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Ms. Papiernik, Advocacy

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Carnival Basket!

Our Spring Carnival is coming up on May 28th, and one of the most anticipated highlights is our themed classroom baskets for the silent auction! These baskets are a major part of our fundraising efforts, and we’d love your help in making them truly special.
This year, our basket themes are Craft Cocktails and Pizza Night.
Contributing is easy! We’ve created Amazon and Target registries (links are below) so you can simply click and purchase items. Even better—your items can be shipped directly to the school. If you prefer, you’re also welcome to shop on your own and drop off donations in the lobby during normal school hours.
Short on time? You can donate through the payment portal (please be sure to note which grade your donation is for), and we’ll take care of the shopping for you.
Please ensure all donations are received by Friday, May 22nd.
Thank you for helping us make this event a success!

​ April Social Awareness

 April is all about Social Awareness, and we’re breaking down the five essential skills you need to navigate today’s world with confidence and compassion. This month is about more than just conversation; it’s about action.
Skills we’re diving deep into:
  • Cultural Competence: Respecting diverse lived experiences.
  • Nonverbal Communication: Reading the room and the "unspoken" word.
  • Active Empathy: Turning understanding into emotional connection.
  • Conflict Management: Turning friction into resolution.
  • Community Involvement: Taking our skills into the streets to make a difference.
    Let’s work together to build a more connected community, one interaction at a time.
Learning Goal:
Cultivate the ability to recognize and respect the perspectives, needs, and feelings of others in diverse social situations.

Science Fair Info For Friday!!!

We're excited to invite you to our Science Fair on Friday, March 6th! This is a wonderful opportunity to see your student's hard work and scientific exploration on display.
Event Details
Date: Friday, March 6th
Time: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Location: 3/4 POD
What You Need to Know
Before the Fair:
  • Students staying after school for the Science Fair will remain in their advocacy class until 4:00 PM.
  • If your student has a sibling in the school, the sibling will stay in their advocacy class until dismissal time, then join their brother/sister at the Science Fair.
Entry Instructions:
  • Parents will be admitted to the building starting at 4:00 PM.
  • Please enter through the front doors only. Do not use the side doors.
Participation:
  • Students do not need to stay after school — this is a fun, low-pressure opportunity to share their work!
  • Students do not need to stay the entire 45 minutes. They may leave at any time and take their poster with them.
Optional:
  • Feel free to send your student with an extra snack for the evening!
We look forward to seeing you there and celebrating your student's scientific achievements!
Questions? Please don't hesitate to reach out.

OVERNIGHT INFO READ EVEN IF YOU ARE NO GOING

Our overnight field trip is coming up next week! We will be traveling to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science from Thursday, February 19th through Friday, February 20th. Please review the information below carefully.
All students will have a pajama day on Thursday, February 19th! Not only is this a fun way to kick-off the overnight, it decreases the need for students to change and for items to be forgotten at school or the museum.
If your child IS attending the trip
  • Please send your child to school on Thursday with everything they need for the overnight
  • Pack a shelf-stable lunch to remain at school for Friday afternoon
  • We will leave school at 5:00 PM
  • Dinner: Cheese or pepperoni pizza will be provided at school
  • The museum will provide a late-night snack (milk and cookies) and a buffet-style breakfast Friday morning
  • Students may NOT bring electronics, including phones, smartwatches, or other devices
Packing/Preparation Suggestions
PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME AND WESTGATE!
  • Sleeping bag and small sleeping pad
    (We sleep on the floor — no air mattresses or cots permitted)
  • Comfortable clothing (we recommend not planning to change clothes at the museum)
  • Water bottle
  • Toothbrush and Toothpaste
  • No packing snacks unless medically necessary - CONTACT THE TEACHER IF THATS THE CASE.
Students will rotate between scheduled museum activities and supervised exploration time. We will return to school by lunchtime on Friday. You may check your child out at that time or they may remain at school for a movie/activity period.
If your child IS NOT attending the trip
  • Thursday, February 19th will be a regular school day
  • A teacher will be at school on Friday, February 20th to provide activities
  • Please pack a lunch from home for Friday
Friday February 20th:
  • Overnight Students will be coming back around 11am. 
  • Students who go on the field trip will do a reflection of their trip.
  • All students will have educational activities, recess, and a G-rated movie for the afternoon.
Please reach out with any questions. We’re looking forward to a fun and memorable experience.
 

Overnight Forms

IMPORTANT OVERNIGHT INFO 
 
If your student is going to the overnight field trip they are coming home with forms. There are 3 forms in there: One is a liability form ( everyone needs this one signed and returned) and the other two are medical forms only needed to be filled out if they need medication. There is a sheet on the front with instructions on what to fill out the medical forms for. 

Kindness Week

Kindness Week at Westgate: 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.
 

