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The Feather Report
Volume 2, Issue 21
 Through the Global Classroom Project, students in Ms. Roundtree’s class have the opportunity to learn about countries around the world through their cuisine. Students chopped peppers, sliced mozzarella, and ripped apart basil leaves to make a caprese flatbread while exploring Italy. They even griddled their own mini flatbreads!
Leadership Ledger
Westlawn Families,
I am already feeling the buzz around Westlawn as we look ahead to one of our most anticipated evenings of the year—Game Night on February 5! This is always such a joyful opportunity to see our students, families, and staff learning and laughing together, and this year’s event is shaping up to be extra special. We’re thrilled to welcome Northrop Grumman, the Fairfax County Public Library, and Virginia Tech as special guests, each bringing hands-on activities and exciting learning experiences for our students. The library team will even be on site helping families sign up for library cards, which is a wonderful resource to have at home. And yes—the portable planetarium is coming back, giving our students another chance to explore the stars right here at Westlawn! I hope you’ll mark your calendars and plan to join us for a fun-filled night of games, curiosity, and community.
As we head into next week, I also want to share a few important reminders. Quarter 2 wraps up next week, which means a slight shift in our schedule. We will have a 2-hour early release on Wednesday, January 28, and there will be no school for students on Thursday, January 29 and Friday, January 30. Thank you, as always, for partnering with us to help students finish the quarter strong and transition smoothly into the next one.
Finally, with winter weather always a possibility this time of year, please remember that FCPS makes all decisions regarding school delays or closures due to snow. When snow is in the forecast, families should keep an eye on the FCPS website and official FCPS social media channels for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
I am so grateful for the energy, flexibility, and togetherness that define our Westlawn community. Thank you for all you do to support our students—we are better because of you, and I look forward to seeing you at Game Night!
In partnership,
Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss
Proud Principals
News
The Feather Report and Community Conversations Next Week
The snow--and any school closures it causes--will determine if we have Community Conversations next Wednesday and/or send The Feather Report next week. If school is closed on Wednesday, then we will not have Community Conversations. If school is open on Wednesday, then we will still have Community Conversations. If school is open at all, we will do our best to compile and send The Feather Report, though it may be in a truncated form. If school is not open at all, then we will not be sending The Feather Report.
Schedule Change Next Week
Regardless of the snow, there is a big schedule change next week: Wednesday is a two-hour early release, and all students will need to go home at 1:30 PM. (Students who are in SACC/Beyond the Bell may stay for that program, but after-school childcare will not be available like it is on Early Release Wednesdays). Thursday and Friday are student holidays; only staff will be in the building for training and working on report cards.
February Fun Clothing Wednesdays – Kindness Month
Westlawn Elementary is celebrating Kindness Month with Fun Clothing Wednesdays in February!
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February 4 – Wear Green for Gratitude: At home, talk about something that made you smile and try saying one “thank you” together each day.
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February 11 – Wear Blue for Helpfulness: At home, talk about ways to help others without being asked and try helping a family member with a chore or task.
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February 18 – Wear Workout or Comfy Clothes (Caring for Yourself): At home, talk about ways to care for your body and mind, and try going for a walk, getting active, or relaxing together.
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February 25 – Wear Neon or Rainbow Colors (Words and Actions Matter): At home, talk about how words and actions can make a difference and try writing or saying a thank-you note to brighten someone’s day.
Participation at home is optional but encouraged. Small acts of kindness make a big difference!
Measles in the Community
According to the Virginia Department of Health, a preschooler who traveled internationally recently tested positive for measles. The child and their family visited several sites in Falls Church looking for support for the child, and anybody who was also at those sites at the same time may have been exposed to measles. Those sites are:
- Inova Children’s Emergency Department, located at 3300 Gallows Road in Falls Church on Thursday, January 15 from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday, January 16 from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Inova Fairfax Hospital Women’s and Children’s Building, Floors 2-10, located at 3300 Gallows Road in Falls Church on Saturday, January 17 at 2:30 a.m. to Sunday, January 18 at 5 p.m.
The VDH website lists steps that families can take if they were exposed. The site is in English. If families want to read it in another language, click the word “English” with the arrow at the top and choose your preferred language.
