Here is the link:

SILVERWARE/PLASTICWARE

PLEASE SEND PLASTICWARE OR SILVERWARE WITH YOUR CHILD FOR THEIR SNACKS AND LUNCHES AS WE ARE NOT PURCHASING OR PROVIDING ANYMORE THIS SCHOOL YEAR, WHEN WHAT WE HAVE LEFT IS GONE, IT'S GONE. 

 

SUBSTITUTE EXPECTATIONS

Please talk to your students about expectations when substitutes are here as we have discussed it with them as teachers but are still having problems with some students not behaving for subs.  Students should be working as expected and not being disrespectful. 

 

WHAT'S COMING UP!

 

4th grade Science Fair-May 23rd, 1:00-2:15: parents welcome, please sign in at the office

 

Permission Slip came home in Friday Folder-Please return ASAP!

Trash Pick Up and Park Day-May 24th, 12:30-2:15

12:30-1:15 Trash Pick Up in field to the west of WCS (across Washington); then return to school and 3/4 will have their Park Day outdoor time from 1:15-2:15. If you would like to attend as a chaperone for the clean up, please respond on the permission form and you will be contacted by a 3/4 teacher.  You can stay and help to chaperone for Park Day as well if you are chosen as a chaperone for trash clean-up.  In this case, you will be assigned a chaperone spot in the park to help with monitoring the classes.  Thank you in advance for volunteering to help keep our kiddos safe during these events!

Advocacy Topic
Our advocacy classes are moving into learning about self care for the month of May in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month.  Self-awareness is always a focus and it will pair very well with self care and helping our young friends to self identify their own emotional and physical needs and be able to help advocate for themselves when they are in need.
 
Testing
PALS testing (for 3rd graders) will take place in May and MAP testing will be in the mornings this week during literacy times.  We will then move literacy to our normal math times and not have math this week.  
 
Reminder:
Please send your children with their own plastic ware or silverware for eating here as we are handing out WAY TOO MUCH plastic silverware on a daily basis.  It is costly for the school and teachers to continue to provide so much each week. 
 
Upcoming events:
May 23rd: Science Fair (4th grade) 1-2:15pm
May 24th: Park Day 1-3pm
May 24th: 3 v 3 Soccer Tournament
May 29th: 3/4 Field Trip to Colorado History Museum
May 31st:  Night of the Notables (3rd and 4th grade)

PALS testing (for 3rd graders) will take place in May and MAP testing will be in the mornings the week of May 14th-18th. 
Please send your children with their own plastic ware or silverware for eating here as we are handing out WAY TOO MUCH plastic silverware on a daily basis. It is costly for the school and teachers to continue to provide so much each week. 

Ms. Tomlin is currently collecting baby food jars, water bottles (8oz if possible), and shoe boxes for class projects. Please send them in with your students or drop them in the office with her name on it if you are able to donate!

 

May is Mental Health Awareness month so we will be doing some work with that in advocacy but will also continue to learn about GRIT and how we can take steps to make sure we are using ours throughout the final month of school.

 

Zero waste lunch this Wednesday, May 2nd.  Please try to send reusable containers and let's see how little waste we can produce for that day!

Upcoming events:

May 3rd: Presentation of Bully Documentary and Community Discussion 5:30-8:30 
https://1.cdn.edl.io/ZH7B3B7yuQK2BxaSnifZ4IBdhxZlJRo6YeOtUSfzD4fYD6hS.mp
May 3rd: Your Pie Spirit Night
May 12th: School Carnival 4-7pm
May 23rd: Tentative date for Science Fair (4th grade)
May 24th: Park Day 1-3pm
May 24th: 3 v 3 Soccer Tournament
May 29th: 3/4 Field Trip to Colorado History Museum
May 31st: Night of the Notables (3rd and 4th grade)

No School on Friday, April 27

 

CMAS testing

CMAS testing is over and classes are back to usual!  Yay!  PALS testing (for 3rd graders) and MAP testing will take place in May.

 

Collecting these items...

