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The Feather Report

August 21, 2026

Photo of the Week

Students and families were delighted to meet teachers, catch up with friends, and drop off school supplies at Welcome to Westlawn on Friday. One of the biggest highlights for students was getting to see their classrooms and sit in their seats for the first time!

Leadership Ledger

Westlawn Families,

What a wonderful way to kick off a new school year! Thank you to all of our families who joined us for Welcome to Westlawn Day. It was so exciting to see our hallways filled with students meeting their teachers, dropping off school supplies, visiting classrooms, and reconnecting with friends. I am incredibly grateful to our staff and families for making Westlawn such a welcoming and joyful community!

Now, we are ready for the big day! Our first day of school is Monday, August 24, and our doors will open at 8:30 AM. We cannot wait to welcome our students back and begin another great year of learning together. As a reminder, all Westlawn students receive free breakfast and lunch every school day, and we are proud to make sure every student is ready to learn and thrive.

As we begin the year, I also want to share a bittersweet staffing update. Due to enrollment needs across the division, our longtime Multilingual Learner teacher, Ms. Ciro Torres, has been reassigned to Bailey’s Lower Elementary School. Ms. Ciro Torres has given so much to our students, families, staff, and the entire Westlawn community over the years, and she will be deeply missed. While we are sad to see her go, we are excited for the students, staff, and families at Bailey’s who now get to have her as part of their community!

Thank you, as always, for your partnership, your support, and the energy you bring to Westlawn. We are ready for Monday and so excited for another wonderful year together!

In partnership,

Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss

Proud Principals

News

Welcome New Staff Members!

Over the next few weeks we will introduce you to the newest faces at Westlawn!

We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Gotcher to Westlawn as a new 5th Grade Teacher! She is excited to join our school community after hearing so many wonderful things about the students, staff, and families here. In the classroom, Ms. Gotcher loves exploring science, and outside of school, you can often find her baking delicious treats or traveling to new places. A self-described early bird who loves starting her morning with coffee, she also enjoys spending time with dogs, celebrating Christmas, and digging into a plate of tacos. Please join us in giving Ms. Gotcher a warm welcome to the Westlawn family!

We are excited to welcome Ms. Merkley to Westlawn as a new Special Education Teacher! She is most looking forward to building strong relationships with students and staff across the school community this year. In school, her favorite subject was science, and her creative side shines through her love of art, reading The Giving Tree, and playing four different musical instruments. Outside the classroom, Ms. Merkley enjoys playing Mario Party, snacking on pizza and Hot Fries, and spending quality time with the people she loves. Please join us in giving Ms. Merkley a warm Westlawn welcome!

We are thrilled to welcome Mrs. Nickel to Westlawn as a new Music Teacher! She is most excited to get to know all of our amazing students. Beyond her love of music, Mrs. Nickel enjoys sipping tea, listening to "Dancing Queen," and welcoming the warmth of spring. If she could instantly master a new skill, she would love to learn how to play the piano like Billy Joel! Some of her favorite things include the book Goodnight Moon, the color green, and a nice bowl of ice cream. Please join us in giving Mrs. Nickel a warm welcome to our community!

We are excited to welcome Mr. Slyngstad (or Mr. S!) to Westlawn as a new Special Education Teacher. A night owl who enjoys starting his time with a fresh cup of coffee, Mr. S is a big fan of the book series A Series of Unfortunate Events and enjoys watching The West Wing in his free time. When dining out locally, his favorite restaurant to visit is Loving Hut. Please join us in giving Mr. S a warm welcome to our school community!

We are excited to promote Ms. Tran to the role of Special Education Teacher after her success at Westlawn as an instructional assistant and substitute teacher! (Congratulations on completing your degree, too!) Ms. Tran is eager to continue her educational journey in this new role alongside familiar colleagues and students. Outside of school, she enjoys playing pickleball, spending quality time with loved ones, and relaxing at the beach during the summer. A few of her favorite things include the color pink, a warm cup of coffee, tacos, spicy chips, and the classic children's book Goodnight Moon. Please join us in giving Ms. Tran a warm welcome!

Staff Wish Lists

We have had several members of our amazing community ask us about staff wish lists! We have published the lists that staff members have shared on our website. Thank you for anything you can contribute to help a staff member make this year extra-special for Westlawn students! If you want a staff member to share a list, please contact Ms. Dushok, and she will be delighted to make a request on your behalf.

