Hi Families,

  

• Thank you, volunteers! Your help is greatly appreciated (in and out of the classroom)
• Should you wish to volunteer in the classroom and/or a future field trip, please complete an online Volunteer Interest Form 
• Complete a background check. Cost is $20.95 
• Complete a Volunteer Agreement Form 

Important Message from Nurse Hopson:  

Please do not be fooled by our warmer weather, it continues to be cold & flu season!  Remember: washing your hands frequently is the best way to prevent spreading germs and getting sick. 

Wondering when to keep kids home? 

• Fever (a temperature of 100.4 or higher): must stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. 
• Vomiting/Diarrhea: must stay home until vomiting/diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours without the use of medications. 
• Coughing: must stay home if cough is severe, uncontrolled, rapid, interferes with student's ability to participate, or if wheezing is present. 
• Strep Throat: must stay home until 24 hours after starting antibiotics for strep throat. 
• Flu symptoms (fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, fatigue, body aches): must stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medications, and all other symptoms are improving, and the student feels well enough to participate in normal activities. 

Toys continue to be entering the classroom. To ensure a safe and focused learning environment for all students, the following consequences are in place for students who bring toys to school. The consequences include:

• Verbal Reminder: The teacher will remind the student that toys are not allowed at school and explain the reasons behind this policy. The teacher will ask the student to put the toy in their backpack for the remainder of the day.
• Temporary Confiscation: If a student continues to bring toys to school despite the reminders, the teacher may temporarily confiscate the toy and return it to the student at the end of the day.
• Parent Notification: In case a student repeatedly brings toys to school, the teacher will notify the parents to discuss the situation and find a solution together.

We believe that by enforcing this policy consistently, we can create an optimal learning environment for all students. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

• Resilience 
• Perseverance 
• Adaptability 
• Embracing Feedback 

• Goal Setting: Help your child set realistic goals and work with them to develop a plan to achieve those goals. Celebrate progress along the way, reinforcing the idea that improvement comes with effort. 
• Positive Self-Talk: Encourage your child to replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remind them that their abilities are not fixed and that they can improve with dedication and hard work. 
• Embracing Challenges: Teach your child to see challenges as opportunities for growth. Encourage them to approach new experiences with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. 

Hi Families,

  

Important Message from Nurse Hopson:  

It's cold and flu season!  Remember: washing your hands frequently is the best way to prevent spreading germs and getting sick.  

Wondering when to keep kids home? 

• Fever (a temperature of 100.4 or higher): must stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. 
• Vomiting/Diarrhea: must stay home until vomiting/diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours without the use of medications. 
• Coughing: must stay home if cough is severe, uncontrolled, rapid, interferes with student's ability to participate, or if wheezing is present. 
• Strep Throat: must stay home until 24 hours after starting antibiotics for strep throat. 
• Flu symptoms (fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, fatigue, body aches): must stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medications, and all other symptoms are improving, and the student feels well enough to participate in normal activities. 

To ensure a safe and focused learning environment for all students, the following consequences are in place for students who bring toys to school. The consequences include:

• Verbal Reminder: The teacher will remind the student that toys are not allowed at school and explain the reasons behind this policy. The teacher will ask the student to put the toy in their backpack for the remainder of the day.
• Temporary Confiscation: If a student continues to bring toys to school despite the reminders, the teacher may temporarily confiscate the toy and return it to the student at the end of the day.
• Parent Notification: In case a student repeatedly brings toys to school, the teacher will notify the parents to discuss the situation and find a solution together.

We believe that by enforcing this policy consistently, we can create an optimal learning environment for all students. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

• Thank you, volunteers! Your help is greatly appreciated.  
• Should you wish to volunteer in the classroom and/or a future field trip, please complete an online Volunteer Interest Form 
• Complete a background check. Cost is $20.95 
• Complete a Volunteer Agreement Form 

• Resilience 
• Perseverance 
• Adaptability 
• Embracing Feedback 

• Goal Setting: Help your child set realistic goals and work with them to develop a plan to achieve those goals. Celebrate progress along the way, reinforcing the idea that improvement comes with effort. 
• Positive Self-Talk: Encourage your child to replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remind them that their abilities are not fixed and that they can improve with dedication and hard work. 
• Embracing Challenges: Teach your child to see challenges as opportunities for growth. Encourage them to approach new experiences with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. 

