Yearbooks are ready to be picked up at the front desk if you preordered one! They are available until Friday at noon.

Theme of the Month

Our advocacy theme for the month is Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds. We will work on and discuss ways in which we can all stay healthy, both physically and mentally.  We will learn how making healthy physical choices can lead to feeling better and having a healthier mind.

MAP Testing & PALS Testing

We will be MAP testing during the first week of May.  We are planning on testing with reading on Wednesday, May 5th, and math on Thursday, May 6th.  These dates are tentative and may be changed.  If changed, we will notify you!

We will also be PALS testing during the month of May.  All 3rd grade students will be PALS tested for the end of the year.  Only 4th graders who need to be tested will take the test for the end of the year.  If you are unsure if your child will need to take the PALS test, or have any questions regarding this test overall, please reach out to your child’s advocate. 

Important Dates

• Friday, May 28th - Teacher Work Day - No School or Assignments
• Monday, May 31st - Memorial Day - No School 
• Thursday, June 3rd - Continuation Day & Conferences - Half Day for Students
• Parent-Teacher Conferences from 1:00pm - 8:00pm
• Friday, June 4th - Virtual Yearbook Signing - Half Day for Students (from home)
• Parent-Teacher Conferences from 8:00am - 12:00pm

Recess Equipment

We are excited to announce that recess equipment such as basketballs & footballs are now allowed! Your child is welcome to bring one from home, but each cohort will also have their own box of recess equipment to choose from.

Week of April 16th  

CMAS 

This week is CMAS testing week! Please read through this update carefully and reach out to your child’s advocate with any questions!  All testing will take place in the morning around 9:00am.   

Important Dates 

• Tuesday, April 20th - CMAS Testing, Day 1 
• Wednesday, April 21st - CMAS Testing, Day 2 
• Thursday, April 22nd - CMAS Testing, Day 3 
• Friday, April 23rd - Professional Development Day – No school or assignments 
• Monday, April 26th - No School  

CMAS Preparation  

Please make sure you have a conversation with your child about trying their best on their testing this week! This is likely the first time your child has taken a CMAS test, so having a conversation to prepare them is important. 

Please ensure your child goes to bed early on the nights before CMAS tests and gets a good breakfast in the morning!  During testing, your child’s belongings will be placed in the pod to avoid any distractions from anything brought from home, such as an electronic device.   

Service-Learning Exhibition starts April 22 

This year, for service learning, students stayed in their advocacy classes to work on projects. Classes chose a topic and then made projects to educate others about that topic. 

Projects will be completed and ready for exhibition on April 22 and will be available to view on the left side of the webpage here. 

These projects are available for you to learn about and support a range of causes such as bees, unhoused populations, and wild animal habitats. 

Community Clean Up – April 22 – 25 

Trash pickups are always a popular activity around Earth Day so let’s join the popular crowd. Unfortunately, we still can’t be together doing this as a group so you will pick up litter wherever you’d like! We have a goal of picking up 2021 pieces of litter between April 22 and April 25. 

You can choose 30 mins to an hour sometime within those 4 days to head out and make your community a little cleaner. 

Westgate has Washington Street adopted from 120th-128th. If you’d like to pick up litter along our adopted street you are more than welcome! 

Please fill out this form to indicate you’d like to participate. You’ll receive a sticker, bags, gloves (if you need them) and a general safety video the week of April 19. 

Send pictures and how many pieces of litter you picked up to Mrs. Valenza at [email protected]. There will be a running total on the environmental education page of our website so you can follow along the whole weekend. 

If you post to social media use the hashtag #WCSEarthDay2021 

Since we do not have classes next week, you are welcome to do these great environment-related projects at home! You are not required to do these, but you are welcome to if you'd like!  Feel free to work at your own pace.  Check the post above this one for the project document!

 

Here is a potential schedule for you to follow:

 

Monday – Choose topic and start googling. Post topic choice in Teams.

Tuesday – Set a timer and do 30 minutes of research on your topic

Wednesday – Start on project choice

Thursday – Work on project

Friday – Finish project and submit on Teams

Advocacy Focus for March 

Our Advocacy focus for March is “Going Green, a look at Environmental Issues and their Solutions”.  All classes will be working and learning about environmental topics and how we can make a positive impact.

Spring Conference Sign Up 

Conferences are coming up on March 18th & 19th.  On the 18th, conferences will be from 8:00am - 8:00pm.  On Friday the 19th, conferences will be held from 8:00am - 12:00pm.  We will be posting the sign-up link on Friday, March 5th, so please look for that in your e-mail or the advocacy pages.  The 20-minute slots are first come, first serve.  

DEAR

March is National Reading Month!

The Westgate Events & Fundraising Committee is hosting the 3rd annual Drop.Everything.And.Read (DEAR) fundraiser during this time.This is a great time to celebrate reading, encourage students to be readers and give to your community!

