The Westgate Wire

Special Recognition for Mrs. Smorczewski!

We are thrilled to share that Mrs. Smorczewski has been selected as one of 11 award recipients honored for going above and beyond in making positive contributions to our Village. She will be receiving the Educator Heart of Gold Award, which recognizes an educator who truly goes the extra mile to teach, support, and inspire others.

Eight Westgate families submitted letters and photos highlighting the incredible impact Lisa has had on their children’s lives. One of her former students even sent in a letter of their own.

Cara and I cannot think of anyone more deserving. Mrs. Smorczewski is an AMAZING teacher with boundless energy, positivity, and heart! Please be sure to congratulate her on this recognition when you see her!

Special ABC25 Event!

Join us for our new ABC/25 Foundation’s Anti-Bullying Campaign!

We're partnering with Box Out Bullying for an inspiring age-appropriate, theatrical, interactive event. They will use interactive live theater, multimedia visuals, colorful characters, audience participation, and evidence-based bullying prevention techniques to capture attention and empower students. The program also aligns with AHSD25’s RULER curriculum.

Date: January 19, 2026

Time: 3 shows tailored to grade levels

· Grades K-2: 10:00-10:45

· Grades 3-5: 11:30-12:15

· Grades 6-8: 1:00-1:45

Learn more and get involved: https://abc25.org/box-out-bullying-anti-bullying-campaign/

Register for the event here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949A4AC2FA0FCCF8-60701181-antibullying#/

Support our fundraising dine-outs on the day of the event:

Garibaldi's: https://www.facebook.com/events/1261687702448533/

Chipotle: https://www.facebook.com/events/1228427726016697/

Together, we can make a difference! #BoxOutBullying #AntiBullyingCampaign #ABC25Foundation

Kids Heart Challenge

Westgate Elementary School families,

We’ve officially launched Kids Heart Challenge with the American Heart Association - let’s rally to change lives and be heart heroes for kids!

Through Finn’s Mission, you’ll learn the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR and how to recognize a stroke. Here are the next steps to take today:

Sign Up for Kids Heart Challenge by downloading the free “AHA Schools” app for Apple or Android or by clicking HERE.

Be a hero: Send 10 texts TODAY to help save lives.

Complete Finn’s Mission: Learn Hands-Only CPR, earn your lifesavers cape and be entered to win two Super Bowl tickets!

By signing up and raising funds, you can help us earn gift certificates for physical activity and recess equipment to support the health & wellness of our school community.

I can’t wait to see our school create a community of lifesavers this year.

Disabled Parking Spaces

Please do not park in the disabled parking spaces unless you have the proper documentation. We have staff and families who need to use those spaces and we want to be sure they are available. We appreciate your support!

Important Information on Common Illnesses in School-Age Children

School-age children are susceptible to various common illnesses.

We encourage you to take a moment to review this Information Letter on Common Illnesses for valuable guidance.

To help prevent these illnesses, please remind your child to practice healthy habits, including:

Washing hands frequently.
Staying well-hydrated.
Avoiding the sharing of personal items, food, or drinks.
Refraining from touching their eyes.
Covering their mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter as we work together to keep our students healthy and safe.

PTA Meeting

We will have our January PTA Meeting on Wednesday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m. in the LMC. Dr. Kaye will be joining us! Parents can attend in person or via Zoom using the link below. We hope to see you there!

Topic: PTA Meetng
Time: Jan 28, 2026 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81349715092?pwd=sbc1yu3v3FoIFXrl7S5hMKjUtTUcbM.1

Meeting ID: 813 4971 5092
Passcode: 646026

Parent Night Out

It's officially time to get registered for the best Back to the 90's Parent Night Out Ever! Don't take my word for it-see what Zack and Will have to say!

Come to Arlington Ale House, Saturday January 31, 2026 to party like it's 1999 with a bunch of totally awesome Westgate parents. Amazing BINGO prizes, special in-person raffle items, and more! Register now before the holiday madness sets in!

REGISTER HERE or https://forms.gle/xR8pVwxtWycNPZ1V6

New to Westgate and not sure you feel comfortable attending this awesome event? Reach out to Kelley Balmer (kelley.balmer@gmail.com) or Ali Smazik (alisonsmazik@gmail.com)