Ms. Tomlin is currently collecting baby food jars, water bottles (8oz if possible), and shoe boxes for class projects.  Please send them in with your students or drop them in the office with her name on it if you are able to donate!

 

Bully

Join us at Westgate on Thursday, May 3rd from 5:30pm-8:30pm to watch the critically acclaimed documentary, BULLY and participate in a community led discussion about how bullying impacts all of us. We will provide snacks and refreshments, book and movie giveaways, and complimentary childcare. In the Kid's Room, we will have teachers leading activities that spread and promote Kindness. Click the link to watch a video for more information! https://1.cdn.edl.io/ZH7B3B7yuQK2BxaSnifZ4IBdhxZlJRo6YeOtUSfzD4fYD6hS.mp4

Upcoming events:

April 17th: Panera Spirit Night

April 24th: Director's Address 6:30-8

April 25th: Civil War Reenactment Fundraiser for 8th Grade 6-8:30

April 26th: Take your Child to Work Day (please notify the school if you are taking your child)

April 27th: No School

May 3rd: Presentation of Bully Documentary and Community Discussion 5:30-8:30

May 3rd: Your Pie Spirit Night

May 12th: School Carnival

May 29th: 3/4 Field Trip to Colorado History Museum

 

Colorado has unpredictable weather right now. Please encourage your child to bring a jacket everyday even if it seems beautiful in the morning. 

 

Computer Reminder 

We will be reviewing the technology agreement in our advocacy classes. Recent events of inappropriate behavior have resulted in the disabling of all cameras on student computers. We want to make sure students are very aware of the technology agreements they are held to as violations will result in consequences related to their technology use. 

 

Advocacy Theme for the month of April

This month, students will be reviewing growth mindset. We will focus on "grit." What is grittiness, what does it look like, and how can we have grit?

Upcoming dates:

3/19-3/21            CMAS testing in the morning

3/22 and 3/23    Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences 8am-8pm; NO SCHOOL for students

3/24-4/8               NO SCHOOL- SPRING BREAK!

 

CMAS Testing

We will be doing our first round of testing before Spring Break. This will be next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in the morning. It’s so important that your student is here by 8:00 AM. We will be testing all morning, so please do not schedule appointments, as the student’s test score may not count if he/she leaves mid test. Our afternoons on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday should be the same as usual. A cheese stick snack will be provided before each test. If your student cannot consume this, please provide an alternative, protein rich snack!

Please keep in mind:

• Students need a goodnight’s rest before each test
• Protein for breakfast and lunch are key for best performance
• Bring a water bottle for extra and sustained hydration throughout the day

Upcoming Dates:

March 16: grades finalized

March 19, 20, 21: CMAS testing in the morning

March 22 and 23: Parent/Teacher Conferences 8 am to 8 pm- no school for students

 

Please check the SignUpGenius for our advocacy's donation basket for the carnival!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084dafae2ba3f85-mrbaldwins

 

CMAS Practice and Testing

We will be spending time in both literacy and math this week practicing for CMAS testing next week. We want to give our students the confidence and tools to be successful moving into state testing next week. If you have questions, please let me know.

 

Grades and Late Work

All grades are finalized on Friday, March 16. In order to meet this deadline, all late work must be turned in by Wednesday, March 14. Please check your student’s grades and let the corresponding teacher know if you have any questions.

Please check the SignUpGenius for our advocacy's donation basket for the carnival!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084dafae2ba3f85-mrbaldwins

Upcoming Dates:

CMAS Testing- Math:  March 19, 20, 21

Parent-Teacher Spring Conferences:  March 22 and 23

 

Group Discussion on Gifted Students- Email Cassie Seybold if you’d like to partake!

