Due to the weather, the events planned for 5/23 have been rescheduled to 5/29. We will be doing the community trash clean-up from 8:30-9:30. If you are interested in chaperoning during this time, please email me. Chaperones must have an approved background check with the school in order to attend.
Permission slip is attached, and only needs to be submitted by students who have not yet turned in a permission slip.
MAY IS A BUSY MONTH! PLEASE READ THIS UPDATE IN ITS ENTIRETY!
Advocacy Focus for May is “Mental Health Awareness” and we will all be talking about this topic throughout the month. Self-care and positive self-talk will be some of the topics covered for helping with managing stress and coping with other common mental health conditions. We will also be addressing the stigma of Mental Health Issues and teaching students about practicing empathy and understanding related to these issues.
BEYBLADES ARE NOT LONGER ALLOWED AT SCHOOL. We have had a plethora of issues related to them including using them in classes, fighting, crying, loss, and even theft so we are calling it quits for the duration of the school year due to the distractions they are causing. If they are brought to school, they will be confiscated and returned at the end of the school year. All students were made aware of this new policy on Friday, May 3rd at school.
MAY 6-9: SPRING MAP TESTING IN THE MORNINGS
MAY 8: RUN4FUND$ run at the school AND Walk/Bike to School Day. Sponsor forms and information came home in Friday folders. All money is due to the school by May 15th. Students participating in Walk to School (from Target) will need a permission slip to do so.
MAY 10: The 4th grade Science Fair is coming up from 12:45-1:15 for Science A and 2:40-3:10 for Science B on Friday, May 10th. Parents are invited to attend and see the student presentations. Please make sure your student is on track to complete their project by then and check with Ms. Tomlin if you have questions or concerns.
MAY 11: SCHOOL CARNIVAL AT ADAMS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS! 4-7 pm
Al Lesser Building 4430 South Adams County Parkway, Brighton, Colorado 80601
The online bidding for class baskets is currently open! Check out the amazing stuff up for bid!
MAY 13-14: The Overnight Field Trip to the Zoo for all 3-4 students is coming up quickly! A packet with all of the detailed information came home with the permission slips but it is also attached here for you to have in case it was misplaced. Please be sure to review times and the items needed and not allowed for students to bring. No giant duffle bags, please…backpacks, a sleeping bag, and a pillow should suffice. Please also review the meal choices and be sure to send non-perishable food for your child if it does not meet their dietary needs. Students arriving late for the bus will not be able to attend as we cannot have them arrive after our group…PLEASE be on time! The bus will leave the school Monday night at 6:00 PM!
MAY 23: PARK DAY: 12:30-3:00 will be our school-wide end of the year celebration on our playground. Class awards for the Run4Fund$ will also take place that afternoon.
MAY 23: 3-4 Night of the Notables Project is in full swing! All students are working on a biography project for Social Studies where they will research a historical person and create an integrated project that includes a board to show all their research, a costume so they can present as their person, and an oral presentation of their learning. Presentations in full costume will take place from 5:30-6:30 on May 23rd. If your child is unable to make the evening presentation time, notification to their teacher is needed so we can see them present prior to that evening.
MAY 24 AND MAY 27: NO SCHOOL
MAY 28: Highschool Graduation @ Mountain Range Auditorium 6-8 pm
IMPORTANT DATES IN JUNE!
JUNE 3RD: 3-4 Continuation 1:15-2:15 PM and end of year pod party following (volunteer sign up for this will be coming soon).
JUNE 4TH: Half day; dismissal at 11:30. STUDENT LED CONFERENCES 12:30-8 PM. (Sign up coming soon or it is accessible from home when logging into your student’s Microsoft online account.)
JUNE 5TH: LAST DAY OF SCHOOL: Half Day: Older grade levels move up 8:45-9:45. Yearbook signing 10-11:15. Dismissal at 11:30.
3-4 Pod April Update
Please come MEET & GREET the candidates for our open board of Director’s positions on April 9th from 6-6:30 pm. It is important to know who we are voting for to represent our school and its interests.
The Advocacy Focus for the month of April is “We Love our Environment”. All of the classes will be working on taking seriously the stewardship we are afforded in taking care of our planet and its resources.
CMAS testing will continue April 9-11 for math and then make-ups will begin for any students who have been absent during testing prior to or following the break. End of year PALS testing for 3rd graders will also take place the last two weeks of the month. End of year MAP testing will take place in May.
We are excited to announce an Overnight Field Trip to the Zoo for all 3-4 students. A packet with all of the detailed information and permission slip will be coming home soon. The basic information is as follows:
Importance of Volunteers for this trip: This trip is only possible with a lot of volunteer support. We will need volunteers to help at all stages of the trip: at the school, at the zoo overnight and the next day, and new arrivals in the morning to bring back all of our gear. Background checks are required so please apply now if you are wanting to join us and do have one completed yet.
The 4th grade Science Fair is coming up from 12:45-1:15 for Science A and 2:40-3:10 for Science B on May 10th. Parents are invited to attend and see the student presentations. Please make sure your student in on track to complete their project by then and check with Ms. Tomlin if you have questions or concerns.
