Ten Reasons to Love Westlawn
There are thousands of reasons, and a few really stood out!
Fall in Love with Westlawn
While every student’s journey through Westlawn is unique, the relationships that they and their families develop with each other and the Westlawn staff along the way make the experience universally extraordinary. Thousands of tiny moments, actions, conversations, and decisions work in concert to shape each student’s path, and Westlawn staff work nonstop to advocate for, nurture, and empower every Eagle.
Raising children and teaching students are both complex, multilayered projects that take creativity, intellect, practice, patience, humility, and heart. At Westlawn we strongly believe that it takes a village to ensure that every single Eagle is prepared for life after Westlawn, not only in middle school but beyond. Our approach to this work would be incomplete without the support of our broader community, including family members, community partners, and prior alumni. In true Westlawn fashion, we also used community feedback to whittle down the encompassing Westlawn experience to these ten items.
Communication with Families
Fun Fact: Westlawn was the 6th highest user of TalkingPoints throughout FCPS in 2023-2024.
Fun Fact: Westlawn won the 2022 Award of Communication Excellence for Outstanding School Communications.
Fun Fact: Principal Hill hosts a virtual Community Conversation with families every week to ensure that families know what's happening at school and have easy access to school leaders.
“Thank you for compiling this newsletter, week after week. Appreciate and value the communication efforts.”
-Westlawn Family
“I think the Feather Report is great and appreciate the effort that goes into sending this out weekly. It's very useful - especially when I can't make the community conversations every time. ”
-Westlawn Family
Community
Fun Fact: numerous Westlawn staff members, including teachers, instructional assistants, and custodial staff members, live within the neighborhood.
Fun Fact: multiple Westlawn staff members were once students at Westlawn, and returned to serve the community that was responsible for their early love of education.
Fun Fact: in Fall 2024 Westlawn piloted a new program called Parents as Teachers, where parents who spoke Spanish held conversational Spanish language-learning sessions for interested Westlawn staff.
Fun Fact: Westlawn features several clubs for current students that are run, at least in part, by former Westlawn students. They love to give back to their elementary school!
“The community! We have such a diverse and welcoming community. I am proud to raise my children in an area in which they are able to meet children from all walks of life, from all over the world, and from different socio-economic backgrounds.”
-Westlawn Family
“The community. I've worked in other schools, counties, states, and there is nothing that compares to our students, their families, our colleagues, and our environment. Westlawn is a unique place full of life, camaraderie, fun, compassion, and support. It's a positive place to be and work at.”
-Staff Member
Courtyard and Other Outdoor Learning Spaces
Fun Fact: We are a Virginia Naturally Year 2 School.
Fun Fact: Westlawn's extensive enclosed courtyard features a substantial population of turtles, salamanders, a few toads, a koi pond, a vernal pool, and a gorgeous mosaic mural.
Fun Fact: Westlawn's unique Discovery Area is designed for hands-on outdoor learning for primary students and features several garden plots where students grow produce that they use in the classroom and share with the community.
“I like the pond area with the turtles. The most peaceful part of the school!”
-Staff Member
Diversity
Fun Fact: Westlawn families speak 22 languages at home, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Khmer, and Farsi.
“The wide diversity of family and students in such a small neighborhood!”
-Westlawn Family
Excellent Staff
Fun Fact: among the staff Westlawn counts published authors, Nationally Board-Certified teachers, national and international conference presenters, and a doctor.
Fun Fact: Westlawn has seven staff positions for coaches to ensure that Westlawn educators are fully-supported with their work, including a Reading Specialist, an Instructional Coach, a Social-Emotional Learning Coach, a Math Specialist, and a Technology Coach.
“The people! Westlawn has the best people. The admin, office staff, custodial team, cafeteria team, teachers, assistants, etc. are all THE BEST.”
-Staff Member
“The teachers. They are funny and nice.”
-Student
Field Trips
Fun Fact: Students at each grade level take field trips throughout the year, both virtually and in person, to locations in the neighborhood and places in other states.
“At Westlawn we prioritize field trips because they provide students a common experience to talk about and a fun way to gain knowledge. Field trips are a beautiful way to connect our students with the community around them (and for different communities to see how special and curious our students are in all settings!).”
