Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements | Westlawn Elementary School

The Feather Report: 4 Ways to Volunteer, Planning for a Week of Adventure, and More!

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements6 days 19 hours ago

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Volume 1, Issue 14

Leadership Ledger

Westlawn Families:

Clear your calendars!! Next week Westlawn is serving up an abundance of activities for families to enjoy, both during and after school. On Monday we are excited to welcome the Falls Church High School Spotlight Theatre for the opening night performance of The Phantom Tollbooth at 7PM! On Thursday we welcome families for our Thanksgiving Luncheon during the day, and back into the building in the evening for our Chorus and Instrumental Ensemble fall performance. Then we wrap up our week with Bingo Night on Friday evening presented by our Westlawn PTA. Whew! What a week!

We’d like to thank our families and community for prioritizing student attendance, and using different resources to ensure children attend school every day. Our collective school-wide attendance has increased by over 3% from this time last year, and we look forward to continuing this work together.

Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss

Proud Principals

Students in the Choral and Instrumental Ensemble are busy rehearsing for the big show! Students are not only performing for the Westlawn community; they are also taking their show on the road! They will be performing for FCPS officials at the central office next Friday.

Welcome, Ms. Yataco!

We are pleased to announce that we now have a second parent liaison, Ms. Ariana Yataco! Ms. Yataco will be joining Ms. Reyes in the parent liaison office and is eager to serve our families.

Contacting the Parent Liaisons

You can contact our parent liaisons by calling the main office at 703-241-5100 and leaving a message. They will return your call when they are able, usually later that same day. You can also send each of the parent liaisons a message via TalkingPoints. If you have the app, you can look up Ariana Yataco or Hilda Reyes. If you do not have the app, either download TalkingPoints from your phone’s app store or call our main office to schedule an appointment for support.

Boundary Review

As a reminder, FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.

Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.

Tutoring Resources for Families

Is your family looking for resources to help support your child’s academic success? FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of district employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to be hired as a tutor by parents. FRC maintains this list, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with tutors. This list is not “approved” by FCPS and is only meant as a resource.

FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.

LAST CALL: Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available online in SIS ParentVUE. If you have not already filled out the form online, we will provide paper forms in November. Please be sure to return them by November 17.

Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important, because information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers. Learn more about the Federal Impact Aid Survey.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

Fall Testing Results
Boundary Review Community Meetings
Resources for Families

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

November 16: IEP Palooza and Resource Fair

The Fairfax County Special Education PTA (SEPTA) will be hosting an IEP Palooza and Resource Fair at Luther Jackson MS from 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM. Learn more about SEPTA and register to attend the fair (and request an interpreter if needed).

November 18: Three Hour Early Release

Students will be released at 12:30 PM today so that Westlawn staff may engage in professional learning.

November 18: The Phantom Tollbooth Performance

The Falls Church High School Spotlight Theatre Company is taking their fall performance on the road! Check out The Phantom Tollbooth right here at Westlawn!

November 21: Thanksgiving Luncheon at Westlawn

Families are invited to join us for the annual Thanksgiving lunch at Westlawn. Lunch costs $4.75 per adult. Learn what time your child has lunch and what is on the menu. Volunteer to help make this beloved event a huge success.

November 21-23: Aesop Live! Performance

Luther Jackson Middle School Drama will be performing Aesop Live! Between November 21-23. Learn more about show times and buy tickets.

November 21: Fall Choral and Instrumental Ensemble Concert

Join us for a night of music featuring our chorus and instrumental ensemble. Doors open at 6:00 and the show starts at 6:30! This is a free program and open to all members of our community.

November 22: Bingo Night

Join the Westlawn community for a wonderful night of fun and games! Bingo cards and pizza will be on sale. Bingo games will start at 6:00 PM and last until approximately 7:30. Volunteer to sell pizza, sell bingo cards, or run an activity.

November 27-29: No School

There is no school in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

December 3: FLE Parent Preview Night

Adults are invited to attend our virtual Family Life Education materials preview night, which will take place on Zoom starting at 7 PM.

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.

Send In Your Restaurant Night Photos!

Did you take any photos at Red Robin Restaurant Night on Wednesday, November 13? Ms. Dushok would love to publish them and share your joy with the community! Send photos via email or by texting them to her at 571-355-2321.

Searching for Basketballs

The Westlawn PE Team is in need of basketballs! If you are cleaning out your garage, they are collecting basketballs in gently used or like-new condition to ensure that all students have quality equipment during upcoming units. You can donate basketballs by sending them into Westlawn to the attention of Mr. Maloney.

Volunteer at the Thanksgiving Luncheon

Volunteer for an hour at the Thanksgiving Luncheon on November 21 to help serve Westlawn families and celebrate the season! We recommend volunteering before or after your child’s lunch time so you can eat with them, too!

Volunteer at Bingo Night

Volunteer at bingo night from 5:45 PM - 7:30 PM on November 22. Volunteers are needed to run activities, sell pizza, and sell bingo cards.

Support the Fall Fundraiser through Charleston Wrap

Westlawn families are invited to support our fall fundraiser through Charleston Wrap. The fundraiser will last from November 6 through November 22. Learn how to join the Westlawn shop and share the shop with your own family and friends.

Join a Community Conversation

Join us on Wednesday at 11 AM on Zoom to hear the important news from the school from Principal Hill! Community Conversations happen weekly barring school holidays or weather closures. If you miss a Community Conversation, you can catch up with slides and recordings on our website.

AAP Service Highlight: Full-Time AAP

Did you know Westlawn is a Local Full-Time AAP School? This means we have trained staff and AAP services right here in Westlawn to meet the needs of students identified for Full-Time AAP services!

Full-Time Services are for identified students in grades 3-8 who access AAP curriculum on a full-time basis. This programming has increased pace and depth in all academic subjects. How is a student identified for these services? A portfolio of information is collected by the school and submitted to the FCPS central screening committee who makes the decision if a student needs these services. This portfolio includes a referral, work samples, progress reports, test scores, and optional parent questionnaires. Watch the complete information session that was held in October by our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Gretchen Maxwell. Spanish translations are included.

Learn more information and access forms for full-time AAP. The window for full-time AAP referral is closing in a month on December 15, 2024.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is an important part of helping children develop the skills they need to succeed in school and life. This year, we are using Second Step, a research-based SEL program designed to teach students essential skills like empathy, emotional regulation, and problem-solving. Each focus for the week will share recommendations for conversations and activities families can do at home to promote SEL outside of school.

Kindergarten

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn to use body language and context clues to figure out when someone feels sad. They’ll practice looking at the person’s face and body, as well as thinking about what’s going on in the situation. Try This at Home: Encourage your child to notice when others around them feel sad. Have them practice using body language and context clues to figure out when family members, friends, or characters in books, movies, or on TV might be feeling sad.

1st Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn to use body language and context clues to figure out when someone feels worried. They’ll practice looking at the person’s face and body, as well as thinking about what’s going on in the situation. Try This at Home: Encourage your child to notice when others around them might feel worried. Have them practice using body language and context clues to figure out when family members, friends, or characters in books, movies, or on TV might be feeling worried.

2nd Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that we can feel disappointed when something we want or expect does not happen. Try This at Home: Remind your child that everyone feels disappointed sometimes. Ask them what they can do to feel better the next time they’re feeling disappointed.

3rd Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn words for three degrees of anger: annoyed, angry, and furious. Try This at Home: Ask your child to explain the differences between feeling annoyed, angry, and furious.

4th Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn what it means to rethink a situation and how it can help them calm strong emotions. Try This at Home: Tell your child about a time when rethinking a situation, or thinking about it in a different way, helped you feel better. Encourage your child to talk about times in their lives when rethinking could have helped them.

5th Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will identify signs of stress, situations that can cause them to feel stress, and strategies they can use to manage feelings of stress. Try This at Home: Ask your child what their body feels like when they’re stressed and what things cause them to feel stress. Share your own experiences with stress and what you do to manage it.

If you have questions about these prompts or ideas, or social-emotional learning in general, please email Westlawn’s SEL Coach, Ms. Andrews. We can work together to create a positive and safe school environment!

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3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The Feather Report: Live Music and Theater Performances, Language Arts Grading Updates, an Amazing Photo, and More!

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements1 week 6 days ago

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Volume 1, Issue 13

Leadership Ledger

Westlawn Families:

While we hope you enjoyed some quality time with your family over the past week we were happy to see children back in the building yesterday! Over the next few weeks we have some exciting community events to enjoy together. Please keep a close eye on the Westlawn calendar so you don’t miss out!

Unfortunately, we need to postpone Westlawn Day, scheduled for this Saturday. We will reboot after the Winter Break and set a new date. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. Instead, make sure to join us for the Falls Church HS Theater performance of The Phantom Tollbooth on November 18, the Westlawn Music Department’s Choral and Instrumental Ensemble performance on November 21, and Bingo Night presented by the Westlawn PTA on November 22.

A busy month, filled with Westlawn fun! Thank you for being part of the Westlawn Family.

Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss

Proud Principals

Members of the traditional Bolivian dance troupe Tinkus Tiataco USA performed the tinkus at our recent International Night. How many Westlawn students can you spot?

Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates

Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).

Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.

This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reporting and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.

We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!

Afternoon Kiss and Ride Reminder

Students begin exiting the building around 3:25 PM, and families are starting to line up much earlier than that. If your car is stuck in the line on Oak Ridge, please be mindful of not blocking a home’s driveway.

