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 Volume 1, Issue 25
Leadership Ledger
Westlawn Families,
Thank you to all our families able to attend our weekly Community Conversations with Ms. Dushok, Ms. Reyes, and Mr. Hill. The budding of Spring coincides with many different opportunities to engage with the school community, and you can stay up to date on all Westlawn has to offer by being in the know!
This week we welcome families into the building on Friday evening for our annual Westlawn’s Got Talent Event! Come watch our children showcase their unique skills and talents on the big stage. The show starts at 5:30 PM.
And get your tickets for next Saturday’s Fairfax Symphony Orchestra performance at the George Mason Center for the Arts, showcasing Westlawn student artwork in the lobby before the event! Tickets are free for all Westlawn families, the showcase opens at 6:00 PM, and the show starts at 8:00 PM! Reserve your tickets today.
Sincerely,
Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss
Proud Principals
 We are hoping to restock our makerspace cart for new projects and adventures this spring, and we need your help! Check the complete list of wanted items under our “Engage with Westlawn” section, or check your child’s most recent library book for our homemade “items requested” bookmark.
Benchmark Assessment Data Now Being Sent Home
Starting this Thursday, your child will periodically bring home their answer sheet from their latest Benchmark assessment in their Thursday folder. Each Benchmark assessment at a single grade level tests similar skills, and the big goal is to see improvement in scores over time as students master different aspects of literacy. Families are able to see the questions associated with each answer by logging into their child’s Benchmark portal in Clever, and navigating to the assessment in question. Learn more about Benchmark assessments and how to access them online.
VDH Immunization Packets for Rising 7th Graders
As required by the Code of Virginia, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend public school. All students entering seventh grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:
- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older.
- Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older.
- A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents/guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with their child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. If your child does not have a health care provider, please visit the FCPS Immunizations Resource page to find out where to get an immunization.
Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet for more information on rising 7th grade immunization requirements.
Reminder: Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28 and March 28 can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
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:
- Middle School Start Times
- New Lunch Items
- Talking to Teens About Tough Topics
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
February 28: Westlawn’s Got Talent
Save the date! Westlawn’s Got Talent will be February 28. Come out to cheer on Westlawn’s amazing students!
March 1: VT STEM Discovery Fair
Did you sign up for the VT STEM Discovery Fair? Say hello to Ms. Dushok if you see her there! If you missed the sign up window, consider indulging your child’s interest in all things STEM by checking out free virtual STEM classes on Thursday afternoons from 4:15-5:45 through Google Meet. The classes are created and presented by our partner The Future Brighter. The classes are recommended for students in grades 3-6.
 March 3-7: Read Across Westlawn Week
We are celebrating reading through fun clothing themes each day! Take a screenshot of these themes or keep your eyes tuned to our Instagram or Facebook stories for reminders each day.
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Monday, March 3: pajamas
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Tuesday, March 4: clothing with words
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Wednesday, March 5: yellow and orange
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Thursday, March 6: black and white
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Friday, March 7: blue
March 8: Arts Integration with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
We have partnered with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra so our students can explore how the fine arts and the orchestra are intertwined. Student artwork meeting the theme of the performance will be displayed at the George Mason Center for the Arts starting at 6 PM on March 8, and families are invited to browse the artwork and stay for the show, which starts at 8 PM. Tickets, which normally cost about $50 each, are available to Westlawn families for free. Reserve your tickets now because quantities are limited!
March 10: 3-Hour Early Release
March 10 is a three-hour early release for professional learning. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 PM.
March 10: Substance Abuse Prevention Presentation for Parents and Guardians
Attend a Zoom substance abuse prevention presentation facilitated by FCPS’ own Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists (SAPS). The SAPS are the same people who present to students in schools, so attending this presentation is a wonderful way to hear the information that has been delivered to your children, and to put yourself in a better position to be an advocate. The presentation will be on Zoom at 6 PM; the link will be shared next week.
March 11: March PTA Meeting
The March PTA meeting will be on Zoom at 6:30 PM. We hope to see you there!
March 12: Restaurant Night at &pizza
Our March Restaurant Night will be at &pizza in Seven Corners from 11 AM - 9 PM. Use the code WLPTA if ordering online or at the in-store kiosk, or show the cashier this flier if ordering in person. The more people who participate in the fundraiser, the higher the percentage we receive back, so this is an especially excellent reason to text your child’s friend’s adult to make a plan to meet for pizza!
March 12: Career and Transition Fair
Families of students who receive special education services are invited to this fair, where the goal is to explore the pathways available to these students in high school and beyond. The fair takes place in person at Luther Jackson MS from 6:30-8:30 PM.
SAVE THE DATE: 6th Grade Promotion
Sixth grade families: our promotion ceremony will take place on June 10 at Westlawn starting at 9:30 am. More details will follow closer to the date, but we wanted to give you a heads up to add it to your calendar today!
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.
Photo Requests
Did you take any photos during Glow Night (Family Adventure Night) or February’s Restaurant Night at Shake Shack? Ms. Dushok would love to have them to share on our social media! Please text her anything you’d like to share at 571-355-2321.
Become a PTA Board Member
We are anticipating vacancies at secretary and treasurer positions, and we are casting a wide net to see who might be ready to take on these incredible roles! Could it be you? Learn about what each role does and share your interest.
Volleyballs Requested
Mr. Maloney and Ms. Reed are hoping to bolster our collection of volleyballs with some new additions. As we get closer to the annual staff/student volleyball game, more students request them to use at recess, and we are running low! Size 5 (“the regular size”) are what is needed, and we are happy to take new or gently-used equipment. Volleyballs can be sent to the main office for Mr. Maloney to pick up.
Help Restock the Makerspace Cart
Our makerspace cart is in need of some additional (popular) building materials and other items. If you have any of the following to donate, please send it to the main office for Mrs. Maxwell:
- Bubble wrap
- Small boxes (small shoe sized)
- Flat sheets of cardboard
- Paper towel tubes
- Disposable cups (all sizes)
- Matchbox type cars
- Empty and clean 2-liter plastic bottles
Last Chance: Volunteer to Sell and Serve Drinks and Candy at Westlawn’s Got Talent!
The PTA could use your help, and it’s a great way to meet more folks in our community!
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.
Teacher Highlight: Haley Chan, 4th Grade Full-Time AAP Teacher
Hello! I am Haley Chan and I teach the 4th Grade full-time AAP students. I’ve been teaching for 5 years, 2 of which have been at Westlawn. I’ve also taught 3rd grade before. In addition, I run Westlawn’s Green Team which is a part of the FCPS Get2Green initiative.
My favorite AAP curriculum is reading and writing! It is wonderful to see the creative ways students learn to use strong verbs, descriptive dialogue, and develop a unique writer's voice. I care about my students reading and writing diverse stories.
In my free time I love reading mystery novels, eating chocolate, playing video games, and entertaining my cat.
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