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Ms. Lounsbury, Advocacy

Posts

Washington Street Clean up

Good morning,  
   Next Thursday, May 9, Westgate Community Schools will be doing a Washington Street Cleanup to support our community.   Please read all the information in the attached form and complete the permission slip.  If you have any questions, please reach out to us. Thank you for your support!


 
Mrs. Lounsbury 

Week of April 29th

 

Dear Parent,

 

The Orton Gillingham Institute is offering Free Summer Tutoring for Students aged 6-13 or in grades 1st-7th.

Tutoring will be provided in 3 cohorts. One in June, one in July and one in August. Each cohort will be 3-4 weeks in length and provided virtually. Each grade will have several classes and will be hosted in the following time zones: EST, CST, MST, PST. 

The form for free tutoring will open on April 22nd, 2024 at 10 am EST and will close on May 21st, 2024 at 5 pm EST unless we meet the capacity for submissions before May 21st, 2024.

Based on your address, your child will be added to the corresponding time zone.

You can register up to 3 children in this program. We ask that you only submit 1 application, as multiple submissions may result in your application being removed.

You can apply using the linked form below.

If you have any questions about the Free Summer Tutoring program offered by The Orton Gillingham Institute please reach out to us directly. Your school administration will not be able to answer questions about form submissions and acceptance into the program. Our contact information will be listed at the bottom of this email.

The last day of submission is May 21st, 2024. Children will be placed on a first come, first served basis. We will keep the form open until May 21st, 2024 or until we have reached capacity for submissions. We encourage you to apply early.

During Tutoring the following topics May be Covered:

Phonics

Fluency

Phonemic Awareness

Comprehension

Sentence Writing and Structure

Spelling

Morphology

Expressing Ideas in Writing

Vocabulary and Word knowledge

Syllabication and Syllable Division

And much more.

We specialize in reading intervention and will provide free tutoring covering many of the subjects above.

You may complete the form for free Summer Tutoring offered by The Orton Gillingham Institute by clicking on the link below. Please remember 1 submission per family.

You may read more about our testing and tutoring programs by visiting our website at: https://ortongillinghaminstitute.com/virtual-tutoring

Week of April 22nd

Hello!
 
This week's CMAS testing:
Monday and Friday will be the normal schedule.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we will be CMAS testing in the morning and the students will not have Special on these three days. 
  • 6th grade will be CMAS testing from 9:15 - 10:45
  • 5th grade will be CMAS testing from 8:15 - 10:45
  • 10:45 - 11:45 we will have regular Math. 
  • From recess to the end of the day the schedule will be normal.
The Advocacy focus for this month will be self-awareness and learning to use social cues to adjust their self to each situation.
 
Mrs. Lounsbury 

Week of April 15

This week's CMAS testing:
Monday and Friday will be the normal schedule.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we will be CMAS testing in the morning and the students will not have Special on these three days. 
  • 5th grade will be CMAS testing from 9:15 - 10:45
  • 6th grade will be CMAS testing from 8:15 - 10:45
  • 10:45 - 11:45 we will have regular Math. 
  • From recess to the end of the day the schedule will be normal.
The Advocacy focus for this month will be self-awareness and learning to use social cues to adjust their self to each situation. 

Week of April 8th

Welcome back everyone!  I hope that you had an amazing and restful Spring Break. 
 
The month of April is going to be a humdinger!  
Please make sure that if you are making appointments to schedule them outside of the testing window times.  Thank you! 🙂
After you read the following schedule and times, if you have any questions, please reach out to me for clarification. Thank you for your support through this assessment window so that we can see the amazing growth that each of your students have gained over the 5/6 grade year. 
 
For the week of April 8 - 12
Monday:   Eclipse viewing
  • The students will come in from recess at 12:15 get the lunch, pause, and then at 12:30 we will head outside to view the Eclipse for about 15 minutes.  At around 12:45 we will return to our classrooms and finish eating lunch until 1:05. 
  • Westgate has provided glasses for all of the students to view the Eclipse
Tuesday: 5th grade science CMAS testing
  • 9:15 - 11:05 - 5th graders will be CMAS science testing with Ms. Calder and Mr. Varela
  • 9:15 - 11:05 - 6th graders will be with Ms. Charlie doing some outdoor education activities
  • 11:05 - 11:45 - we will spend some time with our Advocacy 
  • 1:05 - 2:05 - transition to regular ELA class
  • 2:15 - 3:15 - transition to regular Math class
  • Specials, Recess, Lunch, Academic Lab and Advocacy will happen at the same times. 
Wednesday: 5th grade science CMAS testing
  • 9:15 - 11:05 - 5th graders will be CMAS science testing with Mr. McGinnis and Mr. Varela
  • 9:15 - 11:05 - 6th graders will go to their regular math classes with Ms. Calder and Mrs. Lounsbury
  • 11:05 - 11:45 - Advocacy lesson
  • 1:15 - 2:35 - 5th graders will be CMAS science testing with Mr. McGinnis and Mr. Varela
  • 2:35 - 3:15 - 5th graders will be with Ms. Charlie doing some outdoor education activities
  • 1:05 - 3:15 - 6th graders will have regular Science and Social Studies classes with Ms. Calder and Mrs. Lounsbury
  • Specials, recess, lunch, Academic Lab, and Dismissal will happen at the same times. 
Thursday: Reading MAP testing
  • 9:15 - 10:45 All students will do the Reading MAP testing
  • 10:45 - 11:45 - Regular Math class
  • Specials, recess, lunch, and afternoon classes will be normal times and subjects. 
Friday: Math MAP testing
  • 9:15 - 10:45 All students will do the Math MAP testing
  • 10:45 - 11:45 - transition to Regular ELA class
  • Specials, recess, lunch, and afternoon classes will be normal times and subjects. 
 