Hello Parents!  My name is Cassie Seybold and I have worked at Westgate for the last eight years teaching both Kindergarten and 3-4 and I am currently completing my Master’s degree in gifted education.  As a part of the final days of my program, I would like to hold a parent discussion group surrounding the joys and challenges of raising gifted children, holding 3-4 sessions in the month of March. I am looking to have at least 4 participants with children in K-4 grades, but will happily take up to 10 who are interested in joining me for some meaningful discussion about gifted children and our experiences with them.  The purpose is for discussion and sharing of support and resources only, as I am not a licensed counselor.  I would just like to share some knowledge and resources I have acquired through my 20+ years of both raising and teaching gifted children.  If you are interested in joining, please contact me asap and let me know your available times.  I was thinking Monday or Wednesday evenings from 4-5 or possibly some Saturday mornings.  Children are welcome to attend if you don’t have childcare so long as they can entertain themselves in my classroom with Legos, drawing, games, or anything else they might bring along.  The first discussion topic, Defining Giftedness, and some other possible discussion topics are listed below (we will vote and finalize the topics together).  I look forward to these discussions and can’t wait to learn from you all!  Please contact me at cassie.seybold@westgateschool.org to reserve your spot by February 28^th so we can set up our meeting dates and get started.

**Defining Giftedness…How do we know this is what we are dealing with?  What can I expect?

Asynchrony and its role in your child’s development

Overexcitabilities and their impact on your child

Social Development and Friendships

Family relationships (parents, siblings, other family and adults)

Twice exceptionality—what is it and how can I help my child?

Mental health issues and being your child’s advocate

Joys and difficulties of parenting gifted children, including sharing of support resources

 

Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences: March 22 and March 23- Sign-up Coming SOON!

Please be on the look out for the spring conference sign-ups. I will post directions about how to sign up and with whom, but it will be on a first come, first served basis.

 

CMAS Testing

The week before we go on Spring Break, March 19-21, the students will begin CMAS testing. We will test math first, before break. When we return, we will test English Language Arts. Mrs. Callahan, our assessment coordinator, sent out an email to all 3^rd-high school families providing more information about testing. The 3^rd and 4^th graders will test in the morning on each of those days. Please make sure your student is at school ON TIME! More information will come as we get closer to the testing dates. In the meantime, if you’d like to practice with your student at home, you can use the following links:

 

3^rd Grade:

ELA Practice- http://download.pearsonaccessnext.com/co/co-practicetest.html?links=1

Math Practice- http://download.pearsonaccessnext.com/co/co-practicetest.html?links=1

 

4^th Grade:

ELA Practice- http://download.pearsonaccessnext.com/co/co-practicetest.html?links=1

Math Practice- http://download.pearsonaccessnext.com/co/co-practicetest.html?links=1

Social Studies Practice- http://download.pearsonaccessnext.com/co/co-practicetest.html?links=1

Please check the SignUpGenius for our advocacy's donation basket for the carnival!

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c084dafae2ba3f85-mrbaldwins

 

Monday, Feb. 19- No School: Presidents’ Day

Thursday, Feb. 22- Seussical the Musical Field Trip

Friday, Feb. 23- Junior Achievement in a Day

 

Seussical the Musical Field Trip

Please make sure your student has turned in his/her permission slip by Wednesday. On Thursday, each student will need to bring a lunch as we will be eating lunch when we return at 1:30. Since we will be eating lunch so much later than normal, please make sure your student has a protein rich snack that your student can eat before we leave. If you need suggestions, please reach out.

 

Lunch at School

We wanted to pass on some information to you about lunch here at school. We are required, by law, to ensure that all of our students have a lunch. If a student says that he/she does not have a lunch, we need to call down and have an emergency lunch provided. This does cost money to your family, but we are required to do so. Of course, we cannot force your student to eat the lunch, but we do need to give them the opportunity to do so. If you have further questions, please feel free to reach out.

 

No Items to Specials!

This year, we’ve seen an increase in the number of unnecessary items going to specials. As was stated in November, students are not to be taking these things to specials and if students do not heed the warning, he/she will have his/her things confiscated and kept until the end of the quarter. We offer several warnings before sending students to specials, so there’s no reason additional things should be taken to specials. Thank you for your support with this as we partner with our specials team to ensure the students get the most out of their specials classes.