• Specials: Our special is P.E. We will stay in this special until April 26. 

•  Field Trip to Four Mile Historic Park: As our Colorado weather becomes warmer, our classes have more opportunities to learn outdoors.  To further our learning history, we will be taking our classes to Four Mile Park. Our field trip to Four Mile Park will be this Wednesday, April 10th 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 PM. 
• • Please make sure your child wears their red Westgate shirt. If your child does not have a red Westgate shirt, any red shirt is fine.   
  • Please pack a disposable sack lunch and water bottle for your child labeled with their name. Students will have morning and afternoon snacks at Westgate, before and after our field trip. 
  • Please make sure your child wears comfortable shoes (we will be walking in dirt and livestock areas) and brings a light jacket (Colorado weather is always changing and spring is here). 

• Yearbooks: Yearbooks for the 2023-2024 school year are now on sale. Yearbooks are $32 each and a customization can be added to the cover for an additional fee. Yearbooks will be distributed to all K-8 students on the last day of school. High school students will receive theirs on May 23rd. The deadline to order is April 23rd. Purchase yours now! 

https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/view_account.asp?l=3880F406-0325-48D4-B415-D8D647F0D8BF 

• Toys at School: Our school policy states that toys should not be brought to school for any reason or at any time. Please keep toys at home. 

• Snack: Please make sure that your student brings TWO snacks each day, one for a morning snack and one for an afternoon snack. Make sure your child knows not to eat their snacks with their lunch. 

• April Advocacy: Our Advocacy Theme this month is Social Awareness.  

As we embark through April, I am excited to share with you our social emotional theme of the month - social awareness. This month, we are focusing on helping our students develop a deeper understanding of the feelings, needs, and perspectives of others. 

Social awareness is a vital skill that promotes empathy, compassion, and inclusivity. By fostering social awareness in our students, we are nurturing their ability to engage with others in a respectful and understanding manner. 

We invite you to join us in supporting this important theme by engaging in conversations with your children about empathy, active listening, and the importance of considering the feelings of others. Your involvement and support in reinforcing these values at home will further enhance the impact of our efforts at school. 

Together, let's work towards creating a community where social awareness is valued and practiced by all. 

• Specials: Our special is P.E. We will stay in this special until April 26. 

• Field Trip to Four Mile Historic Park: As our Colorado weather becomes warmer, our classes have more opportunities to learn outdoors.  To further our learning history, we will be taking our classes to Four Mile Park. Our field trip to Four Mile Park will be after Spring Break, on Wednesday, April 10th, from 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 PM. 

• • Please make sure your child wears their red Westgate shirt. If your child does not have a red Westgate shirt, any red shirt is fine.   
  • Please pack a disposable sack lunch and water bottle for your child labeled with their name. Students will have morning and afternoon snacks at Westgate, before and after our field trip. 
  • Please make sure your child wears comfortable shoes (we will be walking in dirt and livestock areas) and brings a light jacket (Colorado weather is always changing and spring is here). 
  • If you can chaperone our fun adventure, please let your child's advocacy teacher know in a reply to this email. 

• Mr. Rowan’s Advocacy has a request:  

Dear Westgate Families,  

Mr. Rowan’s 7-8 Advocacy is doing a service-learning project honoring and acknowledging Veterans. If you have a Veteran in your family, we invite you all to complete this form which contains a list of questions about your Veteran service. The responses to these questions will be utilized to create a video honoring the Veterans of Westgate Community School. This is totally optional whether you choose to complete the form or not. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected].  

Sincerely,  

Mr. Rowan’s Advocacy 

• Yearbooks: Yearbooks for the 2023-2024 school year are now on sale. Yearbooks are $32 each and a customization can be added to the cover for an additional fee. Yearbooks will be distributed to all K-8 students on the last day of school. High school students will receive theirs on May 23rd. The deadline to order is April 23rd. Purchase yours now! 

https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/view_account.asp?l=3880F406-0325-48D4-B415-D8D647F0D8BF 

• Toys at School: Our school policy states that toys should not be brought to school for any reason or at any time. Please keep toys at home. 

• Snack: Please make sure that your student brings TWO snacks each day, one for a morning snack and one for an afternoon snack. Make sure your child knows not to eat their snacks with their lunch. 

