From Mr. Sturr:

Well, there’s no easy way to say this, so here it is: I’m leaving Westgate at the end of this school year. I’ll be teaching English and coaching basketball at my neighborhood school, Pomona High School. It’s bittersweet.  

I have the utmost confidence in our high school, our teachers, community, and our students. You are strong beyond measure and the institution is stable and vibrant because of you. It’s the perfect time for me to move on.  

I love Westgate today. I loved it yesterday. I will continue to love Westgate and am proud of my years of joyful service to it. It has been a professionally redeeming experience for me and one I don’t take for granted. I’m leaving entirely to pursue opportunities that Westgate, by virtue of model, geography, and philosophy cannot provide. These are institutional constraints, not failings. Westgate can’t, and shouldn’t, provide a basketball program, and that’s not a failing. Westgate can’t situate itself within my neighborhood, a relaxing walk from my back door, which, naturally, isn’t a failing. Finally, since I’m not interested in administration, Westgate can’t offer opportunities for me to grow as a union teacher, which, again, isn’t a failing. I’m content and grateful. You will find me beaming from the front row at the next three graduations. 

As we transition out of this year, we’ll take the time to meet with students and as a community. We’ll circle up, like we always do. Mr. Brinkley and Mr. Cuevas will be here in support, as will Ms. Washington and Mrs. Novak. So will I. Anyone is welcome to email, call, schedule a conference or just drop by if they need anything. I’m still in service. And I’ll probably need a hug.  

 

Best, 

 

Micah Sturr 

 

Hello,

 

Hope all the juniors are rested and ready for finals week! Here is the link to Quarter 4 Student-Led conferences on June 4th.

 

 

Hello Junior Parents,

 

As we approach the departure day for Taos, here are a few reminders I wanted to let you know about:

 

We are excited because we found out today that our lodging accommodations have changed to an even better spot! Students will be staying in a Habitat House right next to the job site. It is still close to the rec center and all sleeping arrangements and cooking arrangements will stay the same. The address is 501 Sunset St. Taos NM 87571 and you can find it here

https://www.google.com/search?q=google+501+sunset+st.+taos+nm&rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS785US785&oq=google+501+sunset+st.+taos+nm&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64.8663j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

Pack for all types of weather for 8 days. It could be chilly on the Llama hike, and we saw snow one of the work days in the past.  It may also be super warm!

 

Pack one lunch for the sand dunes picnic day on our drive out there. Students will only need some cash (around $10) to pay for the fast food lunch on the return trip. All other meals are included: Restaurants, grocery shopping trips, etc.  Anything else, like personal spending money, is up to you.

 

Make sure that you have all the proper forms in to Mrs. Hopson if they will bring any medications including over-the-counter. Please turn these forms in immediately. See the nurse’s letter and med letter attached.

 

Remind your students of the three big no-nos: No drinking, no drugs, no hanky-panky! We want their input with a lot of choices, but to remember that the adults have the final say in decision making. If a student does engage in these behaviors, we will be calling you and we will expect you to pick them up from Taos.

 

My experience is that this trip does wonders for their group bonding, but that it is emotionally taxing. We will accomplish something meaningful and helpful, but it could send some on an emotional roller-coaster ride.

 

Please let me know if you have any additional questions. My wife and I have done this one before, so we know a lot more about what to expect than last time.

 

-Jason Brinkley

Hello Junior Parents,

 

Be sure to look over the Taos information you already have from Mrs. Novak. We will be sending out an email shortly to review some key points.

 

We’re in the home stretch of the year. We only have a few weeks left to get some learning in.  

• Senior grades are due this week. Congrats seniors on an education career well earned. As always, we’re proud of you.  
• Happy Mother’s Day to all of our Westgate moms.  
• Service trips start this week when our seniors travel to Puerto Rico. Next week the Juniors will go to Taos, NM, the sophomores will work at the wolf sanctuary near Ft. Collins, and the freshman will serve locally. Service is a graduation requirement, and we’re honored to perform it. It’s a joy that makes Westgate Westgate.  
• Service panels went beautifully last week. If you missed yours, contact Mr. Sturr.  

 

A reminder about dress code as the weather gets warmer – we don’t want to see your underwear and make sure to cover anywhere that is traditionally covered with underwear.  

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

Hello Junior Parents,

 

Taos trip is three weeks away! Permission slips and payments should be in by now. Ask Amanda Novak if you are unsure about what your payment is after fundraising.

 

Nothing to see here! We don’t have anything on the calendar this week. Keep working. Speaking of work, here’s a poem from Mr. Sturr:

 

Woman Work 

Maya Angelou 

 

I've got the children to tend 

The clothes to mend 

The floor to mop 

The food to shop 

Then the chicken to fry 

The baby to dry 

I got company to feed 

The garden to weed 

I've got shirts to press 

The tots to dress 

The can to be cut 

I gotta clean up this hut 

Then see about the sick 

And the cotton to pick. 

 

Shine on me, sunshine 

Rain on me, rain 

Fall softly, dewdrops 

And cool my brow again. 

 

Storm, blow me from here 

With your fiercest wind 

Let me float across the sky 

'Til I can rest again. 

 

Fall gently, snowflakes 

Cover me with white 

Cold icy kisses and 

Let me rest tonight. 

 

Sun, rain, curving sky 

Mountain, oceans, leaf and stone 

Star shine, moon glow 

You're all that I can call my own. 

 

 

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

Weekly Update 4-15-19 

We have our first solid week of the final quarter this week and welcome a return to a typical schedule. We’d like to thank students and families for their flexibility and commitment during standardized testing. Westgate high school students always perform beautifully on these tests and that success reflects on us, so thank you.  

