April 2024 Westgate Connect - New Parent/Guardian Newsletter

Welcome to Westgate Community School

As new parents and guardians, we’re thrilled to have you join our vibrant educational family. Whether your child is stepping into kindergarten or starting high school, Westgate is more than a school—it’s a nurturing community where every student’s unique gifts are celebrated.

Our commitment to whole-child learning, creativity, and academic excellence ensures that your child’s journey here will be extraordinary. In this welcome newsletter, you’ll find essential information about communications, website resources, and exciting events like our upcoming end-of-year carnival. Let’s embark on this adventure together, supporting your child’s growth and fostering lasting connections. The general information in this newsletter is for everyone to know. Toward the end of the newsletter, you'll find two dropdowns, one for kindergarten and one for high school, with specific information for each age group.

This is the first of two initial newsletters you will receive, so keep an eye out for the next newsletter toward the end of May. That newsletter will provide additional valuable information on transportation services, our lunch program, and before and after-school programs and activities.

We are excited to welcome your student on the first day of the 2024-25 school year on Monday, August 5th!

WHERE TO FIND IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Accessing Infinite Campus for Your Student Data:

If you haven't already, you'll want to create your parent portal account in Infinite Campus. This is where you will access your student's grades, enrollment, and attendance, and update your contact information.

Create an Infinite Campus (IC) parent portal account using your registration email.
Find more information in the Parent Portal Quick Guide.

Emails & SMS messages:

Westgate will often send out important information via email and SMS text messages. This includes information on school closures due to weather or other emergencies, important school decisions, the monthly newsletter, and important dates and information for things you may need to register for, such as hot lunches, quarterly clubs, or special events.

Be sure you have an accurate email address in Infinite Campus to be able to receive emails in a timely manner.
Text YES to 67587 to sign up for important text alerts and school information from Westgate and Adams 12.

Westgate Website:

The Westgate Website is where you can go to access information on a variety of topics. Be aware that we will be restructuring information on the website early in the summer, and things may look different the next time you visit. We are hoping this restructuring will help parents and guardians more directly access the information they will need the most. We will be sending out notifications when major site restructuring is finished. In the meantime, here are some areas you might find helpful right now:

Westgate Wire: The school newsletter comes out the first week of each month.
Classroom Pages: Find your student's classroom pages to see what they are working on.
Parent/Guardian Pages: Access the Westgate Community School Handbook, the attendance form, classroom pages, curriculum map, lunch ordering, car line, health and counselor information, and so much more.
Student Health: Go here for information on immunizations, allergy and medication notification forms, and information on when to keep your

Calendars:

Want to know when winter break happens? Curious about the bell schedule? Access the following calendars:

School Calendar: You can find all Westgate events, from field trips to fundraisers and more.
Academic Calendar: Find out all the breaks, holidays, no school days, and conference days.
24/25 Bell Schedule: When does the bell toll? Find out when classes switch.

Westgate Phone App for iPhone & Android:

Yes, there's an App for that! Download Westgate's app to be able to get current events and more on your phone. We are looking at more ways to make this app valuable to you, so be sure to download it to have access to current and future features as we add them.

SAVE THE DATE

Date	Time	Event
May 30	2:00-6:00 PM	Westgate Carnival! - the end of the year fundraiser with food, bounce houses, silent auctions, and games! Don't miss it!
TBD	All Day ??	Kindergarten Assessments - we'll be sending out information on this event, so keep an eye out!
Aug 2	4:00-6:00 PM	Back to School Night - Get out and meet other parents of Westgate! Enjoy food trucks, games, and meet the teachers and staff!
Aug 5	8:00 AM - 3:30 PM	FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!!

GET INVOLVED

There are many ways to get involved with Westgate Community School.

Visitors & Volunteers:

Join our active parent community at Westgate Community School! Your time and energy are as valuable as financial contributions. If you'd like to volunteer for school events or learn more about opportunities, complete the volunteer form. Background checks are required for safety, and we partner with Sterling Volunteers. Your confidentiality is assured.

Events Committee: Help our events committee! You do not have to volunteer at every event or be at every meeting to make a difference! You don't need any experience in events or fundraising either, just a willingness to be part of the team. You will need to fill out the Volunteer Form and complete a background check.

School Accountability Committee (SAC): This committee is to inform, encourage, and provide opportunities for parents and community members to be involved in the planning and evaluation of WCS’s instructional program and quality improvement processes. Members also provide information, analysis, and strategic planning recommendations to the:

Westgate Community School Board of Directors and Executive Director
Adams 12 Five Star District
Westgate Community School community

Spirit Store: Purchase your Westgate gear! Get your T-shirts, sweatshirts, and tote bags! Each grade has a team color, so be sure to order the right one.

GRADE	COLOR
Kindergarten	Purple
1st & 2nd	Red
3rd & 4th	Green
5th & 6th	Blue
7th & 8th	Gray
High School	Black

What to Know for Kindergarten

Kindergarten Corner

No More Training Wheels: Incoming Kindergarteners Graduating to Independent Toileting and Car Seat-Belt Release.

by Ms. Cassie Seybold, Principal and Gifted Coordinator

We are excited to have your student join us in the Fall! While independence grows as our children do, coming to kindergarten can be a big jump for some children. Academics are not the only areas where kindergarten readiness is important. Children are whole humans and have many areas of growth that may come asynchronously. You can help set them up for success in kindergarten by increasing their independence at home in areas that will help them to be more independent at school. While both preschool academics and the beginnings of self-advocacy skills are important for students to have as they enter kindergarten, other areas to consider, like toileting and navigating the carline experience, are just as important.