Student ID Cards for Westlawn Bus Riders

We will begin distributing student ID cards to all our students who ride the school bus or use FCPS transportation services next week. When we have the details finalized, we will share them out to the community.

Students who have student ID cards should begin tapping as they board and exit the bus. Only students who use FCPS transportation services will be provided with a student ID card at this time.

We ask for your patience! Bus drivers will begin checking in students next week and may need some extra time at each bus stop while they do this. The transportation team is working hard to minimize any potential delays.

Learn more about the bus navigation and student ID cards.

SEL Screener Parent/Guardian Notification

The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.

After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. 

Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records

Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Prior to the start of school on Monday, August 24, please submit your child’s immunization documentation. If your child has an appointment to receive their required immunizations after August 24, please submit an Immunization Action Plan to confirm the appointment.

You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form. Please visit the FCPS How to Submit Immunization Documentation webpage for step-by-step instructions on how to submit each of these items.

Immunization Events for FCPS Students

FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.

Additional immunization resources are also available.

Reminder: We’re Eager to Welcome You Back to School!

As summer winds down, we are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Use the following list to help make sure your child is ready! 

☑️ Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE

Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our registrar at 703-241-5100 or via email if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. Also, download the new ParentVUE mobile app so you can access your child’s records easily from anywhere! 

Update Your Contact Information

Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts. 

☑️ Learn About School Meals

Breakfast and lunch is provided free for all students at Westlawn again in 2026-2027. Families need to provide their children with money if they want their children to be able to purchase a la carte items in the cafeteria, such as popcorn or cookies. Qualifying families are encouraged to apply to receive free and reduced-price meal benefits. The benefits include free and reduced-price summer camps and other opportunities for students. Access the Westlawn school meal calendar on our website!

☑️ Bookmark the School Year Calendar

Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances:

• Days marked blue with an “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
• Days marked orange with an “O” are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings, if only half marked). There is school on these days, but certain events that cannot be made up may not be scheduled on these days.
• Days marked as TW, SD, and SP and in pink are holidays for students but working days for teachers and staff.

Please note that some holidays and observances, such as Eid al Fitr, may shift, and the calendar may be adjusted.

Reminder: Supply Lists

Our updated grade-level supply lists are now available on our website. While you are in the spirit of getting ready for next year, remember that our Westlawn clothing store will be open all summer online!

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.

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• Get Ready for Day One With the FCPS App!
• Learn About School Meals
• Managing Technology at Home

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

August 24: The First Day of School! Doors open at 8:30 AM. Dismissal is at 3:30. Kindergarten families: join the PTA on the playground at 8:40 am for a Boohoo/Yahoo Kindergarten Breakfast to connect with other families who also dropped off their kindergartener for the first day of school!

August 26: PreK Orientation for families with children entering PreK this year. Families are encouraged to arrive at 9:15 to find parking. Orientation starts at 9:30 AM.

September 4 and September 7: No School for extended Labor Day Weekend.

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: 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.

Tech Talk

You Can Manage Student Web Access at Home

At Westlawn, we acknowledge that parents are our students' first and most consistent teachers. Parents now have greater control over their child’s FCPS-issued device outside of school hours through Lightspeed Parent Portal.

In addition to monitoring weekly internet activity, parents can now also customize web access at home on FCPS devices through Lightspeed using Schedules and Web Rules.

With Schedules, you can set tailored times to automatically pause or restrict internet access. This makes it easier to enforce rules around homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.

In Web Rules, you can create Custom Block Lists to block specific, individual websites they do not want your child accessing at home. This allows parents greater control over what is happening online, under their own roof.

These new custom controls take effect at home, outside of school hours, and when the device is off the FCPS network. They will not override standard district filtering policies during the instructional day.

Customize Your Lightspeed Settings

All parents should be receiving weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report emails. To set up these new features, click the “Log in or Register” button at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.

Visit the FCPS Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide for more information. If you have additional questions, submit a Parent Technology Support Ticket.

Parents are encouraged to discuss internet boundaries with their children so that they can understand the reasoning behind any limits and the differences between access at home and at school. Get tips on talking to your children about technology safety.

💻 Catch Up on Your Child’s Classwork in Schoology

Teachers use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a secure forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. It helps students stay organized, and it keeps the class connected.

A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:

• Your child’s classes.
• Your child’s upcoming assignments.
• School, class, and group announcements.

To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account. Get more information on how to login and use Schoology.

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).

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

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