REMINDER: Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

LAST CALL: Nominate a Westlawn Staff Member for an Outstanding Employee Award

Thank you to the two outstanding families who have nominated staff members for an award! We are hoping to hear from even more families this week! All it takes is a short paragraph from you to start the process. Nominate teachers, professional employees, and school leaders! Nominations are due by November 8.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

Calendar Reminders
Resources for Families
Complete Impact Aid Survey

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

November 9: Westlawn Day has been cancelled.

November 11: No School

School is closed on November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. We look forward to welcoming students back into the building on November 12. Learn when SACC is open or closed.

November 13: Wear Gray to School!

Help our kindergarteners learn their colors by wearing gray to school today!

November 13: Restaurant Night at Red Robin

Red Robin will be hosting November’s Restaurant Night! Families can dine in and mention the Westlawn fundraiser, or order online and add the fundraiser to their bag before checkout. Westlawn will earn 20% back! The fundraiser is happening during restaurant hours, which are 11 AM - 9 PM.

November 14: First Meeting of Virtual STEM Club

The first meeting of the free Virtual STEM Club will take place on Google Meet from 4:15-5:15 PM. The club is open to students in 3rd-6th grades. Learn more about accessing this opportunity.

November 18: Three Hour Early Release

Students will be released at 12:30 PM today so that Westlawn staff may engage in professional learning.

November 18: The Phantom Tollbooth Performance

The Falls Church High School Drama Department is taking their fall performance on the road! Check out The Phantom Tollbooth right here at Westlawn!

November 21-23: Aesop Live! Performance

Luther Jackson Middle School Drama will be performing Aesop Live! Between November 21-23. Learn more about show times and buy tickets.

November 21: Fall Choral and Instrumental Ensemble Concert

Join us for a night of music featuring our chorus and instrumental ensemble. Doors open at 6:00 and the show starts at 6:30! This is a free program and open to all members of our community.

November 22: Bingo Night

Save the date! More information is coming soon!

November 27-29: No School

There is no school in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

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.

Support the Fall Fundraiser through Charleston Wrap

Join a Community Conversation

AAP Service Highlight: Subject-Specific and Part-Time Services

The continuum of AAP services offered in FCPS and here at Westlawn include two separate part-time programs.

Students in K-6 can be found eligible for Subject-Specific AAP services which means they have an academic strength and need beyond their peers in one or more subjects. These students receive small group instruction or differentiation in their areas of strength from their classroom teacher. Our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Mrs. Maxwell, partners with teachers by directing them to opportunities to infuse AAP curriculum in the classroom.
Students in 3-6 can be found eligible for Part-Time AAP services which means they have an overall multi-subject need for advanced curriculum beyond their peers. Most of these students receive the same services as Subject-Specific students, but also participate in a weekly pull-out group with Mrs. Maxwell that focuses on CCT skills as well as challenging curriculum in all subjects. Some part-time students access AAP curriculum daily in subjects of strength.

All students are screened for these services in the spring, but a parent can refer at any time by filling out the subject-specific or part-time services referral form and sending it in to your teacher.

Kindergarten

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn to use body language and context clues to figure out when someone feels happy. They’ll practice looking at the person’s face and body, as well as thinking about what’s going on in the situation. Try This at Home: Encourage your child to notice when others around them feel happy. Have them practice using body language and context clues to figure out when family members, friends, or characters in books, movies, or on TV might be feeling happy.

1st Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will practice using body language and context clues (looking at the person’s face and body, thinking about what’s going on in the situation) to figure out how someone is feeling. Try This at Home: Ask your child to tell you how they think others around them might be feeling, for example a sibling, or a character in a story, a movie, or a TV show.

2nd Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that we can feel proud when we accomplish something difficult or when we do something nice for others. Try This at Home: Ask your child to tell you about a time they felt proud. Tell them about a time you felt proud of something you accomplished or of doing something nice for others.

3rd Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that emotions give us information about what we want or need. Try This at Home: Ask your child what information the emotions fear, sadness, and happiness give us.

4th Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that our brain works best when the logic and emotion centers are balanced and working together. Try This at Home: Tell your child about a time when a strong emotion made it hard for you to learn something new or caused you to say or do something that hurt someone’s feelings. Discuss why it’s important to learn to manage strong emotions.

5th Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that it’s possible to anticipate recurring situations that cause them to feel strong emotions so they can plan ways to manage those emotions in the future. Try This at Home: Tell your child about a recurring situation in your life that typically causes you to feel a strong emotion, like anger or frustration. Ask your child to tell you about similar situations in their life.

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

WES Feather Report: Accessing Test Scores, Volunteer Opportunities, and Pictures from STEAM Academy!

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements2 weeks 6 days ago

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Volume 1, Issue 12

Leadership Ledger

Westlawn Families:

Thank you to all our families and staff who participated in our annual International Night last Friday. It’s always a party when the Westlawn Community comes together, and it was a wonderful way to start the weekend!

The next few days are a little quirky: today is an early release, and tomorrow (Friday, November 1) is a holiday. Monday and Tuesday of next week (November 4 - 5) are both student holidays; Monday is a professional workday for staff, and Tuesday is Election Day. We will look forward to seeing students back in the building next Wednesday, November 6.

The Westlawn Front Office will be closed tomorrow for the holiday. The office will be open on Monday from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM, and closed again for Election Day.

The children look great today dressed up in their Storybook Character costumes, and we wish our families out trick-or-treating this evening a safe experience full of fun and candy (in moderation 😀).

Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss

Proud Principals

The season of magical fall field trips is upon us! Last week our kindergarten students had their first ever field trip to Cox Farms where they enjoyed learning about the animals and making memories together. Stay tuned to our social media channels, and TalkingPoints messages from your child’s teacher, to catch all of the field trip fun!

Scores on Tests: Coming Soon!

We are wrapping up fall screening assessments across all grade levels, and scores are in the process of being published. Families with SIS ParentVUE accounts will be able to get their scores soonest. If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account and would like to set one up, please call the main office at 703-241-5100.

PreK (VALLSS, EMAS, CBRS): expected in ParentVUE Documents by December 6, 2024
Kindergarten (VALLSS, EMAS, CBRS): expected in ParentVUE Documents by November 15, 2024
Grades 1-3 (VALLSS): available in ParentVUE Documents as of October 25, 2024
Grades 1-6 (iReady): available in ParentVUE Documents as of October 31, 2024

Westlawn will be distributing paper copies of available score reports to families that do not have SIS ParentVUE accounts by November 8, 2024.

Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey

Parking Reminder

If you are visiting Westlawn, please do not park in the designated handicapped parking spaces unless you are displaying a handicapped placard that allows you to be there. If parking spaces are full, please park on the street. There is street parking available on Oak Ridge, Westley, and the intersection of Kenfig and Nottage.

Afternoon Kiss and Ride Reminder

If you are picking up your child at kiss and ride in the afternoon, please be sure to be in line at 3:30 PM, the end of our academic day. With after-school clubs now happening, we are able to place children into cars more quickly than usual. Once we have run out of cars, all remaining children are asked to report to the office. Staff will not wait outside at kiss and ride when there are no more cars in line.

Absence Reporting Reminder

If your child will be absent, please do not report their absence via TalkingPoints because it is not monitored continuously. Instead, please call our main office at 703-241-5151 or send the absence team an email. Learn more about reporting an absence.

REMINDER: Nominate a Westlawn Staff Member for an Outstanding Employee Award

LAST CALL: Westlawn Honors Military Service

We will be making a display to honor those in our community who have served or who currently serve the United States. Learn how to include your family member in the display.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

Federal Impact Aid Survey
Applications Open for Thomas Jefferson High School
Tips to Keep Children Safe

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

November 1, 4, 5: No School for Students

November 1, 4, and 5 are holidays for students. We look forward to welcoming students back into the building on November 6. Learn when SACC is open or closed.

November 5: PTA Election Day Bake Sale

Support the PTA Election Day Bake Sale by creating treats to sell, lending a tent to provide shade, or selling baked goods to people casting their vote. You could also support them by taking a walk to buy yourself a treat, too! You deserve it!

November 6: Wear Brown to School!

Help our kindergarteners learn their colors by wearing brown clothing to school today! All staff and students are encouraged to participate.

November 9: SAVE THE DATE! Westlawn Day

Westlawn Day will take place from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Stay tuned for more details.

November 11: No School

School is closed on November 11 in observe of Veterans Day. We look forward to welcoming students back into the building on November 12. Learn when SACC is open or closed.

November 13: Restaurant Night at Red Robin

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.

Volunteer for or at the Election Day Bake Sale

This year we are doubling our locations for the Election Day Bake Sale. We need volunteers to bake, to sell, and to drop off tents to keep the treats and the volunteers shaded. Donate baked goods, share a tent, or sign up to sell goodies.

Support the Fall Fundraiser through Charleston Wrap

Join a Community Conversation

Full-Time AAP Program Information Session Recording Now Available

Did you miss Mrs. Maxwell’s presentation about applying to the full-time AAP program on October 17? We have the session recording now available on our website. The video is in both English and Spanish and closed captions are provided.

STEAM Academy

Is your student taking part in our grades 2-6 STEAM Academy this fall? We are so lucky to be able to offer these clubs for FREE thanks to our partnership with Northrop Grumman! The unique Westlawn STEAM Academy is the brainchild of our fantastic STEAM teacher, Meghan Winters. Westlawn staff sign up to teach these clubs in an area that interests them: like Lego Robotics, Green Team, Strategy Games, or Engineering Design. ALSO, we are lucky to have Virginia Tech come every session and run a club on drones the students get to program and fly! This fall is our biggest session yet with 180 students enjoying snacks and STEAM Academy clubs for 6 weeks! If your student didn’t have a chance this fall, we plan to hold more in the spring.