For the week of April 15-19 and April 22 - 26
Monday and Friday will be the normal schedule.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we will be CMAS testing in the morning.
  • 5th grade will be CMAS testing from 9:15 - 10:45, regular specials
  • 6th grade will be CMAS testing from 8:15 - 10:45, will not have specials during these three days
  • 10:45 - 11:45 we will have Math 
  • From recess to the end of the day the schedule will be normal.
Mrs. Lounsbury 
 

Week of March 18th

I hope that you had a safe and fun couple of snow days last week! :)
 
We will finish out this week in March with our focus on Mindfulness. 
 
Our Tails for Tales is on Wednesday, March 20th where we will join our Mrs. Foley-Diaz's class, our First and Second grade buddies, to enjoy some reading and a furry friend from 9:15 to 10:00. 
 
Reminder, Spring Break will be for two weeks, from March 25 to April 7. I hope that you have an amazing time with your family.
 
Mrs. Lounsbury 

Week of March 4th

Hello,
 
This week we are continuing to work on empathy and discussing how to handle different situation students may find themselves in. 
 
6th grade students have a field trip on Tuesday, March 5th. Please wear appropriate clothing for the weather, comfortable shoes, and pack a lunch. 
 
Mrs. Lounsbury

Week of February 26th

Hello Parents,
      Parent Teacher conferences will be Thursday, March 7 at Westgate and Friday, March 8 virtually. Please sign up for the 5/6 grade content teacher that you would like to speak with.  I have also included the Specials that our Advocacy attended for Quarter 3.  If you have any questions, please reach out to me.  We look forward to seeing you all at conferences! 🙂
 
 
 

Week of February 14th

Hello!
 

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 Givin
Things to Know about Kindness Week
  • We do not exchange Valentines cards, candy, or treats at school.​
  • Get your permission slip signed by Tuesday! At Westgate, we spread kindness by distributing hand-made kindness cards to local businesses on Wednesday, February 14th.​
  • Classes will be going to different locations at different times and will return to school afterwards.​
  • High school students will chaperone (K-6).​
  • Be prepared for Wednesday – bring a warm jacket, gloves, beanies, etc. because we will be walking outside. Be prepared for weather if necessary!​

Week of January 29th

Hello!
 
This week, students have been working on making personal goals and time management. We will be practicing that skill by figuring out how to manage their undedicated time in school. 
 
Mrs. Lounsbury 

Week of January 22nd 2024

Hello!
 
This week in advocacy, students will be creating a SMART goal. They will then be creating an action plan for how they can attain their goal by their timeline. we will then be discussing strategies for time management and prioritizing activities in their lives.
 
Mrs. Lounsbury     

Week if January 16th

Hello!
 
I hope you all enjoy your snow day! Please stay warm. I want to make a reminder post that our classroom is a nut free zone. This includes peanuts, tree nuts, and all types of nuts. This is for the safety of not only me, but students in the class as well. Please check that your lunches and snacks are nut free and do not contain any food items with any nuts in them. If you are unsure about a product, please feel free to reach out to me so I can let you know if it would be safe for our class.  
 
I will see you all Wednesday!
 
Mrs. Lounsbury

Week of January 8th 2024

Dear Westgate Families!

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and relaxation. As we dive into the new year, we are excited to introduce our Advocacy Theme for January: 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: In the upcoming weeks, your child will engage in various activities and discussions across different classes that aim to cultivate a growth mindset. Here's a glimpse of the skills they will be focusing on:

  1. Resilience: Students will learn to bounce back from setbacks, viewing challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable obstacles.

    Perseverance: Embracing the idea that success often involves sustained effort, students will be encouraged to stay committed to their goals, even when faced with difficulties.

    Adaptability: Developing the ability to adapt to new situations and learn from experiences will be a key focus, fostering a mindset that values continuous learning.

    Embracing Feedback: Students will be taught to see feedback as constructive, using it to refine their skills and enhance their understanding, rather than viewing it as criticism.

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:

  1. 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.

We believe that fostering a growth mindset will not only enhance your child's academic journey but will also contribute to their overall personal development. If you have any questions or would like to further discuss how to support your child in embracing a growth mindset, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you a fantastic start to the new year!

 

Mrs. Lounsbury