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Westgate Families,
I hope this finds you having had a wonderful week. April continues to be a busy month with many exciting events. Please take note of the important upcoming dates below!
Upcoming Important Dates:
April 20 - Community Conversation with Dr. Reid @ 6:30 p.m. in the Westgate Cafeteria. Please register HERE if you are planning to attend.
April 21 - No School for Students (Special Election)
April 24 - Staff Volleyball Game @ Marshall High School -6:30 p.m.
April 28 - Family Book Fair Night - 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
April 30 - WestFest @ 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
As always, thank you for your continued support of all things Westgate and wishing everyone a fantastic weekend ahead!
All my best,
Hallie Demetriades
Principal
Spring Picture Day is on April 23
Victor O'Neill Studios will be at Westgate on Thursday, April 23 to take individual and class photos. Spring photos can be ordered by families after they are taken. Photos will be available online approximately two weeks after Picture Day. Once available, orders placed within the first two weeks will receive free shipping to the school.
**We are also looking for 2 parent volunteers for this day. If you are willing to help, please reach out to Ms. Vargas in the main office at 703-610-5700.
Purple Up! Spirit Week - April 20-24
Help us celebrate the Month of the Military Child by participating in our Purple UP! Spirit Week from April 20 - April 24!
Monday 4/20: Bootcamp Day, wear exercise clothes or camo
Tuesday 4/21: Patriotic Day, wear stars and stripes
Wednesday 4/22: Purple Up! Day, wear purple to support the military child
Thursday 4/23: RED Day, wear red to Remember Everyone Deployed
Friday 4/24: Sparkles and Spirit Day, wear sparkles or spirit wear to honor military families
Vistete de Morado!Semana del Niño militar; 20 de Abril- 24 de Abril
Lunes: Dia de entrenamiento: Usa ropa deportiva o de camuflaje
Martes: Dia Patriótico:Usa ropa con estrellas y rayas
Miercoles Dia “Purple up”: Vestirse de morado para apoyar los niños de familias militares!
Jueves:Dia Rojo: Vestirse de rojo para recordar a todos los que están desplegados
Viernes: Dia de brillo y espíritu: Usa ropa con brillo o ropa escolar para honrar a las familias militares
WestFest is April 30 - We Need Your Help!
WestFest is a vibrant celebration of our incredible and diverse community! Join us on Thursday, April 30th, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Westgate for an evening of fun, connection, and festivities. At WestFest, taste some of our community's favorite dishes and participate in a variety of activities! We hope to see you there!
The student planning committee is looking for volunteers to help make this a successful and fun event for our Westgate community.
Looking to Get Involved? The PTA Needs YOU!
We are looking for volunteers to serve on the PTA Board for the upcoming year, including President, Treasurer and Communications, as well as members for the Audit Committee.
These roles are essential to keeping our PTA active and able to support our school community. If you are interested or would like to learn more, please email president@westgatewolvespta.com
🏐 Westgate vs. Freedom Hill Faculty Volleyball Showdown!
Get ready for one of the most fun events of the year! Join us Friday, April 24th at Marshall High School as the Westgate and Freedom Hill faculty face off in an epic volleyball game you won’t want to miss!
🕡 Doors open at 6:30 PM 🏐 Game starts at 7:00 PM 🎟️ Tickets are $5 per person (Everyone 5 years old and over needs a ticket).
Click HERE to buy NOW! Pre-order sales close at 5pm on Wednesday, April 22nd. Tickets will be sold at the door.
Hungry? Pre-order a pizza for just $15 a pie or $3 a slice and enjoy dinner while you cheer on your favorite team! All pre-order sales end at 5pm on Wednesday, April 22nd.
Please use this link to sign up to volunteer at the event. We need everyone's support to make this event a success.
Come support our incredible teachers and staff in this high-energy, community-filled night of fun. Let’s pack the stands with Westgate pride! 💙🏐📣
Yearbooks are on Sale Now!
Order your 2025–2026 Westgate Elementary School Yearbook today! Capture the memories, friendships, and special moments from this school year in a keepsake your child will treasure for years to come.
Visit www.buytheyearbook.com and enter School Code: 732383 to place your order.
Order deadline: April 24, 2026 — be sure to order before the deadline so you don’t miss out on this year’s edition!
Scholastic Book Fair - BOGO - April 24 - May 1
The Scholastic Buy One Get One Free Book Fair is coming to Westgate! The book fair will be held April 24- May 1. Students can shop during school hours. We hope that families will be able to join us for our family night on Tuesday April 28 from 4:00 - 6:00. There will be staff representatives from Tysons-Pimmit Library at the family night so that you can learn about the library’s resources.
We need volunteers to help with running the fair. If you would like to help, please visit https://tinyurl.com/westgatespringbookfair Your help makes the book fair possible!
If you would like to set up an ewallet for the book fair so that your child does not need to bring cash to school, please visit https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/westgateelementaryschool4
Due to the US Penny phase out, we appreciate your help in providing exact change as payment when possible. You could also consider allowing your child to donate their change of a penny towards our share the fair program, which provides books for students that might not otherwise be able to get books from the bookfair.
Thank you in advance for the support of our book fair!
Spring SOL Testing Dates
Students in Grades 3-6 will participate in Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) testing this spring. Please mark the following testing dates on your calendar:
- Tuesday, May 12th - Reading SOL (Grades 3-6)
- Friday, May 15th - Science SOL (Grade 5 only)
- Tuesday, May 19th - Math SOL (Grades 3-6)
It is very important that students are at school on time on these testing days. Please do not schedule appointments or absences on these days. Thank you!
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:
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:
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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).
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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
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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 .
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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.
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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.
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