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Mrs. Maslen's Advocacy

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May Advocacy Update

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 19th

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 

April Advocacy Update

April Advocacy Update

This month’s theme is “We Love the Environment.” This is a month to enjoy the natural world and all that it gives us! We will be working on ways that we can show respect to our environment, as well as celebrate the natural things that make our world great.  Earth Day is on Thursday, April 22nd. 

CMAS

CMAS testing is coming up! 3rd graders are only required to take the ELA (Language Arts) CMAS tests this year.  All CMAS tests will be over the course of 3 days.  Those days are April 20th, 21st, & 22nd in the morning.  If your child is absent, there will be make up tests in the afternoon, or during the following week.  If you have additional questions or concerns regarding CMAS, please contact your child’s advocate, or our assistant principal, Cassie Seybold ([email protected]).

Reminders

All students have work on Fridays that should be completed at home.  The assignments are posted on each individual classroom page.  Please remind your child to complete these assignments on Friday and to return them on Monday morning if it is something that is a hard copy.  Thanks for your support with Friday assignments!

Important Dates

April 20th - 22nd - CMAS Testing

April 23rd - Professional Development Day - No School or Assignments

April 26th - No School or Assignments

Advocacy March Update

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

 

February Advocacy Update

Welcome Back!

We are very excited to have kids back in the building on Monday! 

Reminders:

  1. Make sure your child comes with a cold lunch and water bottle.  There will not be access to a microwave, and the water fountains are blocked off.  However, your child can still fill up their water bottle throughout the day.

  2. Please make sure your child brings back any hard copies & packets that were picked up earlier this quarter.  We will be using those in class. Your child is also welcome to bring any school supplies such as notebooks, pencils, markers, etc...

  3. Make sure your child has a jacket! We will be having outdoor recess whenever weather permits!

If your child is staying online, please make sure you have accessed the daily schedule along with the times for Zoom.  There will likely be a lot of technical issues to work through this week, so I appreciate your patience as we work through this new way of doing synchronous online learning.  Please reach out to me if there are any issues and I will do my best to get them resolved as soon as possible.  All live lessons will also be posted as a recording in Teams if your child is unable to attend synchronously.  

Office Hours

Now that we are back in-person, Office Hours will be moved back to Fridays.  My Office Hours will be on Fridays from 2:30 - 3:30pm by accessing our normal Zoom link.

Advocacy Focus for February 

Our Advocacy focus for February is Growth Mindset & Grit.  Our class will be working on helping students learn to reframe failure and have perseverance and tenacity in their academic and personal lives.  Identifying and replacing the negative self-talk that so many of us are accustomed to with positive self-talk will also be part of this unit. 

Kindness Week

At Westgate, we believe in promoting kindness every single day. During the week of Valentine's Day, however, we traditionally focus on celebrating and prioritizing acts of kindness as a way to show our love, admiration and appreciation for one another and for our community. Just because we are navigating COVID this year does not mean we cannot continue to celebrate and promote kindness, it might just look a little different! 

This year we are challenging our community to perform at least 200 acts of kindness as a school. We invite you to document and share your acts of kindness with us! Each day has a kindness type/ style and a challenge that goes with it. You can follow the suggestions for each day and document the kind act. Please share by using the hashtag #ShareYourKindness to tag your act of kindness on social media (social media tips are below), or you can send a picture or video directly to [email protected]. The week will culminate in a reimagined Kindness Day where we will collect cards and letters of appreciation and then Admin will deliver via contactless delivery to local first responders, essential workers, and seniors at Bonaventure. 

2/8 Monday - Words of Affirmation, Encouragement and Love

  • Write a letter, send a text, or make a phone call to someone you appreciate 

  • Send messages (letter, texts, etc.) to five people with whom you’d like to send words of affirmation 

2/9 Tuesday - Acts of Service 

  • Do something kind (like a conscious act of kindness) for someone today 

  • Share a compliment, smile (even behind your mask, your eyes will smile too!) at somebody, help clean up, etc.! 