3-4 Night of the Notables Project beginning soon…this month all students will begin working on a biography project for Social Studies where they will research a historical person and create an integrated project that includes a board to show all their research, a costume so they can present as their person, and an oral presentation of their learning. Details will be coming soon from Ms. Seybold and Mr. Baldwin.
Join us for the Executive Director’s Address on April 23rd from 6:30-7:30 pm. You will learn about the state of the school and all the exciting things happening at Westgate directly from Mrs. Collins.
Spring Carnival is coming up on May 11. Our school carnival is our largest community event and biggest fundraiser of the year. A big part of that is our Silent Auction, featuring our fabulous classroom gift baskets.
Our advocacy class is creating the basket "Unraveled: A Knit & Crochet Basket".
We are hoping that each family in our room can contribute something to our basket ($5 or $50...every donation is awesome and appreciated!)
Here is the link to the Sign-Up Genius for our basket: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d45abae2aa1fc1-classroom
Our parent volunteer for our basket is Pam Migliore ([email protected].)
Please get her your donated items AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (due 4/20.) Contact her to hand them off directly or turn them into the school's front desk, clearly labeled with "Dorschner/Unraveled/Carnival Basket". Getting these items in BEFORE Spring Break will enable her to get these gift baskets auction-ready & fabulous! No time to shop? Please donate a VISA/Amazon Gift Card or Gift Card to a hobby store or yarn shop Please turn all gift cards/gift certificates into the dropbox in the school lobby in an envelope labeled “Dorschner’s carnival basket" & your family name. Your donation will then be used to purchase items for the classroom basket. Thanks for your support!
3-4 Pod March Update
Upcoming Dates:
March 1st: Parent-Teacher Conference Sign up Opens
March 13th: Panera Spirit Night
March 15th: Parent-Teacher Conference Sign up Closes
March 15th: Bios due to the Board for New Board Candidates
March 18-20: CMAS testing
March 19-20: Spring Play Performances at DL Parsons Theatre
March 21-22: Parent-Conferences
March 21st-April 7th: Spring Break
April 9th: New Board Candidate Meet and Greet 6-6:30
April 9-April 17th: CMAS testing
Spring Conference Sign Up to be posted after school on March 1st. 20-minute slots are first come, first serve. The sign up will close on March 15th at the end of the school day. All requests for conferences beyond the closure of the sign up should be directed to Mrs. Dorschner at [email protected].
CMAS testing begins the week before spring break. Students will be testing in the morning for English Language Arts on March 18, 19 and 20. Please try to have your students here on time and throughout the morning that week as they will not be permitted to start the test if they arrive late for the testing window. We will be setting up and prepping for the test prior to the window in the mornings and the actual test will begin at 9:30. Please try not to schedule appointments in the mornings on those days.
Advocacy Focus for March is Mindfulness and Dealing with Stress so all advocacy classes will be doing activities focused on teaching these skills in March.
GUM
Having gum at school is privilege not afforded at any other school in the district. While we would love to continue allowing this freedom, the rules are not always being followed and it has resulted in gum being found in places it should never be, and gum being a distraction in classes. In order for gum to continue to be an option for our students, the rules must be followed by all. The rules are listed here, please go over them with your student if they are in the practice of bringing gum to school and make sure they are prepared to follow them all, or please keep the gum at home. Thank you for your help with this.
KINDNESS CARD DELIVERY AND PERMISSION SLIPS
Kindness card delivery will take place on Valentine’s Day. Please look in your child’s Friday folder for the permission slip and to see where your child’s advocacy class will be delivering cards.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Please consider making the walk with us to make deliveries of kindness cards. Please indicate on the permission slips when you return them this week.
VALENTINE’S DAY CARDS AT SCHOOL ARE NOT ALLOWED AT WESTGATE. Student cannot bring, make or deliver ANY Valentines at school, even to their closest friends. Please do not allow this as it is painful for those who do not receive them and, as such, NONE are allowed.
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR is FEBRUARY 4-8. Students will only be allowed to attend during quiet time if they have money to spend and have already eaten their lunch.
FAMILY DANCE ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13
Make plans to attend the family dance on February 13th. Please see the school newsletter and calendar for more information.
ADVOCACY FOCUS FOR FEBRUARY
The focus in our advocacy lessons for February is HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS. Topics can include such topics as good manners, learning to listen to others, conflict resolution, what real friendship looks and sounds like, and having respect for the differences of other.
NO SCHOOL for students on February 15th or 18th
We Need a Volunteer Like YOU on Friday, January 25th for JA IN A DAY!
Kids believe they can be whatever they want when they grow up. And they’re right. But getting there isn’t always easy. No matter what your profession, your life experience and determination has prepared you to serve as a role model — not just to your children, but to their peers too.
Junior Achievement (JA) is partnering with Westgate to provide vital enrichment programs to students. In order for your school to take advantage of this exciting opportunity, we need your help to facilitate one of JA’s proven programs. As a JA volunteer, you will use your life experience to become a role model for local students, teaching them about the “economics of life,” and helping them understand the fundamental connection between school and success.
You do not need any special financial skills or knowledge in order to volunteer. JA provides you with everything you need to be successful in the classroom. Volunteers receive training on how to use JA’s hands-on curriculum, and the teacher is there with you for support.
Contact Amanda Novak at [email protected] to sign up!