Feb. 9th – 13th Kindness Week
Monday, Feb. 9th Skate City PJ Spirit Night
Friday, Feb. 13th ½ Day-Teacher PD
Monday, Feb. 16th No School-President’s Day
Kindness Week at Westgate Food Drive: Feb 9–13
We’re excited to celebrate Kindness Week with this year’s theme, Planting the Seed: An Acorn of Kindness. Students will take part in daily activities that grow compassion, connection, and community.
Our 7th and 8th graders are also leading a schoolwide food drive benefiting A Precious Child. Our goal is 2,000 non‑perishable items, with themed donation days to guide contributions:
- Mon 2/9 – Protein Monday
- Tue 2/10 – Pasta Tuesday
- Wed 2/11 – Canned Veggies Wednesday
- Thu 2/12 – Toiletries Thursday
- Fri 2/13 – Canned Fruit Friday
Families are invited to support our Acts of Kindness for Teachers through donations and volunteer opportunities all week, including bathroom refresh items, hot chocolate cart supplies, carline volunteers, flower‑sale helpers, classroom readers, and more.
All sign‑ups and details can be found here: SignUpGenius: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D45A8AE28A1FA7-61738675-kindness#/
Cash or check donations may be dropped off at the front office (note: Kindness Week), or contributed online through Westgate Events.
Thank you for helping us nurture a culture of kindness that grows far beyond our school walls.
Kindness Week is Monday, February 9th through Friday February 14th.
THINGS TO KNOW
On Friday, February 13th, the 1st-grade students will be going on a walking field trip to Future Forward to tour their facility and deliver kindness cards. Please complete the following permission form by Friday, 6th.
Kindness Day Walking Field Trip to Future Forward – Fill out form
If you would like to chaperone and you have a current background check, please email your advocacy teacher.
- Kindness Week is a long-standing tradition at Westgate. Every year we celebrate and spread kindness throughout the week. Each day has a different theme where we will learn different ways to show kindness. This year 7th/8th Grade is also hosting our annual food drive for A Precious Child in your pods.
- We do not exchange Valentine’s cards, candy, or treats at school. If you arrive with any of these, you will be asked to put them back into your backpack to be taken home.
- Get your Kindness Day permission slip signed by Wednesday! At Westgate, we spread kindness by delivering hand-made kindness cards to local businesses on Friday, February 13th (It’s also a half day).
- Different classes will be going to different nearby businesses or organizations and will return to school afterwards.
- Be prepared to go rain or shine on Friday – bring warm jackets, gloves, beanies, etc. We will be walking outside!
- What do you remember from Kindness Week last year if you were a student here?
Monday, February 9th: Planting Our Acorns
(Words of Affirmation)
Tuesday, February 10th: Watering Our Seeds
(Acts of Service)
Wednesday, February 11th: Sprouting Kindness
(Gift Giving)
Thursday, February 12th: Growing Together
(Quality Time)
Friday, February 13th: Sharing Our Kindness Forest
Buddy Program
5th/6th Grade Advocacy classes are partnering with 1st/2nd grade this year for an exciting buddy program! This is part of the 5th and 6th grade service-learning program, where our older students will serve as mentors to our younger students. It’s going to be more than just book buddies — each week may look a little different. Some days students might read together, other days they might create crafts like bracelets, or even play games.
The buddy program will take place weekly on Mondays for roughly 20 minutes during Quarter 3, beginning after Winter Break. Students are partnered based on their interests and personalities, with the hope of fostering meaningful and positive connections. Our older buddies have spent the first two quarters training and preparing to help inspire confidence, build friendships, and work on individualized goals together.
We’re looking forward to this program! If you have any questions or concerns, our Service-Learning Coordinator, Charlie Kahn, is happy to help at [email protected].
Spot Curriculum for Social Emotional Learning
We’re Learning with Little Spot of Feelings and Emotions!
We are so excited to introduce the Little Spot of Feelings and Emotions program in our classrooms! This curriculum uses colorful characters and engaging stories to help students learn about their feelings—like happy, sad, frustrated, and calm—and how to handle them in positive ways. Through fun activities and conversations, students discovering how to recognize their emotions, express them kindly, and understand the feelings of others. These important skills help us create a caring, respectful classroom community where everyone feels safe and supported!