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The Feather Report
Volume 2, Issue 29
 Photo of the Week: Hang in there! Spring Break is here! Students have been enjoying the beautiful weather that we have had during recess for the past couple of weeks. We hope all students have safe and relaxing Spring Breaks with plenty of time to enjoy the outdoors!
Leadership Ledger
Westlawn Families,
As we wrap up an incredible third quarter and look ahead to Spring Break, I canât help but feel proud of all that our students, staff, and families have accomplished together! This time of year offers a wonderful opportunity to pause, reflect, and recharge. I hope each of you is able to enjoy a safe, restful Spring Break filled with moments of joy and relaxation. When we return, weâll step into the final quarter of the school yearâready to finish strong and continue the amazing momentum weâve built as a community!
Even as we take time to rest, I know many of our students are already thinking ahead with excitementâespecially with our Talent Show coming up on May 7! If your child is eager to shine on stage, Spring Break is a great time to begin practicing. Be sure to sign up for an audition slot on April 20 or April 23 if theyâre ready to share their talents with us. We canât wait to see the creativity and confidence our students will bring!
A few friendly reminders as we head into the break: Yearbook orders are now open, and this is a special way to capture the memories of this school year. Orders are due by May 1 to guarantee a copy. Order at ybpay.com with code 15398626. Also, please note that FCPS has updated the calendarâthere will be no school for students on April 21 due to a teacher workday, and April 22 will now be a full day of school.
Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. I wish you all a wonderful Spring Break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for a strong finish to the year!
In partnership,
Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss
Proud Principals
News
No Newsletter Next Week Due to Spring Break
We hope everyone has a safe, relaxing, and wonderful Spring Break! Our next newsletter will come out on April 10.
Fun Clothing Wednesdays (and Fridays) in April
April is Autism Acceptance Month and Month of the Military Child. On Fridays in April, staff and students are encouraged to wear RED to âRemember Everyone Deployed.â On Wednesdays we will continue with our Fun Clothing Wednesday themes, this time all about autism!
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April 8, 2026 â Team Up for Inclusion đ đ Wear your favorite team jersey or Westlawn gearâbecause weâre all on the same team and everyone belongs!
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April 15, 2026 â Unique Abilities Day đ đš Celebrate what makes you you! Wear clothing that reflects your unique talents, interests, and passions. If youâd like, wear purple to support military children for #FCPSPurpleUp!
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April 22, 2026 â Sensory Sensation đż đ Dress in sensory-friendly, comfortable clothing that helps you feel your best. You can also wear green for Earth Dayâwhether itâs the color, eco-friendly clothing, or something that shows care for our planet!
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April 29, 2026 â Spectrum of Colors and Words đ đŹ Wear your favorite color to celebrate bright minds and different perspectives, or choose clothing with words or messages to remind us that all forms of communication matter.
Math Path Workshop
Did you miss our Math Path Workshop? Thatâs OK! We have the recording available for you. During the workshop Ms. Dushok walks families through making a decision about their childâs math placement for next year. This information is beneficial for all families, and especially for those families of fifth and sixth graders who begin to have options for the math class their child will take. The Math Path links are shared below the video.
LEAP Into Reading this Spring Break
Did you know that all Fairfax County Public School students can check out books from the Fairfax County Public Library system, even if they donât have a library card? Itâs true! All students can check out a limited number of books or other materials, simply by providing their name! FCPS collaborates with FCPL to make this possible through the LEAP program. The closest library that Westlawn students can access is the Thomas Jefferson Library, which is open every day except Sunday.
Annual Water Flushing Program has Begun
Fairfax Water has started its annual spring water main flushing program, which will take approximately two months to complete. When your neighborhood is flushed, you may notice some discoloration or sediment. Although this is still safe, you may wish to run the water until it clears. Learn more.
Reminder: Bookmark Design Contest
Educate Fairfax has a bookmark design contest happening through April 17, open to students in K-12. The theme is Todayâs Reader, Tomorrowâs Leader. There are categories for K-2, 3-6, middle school, and high school. There are prizes! Learn more and get the template.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- School Weather Safety
- Science Fair Winners
- Summer Internships at FCPS
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
Special Event: April is the Month of the Military Child! FCPS has created a special calendar for the FCPS community that celebrates and uplifts military-connected students and their families. A copy of the calendar was sent home in your childâs Thursday folder. The calendar can also be accessed on the April is the Month of the Military Child page on the FCPS website; scroll to the bottom.