Join us this March as we delve into the power of mindfulness. In a world filled with distractions and noise, cultivating mindfulness offers a pathway to inner peace, clarity, and resilience. Through our advocacy theme this month, we aim to introduce and integrate mindfulness practices into our classes, fostering a supportive environment where individuals can thrive mentally, emotionally, and academically. 

Throughout March, our classes will incorporate various mindfulness techniques, including guided meditation, mindful breathing exercises, and reflective journaling. These practices will help our students develop greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and concentration skills. By nurturing a mindful approach to learning and living, we empower our community to navigate challenges with grace and intention. 

Together, we'll embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth, embracing the present moment with openness and compassion! ❤️  

• Specials: Our special is iLab. We will stay in this special until March 8. 

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: An email was sent out to families on Friday, February 23 with a sign-up link to sign up for Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences. Our Spring conferences will be held in-person on Thursday, March 7th, from 8 AM to 8 PM and Virtual on Friday, March 8th from 8 AM to 12 PM. Please note that Friday's conferences are virtual. Please sign up for ONE conference slot. 

• Class Photos: Class photo order forms went home in your child’s Friday Folder. If you are interested in ordering a class photo, please order online or return the order form with payment.  

www.lifetouch.com  

Picture Day ID: EVTJP2FSP 

• Mr. Rowan’s Advocacy has a request:  

Dear Westgate Families,  

Mr. Rowan’s 7-8 Advocacy is doing a service-learning project honoring and acknowledging Veterans. If you have a Veteran in your family, we invite you all to complete this form which contains a list of questions about your Veteran service. The responses to these questions will be utilized to create a video honoring the Veterans of Westgate Community School. This is totally optional whether you choose to complete the form or not. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to [email protected].  

Sincerely,  

Mr. Rowan’s Advocacy 

• Yearbooks: Yearbooks for the 2023-2024 school year are now on sale. Yearbooks are $32 each and a customization can be added to the cover for an additional fee. Yearbooks will be distributed to all K-8 students on the last day of school. High school students will receive theirs on May 23rd. The deadline to order is April 23rd. Purchase yours now! 

https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/view_account.asp?l=3880F406-0325-48D4-B415-D8D647F0D8BF 

• Toys at School: Our school policy states that toys should not be brought to school for any reason or at any time. Please keep toys at home. 

• Snack: Please make sure that your student brings TWO snacks each day, one for a morning snack and one for an afternoon snack. Make sure your child knows not to eat their snacks with their lunch. 

• 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 

• February Advocacy:  Empathy & Kindness 

• • Learning Goals:  

• • • Students will be able to explain that empathy is the ability to understand how someone feels. 
    • Students will be able to explain why empathy is important.  
    • Students will understand how to read facial expressions and body language to predict emotions. 

• • Skills for Self: 

• • • I can imagine what it’s like to stand in someone else’s shoes. 
    • *Being empathetic strengthens the community.  
    • *It is important to take someone else’s emotions and experiences into consideration.  
    • *Deepens relationships with my classmates and people I know outside of school. 

• Specials: Our special is iLab. We will stay in this special until March 8. 

• Arvada Center Field Trip:   

• • This Wednesday, February 21st our 1st and 2nd grade students will be going to the Arvada Center to continue learning about oral expressions in literacy. Students will have a wonderful opportunity to tour this theater and then see the play "A Year with Frog and Toad". 
  • We will leave Westgate at 9:30 AM and plan to return at 2:00 PM. 
  • To visually connect all our students on the field trip, have your child wear their red Westgate shirt or another red shirt. 
  • Students need a disposable sack lunch and a water bottle.  There will not be access to microwaves, please do not send anything that requires heating.  Please do not send expensive reusable containers, as we cannot be responsible for their return. 

• • Please have your child wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for Colorado weather.   
  • A permission slip was sent out on Wednesday, February 7. Please sign it ASAP if you have not done so. Students without a signed permission form will remain at school during the field trip. 
     

• Class Photos: Class photo order forms went home in your child’s Friday Folder. If you are interested in ordering a class photo, please order online or return the order form with payment. 

