Hello families!

 

We have a few important dates coming up for you to keep in mind!

 

1. Conferences will take place March 7th and 8th. On Thursday March 7th, conferences will be in-person. On Friday, March 8th, conferences will be virtual. Conference sign-ups will close on Friday, March 1st so please be sure to sign up before then if you would like to have a conference.

 

2. If you want to speak with the specials teachers students had this quarter, you will need to sign up for a separate conference. This quarter our class had I-Lab and Art. Please click HERE for the conference link for I-Lab and HERE for the conference link for Art.

 

3. We have TWO field trip dates coming up.

4. Class picture day is Friday, March 1st. Picture forms came home last week (I noticed some forms didn't make it into backpacks, so you'll see them today if you haven't seen them yet). 

 

5. Science Fair is coming up on March 5th! Please see your student's science page for information on that.

 

6. Spring Break is the last week of March and the first week of April. Students will not have school from March 25-April 5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Specials: Our special is PE. 

• 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  

 

• Specials: Our special is I-Lab. We will continue in this special until November 9. We will switch to PE on November 13.
• 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!
• Water and Snacks: Please remember to send your child a spill-proof, reusable water bottle, that is labeled with their name. Healthy snacks are always the best choice. Please make sure your child knows which food is for their lunch meal and for snacks.

• 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.

• Specials: Our new special is I-Lab. We will continue in this special until November 10.
• 2^nd Quarter Clubs - Sign Up Now!
  • Club registration is open through October 27 at 4 p.m.
  • Visit Westgate's Club page on the school's website to view details or download a flyer
  • 16 club options for Quarter 2!
  • Clubs will run from the week of 10/23 through the week of 12/8. (No clubs during Thanksgiving Break; the week of 11/20.)
• Halloween Party: Tuesday, October 31st from 2:30-3:15 PM.
  • A sign-up genius was emailed to families. If you signed up to bring items for our party, please remember to only send store-bought, individually wrapped items with a nutrition label. Items can be sent to school with your child any time prior to our party. Please make sure that all items are labeled 3-4 Gale before dropping them off.
  • 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 in order to volunteer. We will contact volunteers who are selected to assist with the party.

 Costume Expectations for Classroom Halloween Parties

• • No Masks.
  • No Full-Face Face Paint (except what a student can apply themselves in the time they have to get ready before the party).
  • Face paint may not be worn to school.
  • No Weapons or anything that can be used as a weapon.
  • No inappropriate or offensive costumes – all body parts must be covered.
  • K-8 students may NOT WEAR COSTUMES TO SCHOOL. All students will be given time to change into their costumes.  Students will be in classes during the morning.
  • HS students may wear costumes to school, but all expectations must be followed.

• Water and Snacks: Please remember to send your child a spill-proof, reusable water bottle, that is labeled with their name. Healthy snacks are always the best choice. Please make sure your child knows which food is for their lunch meal and for snacks.

• Advocacy:
  • In October, we are focusing on the empowering theme of 'Using Your Voice' in our school community. As a community, we play a crucial role in helping our students navigate the challenges they may face at school, including bullying. This month, we encourage you to engage in open conversations with your students about the importance of using their voices to stand up against bullying. By teaching them to speak up, report incidents, and support their peers, we can create a safe and inclusive environment where every child feels heard and valued. Together, let's empower our children to be advocates for kindness, empathy, and respect, ensuring that our schools are places where everyone can thrive.
    
    
  • Our advocacy will cover a range of topics around Bully Prevention and Using Your Voice, including:
    • Understanding Bullying
    • Communication and Reporting
    • Empathy and Inclusion
    • Cyberbullying and Prevention

 

• Bullying 101 for Parents

 

• Specials: Our special is ART. 

• Wild Style Fun Run – September 22
• Students received their FREE ‘You Design-It T-shirt’ on Friday, September 15. Students are encouraged to bedazzle, paint, tear, decorate, or sew their t-shirts, so they can display their “Wild Style” as they raise awareness and funds.
• Our goals are to change behaviors, and raise awareness and funds to support health, wellness, and fitness at Westgate. Give on behalf of your student at: Wild Style Fun Run Donations
• Click here for details

• Specials: Our new special is ART. 
• Water and Snacks: Please remember to send your child a spill-proof, reusable water bottle, that is labeled with their name. Healthy snacks are always the best option. Please make sure your child knows which food is for their lunch meal and for snacks.
• Change to morning carline and drop-off: Staff members are now outside and ready to assist by 7:40 a.m. every day, and the school's doors open promptly at 7:45 a.m. Our goal is for all students to be in the building by 8:00 a.m. and we believe the extra five minutes will enhance the efficiency of our morning drop-off routine. 
• Advocacy:
  • Our September Advocacy theme is Self-Awareness.
  • Learning goal: Students will practice identifying their emotions and leveraging their strengths to overcome challenges.

 

Hello! 

 

I am Nicholas Gale and I am your child’s Advocacy Teacher/ Advocate. Advocacy is more than a Homeroom. Advocacy classes are first and foremost a time for students to build supportive relationships with their peers and with an adult they can trust. It is a time for everyone to feel recognized and welcomed into the school community. As your child’s Advocate, I will be your primary point of communication, and I am committed to advocating for your child this year. 

 

I will be starting my 6^th year here at Westgate. I am excited to teach 3^rd and 4^th grade this year! I graduated from Metropolitan State University with my Bachelor's in Biology with Elementary Licensure. I knew teaching was for me when I taught at the Denver Zoo for a couple of summers educating young scientists about the environment and animals around the world.  

When I am not in the classroom, I can be found rock climbing, fishing, camping, traveling, playing Dungeons and Dragons or meditating! 

 

I have subscribed you to my Advocacy page and my classroom pages, so you will receive updates to your email automatically. I will be posting an Advocacy update monthly and posting to my academic classes weekly.  Please follow this link for weekly updates, academic information, upcoming events, and other information.   

 

This quarter, your child will have Music with Mr. Hopson. You are not pre-subscribed to his Edlio page, so please go to Mr. Hopson’s page and subscribe!” 

 

This month, our August Advocacy theme is RISE!  

At Westgate, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a part of our Whole Child Education program. PBIS is a system in which students, staff, and community create a set of school-wide behavioral expectations/ core values, we teach those expectations in all of our various environments, and then we CELEBRATE when we see students doing those things! At Westgate, we RISE (Respect, Integrity, Safety, Empathy).