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The WES Feather Report: Individual Reading Plans, OODLES of Volunteer Opportunities, and a New Newsletter Section!

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements3 weeks 6 days ago

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Volume 1, Issue 11

Leadership Ledger

Westlawn Families:

At Westlawn we have a lot to be thankful for: world-class educators, a dedicated community, and our children, who continue to amaze time and time again. The school-family partnership can not be overstated, and we are appreciative of every family member and their impact on student learning.

This afternoon our staff will celebrate David Paniagua, a recently retired member of the Westlawn Custodial Team, with over 27 years of service to our school and community. In cooperation with Todd Nelson and the Fairfax County Tree Commission, organized on-site by our own Gretchen Maxwell, a tree will be planted and dedicated to Mr. Paniagua and his years of service. A commemorative plaque will be installed in front of the tree.

This week we are excited to debut a new section of our newsletter: Second Step Program. The goal of this section is to keep you informed of the social-emotional learning initiatives happening at Westlawn, and provide suggestions for things you can do to extend the learning into your home. Each week all Westlawn students participate in a Second Step lesson, designed to engage and build our students social and emotional learning skills. At Westlawn, learning doesn’t stop with academics!

Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss

Proud Principals

When math and movement work together, magical things happen! Kindergarteners practiced their counting through hopscotch in the crepuscular rays lighting our Discovery Area.

October is Disability Awareness and History Month

Did you know that approximately 20% of our student population has one or more identified disabilities? Our staff works hard to meet each student’s individual needs and ensure that they receive a robust and appropriate education each day. Learn more about how Westlawn staff meet the needs of students with disabilities, and stay tuned to Instagram and Facebook all week to read about several staff member’s journeys to becoming special educators.

Students and Individual Reading Plans

At the beginning of this year we used VALLSS, a reading screener, to determine each student’s level of risk for developing reading difficulties. Based on their scores, some students became eligible for an Individual Reading Plan. Plans were developed by teachers over the past several weeks and include information about the areas of reading comprehension that students may need, such as decoding, encoding, and language. The instruction provided to students who have an individual reading plan is designed to happen in addition to the regular reading instruction that the student will receive in the classroom as part of the standard program. Learn more about where individual reading plans fit into FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy focus area, or email Ms. Baer with questions. Families can also reach out to their child’s teacher via TalkingPoints for information about their child’s specific plan.

Nominate a Westlawn Staff Member for an Outstanding Employee Award

Each year schools across FCPS are asked to nominate staff members to be recognized for their outstanding contributions to their schools. School nominees are then advanced to their pyramid (Falls Church), then the Region (2), and finally to the “finals” where one is recognized across all of FCPS. Even without making it all the way through, just being a nominee is a huge honor. We would like your help to nominate teachers, professional employees, and school leaders! All it takes is a short paragraph from you to start the process. Nominations are due by November 8.

New Digital Safety Resource: Thorn for Parents

Thorn is a site focused on the intersection of technology with puberty and sexual development. Their mission is to defend children against threats and sexual abuse. Thorn’s website offers families a robust search tool where they can look for relevant support materials by child’s age, topic, and the adult’s level of comfort with the discussion. Thorn currently has materials to support children between ages 7-17, and there are places on their site to join email lists to be notified when new materials are developed.

Family Compact

As a Title I school, we are required to develop and maintain a Family Compact. This Compact describes the work we intend to do for and with families to ensure that families have opportunities to be meaningfully engaged with the Westlawn community. Our updated 2024-2025 Family Compact is now available on our website. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Hill.

REMINDER: Westlawn Honors Military Service

We will be making a display to honor those in our community who have served or who currently serve the United States. Learn how to include your family member in the display.

REMINDER: Vaccination Clinics

There are still a few vaccination clinics left, including a new one scheduled for October 29. Learn more about the clinics and how to sign up.

REMINDER: We Are Hiring!

We are still looking to find two more amazing people to join our team! Both of the vacancies are for full-time positions. The links below take you to job descriptions for each position. If you want to submit your resume, or you have questions, please email Mr. Hill.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

FCPS Family Orientation
Community Conversations
Immunization Clinics

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

NEW! October 25: World Series Spirit Day

Game 1 of the World Series is on Friday night, October 25. One of the beautiful things about our community is that we have families from all over the world, and we know we have several staff members and students who are Yankees or Dodgers fans. On Friday we invite everybody to wear their Yankees or Dodgers gear to celebrate each team’s pennant victory. If your child is not a Yankees or Dodgers fan, they are invited to wear their favorite baseball team’s gear, Yankee gray, or Dodger blue clothes.

October 25: International + Art Night

This year International Night will be combined with Art Night for a multicultural and visual spectacular from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM! Learn more about attending as a guest or participating and sharing your family’s background and culture. Look for fliers about participating in International + Art Night in today’s Thursday folder.

October 30: Wear Black to School!

Help our kindergarteners learn their colors by wearing black to school today!

October 31: Two-Hour Early Release

Students will be released at 1:30 PM today so that Westlawn staff may engage in professional learning.

October 31: Book Character Dress Up Day and Parade

Students are invited to dress up as their favorite book character. Costumes should be appropriate for school and not include masks or weapons. Students in costume will be invited to participate in the annual book character parade.

November 1, 4, 5: No School for Students

November 1, 4, and 5 are holidays for students. We look forward to welcoming students back into the building on November 6.

November 5: PTA Election Day Bake Sale

November 9: SAVE THE DATE! Westlawn Day

Westlawn Day will take place from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Stay tuned for more details.

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.

Volunteer at International and Art Night

We are looking for a few enthusiastic family volunteers for Friday’s event! Be one of those enthusiastic volunteers.

Volunteer for or at the Election Day Bake Sale

Join a Community Conversation

AAP Service Highlight: Access to Rigor

FCPS is committed to developing the academic talents of all students through lessons with critical and creative thinking (CCT) and AAP curriculum. All students have access to this rigor if they are in K-2 by attending their CCT special. In addition, all teachers K-6 periodically facilitate lessons that provide opportunities to think critically, reason and problem solve and scaffold as necessary so that students are exposed to this level of thinking. You can try some Access to Rigor at home by using our 9 CCT strategies!

Kindergarten

In this week’s lesson, your child will show what they’ve learned about the importance of paying attention, practicing, and continuing to try after making mistakes. They’ll put these skills to use while learning a rhyme with accompanying movements.

Try This at Home: Ask your child to show and teach you the rhyme they learned, along with the movements, so you can do it together.

1st Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will show what they’ve learned about paying attention, managing distractions, and practicing as they learn to draw Pepito, a character from Second Step Elementary animated videos.

Try This at Home: Ask your child to tell you about their experience learning to draw Pepito. Encourage them to draw a family portrait with Pepito in it as a way to keep practicing.

2nd Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will use what they’ve learned from the unit to give advice to someone who is struggling to learn something new.

Try This at Home: Ask your child what advice they would give you if you were having a hard time learning something new.

3rd Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will make their own practice plan.

Try This at Home: Ask your child to share their practice plan with you. If they brought it home, find a place to display it where they’ll see it every day. Check in to see how their plan is going, and support them if they need help adjusting their plans.

4th Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will practice the full goal-setting process as they work toward a 10-minute goal with a group.

Try This at Home: Work with your child to make a list of 1-week goals you could set as a family. Choose one and make sure it’s specific, challenging, and doable. Follow the goal-setting process to make a plan, check in on how it’s going, and at the end of the week, reflect on how it went and what you could do next time.

5th Grade

In this week’s lesson, your child will apply the full goal-setting process they learned in this unit to work toward a 10-minute goal of their choice.

Try This at Home: Ask your child about the goal-setting process they learned in this unit and why it’s important. Encourage them to set a new short-term goal that's right for them and to follow the process they learned. Check in along the way to see how it’s going.

If you have questions about these prompts or ideas, or social-emotional learning in general, please email Westlawn’s SEL Coach, Ms. Andrews. We can work together to create a positive and safe school environment!

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3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The WES Feather Report: Survey Feedback, Book Character Parade, PE Needs Your Help, and More!

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements1 month ago

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Volume 1, Issue 10

Leadership Ledger

Westlawn Families:

Digital Citizenship Week has been a big hit! Thank you to all families who supported by dressing in pinks, workout clothes, team gear, and Westlawn Spirit Wear (tomorrow) to encourage safe and responsible use of technology. At Westlawn we have a wide net of technology enhancement supports as we help children learn how to use these resources to enhance and augment the learning experience. Please reach out to Ms. Alanna Dushok if you have any questions around supporting your children at home.

During this week and next, each grade level team will participate in a full-day collaborative planning and data reflection meeting. These days are designed for teams to closely analyze student data and create individualized, small group, and whole group instructional plans to meet the learning needs for all children. A guest teacher will provide instruction for the day within the classrooms while teachers engage in this work.

Next Friday we look forward to welcoming families into the building for Art and International Night! A volunteer sign-up sheet will be sent out for anyone interested in helping facilitate the event. A form to bring food for the event was sent home in your child’s Thursday folder last week, as well as a form for anyone interested in performing at the event. We look forward to bringing the community together next Friday night!

Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss

Proud Principals

This week we are celebrating National School Lunch Week and highlighting the importance of school lunch. At Westlawn we are proud of the fact that every student is eligible to receive a free school lunch which means every student has access to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and milk of choice every day.

Congratulations, Ms. Roundtree!

Ms. Roundtree recently completed professional learning to become a Global Classroom Project educator. Learn more about what Ms. Roundtree has planned for her students as she embarks on this new journey!