Please consider reading a diverse selection of books. Students need books that provide both windows and mirrors if we are going to create more readers, writers, and people who feel included and recognized, and who understand that the world is far richer than just their experiences alone.  The National Education Association recommends these books and authors to get you started.  Reading is Fundamental offers this Diverse Book Finder link.

Donations can be made to Westgate by...

Check

Make payable to 'Westgate Community School'

12500 Washington Street

Thornton, CO 80241

ATTN:  Teri Garrick

*NOTE:  Please add D.E.A.R in the memo for donations.  

Every bit helps.  Donations from $5 - $25 are gladly accepted.

You can also donate here:

https://www.westgateschool.biz/Westgate-Events-25-admin-fee-events.htm

All donations will be used for needs such as:

• Finishing our playground
• Finishing the environmental educational campus
• Purchase of new technology equipment
• Additional teacher training

 Contact Events Fundraising if you have any questions/comments.

Snack

Each class will have snack at some point in the morning.  Please do not send your child to school with candy or treats as a snack.  The snack should be (somewhat) healthy.  Cookies, brownies, & similar items are considered treats.  A good snack to bring would be fruit/vegetables, cheese, jerky, etc...  

Upcoming Dates:

March 18th & 19th: Conferences

March 20th - 30th: Spring Break

March 31st: Beginning of 4th Quarter

Assignments for Friday, February 26th:

Science:

1. Read all remaining articles that we did not finish in class & answer the questions at the bottom
2. Complete the Week 2 Earth Science Quiz: Oceans & Waterways

Social Studies:

1. Read all remaining articles that we did not finish in class & answer the questions at the bottom
2. Complete the Week 21 Social Studies Quiz: Agriculture & Production

Math:

1. Complete the Week 22 Quiz in Teams.  It is in the Quiz Tab and says “Week 22 Quiz”.

Literacy:

1. Make any last finishing touches on your Persuasive PowerPoint.  Make sure that it has been shared with me.  The outline of the slides are:
1. Title slide
2. Introduction
3. Pros
4. Cons
5. My Opinion
6. Picture and Caption
7. Picture and Slogan
8. Bibliography
9. Questions and Comments

Don’t forget to add pictures, transitions, & animations!

Specials 

 Our class will have Music as a specials class this quarter!  See the link in the distance learning schedule below.  The Zoom link for music is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82429300190.  The password will be emailed separately.  

Supply Pick-Up 

Supply Pick-Up will be on January 8 from 1:00 - 4:00 PM (South side of the school – near Lobby). 

Important Dates 

• January 5 – Complete the technology readiness check for MAP assessment. Email me with troubleshooting questions.   
• January 6, 7, 8 – Pre Assessment and NWEA MAP assessment days. Note: January 8th is a Friday and all three days require synchronous attendance. See the assessment schedule and Zoom links below.  This assessment is crucial to planning for your student’s academic needs 
• January 8 - Supply Pickup 
• January 11 - Regular Distance Learning classes begin on Zoom.  See the distance learning schedule. 
• January 18 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School 
• Week of January 25th - PALS Testing - More information to come 

Theme of the Month 

Our Advocacy focus for January is Self-Compassion & Regulation.  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. Self-regulation will include topics such as coping skills, identifying and managing emotions, goal setting, & self-care.   

Advocacy Themes of the Month

Our new focus for December are 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.  

Conferences

Winter Parent Teacher Conferences will take place from 8:00am - 8:00pm on Thursday, December 17th and from 8:00am - 12:00pm on Friday, December 18th.  The link to the sign up will be emailed to all parents on Monday, December 7th and will also be available on every teacher’s Advocacy pages.  Please sign up for a time to meet with your child’s teacher!

Important Dates

Last day of school for kids - December 16th

Conferences - December 17th & 18th

Return to Distance Learning - January 6th

MAP Testing - January 6th - 8th(please check your email in January for more details)

Supply Pick-Up - January 8th (please check your email in January for more details)

Math and MobyMax 

Email from Director Collins: You will notice that K-8 teachers will be including 10 minutes of math practice each day as an assignment for every student beginning next week.  We believe this daily practice is important for growth and retention of math concepts school-wide.  Just as we ask for students to read each day, we are now adding daily math practice to our expectations. This assignment will not replace any standards-based instruction during math class but will be a supplement to support on-going growth. 

In order to meet Director Collins expectations, as a 4th grade team, we will be requiring a minimum of 10 minutes per day spent on MOBYMAX.com.  If your student has not taken the initial Math placement test, they must do this in order to be assigned lessons to improve their over math skills and attain the desired growth levels.   

Your student should have their individual login for MobyMax.com and If not, they can send an email to their advocate for it.  As a parent, you can login as well using their information to track their progress and see any updates. 

Supplies Pick-Up 

Supplies can be picked up on Friday, November 20th, from 9:00am – 12:00pm.  The majority of these supplies were already in the previous pickup, but we are adding math packets that we will cover for the rest of the quarter.  

Thanksgiving Break 

There will be no school during the week of Thanksgiving! 

November 23rd - 27th - No School