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 Volume 1, Issue 13
Leadership Ledger
Westlawn Families:
While we hope you enjoyed some quality time with your family over the past week we were happy to see children back in the building yesterday! Over the next few weeks we have some exciting community events to enjoy together. Please keep a close eye on the Westlawn calendar so you don’t miss out!
Unfortunately, we need to postpone Westlawn Day, scheduled for this Saturday. We will reboot after the Winter Break and set a new date. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Instead, make sure to join us for the Falls Church HS Theater performance of The Phantom Tollbooth on November 18, the Westlawn Music Department’s Choral and Instrumental Ensemble performance on November 21, and Bingo Night presented by the Westlawn PTA on November 22.
A busy month, filled with Westlawn fun! Thank you for being part of the Westlawn Family.
Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss
Proud Principals
 Members of the traditional Bolivian dance troupe Tinkus Tiataco USA performed the tinkus at our recent International Night. How many Westlawn students can you spot?
 Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates
Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).
Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.
This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reporting and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.
We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!
Afternoon Kiss and Ride Reminder
Students begin exiting the building around 3:25 PM, and families are starting to line up much earlier than that. If your car is stuck in the line on Oak Ridge, please be mindful of not blocking a home’s driveway.
REMINDER: Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available online in SIS ParentVUE. If you have not already filled out the form online, we will provide paper forms in November. Please be sure to return them by November 17.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important, because information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers. Learn more about the Federal Impact Aid Survey.
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LAST CALL: Nominate a Westlawn Staff Member for an Outstanding Employee Award
Thank you to the two outstanding families who have nominated staff members for an award! We are hoping to hear from even more families this week! All it takes is a short paragraph from you to start the process. Nominate teachers, professional employees, and school leaders! Nominations are due by November 8.
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FCPS News
Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:
- Calendar Reminders
- Resources for Families
- Complete Impact Aid Survey
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
 November 9: Westlawn Day has been cancelled.
November 11: No School
School is closed on November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. We look forward to welcoming students back into the building on November 12. Learn when SACC is open or closed.
November 13: Wear Gray to School!
Help our kindergarteners learn their colors by wearing gray to school today!
November 13: Restaurant Night at Red Robin
Red Robin will be hosting November’s Restaurant Night! Families can dine in and mention the Westlawn fundraiser, or order online and add the fundraiser to their bag before checkout. Westlawn will earn 20% back! The fundraiser is happening during restaurant hours, which are 11 AM - 9 PM.
November 14: First Meeting of Virtual STEM Club
The first meeting of the free Virtual STEM Club will take place on Google Meet from 4:15-5:15 PM. The club is open to students in 3rd-6th grades. Learn more about accessing this opportunity.
November 18: Three Hour Early Release
Students will be released at 12:30 PM today so that Westlawn staff may engage in professional learning.
November 18: The Phantom Tollbooth Performance
The Falls Church High School Drama Department is taking their fall performance on the road! Check out The Phantom Tollbooth right here at Westlawn!
November 21-23: Aesop Live! Performance
Luther Jackson Middle School Drama will be performing Aesop Live! Between November 21-23. Learn more about show times and buy tickets.
November 21: Fall Choral and Instrumental Ensemble Concert
Join us for a night of music featuring our chorus and instrumental ensemble. Doors open at 6:00 and the show starts at 6:30! This is a free program and open to all members of our community.
November 22: Bingo Night
Save the date! More information is coming soon!
November 27-29: No School
There is no school in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
To see more schoolwide and community events, remember to check out our website calendar! You can also subscribe to our calendar to make it even more convenient.
 Support the Fall Fundraiser through Charleston Wrap
Westlawn families are invited to support our fall fundraiser through Charleston Wrap. The fundraiser will last from November 6 through November 22. Learn how to join the Westlawn shop and share the shop with your own family and friends.
Join a Community Conversation
Join us on Wednesday at 11 AM on Zoom to hear the important news from the school from Principal Hill! Community Conversations happen weekly barring school holidays or weather closures. If you miss a Community Conversation, you can catch up with slides and recordings on our website.
 AAP Service Highlight: Subject-Specific and Part-Time Services
The continuum of AAP services offered in FCPS and here at Westlawn include two separate part-time programs.
- Students in K-6 can be found eligible for Subject-Specific AAP services which means they have an academic strength and need beyond their peers in one or more subjects. These students receive small group instruction or differentiation in their areas of strength from their classroom teacher. Our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Mrs. Maxwell, partners with teachers by directing them to opportunities to infuse AAP curriculum in the classroom.
- Students in 3-6 can be found eligible for Part-Time AAP services which means they have an overall multi-subject need for advanced curriculum beyond their peers. Most of these students receive the same services as Subject-Specific students, but also participate in a weekly pull-out group with Mrs. Maxwell that focuses on CCT skills as well as challenging curriculum in all subjects. Some part-time students access AAP curriculum daily in subjects of strength.
All students are screened for these services in the spring, but a parent can refer at any time by filling out the subject-specific or part-time services referral form and sending it in to your teacher.
 Social-emotional learning (SEL) is an important part of helping children develop the skills they need to succeed in school and life. This year, we are using Second Step, a research-based SEL program designed to teach students essential skills like empathy, emotional regulation, and problem-solving. Each focus for the week will share recommendations for conversations and activities families can do at home to promote SEL outside of school.
Kindergarten
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn to use body language and context clues to figure out when someone feels happy. They’ll practice looking at the person’s face and body, as well as thinking about what’s going on in the situation. Try This at Home: Encourage your child to notice when others around them feel happy. Have them practice using body language and context clues to figure out when family members, friends, or characters in books, movies, or on TV might be feeling happy.
1st Grade
In this week’s lesson, your child will practice using body language and context clues (looking at the person’s face and body, thinking about what’s going on in the situation) to figure out how someone is feeling. Try This at Home: Ask your child to tell you how they think others around them might be feeling, for example a sibling, or a character in a story, a movie, or a TV show.
2nd Grade
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that we can feel proud when we accomplish something difficult or when we do something nice for others. Try This at Home: Ask your child to tell you about a time they felt proud. Tell them about a time you felt proud of something you accomplished or of doing something nice for others.
3rd Grade
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that emotions give us information about what we want or need. Try This at Home: Ask your child what information the emotions fear, sadness, and happiness give us.
4th Grade
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that our brain works best when the logic and emotion centers are balanced and working together. Try This at Home: Tell your child about a time when a strong emotion made it hard for you to learn something new or caused you to say or do something that hurt someone’s feelings. Discuss why it’s important to learn to manage strong emotions.
5th Grade
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that it’s possible to anticipate recurring situations that cause them to feel strong emotions so they can plan ways to manage those emotions in the future. Try This at Home: Tell your child about a recurring situation in your life that typically causes you to feel a strong emotion, like anger or frustration. Ask your child to tell you about similar situations in their life.
If you have questions about these prompts or ideas, or social-emotional learning in general, please email Westlawn’s SEL Coach, Ms. Andrews. We can work together to create a positive and safe school environment!
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