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Ms. Haupt, Advocacy

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Month of May

Greetings 7/8 Families,

As we enter our final month of school, our advocacy focus is self-care. With the excitement and pressure that can come at the end of the year, it’s essential that students take time to care for themselves in three key areas: emotional, physical, and mental well-being.

Emotional Self-Care
We are encouraging students to check in with their feelings and find healthy ways to express them. This might include talking with a trusted friend or adult, journaling, or simply taking a moment to pause and reflect. Building emotional awareness helps students navigate challenges and strengthen relationships.

Physical Self-Care
Taking care of our bodies supports everything we do. Students are reminded to get enough sleep, stay active, drink water, and make nutritious food choices. Even small habits like stretching, going for a walk, or limiting screen time before bed can make a big difference.

Mental Self-Care
Our minds need care too. We are practicing strategies to manage stress, stay organized, and maintain focus. This includes setting realistic goals, taking breaks when needed, and using positive self-talk.

Finishing Strong
As we approach the end of the school year, it’s important for students to stay engaged and committed to their learning. We are encouraging everyone to do the following things:

  • Keep up with assignments and deadlines
  • Ask for help when needed
  • Stay organized and focused during class time
  • Take pride in the effort they put into their work

The habits students build now will help them close out the year with confidence and set a positive foundation for what comes next.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our students grow not just academically, but as healthy, balanced individuals.

Important Dates:

Thursday, May 7: 8th Grade Field Trip to SPREE

Friday, May 22: 7/8 Spring Dance – 6-8 pm at Westgate HS, $3, light snacks provided. Theme is Neon 90s

Monday, May 25: Memorial Day – No School

Wednesday, May 27: 7/8 Continuation at 8:15 am

Thursday, May 28: Half-day – Carnival and Student-Led Conferences

Friday, May 29: Half-day – Last Day of School and Yearbook Signing

Kind regards,

Mrs. Haupt

Carnival Baskets

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 Golf and Wine & Paint 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!

Stay & Play + In-N-Out Cookout Fundraiser April 29th!

Last  Spirit Night of the Year - Stay & Play + In-N-Out Cookout Fundraiser April 29th!
Let’s celebrate our students finishing CMAS testing with a fun Stay & Play event! Bring the whole family, enjoy delicious In-N-Out burgers, and let the kids relax and play after all their hard work.
Meal tickets are $8 each - includes a burger, chips, and drink.
Purchase your Tickets on our Payment Portal today: IN-N-OUT Cookout | Westgate Community School
Or
Drop off check or cash with $8 per ticket in an envelope labeled with your name and In-N-Out
Ticket deadline: April 20th — don’t miss out! Tickets will NOT be available at the event!
Pick up your students in carline, then park and come over to the playground area where you can pick up your meal ticket. In-N-Out will begin serving at 4:30pm. 75% of ticket sales support our school and students.
 
Contact the front desk with any additional questions.

Month of April

Greetings 7/8 Families!

Ready to level up your social IQ? 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.

Reminders

  • Please remind students to keep electronics in lock boxes or at home during testing- one device disqualifies all tests in the room.
  • As the weather gets nicer, please remind students to follow the dress code still.

Upcoming Testing

Testing season is approaching, and we want students and families to be prepared. All testing sessions take place throughout the morning, so on-time attendance is essential. Students who arrive late may not be able to test, and leaving early during a session is not permitted. Any missed sessions will require afternoon or designated make‑up testing.


CMAS results help us evaluate our curriculum and compare student performance at the state and national levels. Please help ensure your student is present, well‑rested, and ready to test on their scheduled days.

Testing Dates at a Glance

April 7–9

  • Grades 7/8: Math
  • Grades 8: Science

April 14–17

  • Grades 7/8: ELA

April 27–May 1

  • 4/28: MAP – Grades 7/8

Testing Tips for Families

For students:

  1. Get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy breakfast.
  2. Stay active and take short movement breaks.
  3. Practice calming strategies and stay positive.

For parents & guardians:

  1. Offer encouragement and reassurance.
  2. Keep routines consistent and stress low.
  3. Celebrate effort and progress, not just results.

 

Upcoming Events

4/17:  Half Day of School (pick up at 11:30AM)

4/21: 7th Grade Field Trip - CSU Spur - Bring sack lunch.

4/22: 8th Grade Field Trip - CSU Spur - Bring sack lunch.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Haupt

February

Dear Families,

This month, our school’s advocacy focus is Empathy and Kindness. Empathy is a key part of our school-wide RISE program and plays an important role in helping students grow both socially and emotionally.

When students practice empathy, they learn to understand different perspectives, show compassion, and respond to others with kindness. These skills help strengthen our school community, deepen relationships, and create a more respectful and supportive environment for everyone.

Throughout the month, students will participate in discussions and activities designed to help them recognize feelings in themselves and others, appreciate differences, and make thoughtful, caring choices. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home by talking about kindness, listening to others’ viewpoints, and modeling empathy in everyday situations.

Important Dates

  • Friday, February 13: Half-day for Professional Development
  • Friday, February 13: Students will take a field trip to deliver Kindness Cards (look for a digital permission slip)
  • Monday, February 16: No school for President’s Day
  • Friday, February 20: 7th Grade Field Trip to Nederland for Snow School with Wild Bear Nature Preserve (look for a digital permission slip)

 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

 

Thank you for your continued support as we work together to help our students RISE and build a strong, connected community.

