Executive Director's Corner

 

Dear Westgate Community,

Happy 2026 and welcome back! We hope your winter break brought rest, connection, and moments of joy. As we begin a new year together, January offers a natural opportunity to pause, reflect, and recommit to who we are and who we are becoming as learners, as a community, and as people.

 

Our January Advocacy theme is Growth Mindset, which aligns beautifully with the start of a new year and our shared commitment to continuous improvement. At Westgate, growth mindset is not about perfection or constant positivity; it is about learning from challenges, reflecting honestly, and believing that effort, practice, and support help us grow over time. Just as we encourage students to see learning as a process, we embrace a cycle of reflection and growth as a school community.

 

Ways families can support Growth Mindset at home:

 

K–4th Grade

Praise effort, persistence, and trying new strategies rather than outcomes.
Read stories together that highlight characters who grow through challenges.
Use language like “You’re still learning” or “What could you try next time?”

 

5–8th Grade

Talk about mistakes as part of learning—share examples from your own life.
Encourage goal-setting for the new year and regular reflection on progress.
Ask questions such as, “What did you learn from this challenge?”

 

High School

Support students in setting academic or personal growth goals for the semester.
Normalize revision, feedback, and productive struggle.
Discuss how reflection and adaptability are essential skills for adulthood, college, careers, and life.

 

February brings one of our most beloved Westgate traditions—Kindness Week, taking place February 9–13. This year’s theme is “Planting the Seed: An Acorn of Kindness.” Throughout the week, students will explore how small, intentional acts of kindness can grow into something powerful and lasting.

 

Please watch for upcoming emails with all of the details and ways you can get involved, including:

Volunteering opportunities
Donating items for our community food drive

 

As a reminder, Westgate does not host traditional Valentine’s Day parties. Instead, students go out into the community to spread kindness by delivering handmade kindness cards and engaging in acts of service. This practice reflects our values and helps students see themselves as contributors to something bigger than themselves.

 

Thank you for your continued partnership, trust, and care for our community. We are grateful to grow alongside you in 2026 and beyond.

 

With appreciation and optimism,
Sharon Collins