Mrs. Greder's Kindness Day Cards Delivery
Here is a link to give permission for your students to deliver kindness cards on Friday the 14th.
Mrs. Greder's Advocacy
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Kindness week
Monday 2/10 - Be KIND to the ENVIRONMENT
- Everyone Wear Green
- Kindness Tree in lobby – More information to come!
Tuesday 2/11- Be KIND to YOURSELVES
- Everyone Wear Your Favorite Color!
- Self-Compassion Activities and Treat
Wednesday 2/12 - Be KIND to YOUR CLASSMATES
- Everyone Wear Blue
- We will have blue nail polish at recess for the Blue Pinky Challenge – Kindness and Anti-Bullying Campaign
Thursday 2/13 - Be KIND to YOUR TEACHERS
- Everyone Wear Red for Ed
- Spread kindness to your teachers through notes of gratitude, words of affirmation, and more!
Friday 2/14 - Be KIND to EVERYONE!
- Wear Westgate Shirts
- Community Kindness Day!
February Advocacy Update
KINDNESS CARD DELIVERY AND PERMISSION SLIPS
Kindness card delivery will take place on Valentine’s Day. Please keep an eye out for the electronic permission slip via e-mail.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Please consider making the walk with us to make deliveries of kindness cards. Please indicate on the permission slips if you are interested in joining us.
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. We will be making kindness cards during advocacy for the locations each advocacy is visiting on Valentine’s Day.
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 others.
CMAS PRACTICE
During the week of February 19th, the entire pod will be doing a CMAS practice test. It is important that students understand how the test works and what sort of things are going to be asked of them. Please speak with your child about the importance of doing their best, even if it is just practice.
UPCOMING DATES
February 14th: Kindness Card Distribution
February 17th: No School - President’s Day
February 18th: No School - Teacher Work Day
Westgate is moving towards a “toy free” zone
Westgate is moving towards a “toy free” zone. We want students to focus on learning and building relationships while they are here, and toys become a disruption to this learning process. Outdoor equipment (balls, scooters, jump ropes and sidewalk chalk) is still acceptable. More information is coming soon from admin. Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you so much for your support with this!
January Advocacy Update
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. Overidentification). 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 webpage has been redone! It can be accessed at the following link:
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:
- It is repeated
- There is an imbalance of power
- 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 Valentines 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
Winter Party
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]
Winter Parent - Teacher conferences
Conferences for the Winter are on December 19th & December 20th. If you would still like to sign up for a conference, please contact Lora Maslen at [email protected]
The Westgate Holiday Shop
The Westgate Holiday Shop is this week Dec 9-13! Kids will be able to shop during their lunch and after school from 3:30 to 4:30. An informational packet was included in the Friday folders last week. The packet should have included an envelope in which you can send cash or use the new voucher system if you'd like to pay by credit card. Only kids with vouchers or cash will be allowed to shop. If using vouchers please be sure to write down the authorization code as well as the dollar amount (minus fees).
December Advocacy Update
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.
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 3rd 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 4th in the morning students will take the Reading assessment Friday, December 6th 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 19th and from 8:00am - 12:00pm on Friday, December 20th. 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 31st, 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: Winter Conferences
12/20/19: Winter Conferences
12/23/19 – 1/10/19: Winter Break
Map Testing when we return from Thanksgiving Break.
We will be MAP testing the week we return from Thanksgiving Break! 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.
Monday, December 2nd: Math
Wednesday, December 4th: Reading
Friday, December 6th: Language Usage
November Update
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
October Advocacy Update
This month’s focus in advocacy is Bully Prevention. We will be talking about what bullying is and is not, including identifying between rude/inappropriate behavior vs. actual bullying behavior. We will also be coming back to re-learning and refocusing on using our school’s “Enough” Protocol. We will also be talking a lot about kindness. Please participate in these conversations with us by talking to your kids at home about what they are learning here.
Our pod will have a Halloween Celebration on October 31st for Halloween. Look for a food and activity sign up for parents coming out soon. Also, remember to send costumes with your student and not have them wear it to school. They will be allowed to put them on prior to the party. Make sure costumes meet the school’s guidelines (this includes no masks) before sending them, please.
Starting on Friday, October 18th, we will be doing Service Learning. During quarter one, each student completed a survey and was able to choose from many options. Students will know which group they were placed into this week if they have not already been told. Service Learning will take place every other Friday from 10:15 - 11:15. High school students will facilitate this learning with a teacher present. The idea is that each group is working on a project throughout the entire year that they are passionate about and will help our community in some way. If you have additional questions, please contact your child’s advocacy teacher, or Chandra Valenza at [email protected]. Since this takes place during our math time, we will move math to 12:40 - 1:30 on these days. From 2:30 - 3:15 on these Fridays, we will be using this time to revisit & reinforce certain language arts & math concepts.
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.
If you are interested in volunteering, please check the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f44ada923a2f58-34pod
Upcoming:
Friday, October 18: Picture Retakes
Friday, October 25, 5-7 pm: Westgate Trunk or Treat
Thursday, October 31: Halloween Celebration Party