Warmly,

Mrs. Haupt

January

Dear Families,

Happy New Year! As we begin Semester 2, January’s Advocacy theme will focus on growth mindset.

We will be encouraging students to see learning as a process that involves perseverance, problem solving, and resilience. Students will be reminded that challenges are a natural and important part of learning, and that mistakes are not failures, but opportunities to learn, reflect, and grow. Through discussions and activities, we will help students practice strategies such as trying different approaches, asking for help when needed, and staying motivated even when tasks feel difficult.

Our goal is to empower students to believe in their ability to grow through effort and persistence. When students develop a growth mindset, they become more confident learners who are willing to take risks, learn from setbacks, and problem-solve independently.

You can support this theme at home by praising effort rather than perfection, encouraging your child to talk about challenges they faced, and asking what they learned from mistakes. Simple messages like “Keep trying,” “What can you do differently next time?” or “Mistakes help our brains grow” make a big impact.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to help students start Semester 2 strong and confident.

 

Important Dates

Monday, January 19th: No school to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day

 

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Warm regards,

Mrs. Haupt

November

November’s Advocacy Focus: Gratitude

Students will do the following:

  • Look at our skills, abilities, accomplishments, loved ones, and the many things we have, to identify what we are grateful for.
  • Work on increasing happiness with activities that promote a sense of togetherness and belonging with our advocacy, POD, friends, and family.

 Important Dates

Friday, November 14th : 8th Grade Field Trip to Front Range Community Collete

Friday, November 7: Professional Development - Half Day Dismiss at 11:30

Monday, November 10: Veterans Day – No School

Friday, November 14: 7/8 Dance 6-8 pm at Westgate $3 (DJ and light snacks provided)

Monday, November 24 – Friday, November 28 Thanksgiving Break – No School

Email with and questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Haupt

Let's Gogh! Fun Run

Don't forget the Let's Gogh! Fun Run will be happening on September 26th! Here are the run times for the different PODs:   
 
SCHEDULE OF RUN TIMES:
  • 5th & 6th Grade:  8:30 - 8:50
  • 3rd & 4th Grade:  9:00 - 9:15
  • 7th & 8th Grade:  9:25 - 9:50
  • Kindergarten: 10:00 - 10:15
  • 1st & 2nd Grade: 10:25 - 10:40
  • High School: 10:50 - 11:15 
Be sure to encourage your family and friend to sponsor your student and have them in before October 3rd to count toward your student's award achievement! Find more information on the Westgate FUN RUN page! 

September

Greetings Advocacy Families,

Welcome to September! This month our Advocacy theme is Self-Awareness. For this theme we have two learning goals that we want students to work towards.

Goal 1: Students will practice identifying their emotions and leveraging their strengths to overcome challenges.

Goal 2: Students will be able to name the things that make them unique, and how those character traits help them succeed in their personal and academic endeavors.

As we are over halfway through the first quarter, I would like to invite you all to regularly check Infinite Campus to check on your student's grades and identify any incomplete or missing assignments that may need to be finished. Click on the following link to create your Infinite Campus account if you do not already have one. https://4.files.edl.io/8b72/09/15/22/164611-24e1a24a-402c-49de-9a50-97e1e60c66bd.pdf

The following link will help you set up the Infinite Campus App, which is nice to have as you can set it to notify you whenever a grade is entered for your student. https://1.cdn.edl.io/X3X3DBQ7iIoHx1h6P5aI99A0RyC52XnQd9k5SnwDVIODKHgl.pdf

Important Dates

  • Sept. 5th is Picture Day!  
  • Sept. 8th – 12th is Spirit Week
    • Monday: Rainbow day
    • Tuesday: Crazy Hat/Hair Day
    • Wednesday: Westgate Wednesday
    • Thursday: Throwback Thursday
    • Friday: Pajama Day
  • Sept 19th: Half Day
  • Sept. 24th: Student Count Day
  • Sept. 26 & 27th are Conferences. Sept. 26th is a Half Day- dismissal is at 11:30 am. 
  • Sept. 30- Oct. 13: Fall Break! 
  • Oct. 2nd: Half Day/Conferences
  • Oct. 3rd: No School/Conferences

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Haupt

August Advocacy

Hello Advocacy Families!
I am Marcella Haupt (the kids call me Mrs. Haupt) 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 have subscribed you to my Advocacy page and my classroom pages, so you will receive updates to your email automatically. You can use the link below to access my page.
On my pages, I will be posting academic information on my Edlio every week for you to review. Monthly, I will post Advocacy specific information.
We have sent home two documents that we would like you to read over with your student, sign, and send back.
  1. Behavior and Expectations
  2. Electronic Use Agreement
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 our various environments, and then we CELEBRATE when we see students doing those things! At Westgate, we RISE (Respect, Integrity, Safety, Empathy).
We will be teaching students what these 4 words mean—focusing on a different part of RISE each week—and what it looks like to live these values out during school and at home. We will use RISE all year to celebrate positive behaviors.
I am excited for the new school year and getting to know you and your student!
Sincerely,
Marcella Haupt