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Westgate Families,
Welcome back to Westgate! Thank you for helping make our first few days of school smooth and successful. We have loved seeing our students return and are excited for the year ahead.
As we continue working together to keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient, please remember:
- If you are dropping off or picking up your student, you MUST use the Kiss & Ride line.
- Parking, dropping off, and picking up students in front of the school on Magarity Road is not permitted. This creates a safety hazard and causes backups in the Kiss & Ride line.
- Left turns into the Kiss & Ride line are not permitted during arrival or dismissal.
- Please do not use the bus loop to access the main entrance between 8:20 and 8:50 a.m. or between 3:15 and 3:45 p.m. Buses need to be able to enter and exit the bus loop safely and without interference.
Thank you for following these important safety procedures as we continue settling into the school year.
Additionally, several important forms will be sent home in your child’s take-home folder this week, including Emergency Care Card information, the Early Release Wednesday survey, select opt-out forms, and digital consent materials. Please complete all required forms no later than Monday, August 31.
Thank you for your partnership and for helping us keep Westgate safe and off to a great start! We are looking forward to a wonderful school year partnering with you!
All my best,
Hallie Demetriades
Principal
Westgate Elementary
Back to School Night - Wednesday, September 2
All parents are encouraged to learn about the academic and behavioral expectations for their children. Back to School Night (BTSN) is a wonderful way to connect with your child’s teacher and ask questions regarding the instructional program. Our first session is from 5:30 – 6:00 p.m. and our second session is from 6:05 – 6:25 p.m. You will have an opportunity to meet our specialists from 6:00 – 6:45 p.m. in the library, and attend two optional breakout sessions from 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. on Reading Plans & SRR&R Updates. Our BTSN will be held in-person and teachers will provide access to presentation slides if parents are unable to attend.
*Please note that this is a parent only event*
Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
We greatly appreciate the support we receive from our PTA. All parents are encouraged to volunteer and attend events and meetings sponsored by our PTA. To become a member please sign up here (https://westgatewolves.givebacks.com/shop?category=23680)! Because of our PTA we can purchase books, technology, and supplies for our students; students can go on field trips; and fun events are planned for our families! If you are interested in taking on a leadership role please send an email to: membership@westgatewolvespta.com. The PTA also sends out monthly newsletters via email. We hope you consider joining the PTA!
Apply Today for Free and Reduced-Price Meals!
According to the Centers for Disease Control, eating breakfast at school is associated with better attendance rates, fewer missed school days, and better test scores. Studies show that students who eat both school breakfast and lunch tend to have healthier diets than those who don't participate in school meals.
Families who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals can receive breakfast and lunch for their students at no cost or at a reduced cost. This includes more than one-third of FCPS students. Families must complete the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits.
The application for FRM is now available for the 2026-27 school year. Students who were approved for FRM last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should reapply as soon as possible so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
Access the application and view criteria and up-to-date information on the FRM webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
New Student ID Cards Coming for Bus Riders
This fall, every FCPS student who rides the bus will receive a student identification (ID) card as part of a division wide effort to modernize school transportation, improve communication with families, and strengthen student safety while traveling to and from school.
Every student who rides the school bus will need to tap on and tap off the bus every day using their new student ID card. Families can help by reinforcing this new habit with their child.
All students at our school will need to wear their student ID cards throughout the school day. We will be handing out the new student ID cards the first few weeks of school. More details will be shared soon.
Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
**Westgate will be distributing ID cards this week and next. All students should receive their ID card by September 3. Students need to bring their ID card to school every day.**
Early Release Wednesdays - Action Required
As we prepare for the new school year, we are working toward 100% completion of student online verification forms for every family before school begins. The annual re-enrollment packet includes the early release Wednesday’s childcare selection. This year, we will have a total of four early release Wednesdays, where we dismiss at 12:30 p.m. Our dates are: September 30, November 18, January 13, and April 7.
Families may complete their forms electronically through Parent Vue (https://bit.ly/3RZepAK), or by downloading the paper forms, (https://bit.ly/4gd8Rfj) from the FCPS website and returning them to the school office.
All online verification (OVU) forms must be completed by Thursday, September 3.
Follow the steps to complete the Early Release Wednesday Survey:
Step 1: Log into FCPS ParentVUE
Step 2: Click on “Online Packets” in the upper right-hand corner (If you are using the App, you will click on online registration and then scroll to Online Verification (OVU).
Family & Student Handbook
We are excited to share our updated Family & Student Handbook with you. We hope you take a moment to read as it contains important curriculum and operating information for your child. You can access the Family & Student Handbook here (https://westgatees.fcps.edu/resources/family).
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 of days has been reduced from eight to four.
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.
Please view the dates for our school’s early release Wednesdays below:
- September 30
- November 18
- January 13
- April 7
Visit the FCPS website for more information about early release Wednesdays.
Download the FCPS App Today!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep you connected and informed, directly from your smartphone. Download the FCPS mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
With the app, you can:
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View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
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Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
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Access key links. Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
No need to log in, just download and go! Learn more about the FCPS mobile app.
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 - 8:50 a.m. and between 3:15 - 3:45 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.
Attendance
Parents/legal guardians should submit full-day absences using ParentVUE. You may also report an absence by calling the Attendance Line at 703-610-5757 by 9:00 a.m. when your child is absent from school. The Commonwealth of Virginia mandatory school attendance laws will be strictly enforced, and parents will be held accountable for students who do not attend school regularly.
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