Newsletter Survey Feedback

Thank you to those families who filled out our newsletter survey a few weeks ago! Here is some of the feedback we received and what we are doing to address it:

Fliers: Due to a recent change to the Americans with Disabilities Act, entities like public schools need to ensure that all electronic communication is accessible, meaning that it can be read by a screen reader on a device. Anything written in plain text is readable, but photographs of text, such as an image of a flier, are not. This is a big change for us! This year we are experimenting with sharing information electronically in ADA-compliant ways, while also balancing families’ preferences for receiving information. If you have any questions or suggestions for how we can better meet your needs, please contact Ms. Dushok, who will be very happy to talk with you about her current favorite field of interest.
Grade Level Newsletters and Curriculum Information: We went back to our staff to learn about newsletters, and discovered that all families with children in grades K-2 should be receiving a newsletter from that child’s teacher or grade level teacher leader. If you are not receiving that communication, please reach out to your child’s teacher. At this time, grades 4-6 are not creating newsletters, and families are encouraged to reach out to their child’s teacher with any curriculum questions they might have. Additionally, all schools within FCPS operate under the same academic standards across all subject areas, and our district-wide curriculum ensures that all teachers at any grade level are teaching the same standards at the same time. Families are encouraged to check out the Family-Facing Curriculum to learn more.
Recordings of Community Conversations: We have traditionally added the Community Conversations slides to our website, and based on newsletter feedback we are also now going to link the video of the recording and add the AI-generated Zoom Summary.
Testing Dates at Westlawn: There are many assessments that we give at Westlawn, including the Standards of Learning Exams (SOLs), iReady tests, CogAT, VALLSS, and WIDA. Whenever possible, we try to build the tests into the student’s day so that their schedules remain consistent and they do not miss specials, need recess moved, etc. To make that possible, we give grade level teams latitude in choosing their own testing dates within a provided window, customizing their specific testing schedule to meet their students’ needs. For this reason, we encourage you to reach out to your child’s teacher for the specific testing dates for their classroom. For SOLs specifically, we will share the SOL schedule with families as soon as it is available, sometime in the spring. Learn more about the purpose of each test or see a breakdown of which tests happen at each grade level within FCPS.
Volunteer Opportunities: We do our best to share these opportunities in Community Conversations and in this newsletter under the heading “Engage with Westlawn” (keep scrolling down).
Weekly Spotlights and Learning More About Teachers: Oh boy! Get ready and keep your eyes on our Instagram and Facebook pages for more great content featuring your favorite Westlawn teachers.

Do you still have questions about the Feather Report or anything we are doing to address this feedback? If so, please email Ms. Dushok.

Westlawn Honors Military Service

We will be making a display to honor those in our community who have served or who currently serve the United States. Learn how to include your family member in the display.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

Learn About Lexia for Literacy
Schools Win Exemplar Awards
Upcoming Community Conversations

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

October 17: Full-Time AAP Referral Information Session

Please join us for an informational session about the process of screening for full-time AAP services in Fairfax County Public Schools, and here at Westlawn. Students must be in current grades 2-6 to be eligible, but any parent is welcome to join. This meeting will be held on Zoom, with Mrs. Maxwell from 5:30-6:30 PM. It will be translated and recorded. A copy of the recording will go out to the community if you are unable to join us. Please email Mrs. Maxwell if you have any questions.

October 14-18: Digital Citizenship Spirit Week

Westlawn will celebrate Digital Citizenship Week by hosting a Spirit Week from October 14-18. This year’s focus for Digital Citizenship Week will be on the ways in which digital citizenship overlaps with social-emotional learning.

October 18: TJ Invitational Science Fair Information Meeting

Learn about entering the TJ Invitational Science Fair at this information meeting from 6:00-7:00 on Zoom. Fill out the information form once for each interested student.

October 21: Three Hour Early Release

Students will be released at 12:30 PM today so that Westlawn staff may engage in professional learning.

October 22: School Picture Day

School photos will be taken by LifeTouch. Families can preorder photos on the LifeTouch website, either by signing in or by clicking “Continue as Guest” and entering code EVTN37GW6.

October 23: Wear White to School!

Help our kindergarteners learn their colors by wearing white to school today!

October 25: International + Art Night

October 31: Two-Hour Early Release

Students will be released at 1:30 PM today so that Westlawn staff may engage in professional learning.

October 31: Book Character Dress Up Day and Parade

November 1, 4, 5: No School for Students

November 1, 4, and 5 are holidays for students. We look forward to welcoming students back into the building on November 6.

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.

Donation Opportunity: Help the PE Team Buy Fresh Gator Balls

The PE team is hoping to be able to replace some of their Gator Balls, the rainbow-colored foam core balls that are used by students in every grade level in a variety of activities that teach throwing and catching. Learn more about what the PE team uses them for and how you can contribute to their Donors Choose.

Volunteer Opportunity: Keep the Paint Shirts Sparkling Fresh

We are looking for a few volunteers to help keep our paint shirts sparkling fresh for students in art! The task involves picking up a basket of paint shirts on Friday afternoon, washing and drying them, and bringing them back to school on Monday morning. If your family would like to help, please contact our art teacher Ms. Terrell.

LAST CALL: Donation Opportunity: Help Fund Sensory-Appropriate PAC Libraries

Our new Preschool Autism Classroom (PAC) program is looking for financial support to fund libraries full of sensory-appropriate books for their students. Donations can be made through the Scholastic website, and both PAC teachers will split the total collected.

Join a Community Conversation

AAP Service Highlight: Twice Exceptionality (2e)

Twice Exceptional students (abbreviated as 2e) are those that are advanced in one or more subject areas and have special education needs. An example of a 2e student is one that might have outstanding critical and creative thinking skills while also requiring teacher support for executive functioning skills like organization and sustaining attention. FCPS trains all teachers to recognize and support our 2e learners. You can learn more about 2e learners through the FCPS website and handbook.

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The Westlawn Feather Report: Fliers Coming Home, #DigCit Spirit Week Next Week, and OH SO MANY Dates and Events!

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements1 month 1 week ago

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Volume 1, Issue 9

Leadership Ledger

Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day this week was a huge success! Each year we see more and more children and families participating, much thanks to our PTA volunteers for handing out Westlawn key chains to children during student arrival.

Next week we celebrate Westlawn’s Digital Citizenship Week - each day has a different theme to promote internet safety, technological literacy, and the use of social media and applications to enhance the student learning experience.

And finally, with the school year in full swing we look forward to some upcoming family events! Please review the ‘Dates and Events’ section below and start marking your calendars!

Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss

Proud Principals

We had approximately 151 students walk, bike, or roll to school on October 9! We were thrilled with the families who volunteered to make the event fun, and anticipate making the spring one even more amazing!

Fliers Coming Home Today

Two more clubs are being offered to students in grades 3-6 this fall. Color in Dreams will be hosted by high school students, and Drama Club is also returning. We anticipate there being a high volume of interest in these clubs and will complete selection by lottery. Clubs will meet on Thursdays after school. If your child does not bring home a flier in their folder today and is interested, please contact their teacher.

There is Still Space in the Family Literacy Program!

There are still a few spots available in our Family Literacy Program! The program meets in person on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:00-8:00 PM at our school. It focuses on teaching parents activities that they can do with their children to help them learn through songs and play, ultimately leading to their success when they enter elementary school. Interested families are encouraged to contact our parent liaison, Mrs. Reyes (via email or by calling 703-241-5125, in order to claim one of the remaining spots!

October 7-13 is Digital Inclusion Week in FCPS

Technology is for everyone, and Fairfax County works to ensure that all families have access to technology resources regardless of their income. The Digital Equity and Inclusion page on the Fairfax County website provides families with resources to find free WiFi, borrow computers, find tech classes, and more! Fairfax County’s partner, Computer CORE, offers free online classes for adults looking for jobs who want to update their computer skills. Families are encouraged to review these opportunities and see which ones might meet their needs!

REMINDER: Free Immunizations for All FCPS Students

Students are again required to have certain immunizations to attend school in FCPS. If your child still needs any of these required immunizations, there are free immunization clinics offered throughout Fairfax County on October 12, October 21, NEWLY ADDED October 28 and November 18. Please note that the clinics request you to register in advance.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

All FCPS Schools Accredited
How FCPS is Teaching Reading and Writing
Become a Special Education Teacher

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

October 12: Steamology STEM Fest

Mt. Vernon High School is holding its annual Steamology STEM Fest and families are invited!

October 12: Early Childhood Resource Fair

Families with children between ages birth and 8 might be interested in attending the Early Childhood Resource Fair at the Culmore Library between 11 AM - 1 PM. Our partner SevaTruck food truck will be on site providing free meals to families.

October 14: Student Holiday

There is no school for students on October 14 in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

October 16: Restaurant Night

Grab some grub from Chick-fil-A in Seven Corners today between 11 AM and 8 PM. Use the app, choose Community Care at checkout, and enter code WESTLAWN24 so we can earn 15% of the proceeds, which will go to fund PTA initiatives. Plus, it’s a chance to become Westlawn famous by sharing photos of your crew enjoying the food with Ms. Dushok (or text to 571-355-2321)!

October 17: Full-Time AAP Referral Information Session

October 14-18: Digital Citizenship Spirit Week

October 18: TJ Invitational Science Fair Information Meeting

Learn about entering the TJ Invitational Science Fair at this information meeting from 6:00-7:00 on Zoom. Fill out the information form once for each interested student.

October 21: Three Hour Early Release

Students will be released at 12:30 PM today so that Westlawn staff may engage in professional learning.

October 22: School Picture Day

School photos will be taken by LifeTouch. Families can preorder photos on the LifeTouch website, either by signing in or by clicking “Continue as Guest” and entering code EVTN37GW6.

