|
Dear Westgate Families,
In the spirit of thankfulness, I simply wanted to share how incredibly grateful I am to lead beside this wonderful, and caring, school community. We truly have the best students, staff, and families who always show up for one another, and lend a helping hand. Wherever this break takes you, I hope you find the time to make memories will all those you hold dear. We look forward to having students back at Westgate and ready to learn on December 2. As always, thank you for your continued support of all things Westgate, and have a happy and healthy rest of your holiday week ahead!
Best,
Hallie Demetriades
Principal
Food & Gift Card Donations: Thank You!
Your generosity raised $1700 in grocery gift cards and a fully stocked snack pantry for Westgate families that could use a assistance this holiday season and year. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to come together to spread love and joy this season.
|
Book Fair Thank You from Mrs. Ciarcia!
A huge thank you to the staff and the PTA for their support of our book fair! A special thank you to all of our parent volunteers who helped make our Book Fair a huge success. We could not have done it without you and are so grateful for your support!
GCM Boosters Christmas Tree Sale - Begins Saturday, November 30
The holiday season is here, and the Marshall HS Boosters is kicking it off with our Annual Christmas Tree Sale! Starting Saturday, November 30, come find the perfect tree to bring holiday cheer to your home. We will also have White House Ornaments, Garland and Wreaths available for sale. Stop by the Marshall Tree Lot located in the front parking lot. Saturdays 10-7, Sundays 12-6 and Weeknights 5:30-8:30.
|
FLE Preview Virtual Coffee
Grades 4-6 will be teaching Family Life Education (FLE) lessons during the week for December 16th-20th. The lesson materials are available for your review in the All Parents/Guardians Schoology Course. To login, use the same username and password as SIS ParentVue. Westgate will be holding a virtual parent coffee at this link on December 4th from 10:30-11:00am if you have any questions about the material. An opt out form is available in the Parent Digital Consent System, which you also use your SIS ParentVUE username and password to access.
Noodles & Co. Food Fundraiser - December 12
Our restaurant fundraisers keep activities like Mario the Magician coming! Please join us December 12th for a Noodles & Co. Fundraiser from 4-8pm. 25% of your order will go back to Westgate. Mention GIVING25 at checkout. 7511 Leesburg Pike
Head Lice Awareness
Please be aware that our area has experienced a number of head lice cases this fall. We understand that dealing with head lice can be challenging and stressful for families, and we want to work together to prevent the spread. As we enter the winter season, please remind your child not to share hats and coats with friends, or touch heads with others, as this is the way most lice is transmitted.
We kindly ask all parents to remain vigilant by regularly checking their child's hair for any signs of head lice. For more information, visit Lice Treatment and Prevention | Fairfax County Public Schools (fcps.edu) Early detection and treatment are key to preventing the spread of lice in our classrooms and beyond.
Handwashing
As we transition into the fall and winter seasons, it's important to remind our students, staff, and families about the importance of practicing good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. These simple practices can significantly reduce the spread of germs, particularly during the upcoming holiday season when gatherings and travel increase.
Key Reminders:
-
Wash Hands Frequently: Encourage students to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially before eating, after using the restroom, and after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing.
-
Use Hand Sanitizer: When soap and water are not readily available, provide access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol content.
-
Cover Coughs and Sneezes: Remind students to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of tissues properly in a wastebasket and wash their hands.
-
Avoid Touching Face: Discourage students from touching their eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
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!
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:
- 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.
|
