Westgate Weekly News

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 02/13/2026 02:17 PM EST

Westgate Families,

I hope this finds you well and enjoying our first full week back at school in quite some time.  We have been grateful to get the focus back on learning and growing with our fantastic students.  

As a reminder, we have a few upcoming holidays and our February Early Release Wednesday next week.  Please make sure you plan accordingly.  

  • February 16 & 17 - No School for Students
  • February 18 - 3 Hr. Early Release for Students @ 12:30 p.m.
  • February 27 - PTA Bingo @ 6:30 p.m.

As always, thank you for your continued support of all things Westgate and  wishing everyone a wonderful long weekend ahead!

All my best,

Hallie Demetriades

Principal 

🎉 Bingo Night is Almost Here! 🎉

Join us for a fun-filled Bingo Night on February 27 at 6:30 PM in the school cafeteria!  All pre-sales available until 5PM on February 25.  Boards are rented for the night and must be returned at the end. 

🔹 Bingo Boards: $5 per board – reusable for all games! Buy as many as you’d like HERE. 

🔹 Special Deal: Pre-purchase 4 boards for just $15 HERE

🔹 Pizza: Whole pies available for $20 each HERE – perfect for a family dinner! 

🔹 We need Volunteers!  We’re looking for volunteers to assist with check-in, board rentals, and more. If you can lend a hand, please sign up HERE.

Don’t miss out on the prizes, laughs, and great community fun! Get your boards in advance and save! 🎟️🍕

Kindergarten Orientation and Registration at Westgate

Our kindergarten orientation is being held on April 10 @ 9:00 a.m. to give parents of students entering school in August an opportunity to learn more about kindergarten at our school. 

We recognize that parents are their children’s first teachers. Resources on the School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage provide parents with ways to support their children to help ensure a smooth transition to kindergarten. 

There’s also an easy-to-follow five-step process outlined for registering your child for kindergarten. Register your child today! Contact our registrar, Tracy Green, at tmgreen@fcps.eduwith any questions. 

Conozca más sobre el Kindergarten en la escuela Westgate

Nuestro evento de puertas abiertas para kindergarten se llevará a cabo el April 10 para darles a los padres de los niños que entran a la escuela en agosto, la oportunidad de conocer más acerca de cómo es el kindergarten en su escuela. Contacte directamente a su escuela si no la encuentra en la lista de esta página web.  

Nosotros reconocemos que los padres son los primeros maestros de sus niños. Los recursos ofrecidos en la página web para la Preparación y la Transición a Kindergarten proveen a los padres con formas de apoyar a sus niños que aseguran que éstos tengan una transición al kindergarten sin contratiempos. 

También contamos con un proceso de cinco pasos que es fácil de seguir, diseñado para que inscriba a su niño en kindergarten. ¡Inscriba a su niño hoy!

Si tiene cualquier pregunta, contacte a nuestro registrador escribiendo o llamando al tmgreen@fcps.edu 

Student Fasting Meal Kits

From February 18 to March 19, 2026, a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) waiver allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information: 

  • Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
  • Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
  • Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
  • Kits are distributed at the end of the school day. Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:

  • February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
  • February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
  • March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
  • March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026

Forms must be submitted on time to receive meal kits for the following week.

Holiday Accommodations Survey 

At Westgate, we have families representing over 40 countries and languages. With this wonderfully diverse community come many cultural holidays and observances throughout the year. In order to honor the traditions that go along with these celebrations, we would love for you to share any accommodations we can try and make here at school.  You can fill out the form here.  

Upcoming Student Experience Survey at Westgate 

Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

All students in grades 3-6, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 23. We will administer the survey during the school day between Monday, February 23, and Friday, March 6. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose. The electronic opt-out form can also be accessed at this link.

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which include a focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

Apply for Your Child to Learn in Two Languages

FCPS’ 2026-27 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program lottery opens on Monday, January 12. The program offers students in kindergarten and first grade the opportunity to learn in English and another language — French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish — for half of each instructional day.

The online, countywide lottery is open to Fairfax County residents. Families must have a SIS ParentVUE account. Students not currently enrolled in FCPS should register at their base school before applying for the immersion program. 

Families applying for first grade must do so by Thursday, February 12, at 4 p.m. Those applying for kindergarten must do so by Monday, March 2, at 4 p.m.

Informational meetings will begin in January. View dates and details on the FCPS calendar. If you have questions, please contact Brigid Williams at 571-423-4600.

