Hello Advocacy Families!

I am Allie Haworth (I go by Mrs. Haworth) and I am your child’s Advocacy Teacher/ Advocate. Advocacy is more than a Homeroom. Advocacy classes are first and foremost a time for students to build supportive relationships with their peers and with an adult they can trust. It is a time for everyone to feel recognized and welcomed into the school community. As your child’s Advocate, I will be your primary point of communication, and I am committed to advocating for your child this year.

This is my second year at Westgate and I feel as if I have finally found where I belong! I began by teaching small group intervention math 4 years ago. I decided I wanted to be a full classroom teacher and taught 7th grade math for one year and realized that math isn't where I belong. I received my B.S. in geology with an environmental concentration from Colorado State University in 2018 and wanted to follow my love of science, which is where Westgate comes into play!

I believe very much in the growth mindset. Every student is capable of learning new and challenging things in an environment where they feel safe and comfortable to make mistakes and learn. It's up to the teacher to create that environment and foster a love of learning!

When I am not in the classroom, you will find me at home with my husband and our 2 children. I have a three-year-old, Torin, and a 7-month-old, Freya. When I am able to have some free time with two littles, I love to hike, attend concerts, complete puzzles and collect cool rocks!

I have subscribed you to my Advocacy page and my classroom pages, so you will receive updates to your email automatically. On my pages, I will be posting academic information on my Edlio every week for you to look at. Monthly, I will post Advocacy specific information.

A new Student Use of Cell Phones and Other Personal Electronic Devices Policy has been created for this year. Since it is a new policy, I would like to go over it with you so that you can speak to your student about these changes.

Westgate has opted to add further restrictions to student possession and use of personal electronic devices at out school based on frequent and pervasive disruptions to our educational environment caused by these devices. The following Westgate policy includes the possession and use of cell phones, tablets of any kid, smart watches, ear buds, handheld video game systems, air tags, personal laptops , or any other device carried or worn by a student that is capable of game play or communication.

1. It is recommended that your student does not bring any unnecessary devices to school at all.
2. Cell phones will be collected at the start of the day and kept in a locked box in each of the 5^th through 8^th grade classrooms. Cell phones may not be carried throughout the day by any student. Refusal to put the phone in the lockbox at the start of the day will be considered a violation of this policy.
3. Any other devices brought to school must remain in a backpack, to be stored in the students’ advocacy classroom in the designated backpack area and should be always in the off position.
4. Devices of any kind, including personal cell phones, are not permitted to be carried by a student on their person during school hours. This includes being carried inside their pockets, hoodies, purses, fanny packs, undergarments, tec.
5. Air pods or ear buds of any kind cannot be used at school at any time.
6. Smart watches or any other kind of watch used for purposes other than telling time will be confiscated according to the policy.

The first week, students will be able to explore all the different options for Specials class. These include P.E., Music, Art, Design Thinking and Journalism. At the end of the week, they will choose their Specials classes. Once this happens, you will need to subscribe to the Specials teacher’s Edlio page once they are rostered on Monday, January 9^th.

This month, our August Advocacy theme is RISE!

At Westgate, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a part of our Whole Child Education program. PBIS is a system in which students, staff and community create a set of school-wide behavioral expectations/ core values, we teach those expectations in all our various environments, and then we CELEBRATE when we see students doing those things! At Westgate, we RISE (Respect, Integrity, Safety, Empathy).

We will be teaching students what these 4 words mean—focusing on a different part of RISE each week—and what it looks like to live these values out during school and at home. We will use RISE all year to celebrate positive behaviors.

I am excited for the new school year and getting to know you and your student! Please reach out with any questions or concerns!