Independent toileting is essential for kindergarten students. They need to be able to get to and from the bathroom independently, after learning the building. In addition, they need to be able to both use the bathroom and wash their hands independently, whether going #1 or #2. Many young children have help with wiping, washing, and changing clothes (in the event of an accident) at home, but that level of assistance is not provided in an elementary school, so practicing at home now will help set your child up for success when they arrive here in the Fall.

Another area of independence that is very helpful for starting kindergarten is being able to get in and out of the car and in and out of their car seat on their own. Carline moves fast, and it is essential that it move quickly for all students to transition efficiently and safely between home and school and then between school and home each day. Starting now with building independence for young children in this area will help carline to move smoothly and take less time for all students and parents once school begins.

Kindergarten readiness is BIG and has many facets. There are many articles and blogs on the following website that can help with knowing how to build independence at home and in what areas as your child moves closer to beginning kindergarten. We can’t wait to support their continued growth here at Westgate!

Additional Items to Work on Over the Summer:

Working with your upcoming kindergartener on these key things will help them transition to being in a classroom. Check out some of the great article links below to help you find ways to teach and encourage these behaviors.

Sitting upright on carpet for 10 minutes
Following 2-step and 3-step directions (cubby, cushion, carpet)
Recognize and write their own name
Zipping up a jacket
Safe hands and bodies
Opening lunch box and snacks
Carrying own items
Transitioning out of mid-day naps
How to ask for help

Helpful Kindergarten Readiness Articles:

What to Know for High School

High School Hive

Gathering Great Habits: A Guide on What to Know When Starting High School

by Mechelle Martz-Mayfield, Communications & Marketing Director, with 24 years in English and College Prep Tutoring

Starting high school is a significant milestone for your child. Take it from me, someone who has worked with high school students in writing and college prep for over 20 years. High school is the place where your child begins to learn more about themselves, who they want to be, and how they want to present themselves to the world. This is a defining time that is filled with learning, creativity, and ingenuity. It can also be a time of frustration and anxiety.

As a parent or guardian, you want your child to feel supported and prepared. Especially here at Westgate, where it is likely your student will be not only starting high school, but also working on transitioning into college, we want you to know our staff is here to help them every step of the way. However, there are several important aspects to consider assisting your student with and working with them on over the summer before starting school. It's never too late to start working on great habits.

Let’s break down some key points to help you navigate this transition:

Effective Time Management Techniques:
- Time management becomes critical from 9th grade through 12th grade. As a parent or guardian, you can support your child by teaching them how to manage their time effectively. Encourage them to create a study schedule, allocate time for homework, extracurricular activities, and rest.
- Help them prioritize tasks and avoid procrastination. Developing good time management habits early on will benefit them throughout high school and beyond.
Focus on Study Skills:
- Academics play a central role in high school. Encourage your child to enhance their study skills:
  - Teach them effective note-taking methods. There are a variety of ways to take notes. Have them try a few of the methods in the link provided to find what works best for them!
  - Show them how to break down complex topics into manageable parts. This key idea that was taught to me by a professor in college, and I have taught it to all the kids I've tutored since. Have them pick out any article on the web, in a magazine, or in a newspaper, and start having them break down ideas.
    - - What do they truly know from the article? What supports that?
      - What in the article do they know to be the truth?
      - How do they know what they know? Do they know information from school or a different source?
      - What questions do they have about the information in the article?
      - Where can they find out more information and get questions answered?
  - Discuss strategies for active reading and comprehension. Let them read for enjoyment over the summer, but encourage them to read more complex books. Check out this book classics list. Ask them questions about what they are reading. Offer to read it with them and have book discussions each week.
  - Encourage them to seek help when needed, whether from teachers, peers, or online resources.
Plan for the Future:
- High school sets the foundation for college and career paths. Discuss future goals with your child:
  - Explore their interests and passions.
  - Research colleges and universities together.
  - Understand the importance of high school courses and how they impact college admissions.
  - Encourage participation in extracurricular activities, internships, and community service.

Remember that starting high school can be overwhelming for students. Be supportive, have open conversations, and help them navigate this exciting phase of their education.

FRCC INFORMATION

FRCC Class Tuition & Fees: Westgate families pay Student Fees for FRCC classes in addition to textbooks. This is common practice with most College Now partners. Average Student Fees range from $70-$150 per student, depending on the number of courses taken. If you have any questions, please contact our School Counselor, Ms. Autumn Washington.

High School & FRCC Links:

High School Course Guide - A place to find information on the high school courses offered at Westgate

How to Start Planning for College in 9th Grade - College Board Blog

Westgate Concurrent Enrollment Page - A great resource for everything about our concurrent enrollment program.
Front Range Community College - Direct link to the FRCC website.
Academic Calendar by Semester - See where our calendar and FRCC might be different.

Textbook Website List - A great list of where to order or find discounted or rental textbooks for college courses.

In the Next Issue:

Keep an eye out for our next newsletter in May! That will include the following important information for high school students:

FRCC bus and transportation information
eWolf Login info
Lunch programs

What's in this Newsletter

Welcome to Westgate
Important Information
Save The Date
Get Involved
What To Know for Kindergarten
What to Know for High School

School Calendar