2/10 Wednesday - Quality Time 

  • Enjoy intentional quality time with someone in your bubble 

  • Play a board game, make dinner together and eat around a table, read a book, take a walk, etc.! 

2/11 Thursday – A Day of Giving 

  • Share a gift with someone (you don’t need money to give a gift!)

  • Cook a meal, bake a treat, make a craft or just give something from your heart to someone else!

2/12 Friday - Kindness Day Reimagined 

  • Throughout the week, we will collect letters for essential workers and first responders. Admin will complete a contactless delivery on this day!

  • Free Kindness Day! How many acts of kindness can you give today? 

Social Media Tips - Post on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to share your acts of kindness

Our Facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/westgatecs

Tag Westgate’s Twitter: @westgatewild 

Tag Sharon Collins, Executive Director: @EdSharonCollins

Westgate’s Instagram is: @WestgateWild

Use #ShareYourKindness when posting on all platforms!

Upcoming Dates

Week of February 11th - Kindness Week

February 15th - Presidents’ Day - No School

February 16th - Teacher Work Day - No School 

Week of 1/25/2021

Dear Parents,
 
Attached to your email, you will find the to-do list for this week as long as a few math pages in PDF form. These math pages were not sent home in the math packet. They will be on Class Notebook but you can elect to print them and have your child complete it on paper as well. (Please do not show your child the post-test until Tuesday). They will need to complete the post-test on their own without mathematical help.
 
This week, most students will be joining a group of 6 students or less for one day of in-person instruction so that we can give each student the PALS test. If you don't remember the day you are scheduled for, please check the following sign up link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F44ADA923A2F58-inperson Students in-person will have work time outside of the scheduled Zoom meetings; please see the Zoom schedule below. 
 
When your child comes for their in-person instruction day this week, they will be allowed into the building at 7:45 a.m. Advocacy will start at 8:30. Classes will continue as they have been in distance learning with a few exceptions: 1. the advocacy teacher may not be as available to answer emails or chat questions. 2. There will be no small group meetings this week (not all students are in small groups). 3. Teachers will not be available via Zoom for the extra 15 minutes after Zoom class time for this week. 
 
  Mon. 12/25 Tue 12/26 Wed. 12/27 Thurs. 12/28
8:30-9:00 Advocacy Advocacy Advocacy Advocacy
9:30-10:00 Language Arts Social Studies Language Arts Social Studies
11:00-11:30 Math Science Math  Science
1:45-2:15  Art   Art  
 
 
Your child needs to bring the following items for their in-person day:
  1. All learning materials for the day including school supplies (such as pencils, colors, etc.)
  2. A water bottle (drinking fountains are still closed)
  3. 2 masks 
  4. A cold lunch (there are no hot lunches this week and we do not have a microwave in the classroom). 
  5. A book or silent time materials (coloring book, reading book, dot-to-dot, etc.)
Finally, please remember to respect our community and classroom by following the guidelines the school has set to keep us safe and healthy.  If anyone in the household has symptoms or is ill, please do not bring your child in! 
 
In order to limit the number and frequencies of quarantines, we are asking all families to:  
  •          Conduct a Home Symptom Check Every Day  
  •          Stay home if not feeling well; students may use synchronous learning option 
  •          If your child is exposed, keep your child and their siblings home to monitor for symptoms and contact Mrs. Hopson (school nurse)  
  •          If you have been exposed, please keep your student(s) home to monitor for your own symptoms. (10 days from exposure or negative test after 5 days from exposure)  
  •          Use Attendance Notification Form to let us know of any change in way child is attending school
  •          Use COVID Symptomatic Report Form to let us know of COVID exposure or symptoms

January Advocacy Update

Schedules

The schedule for January 6th, 7th, and 8th are as follows:

Wednesday, January 6

Thursday, January 7

Friday, January 8

8:30-9:00 - Advocacy

8:30-9:00 - Advocacy

  

9:30-10:30 –

MAP Reading (1 hour)

9:30-10:30 –

MAP Math (1 hour)

9:30-10:00 –

Science Pre-assessment

11:00-11:30 –

Language Arts

Pre-Assessment

11:00-11:30 –

Social Studies Pre-Assessment

11:00-12:00 –

MAP Completion and Make-up (up to 1 hour)

1:45-2:15 – 3-4 Specials



 

 

All of our normal Zooms (other than Specials) will be the same link as normal!

