Knight's News

Dear Westridge Families,

As we wrap up another wonderful week, I want to take a moment to thank you for being such an essential part of what makes Westridge truly incredible! Whether it’s supporting your child’s learning at home, volunteering your time, or sharing kind words of encouragement with our staff, your partnership and commitment are at the heart of our success. Together, we’re creating a school community where every child feels valued, supported, and inspired to grow!

With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching, I am looking forward to spending time with my family, and I hope you all enjoy a joyful and restful holiday with your loved ones next week. It’s a time to reflect on the many things we’re grateful for, and I am so thankful to be a part of this amazing Westridge community!

Our team remains deeply committed to providing a high-quality, engaging learning experience for every student. We are proud to see the enthusiasm, curiosity, and effort your children bring to school each day. Their growth and success are the reason we do what we do, and we couldn’t do it without your unwavering support.

Please note that the next edition of the Knight’s Newsletter will be released on Friday, December 6th. In the meantime, if you have any questions or ideas for how we can continue to keep Westridge on track for success, don’t hesitate to reach out to the school or me directly. Your input is invaluable in shaping the future of our school!

Thank you for all that you do to make Westridge such a special place. Have a wonderful weekend, and we look forward to seeing everyone back next week for more learning, growing, and celebrating all that makes our school exceptional!

Warmly,

Steven Wilson

Principal - Westridge Elementary

• November 25 - Multicultural Night from 6 to 7:30PM
• November 27 through 29 - Thanksgiving Break (No School)
• December 2 - Special Education Day
• December 2 through 6 - National Inclusive Schools Week
• December 16 through 20 - PTA Holiday Store
• December 17 - Winter Strings Concert
• December 18 - Principal's Advisory Council Meeting from 6 to 7PM (Rescheduled)
• December 19 - Music Winter Program
• December 20 - PTA Cookie Celebration
• December 23 through January 3 - Winter Break (No School)

We are incredibly proud of our Westridge chorus students who showcased their amazing talents during a special performance at the National Museum of the Marine Corps last Saturday, November 16! Their beautiful voices and dedication truly represented our school with excellence!

A heartfelt thank you to our music teacher, Mr. Jim Steimer, for his leadership, preparation, and passion in guiding our students to this wonderful opportunity. We are also deeply grateful to the families who support these young performers in sharing their gifts with the community. Your encouragement makes all the difference!

Bravo to our chorus for a job well done!

Congratulations to our incredible Robotics teams who competed at the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Regional Competition at Osbourn Park High School last Saturday, November 16! Watching our students collaborate, problem-solve, and showcase their creativity and critical thinking was truly inspiring. Their dedication and teamwork were on full display, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.

A special thank you to our Instructional Technology Coach, Mr. Jim Sample, and 5th-grade teacher, Mrs. Katie Reyes, for their leadership and commitment to this before-school program. Your guidance and encouragement are helping to plant seeds that will undoubtedly lead to life-changing opportunities for our students!

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, which has been rescheduled to Wednesday, December 18, 2024, 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!

The Impact Aid survey is now open and available for completion in ParentVUE. All parents should complete this survey as soon as possible. Please visit the PWCS Federal Impact Aid website for instructions on how to complete the survey. For assistance with your ParentVUE account, please contact the school. If you have not completed the Impact Aid survey, please do so by November 30, 2024. The following are a few key facts to provide you further information about Impact Aid:

• School districts with military installations or other federal lands within their boundaries lose local revenue because of nontaxable federal activities. Impact Aid funding partially reimburses school districts for this loss of locally derived revenue.
• Examples of eligible federal properties include national parks, military installations, and federal office buildings but there are many more.
• Federally connected and military connected are not the same. Parents can be federally connected but are not military connected. This is why it is important for ALL parents to complete the Impact Aid survey.
• Parent information captured on the Impact Aid survey is used solely to submit the Impact Aid application.
• Since enrollment changes and students move from year to year, the U.S. Department of Education requires school districts to count students annually. With that said, parents should complete a new Impact Aid survey every school year.