Westgate Weekly News

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 10/06/2026 12:43 PM EDT

Westgate Families,

Welcome to October! Students are enjoying the fall like temperatures and we are looking forward to Westgate’s Fall Fest on October 22. Kids can trick-or-treat with teachers from 5:00–6:00 p.m., dance, make crafts, try the cake walk, and enjoy concessions. 

Wristbands are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Younger siblings are free, and children of PTA members receive a glow bracelet. Buy wristbands and pre-order pizza.

We need volunteers, cakes, and candy to make the event a success! Sign up to volunteer or donate a cake. Candy can be sent to school or dropped in the bin outside Door 1.

Please note that Fall Fest is not a drop-off event. Every child must attend with a grown-up and this will be enforced at entry.

Also, our AAP Referral meeting is this coming Tuesday, October 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria.  Our AART, Susan Lattuca, will be presenting and answering questions related to the referral process.  If this is a topic you are interested in for your student, please plan to attend.

Thank you for your continued support of all things Westgate and we hope you have a fantastic week ahead!

All my best,

Hallie Demetriades
Principal
Westgate Elementary 

Westgate Picture Day is on October 15!

📅 Date: Thursday, October 15, 2026

📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day

🛒 Pre-order Online: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001417018

📧 Questions about Ordering? www.vosphoto.com/contact-us

Fall Fest Thursday, October 22, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Westgate Elementary Fall Fest is inside this year. Kids can trick-or-treat with teachers (5:00 to 6:00 p.m.), dance at the glow dance party, try the cake walk, and make crafts. Concessions will have pizza, drinks, snacks, and glow items. Come in costume!

**Volunteers**

We are looking for help with set up, concessions, collecting candy for trick or treating and cakes for the cake walk, plus more! Please sign up here if you are interested in getting involved! We can't do it without you! And don't worry, we're here to help get you going!

**Wristbands** $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Every student needs one. Younger siblings are free. Kids of PTA members get a free glow bracelet.

Buy wristbands and pre-order pizza here: https://westgatewolves.givebacks.com/shop/items/f6e46d34f90028

**Ways to help**

Donate a homemade or store-bought cake for the cake walk: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAEAB2EA7FF2-66115325-cake - Send candy in with your child, or drop it in the bin at Door 1 starting October 1.

Candy Donation - In order to make our Fall Fest a success we need much more candy donations.  The candy donation bin is located outside of door 1 and candy been be dropped off any time during the day.  Thank you in advance!

**This is not a drop-off event.** Every child needs to come with a grown-up.**

Fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window for Students New to FCPS Closes on October 15

The fall referral window is only for students in Grades 3-8 who are new to FCPS since January 1, 2026. Parents and guardians who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to Susan Lattuca, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at salattuca@fcps.edu by October 15, 2026. Late referrals will not be accepted.

Reminder: Please join us to learn more about the referral process!

If you would like to learn more about the Full Time AAP referral and screening process, please join us on Tuesday, October 13th at 6 p.m. Questions? Please contact Susan Lattuca, our AART, at salattuca@fcps.edu

Twice-Exceptional Students

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-exceptional (2e) learners are students who are gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.

Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage. The page also links to the Special Education Handbook.

New information and printable flyers are available under Supporting 2e Learners in FCPS.

Superintendent Community Conversations

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! Click on the date to register for any of the following events:

Registration is not required, but it helps with planning. 

Safe Routes to School Parent and Caregiver Survey

As part of the Fairfax County School Board’s Annual School-Based Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment, the FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are inviting parents and caregivers to share their experiences traveling to and from school.

The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss and ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns. 

Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15. 

Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school. 

If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu. 

Growing Together: Talking About Social-Emotional Learning at Home

Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps children develop confidence, resilience, self-awareness, and other important skills that support their success in school and throughout life. Join a workshop for parents and caregivers to:

  • Understand your child’s Fairfax County SEL Screener results.
  • Use the results as a starting point for meaningful conversations at home.
  • Support your child’s social and emotional development.
  • Build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills together. 

Learn practical ways to talk with your child about their social and emotional well-being and support their continued growth at home. Events will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 8, at Skyview High School and Wednesday, October 21, at Kingstowne Regional Library. View additional dates on the FCPS Family Academy webpage. 

Childcare will be available. Interpretation services are available upon request. For more information, contact the Family and School Partnerships office at 703-204-4300 or FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu. 

Calendar Change: Eid al-Fitr

FCPS will mark the beginning of Eid al-Fitr with an evening-only observance day on Monday, March 8. There will be school on this day, but major school-sponsored events and activities (such as auditions or tryouts) will not take place. 

Tuesday, March 9, will be a holiday for students and staff. 

Wednesday, March 10, will be an observance day. There will be school on this day, but certain activities that cannot be made up (major tests, field trips, or mandatory events) will not take place. 

A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings.

New ParentVUE Mobile App Is Here

The new ParentVUE mobile app is available in the Apple and Google App stores. This new app provides parents and caregivers with a more secure sign-in. Families must download the new app by December 2026 to ensure they have continued mobile access to their ParentVUE account. The previous app will be deactivated at the end of 2026.

In the new app, families can enroll in multi-factor authentication (MFA) for FCPS Single Sign-On. While enrollment is optional, we strongly recommend that everyone enable this security feature. Learn more about installing the new ParentVUE app. Parents needing assistance should submit a Parent Support Request.

Understanding the FCPS Calendar

Help your child prepare for future success by encouraging them to develop positive attendance habits. Regular attendance supports learning and helps students stay on track for college, careers, and other opportunities after graduation.

Take a look at the FCPS calendar. Try your best to schedule any vacations or planned family events on weekends and school holidays. If the appointment needs to be during the school day, when possible, schedule it for the beginning or end of the day to minimize time missed. 

If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, please report the absence to our school as early as possible. Find out how to report an absence on our homepage or call the front office.

If you or your family need any kind of support, please let us know. We are here for you! Visit the FCPS Attendance webpage for tips and strategies.

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.

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:

  • 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:

  • View school calendars. See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
  • Check school menus. See what’s for lunch and breakfast each school day.
  • Tap to contact. Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
  • Stay up to date. Get the latest news from FCPS.
  • 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.
  • 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.