 

 

Zoom Links for Classes

Mrs. Maslen's Class

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/78023268323?pwd=QXkyaE5Heit3dFdDTktsTHcvVTFjQT09

Mrs. Cox's Art Class

 

https://zoom.us/j/91581530519?pwd=ek9kSzdzMkhJdytMbnpSUXhxUEVPQT09


Passcode: See e-mail for password

Our schedule after this week is the same schedule that we had in semester 1:

 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

8:30-9:00am

Advocacy

Advocacy

Advocacy

Advocacy

9:30-10:00am

Literacy

Social Studies

Literacy

Social Studies

11:00-11:30am

Math

Science

Math

Science

1:45-2:15pm

Specials 3-4



Specials 3-4



 

Specials

Our class will have Art as a specials class this quarter! See the link in the distance learning schedule below. The Zoom link for art is: https://zoom.us/j/91581530519?pwd=ek9kSzdzMkhJdytMbnpSUXhxUEVPQT09

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 -
    • Mrs. Maslen's class will be in-person PALS testing on January 25
    • Mrs. Greder's class will be in-person PALS testing on January 26.
    • If your child can't make the assigned date, please contact your advocacy teacher to arrange a make-up session. 

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.

December Advocacy Post

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)

Week of 11/30

Last chance supply pick-up is today!
      - Monday, November 30, from 4 to 6 PM.
      - Parents will need to park and come up to the front doors to receive their child’s supplies.
 
All missing assignments due by 12/9!!!
 
December Advocacy Theme: Gratitude 

Week of November 16th

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 3rd grade team, we will be requiring a minimum of 10 minutes per day spent on MOBYMAX.com.  

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.  These supplies include math packets, science newspapers and social studies newspapers that we will use for the rest of the quarter.  

Thanksgiving Break 

There will be no school during the week of Thanksgiving! 

November 23rd - 27th - No School 

Advocacy Theme

We will be taking time to review MobyMax on Monday and will continue to investigate the theme of community through the rest of the week. 

Week of 11/9 - 11/13

Reminder- No school on Wednesday!!!

Distance Learning Schedule 

As a reminder, here is our distance learning schedule moving forward. We have changed the time to include 15 minutes of help time at the end of each class. Mrs. Maslen will be on Zoom until the end time, even if all students are excused. Students are encouraged to jump back onto Zoom if they find they have questions or need assistance. 

Monday/Wednesday 

8:30 - 9:00 - Advocacy 

9:30 - 10:15 - Language Arts 

11:00 - 11:45 - Math 

1:45 - 2:15 – Specials 

3:00-4:00 (Mondays Only)- Mrs. Maslen's Office Hours (Help Time!)

Tuesday/Thursday 

8:30 - 9:00 - Advocacy 

9:30 - 10:15 - Social Studies 

11:00 - 11:45 – Science 

3:00-4:00 (Thursdays Only)- Mrs. Maslen's Office Hours (Help Time!)

Advocacy Theme for November – Community 

The Advocacy theme for November is Community. Now more than ever, we need community. We will spend our time discussing the different communities we belong to, learning about other communities, and having fun together to create a welcoming community amongst ourselves. 

Enrichment Opportunities for 4th graders! 

 Spanish Introduction will be held on Mondays from 4-5. Students will learn Spanish vocabulary and have a chance to practice it in conversations. Email [email protected] for the Zoom information. 

 Mrs. Maslen is hosting Online Game Time for a few more Mondays this quarter from 4:15-4:45. Students will get to connect with their peers by playing games through the Jackbox.tv platform. Please email [email protected] for the specific dates and the Zoom information. 

 Ms. Ross is hosting Acrylic Painting Club on Wednesdays from 4-5pm. Students will learn basic acrylic painting techniques. Email [email protected] for the Zoom information.