Halloween Information

Our Halloween party is coming up, and I wanted to share some important information with you!
We will be watching a Halloween movie during the party. Attached in the link below is a permission form listing several PG-rated Halloween movies for you to choose from. Please fill out the form to give permission for your child to watch a movie in class. If your child cannot watch any of the movies listed, please indicate that on the permission form.4
 
 
Additionally, I am sending out a SignUp Genius link for snacks and drinks. Please bring any items you sign up for on Thursday or Friday, labeled with Room 217 or Papiernik. If all slots are filled and you want to bring a treat in that is okay, I told kids they can bring in candy for the class BUT the candy cannot be eaten during school since we will be having a lot of treats already. 
 
 
A few important guidelines for the party:
  • We do NOT need parent volunteers for this event.
  • No masks or face coverings.
  • No full face paint (partial face paint is allowed only if your child can apply it themselves before the party). Face paint should not be worn to school.
  • No weapons or items that could be used as weapons.
  • No inappropriate or offensive costumes; all body parts must be covered.
  • Students in grades K-8 may NOT wear their costumes to school. They may bring costumes in their backpacks and change into them after lunch. Costumes should not be a distraction during morning classes.
Lastly, Thursday, October 30th will be a Halloween pajama day (or regular pajama day)!

Important dates for the rest of October

Friday, October 24th Trunk or Treat 
Monday, October 27th is Picture retakes 
Friday, October 31st Halloween Party- sign up genius will be sent out closer to the date

Q2 Clubs

There is still time to sign up for Quarter 2 clubs! Get your registrations in today!

Registration closes on Sunday, October 26th at 11:59pm
Clubs will begin the week of October 27th and run through the week of December 15th (unless otherwise noted by the club organization)
Quarter 1 Clubs run for 7 weeks!  
 
Please note: There will be no clubs on November 10th (Veterans Day) as well as no clubs during November 24th-28th (Thanksgiving Break).
 

MONDAY CLUBS

Take Apart Club                    4th-12th      $90    Mr. Elliott    
Sketch Quest                        4th-12th      $70    Ms. H    
Crafting Club                         3rd-8th       $75    Ms. Papiernik    
Intermediate Crochet            5th-12th      $70    Ms. Martz-Mayfield    

TUESDAY CLUBS

Anime Club                            4th-8th        $80    Ms. Calder    
Taylor (Swift) Tuesday           3rd-12th      $70    Ms. O'Leary    
Card Sharps                          3rd-5th        $40    Ms. Hull    
Sticky Fingers Cooking          K - 5th        $161    Outside org

WEDNESDAY CLUBS

Yearbook                               6th-12th    $70    Ms. H    
Musical Theater Club            3rd-12th    $95    Ms. Small    
Sewing Club                          5th-8th      $110    Ms. McAleer    
Crafting with Bluey                K-2nd        $70    Ms. McNair    
Chess Club                           K-5th         $168    Outside Org    

THURSDAY CLUBS

Wild World Arts Academy        K-5th    $140    Outside Club    
Yoga Stars                               K-5th    $147    Outside Club    

 

Get club descriptions and find the buttons to register online: Clubs - Clubs & Activities - Westgate Community School

Week of 9.29

This week, our students will have the exciting opportunity to meet the chicks! Please note that Thursday is a half day, and there will be no school on Friday due to conferences all day.

Rocket Math

This year in 3rd and 4th grades, we will be working hard to build math fact fluency.  Our goal is to help students master these basics so they can be more comfortable applying their computational skills to more difficult and/or multi-step problems.  This is in alignment with our school’s universal goals to improve our math instruction and performance.
We will use a system called Rocket Math that includes two parts: oral partner practice and timed written practice.  Students will be working at their own pace through the various levels.  Their starting point is determined by a placement test, and their written goal is determined after testing their writing speed.  This whole process happens in just fifteen minutes daily.
There are no grades or punishments associated with our fluency practice, but the class will be working toward goals as a group and celebrating their success together.  Every time any student in the class passes to the next set of facts, they will add a star to the rocket. When the rocket is full, the whole class will get to participate in the celebration they agree upon with their teacher.  This might be something like a class pajama day or a day to play math games during fluency practice.  Students may also earn stars in other, top secret, ways determined by their teachers.
Students who are struggling to advance through the different levels will receive small group intervention instruction with Mrs. Cundari during fluency to build their conceptual understanding before returning to the Rocket Math practice with the class.  These students will have alternative ways to earn stars for the class rocket and will continue to participate in all class celebrations.

Week of 8/18

This week, we will be doing MAPS testing to help us understand your child’s progress in school. MAPS (Measures of Academic Progress) is a computer-based assessment that adjusts to each student’s level and measures their skills in Literacy on Tuesday and Math on Wednesday. The results help us tailor instruction to meet your child’s individual learning needs.