October 25: International + Art Night

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.

Feedback Opportunity: Help Us with Our Website

We have been asked to create a “Top 10 Things About Westlawn” page on our website. Please share your favorite thing about Westlawn with us to help us build our list.

Donation Opportunity: Umbrellas

Do you have any extra umbrellas? We are collecting them to use when walking between the quad classrooms and the main building. If you have any to donate, please give them to Ms. Vu or Ms. Escalante in the main office.

Donation Opportunity: Help Fund Sensory-Appropriate PAC Libraries

Volunteer Opportunity: Keep the Paint Shirts Sparkling Fresh

We are looking for a few additional volunteers to help keep our paint shirts sparkling fresh for students in art! The task involves picking up a basket of paint shirts on Friday afternoon, washing and drying them, and bringing them back to school on Monday morning. If your family would like to help, please contact our art teacher Ms. Terrell.

Join a Community Conversation

AAP Service Highlight: Young Scholars

Did you know we have about 100 students at Westlawn designated as Young Scholars? A Young Scholar is a student who has been identified as gifted in one or more subject areas and may be from a historically underrepresented population or a potential first generation college student. These students may face barriers to access and therefore are given some additional opportunities to try new and challenging experiences. Some of the ways we meet the needs of our Westlawn Young Scholars are: goal setting and growth mindset morning meetings, field trips (some during the school day, some after school hours with families), summer learning programming, and encouragement to take part in enrichment opportunities.

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Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The Feather Report: We Are Hiring, Digital Citizenship Week is Coming, Volunteers Needed Next Week, and More!

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements1 month 2 weeks ago

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Volume 1, Issue 8

Leadership Ledger

Dear Families,

We wish all our students and families a happy, safe, and hopefully dry, four-day weekend. The first quarter is winding down, take these days to help your child(ren) recharge. Learning is fun, and it’s also exhausting!

Next Wednesday is our annual "Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day." This event is a great way for our students to get active, promote environmental sustainability, and enjoy the company of their peers. We encourage you to join us for this fun-filled morning, and we thank our PTA volunteers for supporting the initiative.

And finally, it’s time to schedule a family conference with your child's teacher. If you haven't already done so, please reach out to your child's teacher via TalkingPoints or email to arrange a meeting. These conferences provide a valuable opportunity to discuss your child's progress, set goals, and work together to ensure their academic success.

Thank you for your continued support of our school community. Have a wonderful long weekend!

Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss

Proud Principals

National Custodian Appreciation Day was October 2, and we celebrated our wonderful custodial team with treats and gifts! Thank you to Morena Bermudez, Elmer Castillo Luis Guerra, Ana Romero, Rafael Sorto, and the recently-retired David Paniagua for all that you do to keep Westlawn clean and safe!

Free Immunizations for All FCPS Students

Students are again required to have certain immunizations to attend school in FCPS. If your child still needs any of these required immunizations, there are free immunization clinics offered throughout Fairfax County on October 8, October 12, October 21, and November 18. Please note that the clinics request you to register in advance.

We Are Hiring!

We are hiring a full-time Public Health Training Assistant (PHTA). If you have questions or want to submit your resume, please email Mr. Hill.

Printable FCPS Lunch Menus

FCPS now offers printable breakfast and lunch menus that look like calendars. At the moment, the printable menus are only available in English. Menus in other languages are available on the LINQ Connect menu page. To change the language, click on the three bars in the top left corner of the screen, then choose the language from the drop-down menu.

HIPPY is Here, and You Can Still Join!

HIPPY is a program designed to support parents of preschoolers in learning how to help their children become school-ready. Westlawn hosts multiple sessions of HIPPY on Wednesdays, and there are a few spots left. If you are interested in signing up, please email our parent liaison Mrs. Reyes, or call her at 703-241-5100. HIPPY is open to all families, not just those who currently have children at Westlawn. Please share this information if you know a family with preschool-aged children in our neighborhood.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

FCPS Strives to Become Purple Star School Division
Sign and Return SR&R
Upcoming Immunization Clinics

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

October 3 - October 4: Student Holidays

There is no school for students on October 3, in recognition of Rosh Hashanah, and October 4, which is a staff work day.

October 9: Wear Purple to School!

October 9: Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day

Students are encouraged to use human-powered systems to come to school on October 9 via walking, biking, or rolling. Participating students will receive a special prize!

October 12: Steamology STEM Fest

Mt. Vernon High School is holding its annual Steamology STEM Fest and families are invited!

October 14: Student Holiday

There is no school for students on October 14 in recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

October 14-18: Digital Citizenship Spirit Week

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.

Volunteer Opportunity: Hand Out Prizes for Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day!

Get your day off to a great start by handing out prizes to students who walk, bike, or roll to school on October 9! Sign up for a Walk, Bike, and Roll location.

Donation Opportunity: Umbrellas

Donation Opportunity: Help Fund Sensory-Appropriate PAC Libraries

Volunteer Opportunity: Be the Laps for Learning Queen or King

Laps for Learning is Westlawn’s annual PTA fundraising event, with an emphasis on the fun. In this role you will get to work with PTA President Simone Rose and PE teacher Grant Maloney to help structure and deliver a positive and enjoyable lap-running event on March 27. This role is a great fit for someone who believes in the importance of fitness and wants to help students fall in love with running. To claim it for yourself, please email Simone Rose.

Join a Community Conversation

Learning = Fun!

One of the unique and super fun things about Westlawn is our Mobile Makerspace! A few years ago the AAP department was able to use grant funding to create a large mobile cart that can be moved all over the school. This cart is chock full of a wide variety of craft, recycled, and building supplies, and the tools to put them all together (such as: cardboard, pipe cleaners, craft sticks, clay, scissors, tape and glue)! Teachers create new lessons or use already existing ideas and allow students to engage in the Engineering Design Process through building, revising, collaborating and presenting their creations. Sometimes major events in history are depicted, sometimes landforms are better understood through building them, and sometimes real-world problems might be solved like building CO2 collectors.

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

Westlawn Elementary Feather Report: New Principal, Food Sharing Program Debuts, and More!

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements1 month 3 weeks ago

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Volume 1, Issue 7

Leadership Ledger

Westlawn Families,

We are excited to announce that our third Principal, Ms. Erin Theiss, officially joined us on Monday! Ms. Theiss (pronounced TICE) is an experienced administrator who brings a wealth of knowledge and a trove of ideas to our community, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to have her join our leadership team. Ms. Theiss has already begun visiting classrooms, supporting staff, and meeting with students and families. We encourage you to say hello the next time you visit Westlawn!

Next week is a three-day week for students, and Thursday and Friday (October 3-4) are both student holidays. Despite the short week it is full steam ahead for learning and we are looking forward to three great days on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We appreciate your consistency in ensuring that children are on time and ready to learn no matter the schedule.

Ms. Carpenter, Ms. Theiss, and I are grateful for your flexibility and patience with arrival and dismissal in the dreary weather we have experienced all week. Keeping fingers crossed for a break this weekend!

Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss

Proud Principals

Caption: Welcome to Westlawn, Ms. Erin Theiss! We are so excited that Ms. Theiss has officially joined our staff as our third Principal! She has been spending her first week meeting staff, observing classrooms, and learning all about FCPS.

Westlawn Debuts Food Sharing Program on September 30

Starting on September 30, students who get school lunch will have the opportunity to give certain items to a food sharing basket during lunchtime. Food shared in the sharing basket will be made available for all students to take if they are hungry. Classroom teachers are reviewing the food sharing expectations with students this week. Families are invited to learn more about food sharing and preview the slides used by the teachers on our website.

In Case You Missed It: Back-to-School Night Info

Westlawn’s Back-to-School Night on September 19 was a success! If you would like to revisit the slides or snag a link that a teacher shared with you, please check out the ICYMI Back-to-School Night recap on our website.

“All That New Literacy Stuff”

Many families have questions about our new reading program, Benchmark, and the new literacy screener, VALLSS, otherwise colloquially known as “all that new literacy stuff.” Our reading coach, Ms. Baer, shared information about the changes to literacy instruction and assessment during our Community Conversation on September 25. See a recording of the session and browse Ms. Baer’s curated collection of additional resources.

Reminder: The Feather Report Reader Survey

We are curious to learn about you, the readers of The Feather Report! Please take this brief, anonymous survey to let us know what you look forward to in the newsletter and what suggestions you might have to make it better for you! We will share the data in a future issue of The Feather Report.

FCPS Trust Policy Supports Caring Culture

Fairfax County Public Schools is proud of its caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families. The FCPS Trust Policy solidifies this commitment and aligns with Fairfax County Goverment's Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy. It ensures that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials. Please visit FCPS’ Trust Policy webpage to learn more about the policy and regulation in multiple languages.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

Accessing Intervention Plans
Students to be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning
Update Immunizations Today!

CANCELED DUE TO BAD WEATHER: September 27: Westlawn Students Sing the Star Spangled Banner

Select students will represent Westlawn by singing the Star Spangled Banner with students from other Falls Church High School pyramid schools before the football game. The game starts at 7:00 PM. Families are encouraged to go cheer on the Jaguars and our Eagles!

October 2: Wear Blue to School!

The entire Westlawn community is invited to help our kindergarteners learn their colors by wearing the color of the week on Wednesday. This week’s color is blue!

October 3 - October 4: Student Holidays

There is no school for students on October 3, in recognition of Rosh Hashanah, and October 4, which is a staff work day.

October 9: Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day

Students are encouraged to use human-powered systems to come to school on October 9 via walking, biking, or rolling. Participating students will receive a special prize!

October 12: Steamology STEM Fest

Mt. Vernon High School is holding its annual Steamology STEM Fest and families are invited!