Rising 7th Graders and Vaccines for Luther Jackson Middle School
Rising 7th graders are required to have three different vaccinations to attend middle school. They are: Tdap (given at age 7 or older), meningococcal vaccine (given at age 10 or older), and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (2 doses). While these vaccines are usually considered standard at your child’s annual pediatrician well-child visit, all FCPS students also qualify to get them free at vaccine clinics offered through the FCPS partnership with Inspire Health Alliance. Clinics are currently scheduled for January 31 and February 7 at Frost Middle School. Learn more about upcoming clinics.
Reminder: Illness and Westlawn
There have been reports of high levels of cases of influenza, norovirus, and other illnesses throughout Fairfax County, and we have been seeing a higher number of staff and students affected, too.
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What we are doing: we are able to use a chemical called Virex on surfaces. Virex kills bacteria and viruses (including norovirus), but it needs to sit on surfaces for 10 minutes before being wiped off. We also can’t use it in rooms with students present because it is quite toxic. Right now we use Virex on cafeteria tables each day once all lunch periods are over. We also use Virex at least once a week in each classroom after students have left for the day, and more often if needed, such as if a classroom had a student get physically ill earlier that day.
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What you can do to help: if your child has been vomiting or having diarrhea, please keep them home. Children must stop vomiting overnight and be able to keep food and drink down in the morning before school in order for them to return. Children with diarrhea must have had no more than 2 bowel movements about what is normal in a 24 hour period in order to come to school. Learn more about FCPS guidelines for school attendance with other illnesses such as pink eye, strep throat, and the common cold.
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What we all can do to prevent illness: while at school, teachers are encouraging students to engage in frequent hand-washing and we are re-emphasizing the school rule about not sharing food. Families are also encouraged to get vaccinated if they have not done so already. Pharmacies usually have vaccines on hand, and FCPS maintains a list of other providers who often offer no-cost clinics. The next clinic for FCPS students will be January 31 at Frost Middle School, and students who attend can get all FCPS-required immunizations and flu shots for free! Finally, while masks are not required, several staff and students do wear masks regularly and even more wear them sporadically. If you send your child to school masked, they will not be the only one.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Superintendent to Present Proposed Budget to School Board
- Special Education Family Conference: Registration Open, Volunteers Needed
- Connect With Your Kids: Simple Steps to Stronger Communication
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Dates and Events
January 28: Fun Clothing Wednesday: College and Career Day
January 28: End of Quarter 2-Hour Early Release; students will be dismissed at 1:30 PM
January 29-30: No School (Staff Development and Teacher Work Day)
February 4: Fun Clothing Wednesday: Wear Green
February 5: Family Game Night from 4:30-6:00 PM
Reminder: SAVE THE DATE
The annual Jaguar 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run will be held on April 18, 2026! Families are encouraged to sign up now to lock in a low price and ensure that each runner receives a t-shirt. Learn more and register now.
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. Click on the little calendar icon in the top right corner of the calendar page of our website to add all current and future events to your cell phone calendar.
Engage with Westlawn
Reminder: Feather Report Survey
We would love your feedback about our newsletter! Feedback is used to make sure the newsletter is helpful and accessible for your family. Thank you to those folks who have provided feedback so far! We are reading it and implementing changes as we can, with more to come! You might have noticed:
- We now send the podcast out later on Monday morning due to a request to push back the time.
- We answered a question about Soaring Staff Spotlight in that section in today’s newsletter.
- You can check out Ms. Dushok’s video about how FCPS is envisioning AI, and how we will work toward implementing that vision at Westlawn in Tech Talk.
- We have revamped the Connect with Westlawn section to add in contact info that families might want at their fingertips.
You can still provide feedback in English or Spanish. It should take less than 5 minutes. Thank you for your thoughts!
Reminder: The PTA Needs Leaders!
Help make the second half of the year one to remember by taking the lead on popular springtime events! The PTA is looking for people to volunteer to lead springtime events such as Laps for Learning, Spirit Wear, and the end-of-year Patrol Picnic. Co-chairs are encouraged! Sign up now.
Join a Community Conversation
Join us on Wednesdays at 11 AM on Zoom to hear the important news from the school from Principal Hill! If you miss a Community Conversation, you can catch up with slides and recordings on our website.
Volunteering in FCPS in 2025-2026 requires you o fill out an online application, and then select the school(s) where you want to be. Learn more and apply today!
