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The Feather Report
September 25, 2026
Photo of the Week
 Sixth grade students learned about the relative sizes of the planets in the solar system using play dough this week. Students needed to follow a set of 18 steps to divide a container of play dough into parts corresponding to the sizes of the planets, and then roll each lump into a ball. At the end of the activity, students could barely hold the Jupiter ball in their hand, while the Mercury ball was smaller than an eraser!
Leadership Ledger
Westlawn Families,
This week, I am reminded of just how special the Westlawn community is and how deeply our connections extend beyond the walls of our school. We were saddened to learn that Luciana (Lucy) Tran passed away on Monday, September 21. Lucy was an important part of our Westlawn family, serving in our PreK program for more than 25 years before retiring at the end of the 2021â2022 school year. Over those many years, she touched the hearts of countless students, families, and staff members. We are grateful for the care, kindness, and dedication Lucy shared with generations of Westlawn students, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and all those in our community who knew and loved her.
One of the things Lucy valuedâand something that continues to make Westlawn so specialâis the incredible involvement of our families. Our first volunteer opportunities of the year are beginning to roll in, and we are so excited to welcome our amazing volunteers back to campus! Families can sign up to help with Walk, Bike, and Roll to School on October 7, support the Westlawn Day Festival in a variety of ways on October 10, or join the 6th Grade Parent Committee to help raise funds for our sixth gradersâ activities. Please keep reading below for sign-up links and contact information.
Thank you, as always, for the many ways you care for one another and contribute to our school. It is that spirit of connection, service, and community that makes Westlawn such a special place to learn and grow!
In partnership,
Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss
Proud Principals
News
Join Us for Play Club at Westlawn Elementary!
We are excited to introduce Play Clubs, a new activity designed for students to enjoy free play, make friends, and build key life skills. Running from October 5 through November 23 on the school field/playground, Play Club gives children the opportunity to create their own fun. While adult supervisors are present, they do not manage games or settle everyday peer disputes.
Weekly Schedule & Grade Levels:
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Mondays (3:45 PM â 4:45 PM): Grades Kâ3 only
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Wednesdays (7:45 AM â 8:30 AM): Grades Kâ6
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Thursdays (3:45 PM â 4:45 PM): Grades 4â6 only
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Fridays (7:45 AM â 8:30 AM): Grades Kâ6
Please note that sessions are canceled if it rains.
How to Participate: To sign up, please complete the Play Club Permission Form and return it to your child's teacher (it was sent home in Thursday folders).
If you have questions or would like to volunteer as an adult supervisor, please email Ms. Davidow.
Gear Up for Middle School
Calling families of 6th graders! Luther Jackson is currently having the only school spirit wear sale of the school year! If you want to get your child some LJMS swag as a 6th grade promotion ceremony present, this is your only chance! Details below. Note that there is a choice for items to be delivered to school or to home (for an additional fee). Delivery to school means delivery to Luther Jackson MS, not to Westlawn!
Free Family Literacy Program
The Family Literacy Program is a FREE family engagement program for multilingual families!
Parents can participate in beginning English classes, while their children in kindergarten through 7th grade enjoy fun and educational activities led by two instructors.
The program helps families:
- Build confidence using English
- Understand and navigate the school system
- Access community and educational resources
- Advocate for their childrenâs success
đ
Tuesdays & Thursdays
đ 6:00â8:00 PM
đ Falls Church High School - 7521 Jaguar Trail, Falls Church, VA 22042 â Rooms 1080 & 1082. Main Entrance.
Sign up to participate!
FCPS Cares
Did a Westlawn staff member go above-and-beyond this month to help you or your child? Please submit their name for an FCPS Cares award! FCPS Cares stories are shared throughout FCPS and give everybody the warm-and-fuzzies inside. Learn more about FCPS Cares.
Learn About Applied Behavior Analysis and Teaching New Skills at Home
All family members and caregivers are invited to attend monthly Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Family Training to learn how to support and teach students with autism and related disorders. No registration is needed. Â
Virtual trainings take place at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Join the session. Upcoming topics include:
- Autism and ABA Overview on Wednesday, October 14. (It is highly recommended that you attend this session before any future sessions.)
- Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home on Wednesday, November 18.
- Toilet Training on Wednesday, December 9.
- Managing Challenging Behaviors at Home on Wednesday, January 13.
- Communication: a Foundation for Independence on Wednesday, February 10.Â
Visit the ABA webpage for a full list of classes. Need an interpreter? Contact Stephanie Watkins two weeks before the training at 571-423-4110 or sawatkins@fcps.edu.
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Traffic Safety Near Our Schools
- Sign and Return the SR&R
- Check Out New Menu Options
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
September 30: Color Days: Wear Green!
September 30: This is the first Early Release Wednesday of the year. Students will be dismissed at 12:30 PM.
October 6: First day of STEAM Academy clubs.
October 7: Color Days: Wear Blue!
October 7: Walk, Bike, and Roll to school to celebrate going places with people power!
October 7: First day of Drama Club Rehearsal.
October 8: The October PTA meeting will be in person at Westlawn in the library and starts at 6:00 PM.
October 10: Westlawn Day Festival is almost here! Join us on Saturday from 10 AMâ12 PM for a fun morning celebrating our Westlawn community! Wristbands and raffle tickets are available for preorder online. All preordered items will be sent home with students on October 8.
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
Volunteer to Cheer Students on the Move
Volunteer to cheer on students who walk, bike, or roll to school on October 7!