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.

Volunteer Opportunity: Be the Laps for Learning Queen or King

Join a Community Conversation

Ideas for Home

Ever wonder how to enrich your students when they aren’t in school? A trip to see something new like a nature center or a museum is always a great idea! But there’s lots of ways you can do something right from your home too. Check out this list of boredom busters from the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC). Also, FCPS has a site with lists of good book choices, and strategies you can try at home. Give something a try and see what sparks your child’s interest!

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The Feather Report: Volume 1, Issue 6

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements2 months ago

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Volume 1, Issue 6

Leadership Ledger

Westlawn Families,

We are excited to welcome families back into the building tonight for Back to School Night! Doors will open at 4:30 PM, grade level sessions begin at 5:05 and 5:30 PM. Enjoy the hallway decor, reconnect with former teachers, and explore your child’s classroom. Different grade level academic sessions will be located throughout the building - there will be signage posted and staff present to guide you in the right direction.

We’d like to extend our thanks to the entire school community for your flexibility and empathy as we worked through the first early release Monday of the school year. We hope your experience was smooth, and we look forward to streamlining the dismissal process in the future.

Ms. Carpenter and I are forever thankful and honored to lead this beautiful community. We will look forward to seeing families tonight!

Christoph Hill and Stephanie Carpenter

Westlawn Principals

Each day all classes start with a Morning Meeting, an opportunity for students to greet each other and settle into the day. During some Morning Meetings, students have the opportunity to share about their own lives and make interpersonal connections. During others, students review academic topics or discuss social-emotional learning skills and strategies.

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.

The Feather Report Reader Survey

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

Caregiver Checklists
New Food Options in FCPS
Early Release Mondays

TONIGHT! September 19: Back to School Night

Visit teacher classrooms and learn about students’ exciting learning opportunities this year! From 4:30-5:00 families will be welcomed into classrooms and have the opportunity to meet specialists. Then, at 5:00 and 5:30 there will be two sessions for families to hear grade-level presentations about what their child will experience this year at Westlawn. Learn more here.

September 24: Advanced Academics Program Information Session

Westlawn’s Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Gretchen Maxwell, will share information about Westlawn’s AAP program with interested families in the Westlawn library from 5:00-6:00 PM.

September 27: Westlawn Students Sing the Star Spangled Banner

October 3 - October 4: Student Holidays

There is no school for students on October 3, in recognition of Rosh Hashanah, and October 4, which is a staff work day.

October 9: Walk, Bike, and Roll to School Day

Students are encouraged to use human-powered systems to come to school on October 9 via walking, biking, or rolling. Participating students will receive a special prize!

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.

Volunteer Opportunity: Be the Laps for Learning Queen or King

Spread Joy Opportunity: Nominate a Westlawn Staff Member for an FCPS CARES Award

We pride ourselves on the relationships we build with families and work hard to make sure we partner with you to help your child succeed. Now, we are asking for your help. Has your child or your family experienced a “WOW” moment when working with one of our staff members since school began? If so, please nominate them for an FCPS CARES award! All nominated staff members receive an official email announcing their nomination, and each month a handful of nominees “win” and are officially recognized by FCPS, sometimes with flowers. Spread some joy and nominate someone today!

Volunteer Opportunity: Keep the Paint Shirts Sparkling Fresh

Join a Community Conversation

What Exactly is CCT?

Ever wondered what in the world your child is talking about when they say they had their “CCT Special” that day? CCT stands for Creative and Critical Thinking, and there are 9 identified CCT skills in FCPS. All 9 have one thing in common: they help children develop creative, unique thinking as they reason and problem solve. CCT skills help students in ALL subjects and in the real world. The CCT special at Westlawn is just one way most students are able to access the AAP curriculum on a regular basis, and it’s taught by our veteran CCT teacher, Kate Flegal with support and occasional co-teaching by our AART, Gretchen Maxwell.

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The Feather Report: Volume 1, Issue 5

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements2 months 1 week ago

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Volume 1, Issue 5

Leadership Ledger

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Thank you to all our families able to attend our first PTA meeting of the year last night! Your presence and participation are invaluable to our school community. It's wonderful to see so many families engaged in their child's education and committed to making our school a positive and supportive environment.

We are excited to welcome our families at Back-to-School Night next Thursday evening! This event is a fantastic opportunity for you to meet your child's teachers, learn about our curriculum, and discover ways to support your child's academic and social growth.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Your Proud Principals,

Christoph Hill and Stephanie Carpenter

Our AVID focus this year at Westlawn is helping our fifth and sixth graders develop the organizational skills that they need to be successful as they transition from elementary school to middle school and beyond. To that end, we bought all sixth graders an official academic agenda where they will record their assignments and other important information. Stay tuned to see how these students build their capacity to organize themselves and their tasks throughout the year!

Monday, September 16 is a 3-hour early release!

Families, please be aware that Monday, September 16 is a 3-hour early release. Forms were sent home throughout the summer and early fall asking families to share their dismissal plans. If we do not have your plan on file, then we must keep your child at school until 3:30. If you have any questions, please contact our main office at 703-241-5100.

Lockdown Drills at Westlawn

We are required to complete one lockdown drill in the first 20 days of the school year. Prekindergarten and kindergarten students do not participate in this drill, but will participate in one that is held later in the year. Families will receive at least 24 hours notice before a drill is scheduled. These tips for families offer guidance about how to have conversations with your child about the drill and offer strategies to support children who may feel nervous or have questions.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

Immunization Reminders
Make Attendance a Priority
A Chance to Give Feedback about FCPS’ Redesigned Website

September 14: Free Dental Clinic

A free dental clinic will take place on September 28, and families must register to participate. Registration will take place on September 14 and the clinic is limited to 150 patients. Learn how to register and what services are available.

September 16: 3-Hour Early Release

Our teachers will be participating in professional learning designed to help them become more proficient at teaching children to read. We appreciate your support in ensuring that students are picked up promptly. Other 3-hour early release days are listed on our website calendar.

September 16: The Bandage Program

FCPS high school students will be hosting a series of virtual learning sessions and in-person opportunities related to science and medicine, geared toward FCPS elementary and middle school students. Learn more here.

September 17: Color Days - Wear Yellow!

The entire Westlawn community is invited to help kindergarten students learn colors by wearing the color of the day on Wednesdays during the first part of the year. On September 18, please wear yellow!

September 18: Restaurant Night @ Westlawn

Place your order with Lebanese Taverna by 5:00 PM on September 17, and collect your meal at 4:00 PM on September 18 at kiss and ride (Door 10). Email Lesia Lampton if you would like to place an order but need a later pickup time.

September 19: Back to School Night

September 24: Advanced Academics Program Information Session

Westlawn’s Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Gretchen Maxwell, will share information about Westlawn’s AAP program with interested families in the Westlawn library from 5:00-6:00 PM.

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.

Spread Joy Opportunity: Nominate a Westlawn Staff Member for an FCPS CARES Award

Volunteer Opportunity: Keep the Paint Shirts Sparkling Fresh

Social Media Opportunity: Be a Blue Star Featured Family!

We are looking for a few military families to be featured on social media during Blue Star Welcome Week. Featured families will be interviewed by Ms. Dushok and asked to share a few favorite family photos that show what life is like for military families. Interviews and photos will be highlighted on our social media channels during Blue Star Welcome Week (September 21-29, 2024). Please contact Ms. Dushok if your family would like to participate.

Join a Community Conversation

FCPS’ Advanced Academic Programs Philosophy

Did you know that FCPS is officially committed--on paper--to developing the strengths and talents of all students? It’s true! In the FCPS Advanced Academic Program Philosophy it states that all students deserve engaging learning experiences and a rigorous education that meets their personal needs. At Westlawn, our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher Mrs. Maxwell works tirelessly to ensure that every student has access to rigor through the AAP continuum of services. Learn more about how your child accesses advanced academics at Westlawn by attending our family information session on September 24.

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The Feather Report: Volume 1, Issue 4

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements2 months 2 weeks ago

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Volume 1, Issue 4

Leadership Ledger

Westlawn Families:

While I’ve always been impressed with our childrens’ kindness and courtesy, and regularly receive compliments from outside our community regarding student behavior, our children have kicked it up a notch in the Westlawn Cafe. Appropriate conversational tones, warm language, and respect for the dining environment have been a focus for children in all grade levels this year, and children are collaborating and partnering to enhance our dining experience the Westlawn Way!

I'm also excited to announce that our first PTA meeting of the year will be held next Tuesday at 6:30 PM. This is a great opportunity to connect with other parents, learn about school initiatives, and get involved in our community. The virtual meeting link will be sent out prior to this meeting. We hope to see you there!

Your Proud Principals,

Christoph Hill and Stephanie Carpenter

An autumn Westlawn tradition is to celebrate Color Days to help kindergarteners learn their colors. Check out Mrs. Feldman’s girls celebrating this week’s color: red! You can see more photos on Mrs. Feldman’s class Instagram. And, to keep track of other Color Days, stay tuned to Westlawn social media or keep tabs on our website calendar!

Attendance matters and Westlawn is here to help!

Did you know that a student who misses 10% of school days is considered chronically absent? That breaks down to 18 days per year, or about 2 per month. One of our evergreen school goals is to reduce the number of chronically absent students. To help with that goal, we have created the Westlawn Attendance Team: Silvia Caballero, Marcela Escalante, Sarah Jacoby, Marisa Johnson, and Hilda Reyes.

If a student is absent for 5 days, a member of the Westlawn Attendance Team will contact the family using TalkingPoints to alert them that 5 days have been missed.
Additional action will be taken at various intervals to combat chronic absenteeism and support families in getting children to school regularly.

