill out asap if you haven't done so already.
The scheduled dates for Westgate are:
- September 23
- October 28
- December 9 (Change from November 25)
- February 24
- March 17
- April 28
- May 19
PTA Membership
The PTA's primary focus is fostering a strong partnership between teachers and families to build a vibrant school community.
We play a vital role in funding and planning school-wide events and supporting teachers through supplementing resources not covered by the regular Fairfax County school budget. Thanks to the incredible support from many of you, we've been able to subsidize field trips, organize fantastic community events like FallFest and Bingo Night, increase teacher reimbursements, and offer a diverse range of after-school programs.
But we need your support!!
To be a part of this thriving community, we invite you to join the PTA. Dues are $15 per family and you can sign up HERE!
Becoming a member grants you voting privileges at all PTA meetings and, as an added benefit this year, provides discounts for select events throughout the year as well as a special Westgate PTA magnet! Pick yours up at Open House or the Back to School Picnic.
The Westgate stress-free Fundraiser
Every year, Westgate Elementary provides enriching Field Trips for students at every grade level. While these trips offer tremendous value to our students, they can be costly for both the school and our families. To ensure we can continue this important tradition, the PTA is raising funds to help offset these expenses. All contributions will go directly toward subsidizing Field Trips.
We are accepting donations now through October 18th (Fallfest). You can donate via the link below, or by cash or check made payable to Westgate PTA. Please be sure to indicate your child’s grade, as the grade that raises the most money will enjoy a popsicle party during recess!
Please feel free to donate online here today!
Activating Your SIS ParentVUE Account
The SIS (Student Information System) ParentVUE Account is an online tool parents can use to access information about their child’s attendance, report cards, discipline incidents, health information, and more. In ParentVUE, you can also view student progress reports/report cards and SOL scores.
Your secure SIS ParentVUE Account offers you the ability to use one username/password to login to both the SIS ParentVUE Account and Schoology.
Using the SIS ParentVUE account, parents will also be able to view school information, including teacher e-mail addresses, the FCPS calendar, and emergency contact information. Visit the FCPS website and use the search function and keywords “SIS Parent Overview” for more information.
Many of you have already activated your SIS ParentVUE account with the activation key. If you are unable to login to your account, you may need to reset your password on the SIS Parent Account login page (https://sisparent.fcps.edu):
- Select the “Forgot Password” button.
- Your username is the primary email address you have on file with us in our Student Information System.
- More information is available here.
Newly enrolled families should have received an activation key for your account. If you have not yet activated your account, please reach out to Tracy Green at tmgreen@fcps.edu.
Please take action now to ensure your account is active!
School Meals & Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications
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Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast will cost $1.75. Lunch will cost $3.25, and milk $0.60. Money can be added to your child’s accounts using www.myschoolbucks.com. You can also write a check to Westgate Food Services and deliver it to our Food Services Manager at Open House. During the school year, you can find the menu for breakfast and lunch here .
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Free and Reduced-Price Status
Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals will continue to receive these benefits through the end of September. A new application must be filled out each new school year and forms are available online now: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/food-and-nutrition-programs/free-and-reduced-price-meals.
Applications are accepted at any time, but we encourage you to apply or renew your application before the end of September. Call (703) 610-5700 if you need help. This must be completed for eligible students to receive free meals.
Parent Digital Consent System
New this year, families will use the Parent Digital Consent System to complete some forms that have used paper in the past. You will log in using your ParentVUE Account credentials, There, you will be able complete the Digital Resources Consent form for the school year, which is required for all students. You will also be able to find more information about opt-out forms and complete those forms for your student.
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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