• Toys at School: Our school policy states that toys should not be brought to school for any reason or at any time. Please keep toys at home. 

• Snack: Please make sure that your student brings TWO snacks each day, one for a morning snack and one for an afternoon snack. Make sure your child knows not to eat their snacks with their lunch. 

• 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 

• February Advocacy:  Empathy & Kindness 

• • Learning Goals:  

• • • Students will be able to explain that empathy is the ability to understand how someone feels. 
    • Students will be able to explain why empathy is important.  
    • Students will understand how to read facial expressions and body language to predict emotions. 

• • Skills for Self: 

• • • I can imagine what it’s like to stand in someone else’s shoes. 

• • • Being empathetic strengthens the community.  
    • It is important to take someone else’s emotions and experiences into consideration.  
    • Deepens relationships with my classmates and people I know outside of school. 

• Specials: Our special is iLab. We will stay in this special until March 8. 
• Kindness Week: What is Kindness Week? 
  • Kindness Week is a long-standing tradition at Westgate. We celebrate and spread kindness by doing different activities throughout the week. Each day has a different theme, aligned with the different love languages.   

• • • Monday – Words of Affirmation  
    • Tuesday – Quality Time  
    • Wednesday – Acts of Service  
    • Thursday – Gift Giving 
    • Friday - NO SCHOOL – Professional Development Day 

• Kindness Day:  

• • Kindness Day is in place of Valentine’s Day on Wednesday, Feb. 14.  

• • • Reminder, our students do not exchange Valentine’s Day cards, candy, etc., so please do not send your student to school with valentines or treats.   

• • On Feb. 14, our students are going out into the community to distribute hand-made kindness cards to our neighbors.  All companies that participated in previous years are excited to continue this tradition and the new companies are looking forward to hosting our students. A permission slip for this walking field trip will be sent out by your child’s advocacy teacher at 4:00 PM on Monday, February 5. 

• Toys at School: Our school policy states that toys should not be brought to school for any reason or at any time. Please keep toys at home. 

• Snack: Please make sure that your student brings TWO snacks each day, one for a morning snack and one for an afternoon snack. Make sure your child knows not to eat their snacks with their lunch. 

• 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 

• February Advocacy:  Empathy & Kindness 

• • Learning Goals:  

• • • Students will be able to explain that empathy is the ability to understand how someone feels. 
    • Students will be able to explain why empathy is important.  
    • Students will understand how to read facial expressions and body language to predict emotions. 

• • Skills for Self: 

• • • I can imagine what it’s like to stand in someone else’s shoes. 
    • *Being empathetic strengthens the community.  
    • *It is important to take someone else’s emotions and experiences into consideration.  
    • *Deepens relationships with my classmates and people I know outside of school. 

• Specials: Our special is Art. We will stay in this special until February 5. 

• Toys at School: As a collective group of 1st and 2nd-grade teachers, we want to remind all families that toys are not allowed at school. Our school policy states that toys should not be brought to school for any reason or at any time. 

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. 

• Westgate Quarter 3 Clubs Now Open! 

• • Club registration is open and filling up quickly!  Register for clubs here. 
  • UPDATE: Winter Fun Club and Wellness Wednesday Club are now accepting 2nd graders. 
  • Outside club organizations are accepting registrations through their digital flyers found on our website. 
  • Clubs begin Tuesday, 1/16/24, and run through 3/22/24. 

• 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. 

• Specials: Our special is Art. We will stay in this special until February 5. 

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. 

• Specials: Our special is Music. We will continue in this special until December 13. We will switch to Art on January 8. 

• 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). 

• 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.  

Donation request:  

I am trying to put together a hands-on timeline of the telephone. I have a rotary phone from the 1950’s, a corded push-button phone from the 1980’s, and the school’s classroom phone.  

• I am looking for a donation of a “Fisher-Price Toddler Pull Toy Chatter Telephone with Rotary Dial and Wheels” that students can use to see how the rotary mechanism works. My antique rotary phone is currently broken, and I can’t allow students to touch it.  
• I would also like to have a cordless phone that was popular in the 1990’s.  
• Lastly, I would love to have an old Nokia or early cell phone. 

If you have one of these phones and are looking to part with them, our class would love to give them a new home!