  

Important Message from Nurse Hopson:  

It's cold and flu season!  Remember: washing your hands frequently is the best way to prevent spreading germs and getting sick.  

Wondering when to keep kids home? 

• Fever (a temperature of 100.4 or higher): must stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication. 
• Vomiting/Diarrhea: must stay home until vomiting/diarrhea has stopped for 24 hours without the use of medications. 
• Coughing: must stay home if cough is severe, uncontrolled, rapid, interferes with student's ability to participate, or if wheezing is present. 
• Strep Throat: must stay home until 24 hours after starting antibiotics for strep throat. 
• Flu symptoms (fever, cough, congestion, runny nose, fatigue, body aches): must stay home until fever-free for 24 hours without the use of medications, and all other symptoms are improving, and the student feels well enough to participate in normal activities. 

 

• Volunteers 

• Thank you, volunteers! Your help is greatly appreciated.  
• Complete an online Volunteer Interest Form 
• Complete a background check. Cost is $20.95 
• Complete a Volunteer Agreement Form 

 

• January Advocacy:  Growth Mindset 

• What is a Growth Mindset? A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It's about embracing challenges, learning from criticism, and understanding that effort is the path to mastery. 

• Skills Students Will Learn:  

• Resilience 
• Perseverance 
• Adaptability 
• Embracing Feedback 

• Extending Growth Mindset to Personal Lives: It's essential to emphasize that the principles of a growth mindset extend beyond the classroom. Encourage your child to apply these concepts in their daily lives: 

• Goal Setting: Help your child set realistic goals and work with them to develop a plan to achieve those goals. Celebrate progress along the way, reinforcing the idea that improvement comes with effort. 
• Positive Self-Talk: Encourage your child to replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations. Remind them that their abilities are not fixed and that they can improve with dedication and hard work. 
• Embracing Challenges: Teach your child to see challenges as opportunities for growth. Encourage them to approach new experiences with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. 

 

• Modern Market will donate 30% to Westgate!
  • Dine in:  Mention that you are with Westgate Community School before placing your order.
  • Online Order:   Use the promo code of "giveback020"
  • Pick up:  Call 720-650-0699 and mention that you are with Westgate Community School before placing your order.
  • https://modernmarket.com/?utm_…

• 1-2 Pod Winter Party: Our Winter class party will be on Wednesday, December 13 from 2:30-3:15 PM.  
• If you are interested in donating food for our party, please do so at this Sign-Up Genius Link.  
• Please contact your child's advocacy teacher if you would like to volunteer for our party. You must have a current background check on file to volunteer. We will contact volunteers who are selected to help with the party via email. Only parents notified that they are selected to volunteer for the party should plan to attend.  Thank you for helping us make our class party special! 

 

• Winter Parent-Teacher Conferences 

• Our Winter conferences will be held IN-PERSON at Westgate on Thursday, December 14th from 8AM to 8PM and VIRTUALLY online on Friday, December 15th from 8AM to 12PM.  
• A 1st grade sign-up was sent to 1st grade families and a 2nd grade sign-up to 2nd grade families. 
• You may not request a virtual conference on the in-person day or an in-person conference on the virtual conference day, and parents may not request a conference outside the conference windows.  
• If you missed the signup, please contact your child’s literacy or math teachers to set one up.  
• Report cards and updated MAP testing data will come home in Friday Folders on Wednesday. We will reference these during our conferences on Thursday and Friday, so please have these available.  

 

• Specials: Our special is PE. Please see Mr. Wise's Edlio Page for updates. 

• Holiday Shop: Every year, Westgate hosts a Holiday Shop in the teachers’ lounge. This gives the students a chance to shop for loved ones. 

• Each class will preview the shop during the school day on Monday. No shopping is allowed during the preview time. 
• Students must have cash, a check or voucher to enter the shop during shopping times. 
• Student purchases will be bagged and stapled shut. 
• After School (M-Th) - Students must be with their parent/guardian.  

