The Westgate Wire

• We had a great first week of school!
• Just a reminder...Students are not allowed to play on the playground before school. Also, they must have a parent present to be on the playground after school. We would appreciate your help in reinforcing these practices. Thank you!

We need your help! With the increase of students wearing electronic watches, we have seen an uptick in students using these devices to communicate with others, including parents, during the school day. Please note that the Parent/Student Handbook (page 33) prohibits using these devices during the school day unless given permission by school personnel.

Westgate is a safe environment. It is important that students connect with the staff members with whom they have meaningful relationships to support them if they are feeling sad or having difficulty. The Westgate staff is ready and willing to help students process conflicts or problem-solve any issues. We will also reach out to parents if we feel it is necessary.

Please remind your child to keep their electronic watches in the off position while they are at school. Cell phones should also be off and in their backpacks during the school day.

Your help is greatly appreciated!

Attention all nature lovers! Do you like to be outside? Do you like to work with dirt? Would you like to be a leader to help plant and harvest in our Westgate Garden? If so, Westgate Garden Club is for you!

Westgate Garden Club is looking for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade student garden leaders to help maintain our garden area this fall and then help plant and harvest vegetables next spring. We are also hoping to be able to have an indoor hydroponic garden throughout the winter months.

Here's how it works:

• 2nd grade students will meet during their lunch/recess time from 12:00-12:30 pm.
• 3rd-grade students will meet during their lunch/recess time from 12:30-1:00 pm.
• 4th and 5th-grade students will meet after school from 3:45-4:15 pm. If participating, parents will need to have their child picked up after school at 4:15 pm.
• The fall season will be used to maintain the current garden. We will most likely just meet one time during this season.
• Last year, during the wintertime time we had the opportunity to grow lettuce using a hydroponic garden. We will hopefully do this again this year.
• During the spring, students will have the opportunity to plant, grow, harvest vegetables, and take them home to their families to enjoy. Usually, we will meet about 2-4 times a month.
• Throughout the summer, Garden Club families can sign up for a week to continue to maintain and harvest our garden (Your family can even keep the veggies you pick!)
• After enrolling, you will be emailed of your child's Garden Squad group and upcoming dates, usually 2-3 days ahead of time. Dates are set based on the weather and the type needed in the garden that week.
• Parents will be notified via email if the Garden Club is canceled due to bad weather.
• Please have your students dress in older clothes and shoes on the days that they are assigned. Things can get messy!

PLEASE USE THIS LINK TO HAVE YOUR CHILD SIGN UP.

Sign-up for this club will close on Monday, September 8th. (Sorry, but we cannot accept late enrollment after this date.)

Any questions? Please contact one of the Garden Club Teacher Leaders:

Donna Hynek (dhynek@sd25.org) and Abby Horn (ahorn@sd25.org)

We will be beginning the state-required vision and hearing screenings. Hearing Screenings will take place for students in grades K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, students new to the district, and those with IEPs. Vision screenings will take place for students in K, 2nd, students new to the district, and those with IEPs.

Please reach out to the Westgate health office with any questions.

Are you interested in being a parent room rep for your child’s classroom this year? If so, click here to apply. Applying does not guarantee you a room rep position, as it will depend on the total number of parents that apply. Please be patient as the PTA finalizes room rep selections because it may take up to two weeks. Thank you for your interest in volunteering at Westgate! Feel free to reach out to Shelly Daley, PTA Parent Room Rep Chair with any questions at michelledaley24@gmail.com

Westgate PTA Room Rep responsibilities throughout the year may include:

• Plan the Halloween & Valentine’s Day parties for your child’s classroom--and recruit up to four parent volunteers to assist at them
• Assist your child's teacher with setting up volunteer schedules
• Welcome and mentor any new families in your classroom during the school year
• Assist your teacher with other classroom needs

We are excited to share some happy news—Mrs. Winter, our social worker, welcomed a baby girl this summer! While she is on leave, we are fortunate to have Ms. Paola Flores supporting our students as a social worker. We anticipate Mrs. Winter’s return at the beginning of November.

Ms. Flores comes to us with extensive experience as a retired social worker from District 65 in Evanston. She holds the necessary certification and has already begun building strong connections with our students and staff, quickly becoming part of the Westgate family.

• 3-5-6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.

• K-2-6:40 p.m.-7:10 p.m.

• Specials/Specialists/Related Service-6:15 p.m.-6:45 p.m.

Please note that there is no pre-ordering. After photos are taken, families will receive an email with a link to view and order online. Orders are shipped directly to the home, and they offer free shipping for the first two weeks after the photos are posted.

9/1- Labor Day-No School

9/3-Curriculum Night

9/5-Picture Day

9/12-PTA Fall Fest

9/23- No School

10/2-No School

10/8-PTA's Walk to School Event

10/17-Picture Day Retake

10/23-10/24- Parent Teacher Conferences (no school for students)

10/31-Halloween

11/21-Reports Cards sent to parents via email

11/24-11/28-Thanksgiving Break