We are Title I! What does that mean?

Westlawn is a Title I school, which means we receive extra funding due to the percent of students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Learn more about how Westlawn uses the extra funding and what it means to be a Title I school in FCPS.

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures at Kenfig and Nottage

Families are encouraged to be mindful when dropping off and picking up students at Kenfig and Nottage. The small, busy intersection features plenty of foot traffic, but is not designed for the volume of car traffic it often receives.

Please exercise caution around this intersection. If you drop off or pick up by vehicle, please do not block sidewalk cuts, which are needed by students on bicycles or by families pushing strollers or using mobility-enhancement devices.

FCPS News

Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:

Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities
School Safety Reminders
Community Conversations with Dr. Reid

September 6: Outdoor Movie Night

The Scouts are hosting an outdoor movie night for the community! Learn more about it.

September 9: Discovery Zone Cleanup

Join the Scouts after school and help clean up and beautify the Discovery Zone. Learn more about it.

September 10: PTA Meeting

The PTA Meeting will be held on Zoom at 6:30 PM with available translation into Spanish. Click here to join the meeting. All families are welcome! You can also become a member of the PTA today.

September 11: Color Days - Wear Orange!

The entire Westlawn community is invited to help kindergarten students learn colors by wearing the color of the day on Wednesdays during the first part of the year. On September 11, please wear orange!

September 16: The Bandage Program

September 19: Back to School Night

Visit teacher classrooms and learn about students’ exciting learning opportunities this year! Learn more here.

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.

Social Media Opportunity: Be a Blue Star Featured Family!

Grant a Teacher’s Wish!

Thank you to those families who have granted a teacher’s wish! You brought smiles and joy to teachers who have been working so hard to make sure Westlawn students are nurtured, advocated for, and empowered! We are sharing the teacher wish lists one more time as a reminder to families who may have wanted to sponsor a wish and forgotten in the chaos of the extra-long weekend.

Volunteer Opportunity: Clean Up the Discovery Zone

Join the Scouts on September 9 at 5:00 PM to help clean up the Discovery Zone! You will get a good workout, meet new friends, and feel the satisfaction of making a difference for Westlawn students.

Volunteer Opportunity: Westlawn Library

We are looking for a few volunteers to help in our library! Volunteers will be asked to commit to a shift in the morning (before 11 am) or the late afternoon (2:30-3:30). Shifts might be an hour once or twice per week depending on the volunteer’s availability. Volunteer tasks include shelving books and maintaining the collection. If you are interested, please contact our librarian, Ms. Heyer.

Join a Community Conversation

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The Feather Report: Extra! Extra! - WES Families' Early Access to the Parent Orchestra

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements2 months 3 weeks ago

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Westlawn community: we received some news that came out too late for this week’s Thursday Feather Report. Due to the ability of Westlawn families to gain early access to this extraordinary opportunity, we decided to send this Extra! Extra! edition of the Feather Report.

A Note from Ms. Emery

As one of the teachers of Parent Orchestra, my schools get “first dibs” on Parent Orchestra slots. When we open registration to the entire county, we hit max capacity usually within 24 hours. Please read the letter below from Annie Ray and sign up if you are interested in learning to play violin, viola, cello, or bass with us this year.

Annie Ray Invites You to Join Parent Orchestra

Our registration for the 24-25 Parent Orchestra season is kicking off today! This wave of registration is ONLY for the schools that Parent Orchestra Directors teach at.

Do not share this link with friends yet – we will be opening registration to the entire county on Wednesday, September 4. When we open registration to the entire county, we WILL hit max capacity very quickly and have to move to the waitlist so DO NOT DELAY!

Since 2018, Parent Orchestra has grown from around 30 parents to serving over 200 caregivers in the county. We love being a part of so many musical journeys and are honored that you are choosing to spend your evenings with us. For every teacher involved, it is a fulfilling program that is a joy to participate in and we welcome the opportunity to connect with our communities.

With such substantial growth, an important change we need to add is a $41.00 tuition to support the logistics of running the program. This tuition goes directly to the teachers to make Parent Orchestra a sustainable model and encourage commitment to the year by registrants.

Parent Orchestra is also moving from being just “Parent Orchestra” to the Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education (FACE) Parent Orchestra. The goal of FACE is to promote high-quality music education for all students in Fairfax County Public Schools. FACE works with the FCPS School Board, performing arts teachers, and community members to promote the maintenance and growth of the performing arts in FCPS, including advocating for funds in the yearly budget, helping teachers gain access to high-quality training and support, and advocating for the importance of music education in the community. As you register for PO, please consider joining FACE as well!

Click here to register for FACE Parent Orchestra! Below is more information about the year:

Where - Annandale High School Performing Arts Department wing

When - 7:00 - 8:00 (+ set up/reset rooms) twice a month - usually on THURSDAY nights

Cost - $41 for the entire year. If this presents a financial challenge for your family, please let us know your needs.

Dates are subject to change if needed - all dates are Thursday unless otherwise noted

October 9th - Wednesday
October 24th
November 7th
November 13th - Wednesday
December 5th
December 13th - Friday - Extra Rehearsal for those attending the Midwest Conference
January 9th
January 14th - Tuesday
February 6th
February 20th
March 13th
March 27th
April 10th
April 24th

Dress Rehearsal - May 6th - Tuesday

Concert - May 7th - Wednesday

We look forward to a great year with you all and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Annie Ray

Orchestra Director and Performing Arts Department Chair

Annandale High School

FACE Parent Orchestra Founder and Director

Annie Ray won a Grammy earlier this year, and got to meet Taylor Swift at the ceremony.

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

The Feather Report: Volume 1, Issue 3

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements2 months 3 weeks ago

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Volume 1, Issue 3

Leadership Ledger

Nine days into the school year and Westlawn students are already in the groove! Thank you to all our families, students, and staff members for traversing the transition from summer together, and getting our children ready to learn and thrive. The halls are filled with smiles, love, and students following the Westlawn Way!

We wish all our families a safe Labor Day break, and look forward to seeing children return to learning next Tuesday!

Sincerely,

Christoph Hill and Stephanie Carpenter, Westlawn Principals

Breakfast looks a little bit different at Westlawn this year. Instead of picking up prepackaged meals as students enter the building, they instead have a choice of proteins, produce, and grains to select from breakfast carts. Not only does this new system encourage students to make their own choices, it also cuts down on a ton of plastic waste. We think it is a huge win!

Kiss and Ride Reminder

When dropping a child off using kiss and ride, please remain in your vehicle. Our staff are prepared to support children with exiting or entering vehicles. Your cooperation and support are greatly appreciated!

Community Use at Westlawn: New Regulation

We love when community groups use our space! Please be aware that a new regulation was recently released about requesting the use of the space. Now, all requests must be for dates at least 15 days in advance. This is a new change for all of us and we thank you for your patience as we adopt it moving forward. If you have questions or need help reserving a space, please contact Ms. Escalante in our main office.

Grant a Teacher’s Wish!

Would you like to help Westlawn students have an even more amazing year? Consider granting a teacher’s wish! Several of our teachers have shared their classroom wish lists with us, and we have compiled the set on our website. If you’re wondering how to both support the classroom and say a hearty “thank you for everything you do for students,” this might be the answer!

Fresh Water for Students and Staff Members Thanks to the PTA

Students and staff members are enjoying fresh water thanks to the Westlawn PTA who generously supported the acquisition of new water filters. Staff and students are overjoyed that they will be able to refill their water bottles with fresh-tasting water to stay hydrated for days full of joy and learning. Thank you, Westlawn PTA!

Social-Emotional Learning Happening at Westlawn

Classroom teachers at Westlawn will be using a social-emotional learning program called Second Step with students starting next week. In this week’s Thursday folder, be on the lookout for more information about Second Step, and a set of activities and conversations you can use with your child at home. More information about Second Step at Westlawn can be found on our website.

Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE

Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates. SIS ParentVUE can be used to do many things, including:

If you don’t have a SIS ParentVUE account yet, contact Westlawn’s registrar, Ms. Caballero, via email for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.

🔍 Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity

FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Learn more about Parent Reports and sign up to receive one.

Transportation Patience and Safety

Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.

If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-446-2050 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.

To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.

✨ Our Commitment to Excellence, Equity, and Opportunity for Each and Every Student

As we begin a new school year, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid reminds us of the goals of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which guides us in delivering excellence, equity, and opportunity for each and every one of our students. Watch Dr. Reid’s message.

August 30 - September 2: Labor Day Break (no school for staff or students)

We look forward to welcoming students and staff back into the building on September 3!

September 4: Color Days - Wear Red!

The entire Westlawn community is invited to help kindergarten students learn colors by wearing the color of the day on Wednesdays during the first part of the year. On September 4, please wear red!

September 6: Outdoor Movie Night

The Scouts are hosting an outdoor movie night for the community! Learn more about it.

September 9: Discovery Zone Cleanup

Join the Scouts after school and help clean up and beautify the Discovery Zone. Learn more about it.

September 10: PTA Meeting

The PTA Meeting will be held on Zoom at 6:30 PM with available translation into Spanish. Click here to join the meeting. All families are welcome! You can also become a member of the PTA today.

September 16: The Bandage Program

September 19: Back to School Night

Visit teacher classrooms and learn about students’ exciting learning opportunities this year! Learn more here.

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.

Volunteer Opportunity: Westlawn Library

Volunteer Opportunity: Clean Up the Discovery Zone

Join the Scouts on September 9 at 4:00 PM to help clean up the Discovery Zone! You will get a good workout, meet new friends, and feel the satisfaction of making a difference for Westlawn students.