March 13 - March 29: Free theater tickets to the 12 Dancing Princesses are available to Westlawn families from our partners at Creative Cauldron. Claim your free tickets by selecting your preferred performance and entering the code WESTLAWN at checkout.
March 30 - April 3: Spring Break
April 6: No School for Students; Teacher Workday
April 8: Fun Clothing Wednesday: sports jerseys or Westlawn gear
April 8: Laps for Learning will last all day, with different classes running their laps throughout the course of the day. Learn when your childâs class will be running, and volunteer to make the event a success!
April 8: Kindergarten Orientation for new kindergarteners and their families will be from 9:00 - 10:00 in the Westlawn cafeteria. Learn about enrolling a child in kindergarten at Westlawn.
April 8: PTA Meeting held virtually on Zoom from 6:30 - 7:30 PM
April 10: No School for Students; School Planning Day
April 15: Fun Clothing Wednesday: clothing that reflects your unique talents, interests, and abilities; or purple for #FCPSPurpleUp Day!
April 15: Restaurant Night at Chick-fil-A
April 18: 2026 FCPS Special Education Family Conference. Learn more and register now.
April 18: Jaguar 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run. Learn more and register now.
Save the Date! The Westlawn Talent Show will return on May 7! Auditions will take place April 20 and April 23. Sign up for an audition slot 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
Help Make Laps for Learning Fun for Everyone!
Laps for Learning will last all day on April 8, with different classes running their laps throughout the course of the day. Learn when your childâs class will be running, and volunteer to make the event a success! Event volunteers are needed to help count laps, set up, and clean up.
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 to fill out an online application, and then select the school(s) where you want to be. Learn more and apply today!
Mind Matters
Partnerships Make it PossibleÂ
Did your student enjoy a Fall or Spring STEAM Academy club? We are able to offer those free of charge thanks to our amazing partnership with Northrop Grumman. Their funding also helps with other things at Westlawn like our Kodable and Mystery Science subscriptions and supplies for Mrs. Wintersâ STEAM lab. They also send volunteers to some of our events!
As you can see, community partnerships like this are so valuable so we can offer things above and beyond normal FCPS funding, and keep things free or low-cost if possible. If your family has connections to businesses, organizations, or community groups that may be interested in partnering with our school, we would love to hear from you! These partnerships make a meaningful difference for our students, and we are always looking to grow our network of support. Please email Gretchen Maxwell or send her a TalkingPoints message.
Tech Talk
Happy National AI Literacy Day!
Friday, March 27, 2026 is National AI Literacy Day! The purpose of the day is to draw attention to AI and support people in understanding how to use AI purposefully and ethically.
Right now in FCPS there are many discussions happening about AI, too! We anticipate regulations regarding student use of AI to be released this summer, and we are eager to see how they will affect teaching and learning at Westlawn. Learn more about AI in FCPS.
In the meantime, we encourage families to learn about AI. If youâre looking for a place to start, we recommend diving into comparing and contrasting the things that AI can do versus the things that humans can do. People of all ages and backgrounds can easily join this discussion, and it is often one that produces many questions and curiosities. Families can then seek answers to those questions together!
In honor of National AI Literacy Day and in honor of Reading Month, we will leave you with some great reads about AI that you can peruse over Spring Break!
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
This week the Soaring Staff Spotlight is on Gretchen Maxwell!
Mrs. Maxwell is the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher at Westlawn. Letâs learn more about Mrs. Maxwell!
What is your favorite thing about working at Westlawn?
I live in this community and have been working here close to 20 years in various roles⊠so I just love all the connections I've made over the years here at my second home.
Whatâs the best piece of advice youâve ever received?
My first boss told me "lead by example" and I try to live by that concept, and instill it in our upper grade students.
Who inspired you when you were growing up?
My grandmother was a strong role model: she worked in Manhattan as a magazine illustrator, and also worked hard on their land cutting down trees and the like⊠all while wearing perfect lipstick. Ha!Â
What is your favorite restaurant in our area?
We LOVE Original Pancake House on Lee Highway! YUM
What is your favorite hobby?
Hiking
If you could visit any place in the world, where would you go?
African safari is at the top of my bucket list
Mountains or beach?
Mountains. And if I'm being greedy⊠with a lake please.
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 Is there someone you hope to see featured in an upcoming Soaring Staff Spotlight? Tell us by text to 571-355-2321.
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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