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The Feather Report
Volume 2, Issue 40
 That’s a wrap! The Westlawn Principals wish everyone a restful and peaceful summer vacation full of good books, great memories, and wonderful people!
Leadership Ledger
Westlawn Families,
What a year it has been! This week brought a mix of joy, pride, laughter, and a few tears as we celebrated our sixth graders at promotion and then gathered on June 17 to wave goodbye to our students with bubbles, inflatables, and plenty of smiles. These special moments reminded us once again what makes Westlawn such a remarkable place—a caring community where students, families, and staff support one another every step of the way.
While students are beginning their summer adventures, our planning for next year is already underway. We have started drafting new school goals, exploring innovative instructional approaches, and enrolling teachers in professional learning opportunities that will help us continue to grow and strengthen the learning experiences we provide for every child. We are excited about what lies ahead and look forward to building on the many successes we celebrated this year.
From June 24 through July 14, most of our staff will be away from the building as we take a collective summer pause. If you have questions during that time, Mr. Hill and Ms. Sanchez will still be available to assist you. Throughout the summer, our building typically maintains limited in-person hours, generally from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you need to visit the school, we encourage you to call ahead at 703-241-5100 to ensure someone will be available to assist you when you arrive.
Thank you for your partnership, support, and commitment to our students throughout the year. I am so proud of all we have accomplished together, and I wish every Westlawn family a safe, restful, and joyful summer!
In partnership,
Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss
Proud Principals
News
Supply Lists
Our updated grade-level supply lists are now available on our website. There will be opportunities to drop off supplies during our Welcome to Westlawn event on August 21 so that your child does not need to carry them all by themself into class on the first day of school. While you are in the spirit of getting ready for next year, remember that our Westlawn clothing store will be open all summer online!
FCPS Cares
Who made your child’s year extra-special? Submit them for the FCPS Cares to thank them for going above-and-beyond!
FCPS chooses one winner per region each month, and each month’s winners go on to compete for a quarterly award, which includes a surprise visit from the Superintendent! All nominations are shared on the FCPS website. Read about last month’s winners and nominate a Westlawn staff member. We are Region 2.
Reminder: Summer Resources
We have a variety of resources to share with families.
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Student and Family Resources for Summer: this set of resources from FCPS acts as a directory to help families with summer childcare, food and nutrition, health and safety, and more! Resources are organized by topic.
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Summer Learning Resources: this set of resources is organized by grade level and helps families decide how to use FCPS devices over the summer to build students’ background knowledge and help them be ready for the next grade. There is also help for families about logging into programs on student devices.
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The FCPS Puzzle Hunt: this is a bike- and pedestrian-friendly way to explore sites in Fairfax County and get out of the house!
Reminder: Free Breakfast and Lunch for Students and Families This Summer
New this summer: both students and adults can eat breakfast and lunch for free at certain elementary schools. The two closest elementary schools to Westlawn that offer meals are Braddock Elementary School (about 17 minutes away) and Glen Forest Elementary School (about 20 minutes away). Learn more about free meals this summer.
Reminder: Early Release Wednesdays for 2026-27
FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year. The number has been reduced from eight to four days.
Early release Wednesdays provide elementary teachers with a dedicated block of time to prepare lessons, participate in professional development and training, and collaborate with their peers. A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff leads to better educational outcomes for students.
Westlawn’s early release Wednesdays:
- September 30
- November 18
- January 13
- April 7
Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays, including the list of early release dates.
Reminder: Activate Your ParentVUE Account to Stay Connected
On Wednesday, July 29, FCPS families who haven't activated their ParentVUE account will receive an email with the subject “Fairfax County Public Schools ParentVUE Activation Letter.”
The email will include instructions to activate a ParentVUE account. If you don’t have an account and don’t receive the email, please check your spam folder or open a Parent Support Request. After July 29, families may also contact Silvia Caballero at 703-241-5100 to request a printed activation letter or a new activation key, if needed.
All families are encouraged to activate their accounts as soon as possible to ensure they receive immediate access to important student information and school communications.
For assistance activating your account, please contact our front office. For technical support, create a Parent Support Request.
Dates and Events
July 29: Playground and Popsicles from 10-11 AM. Rising kindergarteners and their families are invited to meet the Principals, learn about the PTA, and make new friends!
August 21: Welcome to Westlawn from 10-11:30 AM. All Westlawn families are invited to meet the teachers, drop off school supplies, and catch up with friends you have not seen in awhile!
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
Be Prepared to Volunteer in 2026-2027!
FCPS now requires many volunteers to pass a background check. If you want to volunteer in 2026-2027, we recommend that you start the application process now. Then you can complete the background check over the summer and be ready to volunteer when school starts back up in August. Apply now to become an FCPS volunteer.
Westlawn Mentor Program: Supplies are Needed
Unfortunately we have lost the funding for our student mentoring program for next year. We will still have a program, and we need your help to make it as special and successful as possible. If your budget allows, the Wellness Team has compiled an Amazon wish list of items they want to use with students in the mentoring program next year. We are grateful for any support you can provide directly, or through sharing this wish list with friends and family members.
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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