Family News
April 1, 2026
Now Accepting Applications for the 2026–2027 School Year (Grades K–8)
We are now accepting applications for students entering Kindergarten through Grade 8 for the 2026–2027 school year. Limited spots are available in Grades 1–8.
All students who are not currently enrolled must submit an application, including siblings of current students.
Lottery Preference is given to:
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Siblings of currently enrolled students
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Students residing in the 14215 zip code
We encourage you to share this information with your family and friends who may be interested in joining our school community.
Refer A Family
WIN BIG!
Help grow our school community and get rewarded
How It Works
1. Refer a family to WCCS
2. They list your name on their enrollment form
3. When they enroll, you earn entries and rewards
TWO Ways to WIN
Every enrolled referral = 1 entry into our week drawing
Prizes: Tops gift cards, school uniform shirt or school swag
The more families you refer, the more chances you have to win
OCTOBER ENROLLMENT BONUS
If your referred student is enrolled by October 1, you earn:
A $50 gift certificate
Why Families Choose Westminster Community Charter School
- Strong academics
- Safe and supportive environment
- Caring teachers and staff
- A community that feels like family
START REFERRING TODAY!
Winner
Excited to share we have our first winner of the weekly student application referral prize. Ms. Aisha Henderson was drawn as the winner after she referred families and friends to apply, and they mentioned her when completing the application. Congratulations, and we hope you enjoy your Westminster chair as you attend outside events this summer. Thanks for sharing the news about Westminster so we can build our community.
UB Basketball 101
The University at Buffalo Athletics Department partnered with Westminster Community Charter School to provide a unique sports-themed learning experience for over 50 third- and fourth-grade students. The annual 'Basketball 101' partnership with M&T Bank and Buffalo Promise Neighborhood continues to exhibit our sincere commitment to be engaged with the community. This platform provides elementary kids the ability to step foot on our campus who may not have had this opportunity elsewhere. Our coaches and student-athletes give back by teaching not just basketball skills, but more importantly, life lessons. We are hopeful that these lessons will inspire and guide these young individuals, helping them realize what the collegiate experience at UB is all about.
June 4 - Spring Showcase
June 5 - Attendance Assembly
June 12 - 8th Grade Awards and Dinner Dance
June 16 - Reading Invasion 9:00-10:30, come join us to read with your student in the newly updated green space
June 18 - Last Day of Y Program
June 19 - No School, Juneteenth
June 20 -8th Grade Graduation
June 24 - Kindergarten Moving Up Ceremony, Board Meeting 5:00
June 25 - Last Day for Students - Field Day
Please let us know why your child was absent and return this form to the school within three days.
A simple note or a DOJO message that included the following information:
Student’s First and Last name
MM/DD/YY of date(s) absent
Homeroom or Classroom #
Teacher name
Reason for absence:
☐ Illness
☐ Family Vacation
☐ Doctor or Dentist Appointment
☐ Religious Observance
☐ Transportation Issue
☐ Death in Family/Bereavement
☐ Other: ________________________________________________________________________________
Today’s Date __________________________
Supporting Healthy Screen Use for your Students
Children today are growing up in a highly digital world, and while technology can be a valuable learning tool, excessive or unstructured screen time can have negative effects on developing minds. Research and classroom observations continue to show that too much exposure—especially to fast-paced content and social media—can impact students in several important ways.
Students who spend extended time on screens may experience increased feelings of anxiety or sadness, often linked to comparing themselves to unrealistic or highly curated images and videos. This can affect self-esteem and confidence at a young age. Additionally, frequent exposure to quick, highly stimulating content can make it more difficult for children to focus.
Screen use—especially before bedtime—can also interfere with sleep, which is essential for emotional regulation, attention, and overall well-being. Increased time online can reduce opportunities for children to practice important social skills such as communication, empathy, and conflict resolution.
A big concern is that social media and online platforms may expose children to content that is not age-appropriate, including cyberbullying, unrealistic body expectations, or risky behaviors. These experiences can be confusing and emotionally challenging for young students.
At the elementary level, children are still developing their sense of self, learning how to manage emotions, and building habits that support learning. Because of this, it is especially important that screen use is carefully monitored and balanced with other activities.
We encourage families to support healthy screen habits at home by:
- Setting consistent limits on daily screen time
- Avoiding screen use before bedtime
- Monitoring the content children are accessing
- Encouraging outdoor play, reading, and face-to-face interactions
- Delaying or limiting access to social media platforms
To support this at school we will be moving to one screen free day a week in May.
Say YES Buffalo provides a free summer camp for Pre-K through 8th grade. Registration for the Say YES Summer Camp 2026 opens on Wednesday.
New this year, select sites will serve grades PK-8, while the remainder will continue to serve PK-6.
Questions? You can contact us anytime at the Summer Camp hotline: 716-218-3347.
Summer Camp enrollment for students will open on April 15, 2026, at 8am.
Say Yes Summer Camp eligibility as as follows:
1) Student must be in PK – 8th grade during the 2025-2026 school year
2) Student must be 5 years old by July 6, 2026
3) Student must be a Buffalo Public Schools student attending a district school, charter school, agency school, or Universal PK program.
https://sayyesbuffalo.org/summer/
Connect with Us
Join us on Social Media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestminsterCCS
X: https://twitter.com/WestminsterCCS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/westminsterccs/
Scan the code to join all three.
Check out our updated website: https://www.westminsterccs.org/
With your support, we look forward to building on our school’s 30-year history
of educating our community’s children. With your help, we can grow our pride!