Westgate Weekly News

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/26/2024 07:35 PM EDT

Dear Westgate Families,

I hope this finds you having a wonderful week.  Thank you for your support and patience during our first Early Release Monday.  Please know that as we begin planning for our next Early Release Monday on October 28, we will adhere to the following protocols:

  • Your child will follow the same dismissal procedure (staying or leaving early) as you indicated for the 9/23 Early Release date.  We will send a similar letter home as we did this time one week prior reminding you of that choice.
  • SACC will be open starting at 12:30 p.m. for those students who attend after school SACC.  All students that participate in after school SACC will be dismissed directly to SACC at 12:30 p.m.
  • No changes to your child's dismissal procedures will be made after Thursday, October 24.  If you need to change your child's dismissal procedure, you will need to communicate that with your child's classroom teacher or the main office prior to that date.  This is strictly for student safety, as there were many day of changes this past Monday that made it difficult to ensure that all students got home safely, and correctly.    

Thank you for understanding, and we appreciate everyone's cooperation in advance to make next month's Early Release Monday a success.  

As always, thank you for your support of all things Westgate and have a fantastic Friday and weekend ahead!

Best,

Hallie Demetriades

Principal 

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coat

Westgate Coat Drive

Ms. Van Tassel is on a mission to provide warm jackets for kids in need, ensuring every student has something cozy to wear this season. We're currently looking for 8 jackets, with 2 in each size. To make it easier, we've created an Amazon Wishlist for anyone who would like to contribute.

Charleston Wrap Fundraiser

REMINDER! Register online today for our Charleston Wrap fundraiser at www.registercw.com! Once you register, you’ll be able to send email & TEXT invitations to your friends & family. Sharing our fundraiser will help us reach our goal. Will you register today and help us kick-off our fundraiser? #charlestonwrap #fundraiser #registertoday #giftwrap #wrappingpaper #candles #homegoods #kitchen #chocolate #cookiemix #personalizedgifts #gift #giftgiving #belpiatto #charlestonbags #holidaygift #charlestonwrapfundraiser

fallfest

FallfestFallfest is Back on October 18!

Get ready for an incredible night of fun at Fallfest on Friday, October 18th! We’re bringing back some of your all-time favorites, like trick-or-treating with our amazing teachers, the ever-popular Cake Walk, arts and crafts, and carnival-style games.

But that’s not all — this year, we’re kicking things up a notch with new and exciting activities! Join us for a silent disco (don’t worry, the kids will have plenty of music to dance to) and enjoy a special live performance by our very own neighborhood band, The Pimmit Hillbillies!

Please note, Fallfest is moving this year to the Playground behind the school. Tickets will be available for purchase starting Monday, September 23rd. PTA Families, and those who join PTA before September 30th, will receive a coupon code for $5 off, which you can use at checkout. (This code is only valid until October 13th.) For those who haven’t become a PTA Member just yet, click here to join today.

*Only students between ages 5-12 need tickets.

How to Help at Fallfest!

Fallfest is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it an unforgettable event for our kids and community! Here are some ways you can get involved:

  1. Donate Bags of Candy: Trick-or-treating is one of the most loved activities at Fallfest, and we need lots of candy to keep it fun and festive! Please consider donating bags of candy. You can drop them off in the bin at Door 1 or have your student bring them to their teacher. The more candy, the better!
  2. Bake or Purchase Goodies: Our Cake Walk is a crowd favorite, but we need your delicious contributions to make it a success! Bake or buy a cake, cookies, or other fun treats to offer at the Cake Walk. Sign up HERE. *Quick note, when signing up, each dish—regardless of the number of individual number of items it contains—counts as one.*
  3. Volunteer Your Time: We need all hands on deck to make Fallfest run smoothly! Whether it's setting up, running concessions, or helping with clean-up, your support is invaluable. Sign up to volunteer HERE! Let’s work together to make this Fallfest the best one yet! Thank you for your generosity and support!

The Westgate stress-free Fundraiser              

Thank you to all the families who have contributed to our Stress-Free Fundraiser! We are thrilled to announce that we have officially reached our goal of $2,500. However, the fundraiser will remain open until October 18th.

The PTA will reward the grade that raises the most money with a popsicle party during recess. This week, 2nd Grade made some big moves and is comfortably in the lead, but there is still lots of time left.

Please feel free to donate online here today! 

How Will the Money Be Used?

Westgate Elementary is proud to offer field trips for every grade throughout the year. These trips provide invaluable hands-on learning experiences that reinforce classroom lessons and allow students to explore new environments, sparking their curiosity and fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Field trips are often a highlight of the school year, but they come with costs that can be a burden for both the school and families. While we haven't raised enough to cover all expenses, every dollar contributed will help reduce the costs for both the school and families.

PTA Membership 

All are welcome at our PTA meetings. Joining the Westgate PTA and donating $15 per family amplifies your voice in our school community, gives you the opportunity to vote on PTA-led events and initiatives, and comes with a free, stylish Westgate magnet to drive around OUR neighborhood with. Your membership also helps the PTA create a more dynamic year of programming and advocacy.

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!

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation! 

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the dates below to register for any of the following conversations:

Events will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.

Students to Be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning

FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.

The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students. 

After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.

Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office. 

Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.

Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health

Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:

  • Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
  • Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
  • Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
  • Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
  • A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
  • Alcohol or drug use.
  • Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family. 
  • Thoughts of harming themselves or others.

If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact [name], our [school psychologist, school counselor, or school social worker] at [phone/email], to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness. 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.

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.

⏰ 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.  

The remaining scheduled dates for Westgate are:

  • October 28
  • December 9 
  • February 24
  • March 17
  • April 28
  • May 19

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

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 .

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.