Welcome Back!  We are excited for the second semester of school and hope you all are as well!  Here's what is going on and coming up: 

PALS testing window is open from January 13 - January 29, so we will be spending the next couple of weeks getting all third graders and some of the 4th graders tested to see their reading and comprehension progress.   

JA in a day is coming on Friday, January 31st.  All classes will have guest teachers to lead in learning about economic principles during the entire school day.  3rd and 4th graders will be separated for this day as they are learning about different topics. We will let students know soon which teacher they will be spending the day with.  The school is also still looking for a couple of volunteer teachers for this event. Please let us know if you are willing and able to volunteer.  

Our Advocacy Focus for January is Self-Compassion.  The learning goal for January is: Students will learn the basic tenets or self compassion (Self-kindness vs.  Self-judgment, Common Humanity vs. Isolation, Mindfulness vs. Over-identification). Students will examine their own places for growth and they will work toward changing negative self-talk into positive mantras. 

Bully Reports 

Westgate’s Bully Report web page has been redone! It can be accessed at the following link:  

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=597781&type=d&pREC_ID=form.WESCS.rGRJahe.1mH 

We will be showing kids what this new form looks like and how to complete it.  It is very important that students know when and why they should be accessing this form.  Bullying occurs when the following happens: 

1. It is repeated 

1. There is an imbalance of power 

1. There is intent to harm 

Please speak with your child about this.  Many students are filling out forms when what might be happening isn’t truly bullying.  These sorts of incidents should be reported to a teacher or adult. Westgate is committed to being bully-free, and one of the best ways to do this is by providing a way to report it when it is truly happening.   

Field Trips 

We have a couple of field trips coming up this January! We will be going to the National Western Stock Show on January 23rd and to the Denver Center of Performing Arts on January 28th.  Please look for permission slips coming home soon! 

Kindness Day 

Kindness Day will be on Friday, February 14th.  More information on this will be coming within the next few weeks! We will not be exchanging Valentine  gifts/cards or having a party.  Instead, we will be visiting local businesses to spread kindness within the community.  

COMING UP ON THE CALENDAR 

January 20: No School - Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

January 23: Field Trip - National Western Stock Show 

January 28: Field Trip - Beethoven’s Birthday at the DCPA 

February 14: Kindness Card Delivery in our Community 

February 17: No School - Presidents’ Day 

February 18: No School - Teacher Work Day 

 

 

We will be having our winter party on Wednesday, December 18th from 2:15-3:15pm.  Cleanup is from 3:15-3:25pm.  Parents may only attend the party if they are signed up as a volunteer.  Volunteers must have a background check completed prior to signing up. In an effort to keep the community culturally inclusive, the teachers request the crafts and videos be winter-themed, not holiday specific.If you have any questions please email your child's advocacy teacher or Nicole Fox at [email protected] 

 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0d49a4ae2da5fb6-34pod1

ADVOCACY FOCUS

This month’s focus for Advocacy is Mindfulness so all classes will be doing activities focused on that topic during our mornings together.

DRUMS OF THE WORLD FIELD TRIP ON DECEMBER 3^rd HAS BEEN CANCELED

MAP ASSESSMENTS

Winter MAP testing is upon us and our schedule for those tests is as follows:

Monday, December 2nd in the morning, students will take the Math assessment

Wednesday, December 4^th in the morning students will take the Reading assessment

Friday, December 6^th in the morning students will take the Math assessment. 

Please discuss with your child how important it is to give your best effort, read carefully, and get a good night's sleep the night before!  Students are working on setting goals for each test as well. Ask your child if they met their goal each day!

HOLIDAY SHOP

Running from December 9-13

We will have a preview day on Monday only at lunch/quiet time (students with money will be allowed to shop).  Students will not be allowed in the shop any other time the rest of the week without money.

Tuesday – Friday: only students with money can shop during lunch and quiet time.

The shop is also open M-F from 3:15 - 4:30 for students with money or students with a parent.

CONFERENCES

Winter Parent Teacher Conferences will take place from 8:00am - 8:00pm on Thursday, December 19^th and from 8:00am - 12:00pm on Friday, December 20th^t.  The link to the sign up will be emailed to all parents and will also be available on every teacher’s Advocacy pages.  Please make sure to sign up for only one slot and indicate the teachers you would like to be present. We will make the final determination about who will attend based on the other conferences taking place at the same time.  Thanks for your understanding that we are trying to be present with as many parents as possible.

JA IN A DAY

Jr. Achievement will be taking place on Friday, January 31^st, 2020.  We need volunteers! If you are interested in teaching & volunteering that day, please reach out to your child’s advocacy teacher! A training session is required in order to participate.  For more information, please see the following link: https://www.jacolorado.org/volunteer-resources/

LUNCH CLEAN UP

Please help us in helping your child to keep track of their things and clean up after themselves properly following lunches.  We are having some issues with students being very careless about their clean up and it is resulting in food being left in places it should not be and the sink and drinking fountain being left with food that clogs our system.  Please talk with your child about appropriately cleaning up after lunch.

IMPORTANT DATES

12/11/19                                              All past assignments due!

12/19/19 (8 a.m.- 8 p.m.)                    Winter Conferences

12/20/19 (8 a.m.- 12 p.m.)                  Winter Conferences

12/23/19 – 1/10/19                              Winter Break

 

All classes are finishing up our Bully Prevention focus from last month as well as moving on to our new focus for November, which is Optimism & Gratitude. We will focus on ways to think more positively, as well as ways in which we can show who and what we are grateful for.

DEAR

The 2nd annual D.E.A.R. Drop Everything And Read Fundraiser is coming up during the week of November 4th - November 8th.

See the link below for additional information:

https://www.westgateschool.org/apps/pages/2019DEARfundraiser

Students may ask for a flat dollar amount to be sponsored for the dedicated hour of reading from anyone. All forms and money must be turned in by Friday, November 8th. If Westgate meets their $10,000 goal, the entire school will earn a dance party!

Kids who turn in a sponsor form will be entered in a prize drawing. Winners will be announced November 13th.

DEAR Events

Our Book Fair is going on all week. There is a book drive going on in the lobby. Students can donate new or used books.

On Friday, the whole school will have a dedicated hour of reading from 10:15 to 11:15. Students can wear pajamas, or dress like their favorite book character.

Upcoming Field Trip

Our K-8 field trip to experience Drums Around the World at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts will take place on Tuesday, December 3rd. Permission slips will be sent home within the next few weeks.

Service Learning

Our service learning is up and running! Service learning takes place every other Friday from 10:15 - 11:15. Our upcoming dates for service learning are November 15th & December 6th.

Jackets

It is starting to get colder! Students will need to bring jackets outside for recess. Each student is responsible for bringing their jacket outside. Students will not be allowed to reenter the building to get their jackets if they forget. Please reinforce this responsibility with your child at home.

Important Dates

Monday, November 11th: Veteran’s Day - No School

Happy Thanksgiving Break! No School - November 25 - 29

K-8 Field Trip: Drums of the World – December 3rd

 

 

I shared this video with my advocacy class today. I explained that it was a poem and presented by actors. However, it is powerful and I wanted you to have it in case questions arise regarding it. 

I have added each advocacy parent to my advocacy page. However, time is valuable and precious. As such, I am asking that all parents subscribe to their student's teacher's pages. You will find the subscribe button on the right side of each teacher's page.