W.E.stchester Weekly
News from the Principal
Greetings WE Families,
It has been a great week at Westchester. The students did very well during the beginning of the year assessments. This universal screening process means that all students participate in these assessments to allow us to begin making informed instructional decisions. This process will take place three times each year, and you will be provided information about the results as well. You will receive the Fall information in your child's Thursday Communication folder next week.
As a reminder, we have our Visitor Management System in place. If you are visiting the building, you will need to have your ID available to scan as you check in. IDs are necessary when checking out students as well. Our school policy is that all afternoon check-outs must be before 2:00 each afternoon. This allows us to make sure that any changes to the students' transportation plans are communicated.
Dismissal has also settled into a rhythm with buses, car riders and aftercare vans. Please make sure you have your car tag in the window and pull forward so we can get all of the vehicles in and out efficiently.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events.
August 28, 2025: Curriculum Night
August 29th, 2025: Community Circle - all are welcome
From your very grateful principal,
Christine Knox
Teacher Wishlist
Westchester Elementary is committed to ensuring every classroom is stocked and ready for students and teachers to have what they need to be engaged and successful. We do this by using our allocated state and local funding to fulfill classroom needs. Funding covers essential classroom supplies, any specialized materials needed for educational programming in different grade levels/subjects, individual or team requests for specific supplies, professional learning and general operating costs.
In addition to this, some staff at Westchester have customarily shared supply wish lists with families via email or online. Please know that these are optional and individualized by the staff member. Wish lists should not be interpreted as an indication that classrooms at Westchester or our programming lack supplies or funding. Instead, the lists reflect individual preferences for extra items. Any purchases made from these lists are considered gifts to staff and must follow state guidance and Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC) rules around gift-giving to public employees, including monetary limits.
If you have any questions about how supplies are funded or how you can support our classrooms, please contact Christine Knox at cknox@csdecatur.net
Star Testing
Dear Westchester Families,
During the week of August 11 through August 15, we will be administering the STAR Math (K-2), Early Literacy (K-2), and Reading (2nd grade) tests. STAR is a computerized adaptive test which helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. Students take the STAR tests in the fall, winter, and spring. By taking it 3 times a year, teachers and parents are able to see how their student is growing in the areas of reading and math throughout the school year. We will use this data to help us make informed instructional decisions for our students. The tests will be administered by classroom teachers and proctors in their classrooms. STAR family reports will be shared on August 21st.
If you have any questions please reach out to our Instructional Coach Christie Manasso cmanasso@csdecatur.net .
Annual Data Update: WE is in the lead with 75%!!!!!
Families Invited to Webinar about CSD’s Balanced Assessment System
Families are invited to join a webinar on Wednesday, August 20 at 6 p.m. to discuss ELA standards, curriculum, and the CSD Balanced Assessment System, hosted by CSD's Teaching and Learning department.
We will share examples of how the standards have changed, information on cursive writing, and the new curriculum. We will also review how our Balanced Assessment System works, featuring interim assessments, STAR, and student reports. This is a great opportunity to learn more about what your child will be learning this year and how you can support them at home. Join webinar here. You will receive your student's most recent STAR testing reports in next week's Thursday folders.
Students Invited to Apply for Superintendent's Student Advisory Council
Superintendent Dr. Whitaker invites student leaders and interested students to apply for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council. Councils are divided into age groups and invite student members to share their perspectives and experiences with the Superintendent on a variety of issues, offering a two-way system of communication between students and the Office of the Superintendent.
Students are also asked to attend each meeting (see dates below) at the Wilson Center after school in the Superintendent's Office. The deadline to apply is Friday, August 22, at 5 p.m. Selected students will be notified by Friday, August 29, 2025. Apply for the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council here.
Reminders
School Lunch Policy: Please be sure to maintain a positive lunch balance for your child. This will help us avoid any unexpected lunch changes for students. Check your Parent Portal frequently to make sure your child has adequate funds for the cafeteria. You may also find the Parent Portal app (for Apple or Android) to be more convenient.