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Friday, April 25, 2025
Message From the Principal
Dear Westridge Families,
What a wonderful week we’ve had! Celebrating Administrative Professionals’ Week reminded us just how vital our office team is to every success we share. Trudi Rabak, Sheri Black, Mona Lavoie, and Diana Cannon are at the heart of our school - navigating countless details, supporting our families, and always lending a listening ear. Their expertise, flexibility, and unwavering focus on our students keep us moving forward, even when challenges arise. We are deeply grateful for their dedication and proud to have them guiding our day-to-day work.
We are also overjoyed to congratulate Kristen Hao on being named Prince William County Schools Teacher of the Year! Kristen’s passion, creativity, and commitment to every student embody the very best of Westridge. Her recognition is a testament to the excellence we strive for together and a celebration that belongs to our entire school community.
As we look ahead to SOL testing and spring events, we know the weeks to come will be busy - and that’s a wonderful thing! Together, we will rise to the challenge, celebrate each milestone, and finish the year stronger than ever. Thank you for your partnership, your positivity, and your unwavering support of our students.
Enjoy a restful weekend, and here’s to all we will learn, grow, and achieve together next week!
With gratitude and excitement,
Steven Wilson
Proud Principal - Westridge Elementary
Important Dates
- Tuesday, April 29 - Principal's Advisory Council (PAC) Meeting
- Monday, May 5 through Friday, May 9 - Teacher Appreciation Week
- Friday, May 16 - PTA Talent Show
- Tuesday, May 20 - Strings End of Year Concert
SOL Testing Dates
Congratulations PWCS Teacher of the Year Mrs. Hao
We are delighted to share that at the Prince William County Public Schools Outstanding Employee Recognition ceremony; our very own Mrs. Kristen Hao was named Primary Teacher of the Year! Our community beams with admiration for this richly deserved honor, which highlights Mrs. Hao's inventive instruction, heartfelt mentorship, and unwavering dedication to her young learners!
Mrs. Hao truly embodies the spirit of Westridge - her collaborative energy, compassionate guidance, and resourceful approach cultivate a nurturing environment where our students thrive. May her achievement kindle our own drive to innovate, support one another, and continue shaping bright futures every single day!
Congratulations, Mrs. Hao!
Principal's Advisory Council (PAC)
The Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC) offers a meaningful platform for parents and teachers to come together, share insights, and collaborate on valuable feedback to guide our school’s Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP). We warmly invite all Westridge families to join us for our next PAC meeting on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the WRES Library. Whether or not you serve as an officer, your voice and perspective are vital in strengthening our school environment and advancing our commitment to student success, school culture, and a positive climate.
If you have any questions or suggestions in advance of the meeting, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Principal Steven Wilson directly. Your engagement and support are truly appreciated, and together, we’re making Westridge a place where every student can thrive!
Thank you for being such an important part of our community. We look forward to working with you!
2025-26 Intent to Return Survey
Please fill out the Intent to Return Survey for the 2025-2026 School Year. Please click on the link below and complete by May 30th. Thank you so much!
Student Circulation Notifications
Prince William County Public Schools is introducing new features to the parent controls for library materials within PWCS’ library management system.
Starting the week of April 27, parents will receive notifications about the student selected library materials checked out, returned, or renewed by their student that day.
These emails will be sent automatically to the primary parent/guardian email address, ensuring you stay informed about your student’s reading activities. This feature will be activated for all PWCS students.
Please visit the Parent Library Controls webpage for more information.
Leadership Prince William - Connections
PWCS Annual Sports Fair
Dear Parents and Students,
We are excited to invite you to the annual PWCS Sports Fair! This fantastic event will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Kelly Leadership Center (14715 Bristow Road, Manassas, VA 20112).
If your students are interested in joining a sports team but don't know where to start, this is the perfect opportunity for you! The PWCS Sports Fair is free and open to all fifth grade, middle and high school students. Coaches and athletes will be available to provide information about the sports offered in PWCS and to answer any questions you may have.
In addition to valuable information, there will be a DJ, food trucks, giveaways, and lots of fun activities for everyone to enjoy. Translators will also be on site to assist.
We hope to see you there!
Camp Invention
Attendance Counts!
Family Engagement Series
Varsity Online Tutoring
Varsity Tutors for Schools platform is a FREE online resource for grades K-12 designed to support your students’ academic growth. This platform offers:
- 24/7 On-Demand Chat Tutoring
- Essay Review and Coaching
- Live Group Classes
- Test Prep Classes
- Enrichment Classes
- Celebrity-Led Star Courses and more.
Students access Varsity Tutors by logging into Clever using their PWCS email address (for example, username@pwcs-edu.org) and password (this is the same password students use to log into their PWCS issued device). Once logged into Clever, you can find the link for Varsity in the PWCS Resources section. For more information please visit: https://www.pwcs.edu/departments/instructional_technology/online_tutoring/index
SNAP School Initiative
Crisis and Emergency Preparedness in PWCS
Community Needs Assessment Survey
Free Mental Health Resources for Students
PWCS recognizes that this time of year can be particularly challenging for many students. To ensure that every student has access to the support they need, we would like to remind parents that free mental health telehealth services are available to all PWCS students through Hazel Health – at no cost. Together, we can make a significant difference in the mental well-being of our students now and beyond.
Visit the PWCS Hazel Health webpage for more information.
For more information or questions, please contact Francesca Knight, coordinator of social work services, at KnightFW@pwcs.edu.