Westlawn Feather Report: Volume 1, Issue 18
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Volume 1, Issue 18
Leadership LedgerWestlawn Families,
As the end of another fantastic year approaches, let us express our sincere gratitude for your unwavering support of Westlawn Elementary School. Your partnership has been instrumental in creating a vibrant and enriching learning environment for our students.
We've had a truly remarkable year together, filled with countless memorable moments. From our warm and welcoming Welcome to Westlawn event that kicked off the year to the captivating performances of our Fall Musical Chorus and Instrumental Ensemble and subsequent Gatehouse encore, and the cultural immersion of International Night, our community has truly come together to celebrate the diversity and talents of our students.
As we embark on our Winter Break, we wish you all a safe and joyous time with your loved ones. May the spirit of the season fill your homes with warmth and happiness.
We look forward to welcoming you and your children back in the new year, ready to embark on new adventures and create even more lasting memories together.
Sincerely,
Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss
Proud Principals
Second grade students finish putting glazes on clay birds and prepare them for their second firing in the kiln. Some students said they plan on giving the birds as gifts this season. If that applies to your child… remember that you didn’t hear it from us!
The Next Feather Report will be in January!The editorial team wishes your family a safe and restful winter break. We cannot wait to share the good news of Westlawn with you again in 2025!
Spring 2025 SOL InformationFor our community, we are offering the gift of organization and the ability to plan ahead! We have created a pop-up SOL information page on our website, and it already contains the dates for this year’s testing. As dates approach, we will add more information.
Give the Gift of Westlawn ClothingThe Westlawn Spirit Wear Store is now open! Please note that items are printed in bulk once the store closes, so they will not arrive until after Christmas and Hanukkah. If you buy something as a gift, we recommend printing a screenshot and letting the recipient know that it’s coming soon!
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like… Course Selection for 6th Graders!Sixth grade students will begin selecting courses to take in middle school soon! We will share more detailed information when we return in January once dates are finalized. Families who want to get a jump on the process are encouraged to talk with their sixth grader about the class selection process and help them reflect on what courses they might want to take next year. Browse the 25-26 LJMS course catalog.
Winter Special Education and 504 NewsletterThe latest issue of the FCPS Special Education and 504 Newsletter is available online. Topics in this issue include:
- Community Resources for Families of Students with Disabilities
- Executive Functioning Webinars
- Early Literacy Resources
- ESY and Assessment Webinar
- COVID-19 Compensatory Education: FCPS Service Delivery Options
Subscribe to the Special Education and 504 Newsletter.
English Classes for AdultsOur partner, the English Empowerment Center, will be offering English speaking and writing classes this winter. Learn more about the offerings and see if they meet your needs.
Additionally, the FCPS Family Literacy Program will also be offering English classes for adults here at Westlawn on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from February-May. Learn more about this program, or contact Ms. Reyes via email or at 703-241-5100 to ask questions and register.
Reminder: Tax Season Resources and Winter Break Resources Now on WebsiteWe have created some pop-up announcements to store information related to tax season resources and winter break resources on our website. Our school office will only be open for limited hours during winter break, and we will not be sending a Feather Report during this time, so please take note of them today!
FCPS NewsAre you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:
- Course Selection for Middle and High School Students
- Join Our Teacher Team!
- Comprehensive Boundary Review Updates
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
December 20: Gingerbread House DecoratingGingerbread House Decorating is open for students in grades K-2 and will take place from 3:45-4:30 PM. Students must have a ticket, and we expect that they will sell out. Adults are welcome to help their child build their gingerbread house and do not need a ticket. Purchase tickets today! Volunteer at the event!
January 13-17: Family Math WeekFCPS families are invited to do math together during Family Math Week, and FCPS is collectively trying to collect 3,000,000 minutes spent on ST Math during that period. Learn more about how your family can participate.
January 15: Restaurant Night at PupatellaSave the date! The January Restaurant Night is at Pupatella in the Mosaic District. More information will be coming in the next Feather Report!
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.
Warm Winter Clothing Drive!The students in the classrooms of Ms. Rezcallah, Ms. Stephenson, Ms. White, and Ms. Chan learned about being young activists and the impact even a child can have on making the world a better place. They are collecting new or gently worn adult-sized winter gear for our senior friends at the James Lee Community Center! The James Lee Community Center is located about a mile from Westlawn on Annandale Road and gives seniors in our community a place to gather, make friends, and participate in some activities ranging from athletic to artistic and everything in between.
Please consider donating to this worthy cause! Some of the students will be able to go to drop them off directly and see firsthand the positive impact they have made. Donations of hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens can be dropped off to the collection box in the main office between January 6-24.
Reminder: Volunteer to Decorate Gingerbread HousesVolunteer to help students in K-2 build and decorate gingerbread houses.
Join a Community ConversationJoin 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.
What is Ability Testing?FCPS administers two ability tests to students; these assess reasoning abilities and potential to succeed with an advanced academic curriculum. They are used as universal screeners, meaning they are given to all students. These are different from achievement tests which measure a student’s current content knowledge (for example an SOL).
The two ability tests currently used in FCPS are the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) given in first grade, and the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) given in second grade. As with any test, they are only one measure of skills and abilities and are never used alone to make decisions about a student’s services and needs.
CogAT test scores are coming home in folders this week and will be available in ParentVue on Friday. NNAT scores will likely come out sometime in January. Please reach out to Mrs. Maxwell via email or TalkingPoints if you have any questions about these assessments!
Curious about ALL the assessment types and purposes across all the grades? Check them out for some light holiday reading.
- 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
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