Join a Community Conversation

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

Westlawn Elementary Feather Report: Volume 1, Issue 2

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements2 months 4 weeks ago

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Volume 1, Issue 2

Leadership Ledger: A Wonderful Start to the School Year

Westlawn Families:

From the bottom of our hearts, we express heartfelt gratitude for the incredible start to our new school year. The energy, enthusiasm, and positivity that filled our hallways and classrooms during the first week have been truly inspiring.

The dedication of our teachers, staff, and students has created a warm and welcoming environment that fosters learning and growth. I am particularly impressed by the way our students have adapted to their new routines and the eagerness with which they have embraced the challenges and opportunities ahead.

We extend a special thank you to our wonderful community for your continued support. Your commitment to your students' success is admirable, and we are honored to serve our children and families.

As we move forward, I am excited to witness the incredible accomplishments that our students will achieve. Together, we will create a year filled with learning, growth, and unforgettable experiences.

Thank you for being a part of the Westlawn School community.

Sincerely,

Christoph Hill and Stephanie Carpenter, Westlawn Principals

We were delighted to welcome students to campus on Monday morning, and especially tickled to welcome our newest Eagles to Westlawn! Shoutout to Ada’s mom for sharing this first day of kindergarten photo! Families: we LOVE seeing your photos! Be on the lookout for more requests to share. You never know when we might feature you on social media, our website, or in the newsletter!

Important Contacts at Westlawn

Student Information Assistant: Ms. Caballero - 703-241-5102
Counselor for K, 2, 4, 6: Ms. Jacoby - 703-241-5165
Counselor for K, 1, 3, 5: Ms. Johnson - 703-241-5123
Parent Liaison: Ms. Reyes - 703-241-5125
Social Worker: Ms. Cortez

Please note that Ms. Cortez is currently on leave. When she returns, we will provide the phone number that will be then assigned to her office.

Sharing Absences, Late Arrivals, and Early Dismissals

There are three ways to share absences with the Westlawn team:

Send an email: [email protected]
Use ParentVUE
Call us at 703-241-5151

While we recommend sharing your child’s full-day absence with your child’s teacher using TalkingPoints, we also ask that you inform our office staff using one of the three methods above so that our daily attendance is accurate. Additionally, please ensure that you share early dismissal information with our office staff because TalkingPoints is not monitored continually. We want to ensure that your child is ready to go when you need to pick them up early, and we can only do that if the main office has that information.

Wednesday Folders are Now Thursday Folders

This change means that you will receive the Feather Report and the fliers on the same day. If you have time on Thursday mornings and would like to volunteer in your child’s classroom to stuff Thursday folders, please send your child’s teacher a TalkingPoints message to collaborate. The first Thursday folder will be sent home next Thursday, August 29.

School Meal Menus are Now on LINQ Connect

School meal menus recently changed from being hosted on Nutrislice to being hosted on LINQ Connect. There is no change to how families can pay for extras, like cookies. Also, this has no impact on the free breakfasts and lunches available to all Westlawn students this year. View the LINQ Connect school meal menus for Westlawn.

📵 Phones Down, Engagement Up: FCPS Cell Phone Policy Keeping cell phones off during the school day helps students focus and learn. It also boosts positive social behavior. Review FCPS’ cell phone expectations by grade level with your child and help keep our classrooms free of distractions! If you need to reach your child during the school day, please call our main office at 703-241-5100.

Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights

Fairfax County Public Schools wants all parents and caregivers to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights. Get more information about opt-out choices, find forms, and view the 2024-25 Opt-Out Booklets.

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. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. Click here to learn more about these requirements and ensure your child does not miss any instruction.

Labor Day Break: Friday, August 30 through Monday, September 2

Since we start school before Labor Day, we are required to turn Labor Day weekend into a four-day weekend. There will be no school on Friday, August 30 or Monday, September 2. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday, September 3.

PTA Meeting: September 10

The first PTA meeting of the year will be on September 10 at 6:30 PM on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting.

Back to School Night: Thursday, September 19

Back to School Night will be on September 19 from 4:30-6:00 PM. We will have more information coming soon!

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.

Volunteer Opportunity: Science Olympiad Coach

We are looking for someone to help coach the Science Olympiad team with Ms. Rebecca Lentz, one of our new Westlawn staff members. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Carpenter.

Volunteer Opportunity: Westlawn Library

Join the PTA

Have you joined the Westlawn PTA yet? They are welcoming new members now! Joining the PTA gives you the opportunity to be engaged with Westlawn, support with events, and support teacher and staff projects. The PTA is looking forward to a productive and fun year and are hoping you will join them! Click here to join.

The 2024-2025 PTA Board members are:

President: Simone Rose
Vice President: Deirdre Ladd
Treasurer: Jordan Kislear
Secretaries: Reina Alas and Vilma Aracely Cuque

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

Westlawn Elementary Feather Report

Westlawn Elementary News and Announcements3 months ago

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Volume 1, Issue 1

Leadership Ledger

This week we welcomed Westlawn Staff back from Summer Break and started preparing classrooms to welcome students next Monday! Our Community Walk on Tuesday was a big hit, much thanks to all our families able to come out and see us! There is so much love in this community, we consider serving you and your children both an honor and pleasure.

Join us tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM for our annual Welcome to Westlawn Event on the field/blacktop to meet teachers and engage with a variety of different community organizations. We look forward to seeing everyone!

Look at the smiles on the faces of our families and staff members during the first Westlawn Community Walk!

News

We’re Eager to Welcome You Back-to School!

As summer winds down, our school and staff are looking forward to welcoming students back to our classrooms. Before the first day of school, make sure you have completed the following:

Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE

Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents/caregivers should receive an activation code when they register their child. Contact the school registrar Ms. Caballero if you need a code.

Once you have activated a SIS ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same SIS ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.

Need help creating an account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.

Update Your Contact Information

To be sure you receive important information from your schools, update your phone numbers and/or email addresses in the Parent/Guardian section of SIS ParentVUE.

Update Immunizations and Records

Immunizations are required for all students to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of protecting them from certain diseases and keeping them healthy. Please log in to SIS ParentVUE to see what immunizations your child has recorded.

Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia as soon as possible. If your child needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services.

Remember to request your child’s immunization record and bring that to the school’s front office or submit the record via SIS ParentVUE as soon as possible. Find more information on FCPS’ website.

Prepare for Meals at School

Just like last year, all Westlawn students are eligible for free breakfast and lunch at school this year. Breakfast will be provided in to-go bags for students to pick up on their way into school in the morning. At lunch, students need to simply get in line and will have their choice of hot entree and sides in addition to our salad bar.

Families who want children to be able to purchase additional food items, such as dessert treats, will need to ensure that their children have an account set up using MySchoolBucks. If you have not already, set up your student’s MySchoolBucks account today.

MySchoolBucks accounts can be set up to add money to the account automatically as needed, and families with multiple children can use the same MySchoolBucks account.

Apply for Free and Reduced-Priced Meals

The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. While all students will automatically receive free breakfast and lunch at Westlawn this year, eligible families still must apply. This ensures that we, as a school community, continue to maintain the status required to be eligible for universal free meals. Additionally, having a free and reduced-price meals application on file will open eligible families to other benefits, such as free and reduced-cost summer camps. If you need any support in completing the application, please contact our main office at 703-241-5100.

Save the Date: Back-to-School Night

Westlawn’s Back-to-School Night will be held September 19 from 4:30-6 PM. Stay tuned for more details!

🔖 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 with a blue “H” are student holidays. Schools are closed on these days.
Days marked with an orange “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 in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.
Note: Some holidays and observances, such as Eid al-Fitr, may shift and the calendar may be adjusted.

Stay Connected!

Families should expect to receive a newsletter once per week when school is in session. Families are also encouraged to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update

As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.

You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.

We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers.

Early release Mondays for our school include:

September 16
October 21
November 18
February 10
March 10
April 21
May 12

Learn more about Early-Release Mondays.

Free Workshops for Families

Parents and caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Learn more about the Family Resource Center (FRC).

In September, the FRC will host webinars for families on supporting siblings of children with disabilities, helping students organize their school work, working with children who like to push boundaries, and teen development and well-being. Sign up for the FRC newsletter for their latest offerings or visit their webinar website.

📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.

Dates and Events

Welcome to Westlawn: Friday, August 16, 10-11 AM

Join us on the field on Friday to meet your child’s teacher, drop off school supplies, and reconnect with friends! At 11 AM we will invite new kindergarten families to walk through the kindergarten hallway and take a peek at their child’s classroom.

First Day of School: Monday, August 19, 8:30 AM (doors open) and 8:45 AM (instruction begins)

We are looking forward to a wonderful year! Please note that families will not be able to enter the building this morning, and we will have all staff on hand to ensure that students get breakfast, join their assigned classes, and get off to a strong start.

Parent Coffee for Kindergarten Families: Monday, August 19, 8:45-9:30 AM

Join us on the field under the white tent to celebrate the start of this new adventure! We will provide coffee and pastries, give an overview of your child’s experience in the classroom, and provide time and space for you to meet other kindergarten families.

Labor Day Break: Friday, August 30 through Monday, September 2

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.

Volunteer Opportunities

We are looking for someone to help coach the Science Olympiad team with Ms. Rebecca Lentz, one of our new Westlawn staff members. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Carpenter.

Stay Engaged

Follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram)
Text a staff member with TalkingPoints
Browse our website

3200 Westley Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042 | Main Office: 703.241.5100
Attendance: 703.241.5151 | Web | Facebook | Instagram

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Westlawn Elementary School News and Announcements

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