• Juniors will take the CMAS science test this Friday with Mr. Sturr per your agreement with Mrs. Colson.  
• Seniors will have their Puerto Rico informational meeting Monday at 5:00 in Mr. Sturr’s room.  

 

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

 

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

 

 

Micah Sturr

High School Teacher

Weekly Update 4-8-19 

Welcome back for fourth quarter! We trust spring break was restful and energizing! 

 

Prom was a huge success last Thursday and we loved to see so many students come and celebrate in the Westgate way. A special thank you to Jordan for the DJ work and to everyone on student leadership for so many hours of planning and set up to make this year such a success.  

 

This week is testing week in the high school. If you don’t have testing on Tuesday and Wednesday, stay home and work on your college classes.   

• Monday – regular classes 
• Tuesday – SAT for 11^th grade  
• Wednesday – PSAT for 9^th and 10^th
• Friday – CMAS Science for 11^th  

 

We’d like to encourage you to add yourself to the mailing list to receive weekly updates for any class your student is currently taking. As the year progresses to a close, content and expectations are, naturally, becoming more rigorous. As is the Westgate way, we will continue our focus on meaningful in-class activities and project-based learning. We encourage you to sign up for our weekly updates to close the communication loop.  
 

Below are links to staff pages for High School Teachers. There, you can choose what specific class updates to receive. 

• Therese Catherine Ellis 

http://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=778945&type=u&pREC_ID=1217767 

 

• Micah Sturr  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699659&type=u 

 

• Jason Brinkley  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699654&type=u&pREC_ID=1217807 

 

• Tim Cuevas  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1003088&type=u&pREC_ID=1478771 

 

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

 

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Hello Junior Parents,

 

Some Taos trip notes:

 

As you are filling out the two permission slips for the Taos trip, here is some info you will need:

Address of the church (New Beginnings Church) where we will stay:

551 Cruz Alta Rd. Taos NM 87571

Date of the Llama hike: Wednesday May 22nd

Also, please provide your initial $200 deposit as soon as possible to help us in planning for this trip along with the two permission forms.

 

We’d like to encourage you to add yourself to the mailing list to receive weekly updates for any class your student is currently taking. As the year progresses to a close, content and expectations are, naturally, becoming more rigorous. As is the Westgate way, we will continue our focus on meaningful in-class activities and project-based learning. We encourage you to sign up for our weekly updates to close the communication loop.  
 

Below are links to staff pages for High School Teachers. There, you can choose what specific class updates to receive. 

• Therese Catherine Ellis 

http://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=778945&type=u&pREC_ID=1217767 

 

• Micah Sturr  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699659&type=u 

 

• Jason Brinkley  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699654&type=u&pREC_ID=1217807 

 

• Tim Cuevas  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1003088&type=u&pREC_ID=1478771 

 

Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet.  

 

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

 

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Jason Brinkley

Junior Advocate

Weekly Update 3-11-19 

Conferences are right around the corner, and we’d love to see all of you there! They’re the 21 and 22 of this month and you can sign up for a slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4DA9AF2AA2FE3-quarter3 

 

We’d like to encourage you to add yourself to the mailing list to receive weekly updates for any class your student is currently taking. As the year progresses to a close, content and expectations are, naturally, becoming more rigorous. As is the Westgate way, we will continue our focus on meaningful in-class activities and project-based learning. We encourage you to sign up for our weekly updates to close the communication loop.  
 

Below are links to staff pages for High School Teachers. There, you can choose what specific class updates to receive. 

• Therese Catherine Ellis 

http://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=778945&type=u&pREC_ID=1217767 

 

• Micah Sturr  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699659&type=u 

 

• Jason Brinkley  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699654&type=u&pREC_ID=1217807 

 

• Tim Cuevas  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1003088&type=u&pREC_ID=1478771 

 

Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet.  

 

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

 

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Jason Brinkley

Junior Advocate

Weekly Update 3-4-19 

We’d like to encourage you to add yourself to the mailing list to receive weekly updates for any class your student is currently taking. As the year progresses to a close, content and expectations are, naturally, becoming more rigorous. As is the Westgate way, we will continue our focus on meaningful in-class activities and project-based learning. We encourage you to sign up for our weekly updates to close the communication loop.  
 

Below are links to staff pages for High School Teachers. There, you can choose what specific class updates to receive. 

• Therese Catherine Ellis 

http://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=778945&type=u&pREC_ID=1217767 

 

• Micah Sturr  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699659&type=u 

 

• Jason Brinkley  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=699654&type=u&pREC_ID=1217807 

 

• Tim Cuevas  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1003088&type=u&pREC_ID=1478771 

 

Prom is coming. Join us for a fantasy dream on the evening of April 4 at Stonebrook Manor. Clear your calendar. A special thanks to our student leadership group for their continued work on this event and to the seniors for voting for the fantasy theme. It will be our best prom yet.  

 

The semester is a few weeks in, and teachers are posting grades every week. Be sure to check your grades weekly so you don’t get behind. Similarly, if you’re doing well, pat yourself on the back and keep at it.  

 

We expect students to use the pod judiciously and with teacher permission. Similarly, there should only be one student out of a classroom at a time using the restroom. This lets us manage fire drills and parent calls.  

 

• As a reminder, freshmen can leave campus for lunch this semester if we have a parent consent to leave form. If you haven’t done it yet, ask Mr. Cuevas for one.  

Hello,

 

Here is the link for the Q3 Parent/Teacher Conferences sign-up.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080E4DA9AF2AA2FE3-quarter3

Have a nice weekend!

 

Jason Brinkley

Spanish Teacher and Junior Advocate