-Staff Member
“My favorite field trip was the one to Jamestown in 4th grade because it was interesting and fun. We got to ride in a big bus!”
-Student
“My favorite place to take students is the Baltimore Aquarium in 5th grade. There are so many opportunities for them to connect the oceans unit we study to the things they see at the aquarium and they always have fun. Plus, although it isn’t too far away, it feels like a whole different world.”
-Westlawn Staff
Love and Kindness
Fun Fact: Westlawn employs a full-time Social-Emotional Learning Coach dedicated to empowering our staff and students with tools to grow their SEL mindsets and create a caring community.
Fun Fact: Westlawn's MentorWorks program pairs staff members with students, helping to build relationships and create bonds outside the classroom. Westlawn counselors and our psychologist work together to run this program, and mentor and mentee pairs get to participate in fun events such as board games and breakfast, field trips to the bowling alley, shopping together at the book fair, and more!
Fun Fact: Westlawn students learn about food insecurity and ways to combat it, and then put those ways into practice! The Food Sharing program in the cafeteria matches unwanted food with hungry students. In class, students engage in Math Modeling projects such as CANstruction and the Penny Drive that revolve around reducing food waste and helping fight hunger in our own community.
“How loved my kids feel at school.”
-Westlawn Family
“The feeling of happiness and community when you walk through the front doors.”
-Staff Member
Special Events
Fun Fact: Westlawn offers special events throughout the year, often with the support of community partners. Some of the many beloved events are Westlawn Day, Bingo Night, Family Adventure Night, International Night, and Westlawn's Got Talent.
Fun Fact: Westlawn plans for the needs of families during special events, so events often feature food or transportation alongside fun and games.
“All of the fun community events (Art Night, International Night, volleyball game).”
-Staff Member
“International Night.”
-Student
Specials Classes
Fun Fact: Westlawn partners with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra. During the final FSO performance of the season, Westlawn students' work is displayed in the theater lobby and families are offered free tickets for the performance.
Fun Fact: The Westlawn Music Department organizes a spring musical for students in grades 4-6. Students sing, dance, and play instruments. The musical is performed for the school and for the community.
“[The Chorus and Instrumental] ensembles reflect the Westlawn music teachers’ and students' dedication and passion for making music easy, fun, and accessible to all. Go Soaring Eagles!!”
-Dr. Michelle Reid, after attending a performance at the Gatehouse administrative center
"The PE teachers, Mr. Maloney and Ms. Reed, are amazing teachers! They make everything so fun. The games that we play are so fun but my favorite part is being with them because they always make you feel welcome
-Jasmine P.
"Strings has many peaceful instruments that sound amazing! The teachers in strings, Ms. Emery and Mr. Hodge, are very nice and caring with the students. Strings is a place where students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades can connect and make beautiful sounds for all."
-Adriana G.
STEAM
Fun Fact: STEAM Clubs run twice per year and are free for families. One of those amazing clubs even teaches students how to fly drones!
Fun Fact: Westlawn has a burgeoning partnership with Northrop-Grumman, and they frequently sponsor interactive booths at family events in the evenings and on select weekends.
“STEAM at Westlawn is AWESOME because we have been slowly and steadily building the program over the past 9 years, with the help of our relationships with Northrop Grumman and our pyramid middle school Luther Jackson. Teachers regularly integrate STEAM into their homeroom classes. In specials, students get deeper exposure to science topics, tools, and ideas, get to practice the engineering design process, work with fun technology like robots and 3D printers, learn coding and computational thinking. We have a unique and robust after school program with a wide variety of FREE clubs—Fall 2024 has 180 students participating! You never know what could ignite a lasting passion for a STEM career. We make it our mission to ensure all students have exposure to these topics, which is especially important since many families at our Title I school do not have regular access to careers or experiences in science, technology, or engineering. Our hope and goal is to nurture our learners in every way we can, including through STEAM!”
-Westlawn Staff
What do you think?
Did we capture your Westlawn Top 10? What would you add? We love to hear your Westlawn stories!