April 29 - May 3

April 15-19

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: 5^th grade science CMAS testing

• 9:15 - 11:05 - 5^th graders will be CMAS science testing with Ms. Calder and Mr. Varela
• 9:15 - 11:05 - 6^th 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: 5^th grade science CMAS testing

• 9:15 - 11:05 - 5^th graders will be CMAS science testing with Mr. McGinnis and Mr. Varela
• 9:15 - 11:05 - 6^th graders will go to their regular math classes with Ms. Calder and Mrs. Lounsbury
• 11:05 - 11:45 - Advocacy lesson
• 1:15 - 2:35 - 5^th graders will be CMAS science testing with Mr. McGinnis and Mr. Varela
• 2:35 - 3:15 - 5^th graders will be with Ms. Charlie doing some outdoor education activities.
• 1:05 - 3:15 - 6^th 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.

• 5^th grade will be CMAS testing from 9:15 - 10:45, regular specials.
• 6^th 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 regular Math. 
• From recess to the end of the day the schedule will be normal.

 

 

 

Mr. Varela

Westgate Community School

K-12 Gifted Education and the Whole Child

February's Advocacy Theme is Empathy

Dear Parents and Guardians,

 

It's always weird when the week starts on a Wednesday and not the day you thought it would. We are still visiting with our buddies each week as part of our service learning. As we think about Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets, visiting our buddies in 1st/2nd allows us to reflect on the growth we have had since our own time in 1st/2nd.

 

Thanks,

Mr. Varela

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!

 

New computers!

Students will be getting new computers during Language Arts on Monday.  The students already took a quiz over what the expectations are for their new computer.   All the students will complete a computer check out form online.  The new computer assigned to the students will follow them up through the 8th grade.  Please encourage your child to take excellent care of this new technology.  If the student doesn't follow the guidelines and take good care of the computer, the computer will be taken, and they can use an old computer by checking out the machine from the teacher for the class that the computer is needed for.  If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me.

Thanks,

Richard

Hello Parents,

      This year at Westgate we are presenting our curriculum night on August 31, 2023, at 5 pm to 6 pm. Virtual ONLY this year.  The link is below.  Please join us virtually to learn about our amazing 5^th and 6^th grade team of teachers and all about the curriculum that we will be teaching. There also will be a time at the end to ask any questions that you might have. 

       If you are unable to join us on August 31, the link will be uploaded to the Westgate page. See your email for the link to the Virtual session.

Richard Varela

Medications/ointments/supplements/vitamins:

All medications, over-the-counter, prescription, topical ointments, supplements, vitamins, or melatonin must have a fully completed medication order that is filled out and signed by a physician. A parent's signature alone does not meet the requirements for school staff to administer any kind of medication, topical, vitamin, or supplement. Any medication sent without the correct forms will not be sent on the trip and will not be administered to students. 

Students will not be allowed to carry or administer their own medications unless they already have a self-carry contract on file at the school, or have one completed by their doctor before the trip. All medications or supplements will be given by trained and delegated staff. All medications must be sent in their original container, and with a pharmacy label that matches the student if the medication is a prescription. Loose pills, gummies, or vitamins in plastic baggies or unlabeled containers will not be accepted. 

Medication forms are available on the school website under the health page. If your student already has medications and forms completed in the school health office, you don't need to take any further action. 

If you have any questions or concerns reach out to the school nurse, 

Kirsten Hopson RN, BSN [email protected]

 

If you DO NOT want your child to attend-please email your advocate letting them know your child will not attend this year. There will be a teacher at Westgate for students who do not attend and they will have classes/specials those days that focus on similar curriculum to outdoor education classes.

Hello Parents and Guardians,

 

This week we're going to be learning to identify our own values in order to better understand ourselves. We will use these values to write a letter explaining how we can remain true to our positive values over the course of the year.

 

Thanks,

Richard

Welcome Back to all Westgate Students!

We are so excited to greet all 5th and 6th-grade students and families this year!  Our team looks forward to a positive and collaborative year amongst our POD! 

Our community has a specific rule of no nut products in food and drinks this year to help those with food allergies.  Please refer to the email from Holly Peterson sent on August 1, 2023.  If you have any questions, please contact us. 

This month our focus will be on R.I.S.E expectations in all areas of the school environment.  

We look forward to an amazing year! 

 

Sincerely,
Mr. Varela (and the 5th-grade team)