Solicite Cupo para que su Niño Aprenda en Dos Idiomas

La Lotería de cupos del Programa Dual de Inmersión en Idiomas (DLI, por sus siglas en inglés) del período 2026-2027 abre el lunes, 12 de enero. Este programa les ofrece a estudiantes de kindergarten y de primer grado la oportunidad de aprender en inglés y en algún otro idioma, francés, alemán, japonés, coreano o español, durante la mitad de cada día escolar.

Esta lotería, la cual es online e incluye a todo el condado, está abierta para residentes del Condado de Fairfax. Para participar en ella, las familias deben tener una cuenta en SIS ParentVUE. Los estudiantes que no estén inscritos en FCPS, deberán inscribirse en su escuela base antes de solicitar cupo en el programa de inmersión. 

Aquellas familias que estén solicitando cupo por primera vez, deberán hacerlo antes del jueves, 12 de febrero. Quienes estén solicitando cupos para kindergarten deberán hacer su solicitud antes de las 4 p.m. del lunes 2 de marzo. 

Se realizarán reuniones informativas a partir de enero. Encuentre las fechas y detalles en el calendario de FCPS. Si tiene alguna pregunta, puede contactar a Brigid Williams, llamando al 571-423-4600.

Volunteer Registration Update

Due to the overwhelming response from our community, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers. 

If you are scheduled for an upcoming fingerprinting appointment, please cancel your appointment unless you are a mentor, host parent, or non-parent volunteer having frequent, direct, and unsupervised contact with students, which will still require fingerprinting. FCPS will be charged if individuals miss a fingerprinting appointment without canceling in advance.

Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities. ​​​​​​​

Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a background check). 

To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal attestation confirming you have no history of violent felonies, physical/sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude.

Want to volunteer? Visit Volunteer FCPS to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Contact Volunteers@fcps.edu with any questions.

Westgate Spiritwear—Available All Year!

Even though the Spiritwear Fundraiser has ended, families can still purchase Westgate gear anytime throughout the year and have it shipped directly to your home!

While prices are slightly higher and there’s a delivery charge, this is a great way to grab something special for the holidays — or show your Westgate pride any time of year.

The online store now includes an even bigger selection, with mugs, hats, blankets, and of course, plenty of Westgate shirts!

🛍️ Shop here!

Your Support Is Making a Difference!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our Westgate community, the money raised from our PTA Fundraiser is already being put to good use with engaging activities for our students! 

And if you haven’t donated yet, the fundraiser is still open — and we’re getting closer and closer to that pie in Mr. H’s face!

Help us reach our goal here: https://www.givebacks.com/causes/9ca818ba-e882-445c-b9dd-a397b724a246/campaigns/f39b8a163d81

Thank you for helping us bring innovative and inspiring experiences to our school — your support truly makes it happen!

Remaining Early Release Wednesday Dates

Westgate will have 8 early release Wednesdays throughout the school year.  Please note that we will dismiss at 12:30 p.m. on those days.  

The scheduled dates for Westgate are:

  • February 18
  • March 18
  • April 22
  • May 13

Tutoring Resources for Families

Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families.

FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services, at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.

Student Smart Watches and Cell Phones

Please remind your child that FCPS is phone-free! For elementary school students, this means:

  • Smart watches that serve a dual purpose may be worn, but the phone features (texting, Internet viewing, and calls) are to be off when phone use is prohibited.
  • Cell phones and personal devices (airpods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).

If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at 703-610-5700.  Learn more about FCPS’ cell phone and personal device policy.

Spanish: La Política de FCPS con los Teléfonos Celulares: Por qué es Importante

La política de FCPS con los teléfonos celulares ayuda a los estudiantes a concentrarse, a aprender y a involucrarse. Cuando los estudiantes guardan sus celulares, tienen más interacciones cara a cara con sus compañeros y los maestros tienen más oportunidades para desarrollar sus habilidades de resiliencia y de resolución de problemas. Por favor, recuérdale a su hijo que:

  • Teléfonos celulares y otros dispositivos personales (“Airpods”, “earbuds”, audífonos, otros dispositivos conectados a la internet) deben estar apagados y guardados todo el día escolar (desde el timbre de entrada hasta el de salida).
  • Relojes inteligentes o “Smart watches” que tienen distintos propósitos pueden usarse, pero las funcionalidades relacionadas con el celular (textos, navegación internet y llamadas), deben estar apagadas mientras el uso del teléfono esté prohibido.

Si usted necesita comunicarse con su niño durante el día escolar, por favor llame a la oficina principal.

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.  

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.

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.