Volunteer at Westlawn Day
đââïž The PTA still needs your help! Families can support the festival by volunteering during the event or donating a needed item through the Amazon Wish List. Every volunteer and donation helps make Westlawn Day a fun and successful event for our students and families. đŠ
We hope to see you there!
Reminder: Seeking Sixth Grade Parent Committee Members
The sixth grade team is looking for parents to join a committee that will organize fundraisers to help cover the cost of the sixth grade field trip at the end of the school year. Without fundraising, the trip would cost approximately $70 per student. The PTA has generously committed to covering half of that cost, and the committeeâs goal is to raise the remaining funds so that every sixth grader can attend.
The first fundraiser, Kona Ice at Back-to-School Night, has already taken place, with all proceeds benefiting the field trip. The PTA has also offered the sixth grade team the opportunity to organize this yearâs Election Day bake sale and keep all of the proceeds. The team is especially seeking parents who can help organize the bake sale, as well as parents who have additional fundraising ideas.
Families interested in joining the sixth grade parent committee should contact Ms. Jessen by email or through TalkingPoints.
Reminder: Get a Sneak Peek at Volunteer Signups
Did you know that we attach the volunteer sign-ups to events in our website calendar? Itâs true! We usually do not advertise the sign-ups until we are within two weeks of the event, because we know thatâs as far out as most families are planning. However, if you are an early bird planner, check out the website calendar and click on the events to find the âsecretâ volunteer sign-ups before theyâre officially shared during Community Conversations or in this newsletter.
Ongoing Opportunities: Join Mr. Hill and Ms. Dushok for Westlawnâs Community Conversation each Wednesday at 11 a.m. via Zoom, and visit our website for archives of the three most recent conversations. If you plan to volunteer regularly in FCPS during the 2026â2027 school year, please register through the FCPS volunteer portal to complete any required background checks and fingerprinting.
Mind Matters
What is an abilities test?
An abilities test measures what a person may be able to learn or do. It looks at skills such as reasoning, problem-solving, and thinking. This is different from an achievement test that measures what a person has already learned (like a unit test or an SOL).Â
In FCPS we now give one abilities test, the NGAT. It is a three-part test that measures a student in non-verbal, verbal, and quantitative abilities. In 2nd grade itâs a universal screener, meaning we give it to all students. Itâs used as one data point in determining a need for AAP services. In upper grades itâs given to students who havenât previously had an abilities test or a parent may request a one-time retest anytime from grades 3-7. If you think your student would benefit from a retest, please let Mrs. Maxwell, Ms. Theiss, or Ms. Carpenter know before September 30.
Gretchen Maxwell is Westlawnâs Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, and she is passionate about creating opportunities for each Westlawn student to soar. You can email Mrs. Maxwell or reach her via TalkingPoints.
Tech Talk
Itâs the Perfect Reading Weather
This rain! This cold! Makes you want to curl up with a warm beverage and a good book, doesnât it? If you are stuck in a reading rut because you finished everything by your current favorite author, or you have a favorite topic but no author in mind, we have the site for you! Check out NoveList Plus! This site is built into the Fairfax County Public Library, meaning that any book it suggests exists at one of the FCPL branches. If you have a FCPL card, you can log in and request the books be sent to the Thomas Jefferson library for easy pickup!
If you are looking for other ways to find new books, the Fairfax County Public Library has a web page dedicated to just that.
AI Recap
During this weekâs Community Conversation, Ms. Dushok explained the difference between generative and non-generative artificial intelligence and addressed questions about student data privacy. The DMG system uses non-generative AI to analyze assessment results, identify patterns, and suggest targeted interventions for teachers, who retain full professional judgment. Fairfax County protects student privacy by limiting data transfers between systems. Families who would like to learn more can view the recording of this weekâs Community Conversation (password $ei8v3nKRq).
Set Screen Time Limits and Monitor Online Activity With Lightspeed
The free Lightspeed Parent Portal makes it easy for you to see and manage how your child uses their FCPS-issued device outside of school hours. New Lightspeed Parent Portal features for this school year include:
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Schedules: Pause or restrict internet access during specific times, such as during homework time, family dinners, weekends, or bedtime.
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Web Rules: Block specific websites you donât want your child accessing at home.
Be sure to check your email (subject line: âFilter Portal Weekly Reportâ) each Sunday for the Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report, a weekly summary of the websites your child has visited. Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
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).
The Inclusion-ist
Click to edit this placeholder text.
Zoom into the Room
In Ms. Rodgersâ fourth-grade classroom, student curiosity is at the center of daily learning as students grow into their unique personalities and discover new ideas. This week, students are diving into non-fiction texts to identify main ideas and supporting details, laying a strong foundation as they prepare to write informational essays.
To help break down complex texts, students worked in small groups using the GIST summary strategyâan AVID tool that forms a key step in the POWER writing process. Working together on chart paper, groups extracted core information from articles about woodpeckers and glued graphic organizers into their language arts notebooks. Supported by co-teachers and flexible small-group instruction tailored to individual student needs, every reader receives targeted support to thrive. Beyond literacy, fourth graders also get to explore exciting potential career paths during Workplace Wednesday morning meetings, building big dreams for the future.
 Top: A student shows off her language arts notebook, with the GIST organizer recently glued in. Keeping a class notebook helps students develop organizational skills that will help them beyond their time in the classroom. Middle: Ms. Rodgersâ frequently splits her class into small groups by hosting co-teachers such as Mr. Sanchez. Bottom: Students also have independent work time during certain portions of class, where they are expected to complete levels in Lexia. Although the program itself is on student laptops, students have the use of paper, small whiteboards, or other hand-held items to help them process the information and work through the levels.
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
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