The Westgate Wire
August 28, 2026
Picture Day is September 2nd!
Welcome Back Assembly!
Food Use in Curriculum
As part of our commitment to student health, wellness, and safety, District 25 is notifying families that some science lessons this school year may involve the use of food or food-related products as instructional tools. Please click on the letter below that corresponds with your child’s grade level for more information about the specific items that may be used.
Fun Fluency
Register Now for FunFluency - Classes Begin Sept 16!
We are excited to share that Fun Fluency Spanish enrichment classes will once again be offered at all District 25 elementary schools during the 2026–2027 school year!
Classes will be offered before and after school right at your child’s school. Fun Fluency classes are designed to make language learning engaging, confidence-building, and interactive for students of all experience levels.
Registration for the 2026–2027 school year is still OPEN. Space is limited, and classes fill up very quickly. Tuition for a full year is $365. For more information or to register, visit https://funfluency.com/registration or click the flyers below:
Dryden | Greenbrier | Ivy Hill | Olive-Mary Stitt | Patton | Westgate | Windsor
Westgate Garden Club Sign-Up:
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 to 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.
Please go to this link for additional information and to sign up your child.
Sign-up for this club will close on Friday, September 4th. (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)
Hearing and Vision Screenings
We will soon be starting the state-required vision and hearing screenings. Hearing Screenings will take place for students in grades K, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, students new to the district, and students with IEPs. Vision screenings will take place for students in K and 2nd grade, students new to the district, and students with IEPs.
Please contact the Westgate health office with any questions.
Cell Phones & Electronic Devices
As we begin the new school year, we want to remind families of our expectations regarding cell phones and other electronic devices at school, including wearables. These expectations are designed to help students stay focused on learning, minimize distractions, and support a positive school environment.
Middle school students are expected to turn off electronics and store devices in their middle school locker during the school day.
Elementary students are expected to leave electronics in the “off” position and in their backpacks throughout the school day.
A supervising teacher may grant permission for them to be used or if needed during an emergency.
They may not be used in any manner that will cause disruption to the educational environment or will otherwise violate student conduct rules.
The District will provide access to students who do not own a mobile learning device in circumstances when its use is required for instructional purposes during the day. Electronic devices may be used during the school day if:
Use of the device is provided in the student’s IEP, or
Permission is received from the student’s teacher with administrator approval
We appreciate your partnership in helping our students be present, engaged, and ready to learn each day. Please take a moment to review the flyer to the right, along with the full policy in the Parent/Student Handbook.
Health Office Information
We appreciate the families who have already submitted their child’s required health forms.
It is crucial that all necessary forms are provided to avoid any interruption in your child’s education as the State of Illinois REQUIRED EXCLUSION date of October 15th.
Our school nurses will be reaching out to families who need to submit updated information, so please be attentive to any communication via voicemail, email, or backpack mail. For any questions or further assistance, please visit our D25 Health Services page for the school nurse contact information.
Required for all kindergarten and new students
The physical must be completed within a year of school start, dated on or after August 20, 2025
Parents must complete and sign the health history section
Immunizations Requirements must be met or include a MD approved schedule of administration
Failure to submit the form and have it reviewed by the School Nurse prior to the OCTOBER 15th deadline will result in your child being EXCLUDED from school
Required for all kindergarten and students new to the state of Illinois
The exam must be completed by a licensed eye doctor and dated on or after August 21, 2025
The official State of Illinois Eye Examination form is required
Due date of October 15, 2026
Required for all kindergarten, second grade and six grade students
The exam must be completed by a licensed dentist and dated after November 15, 2025
The official State of Illinois Dental Examination form is required
This is due by May 15th, 2027
MAP Assessment Information
MAP testing begins on Tuesday, September 1st and runs through Friday, the 18th. Please reference your teacher’s weekly communication around their individual testing schedules. As a reminder, students perform best when well-rested, eat a healthy breakfast, and come with a fully charged chromebook. We appreciate your partnership!
D25 Families: Heritage Fest Is Looking for Booth Hosts
Saturday, September 19 | 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Arlington Heights Historical Museum
110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights
Heritage Fest is looking for families to host booths celebrating their culture, traditions, and heritage. If your family has participated in a D25 Multicultural Fair, this could be a great opportunity to share your culture with the broader Arlington Heights community.
Heritage Fest is presented by the Arlington Heights Park District, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Arlington Heights Historical Museum, and Village of Arlington Heights.
Save the Date-Curriculum Night is September 3rd!
K-2-6:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
3-5-6:40 p.m.-7:10 p.m.
Specials/Specialists/Related Service-6:15 p.m.-6:45 p.m.
Westgate PTA News
"Join us for a Dine Out fundraiser with Chick ’n Fizz! on Thursday, September 10! Come have dinner at Chick ’n Fizz (18 South Evergreen, Arlington Heights) between 4 - 8 PM and 15% of your family’s dining total will be given to Westgate PTA. Don’t forget your flyer, see you there! "
Important Dates
9/2-Picture Day
9/3-Curriculum Night (see schedule above)
9/7- Labor Day-No School
9/21- Yom Kippur-No School
10/22-10/23- Parent/teacher Conferences
11/3-Election Day-No School
11/20-Report Cards sent via email
11/23-11/27- Thanksgiving Break- No School
12/21-1/4-Winter Break-No School