• It is recommended that students in K-2 shop after school with a parent/guardian, not during the school day. 

• NO REFUNDS/EXCHANGES 

 

• Cold Weather: 

• Front Doors open at 7:45; a.m. doors may open as early as 7:40 a.m. in inclement weather 
• Recess – In good conditions, students usually go outside in cold weather; precipitation/wind/ground conditions affect the decision. 
• Clothing – Please send your student with clothes appropriate for the weather conditions. This often includes dressing in layers in Colorado as temperatures can swing from freezing in the morning to 60’s in the afternoon! 
• Label It – We recommend that you add your student’s name inside their jackets and coats as they’ve been known to leave them outside! 
• In need of cold weather gear? – Contact our K-6 Counselor, Ms. Alexa Kinslow  

 

• Water and Snacks: Please remember to send your child a spill-proof, reusable water bottle, that is labeled with their name. In addition, we have 2 snack times, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Healthy snacks are always the best choice. Please make sure your child knows which food is for their lunch meal and for snacks.  

• Emergency snacks are provided to students who do not have a snack (while supplies last). 

 

• Volunteers 

• Thank you, volunteers! Your help is greatly appreciated.  
• Complete an online Volunteer Interest Form 
• Complete a background check. Cost is $20.95 
• Complete a Volunteer Agreement Form 

 

• November Advocacy:  

As we step into the beautiful month of November, we are thrilled to share with you our social-emotional focus for the month: Gratitude. This month, our students will be taking part in a variety of activities designed to foster happiness and togetherness during their advocacy sessions.  

Gratitude is a wonderful and powerful emotion that reminds us to appreciate the small and big things in our lives. It has been shown to boost well-being, promote a positive outlook, and strengthen our connections with others. We believe that teaching our students the art of gratitude is an important part of their overall education.  

Throughout November, our students will engage in books, videos, and activities that encourage them to reflect on what they are thankful for and to express their appreciation. These activities will not only deepen their sense of gratitude but also help build a strong sense of community within our school.  

We invite you to join us in this month of gratitude by having conversations with your children about what they are thankful for. Encourage them to share their thoughts and feelings, both at home and at school. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this focus on happiness and togetherness throughout our school.  

Hi Families,

 

Thank you for all of your caring help with our Food Drive! As of now we have surpassed our goal and totaled 1,119 nonperishable food items. The Senior Hub team is sending you heartfelt gratitude.

 

Thank you Westgate Community! 😊

Hi families,

 

As of this morning, it looks like we are 398 items short towards our goal of 1,000 non-perishable food items for our donation to those in need. Tomorrow will be our last day for our Gratitude Food Drive. If you have non-perishable food items to share, please bring them to carline.

 

All non-perishable food items will help Adams County Seniors through a local organization called SeniorHub. We will be collecting items during our afternoon car line (3:30-4:00). Our goal is 1,000 items from the whole school! Please start talking to your students about how the food drive fits in with our advocacy theme of GRATITUDE. It's awesome way to give thanks to our local seniors in need. 

 

Thank you :)

Have a great week 

Hi Families,

Last week students became aware of the changing of seasons and cold weather. Thankfully, students were prepared and more jackets were worn to school, but sadly, more jackets found their way to the lost and found. As jackets can be expensive, and it is frustrating when they are lost, please remember to put your students name in all things that are carried to school.

As always, if there are any questions, please let me know.

   

 

• Specials: Our specials class is iLab, with Mr. Anderson. Please see Mr. Anderson's Edlio Page to gather updates on his inventive class.

• Water and Snacks: As a reminder, to insure that your student is getting enough to drink, please send your child a spill-proof, reusable water bottle, that is labeled with their name. There are two snack times in our daily schedule; one in the morning during Literacy, and the other in the afternoon during Advocacy. Healthy snacks are always the best option. As with their water bottle, please make sure your child knows which food is theirs.

• Hot Lunch: Student's seem to be enjoying Colorado's newly implemented hot lunch program. The hot lunch program details are listed on our Westgate site. If the hot lunches are NOT going to be eaten on specific days, please follow the route to let our Hot Lunch Director know.