Mind Matters
Snow Fun!
Juuuust in case we get some snow (Flush those ice cubes! Wear those PJ’s backwards!), here are some awesome ways to be creative and have fun with snow!
Eat it! (find a clean spot!!)
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Sugar on snow (Mrs. Maxwell used to have this as a girl! You don’t need “Vermont” maple syrup, any will do!)
- Snow cream
Make Snowflakes!
- Use a coffee filter, fold into half and then into thirds, and snip away to make a hexagon snowflake! Try different things to see what effect it has on the finished snowflake!
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Try these unique snowflakes from Smithsonian!
Be an engineer!
- Build a snow bridge and see how much it can hold!
- See who can build the tallest snow tower! Is it better to have a wide base or a narrow one? Ask questions and revise your plan!
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Use popsicle sticks and make a snow ball catapult (an indoor version!)
Try out your artistic skills!
- Make a snow sculpture or a snow maze and use some food coloring to add fun details!
Snow math!
- Predict how much snow we will get. Graph it and then graph the actual total! Measure the depth multiple times and compare!
Figure out how much fell in total and divide by the number of hours it snowed to find the rate the snow fell per hour. Read a news report and see if it matches!
Tech Talk
Why Is Westlawn Talking About AI?
You may have heard a lot about artificial intelligence (AI) in the news and wondered what it means for schools. In this short video, Ms. Dushok shares why Westlawn is beginning conversations about AI, how it is currently being used with teachers, and how we are taking a careful, thoughtful approach that keeps students at the center.
▶️ Watch the video below to learn more.
¿Por qué Westlawn está hablando sobre la inteligencia artificial (IA)?
En este breve video, Sra. Dushok explica por qué la escuela Westlawn está comenzando a hablar sobre la inteligencia artificial, cómo se está utilizando actualmente con los maestros y cómo la escuela está tomando un enfoque cuidadoso y responsable, siempre poniendo a los estudiantes primero.
▶️ Vea el video a continuación para obtener más información.
Language Access: This video is recorded in English. Spanish captions are available. Click the CC button on the video and select Spanish. If you need help accessing this video in another language, please contact the school.
Acceso al idioma: Este video está grabado en inglés. Los subtítulos en español están disponibles. Haga clic en el botón CC del video y seleccione Español. Si necesita ayuda para acceder a este video en otro idioma, comuníquese con la escuela.
Is there a technology topic you want us to tackle in a future issue? Email your questions to Ms. Dushok (school based technology specialist) and Mr. Dinkins (technology support specialist).
Soaring Staff Spotlight
Editor’s note: we received a question about why the questions for this section are different each week in our newsletter feedback form. The reason they are different is because we gave staff a form with 30 different questions, and asked them to answer the 5 that they liked the best. Some staff answered more than 5, which was great! We wanted staff to connect with the questions they chose so that they had a chance to feature themselves in the ways that they felt most comfortable. If you still have feedback about our newsletter, we would love to hear it!
This week the Soaring Staff Spotlight is on Melissa Oliva!
Ms. Oliva is an instructional assistant in one of our Preschool Autism Classrooms (PAC) at Westlawn. Let’s learn more about Ms. Oliva!
What was your favorite subject in school?
Science
What is one talent or skill that you have that most people don’t know about?
I used to be really good at spelling and writing things backward.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Focus on what you can control.
If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go?
I want to visit every country in South America.
Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?
Coffee
What is one thing that always makes your day better?
Ice cream!
Is there someone you hope to see featured in an upcoming Soaring Staff Spotlight? Tell us by text to 571-355-2321.
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Connect with Westlawn
- Contact the main office: 703-241-5100
- Submit an absence: 703-241-5151 | email the absence box | using ParentVUE
- Contact Ms. Caballero (student information assistant): email Ms. Caballero | 703-241-5100 | TalkingPoints: Silvia Caballero
- Contact Ms. Reyes (family liaison): email Ms. Reyes | 703-241-5125 | TalkingPoints: Hilda Reyes
- Contact Ms. Cortez (social worker): email Ms. Cortez | 703-241-5190 | TalkingPoints: Pamela Cortez
Westlawn website | Westlawn Instagram | Westlawn Facebook | TalkingPoints
View The Feather Report archives | Questions or Comments: Contact the Newsletter Editor
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