Westchester Weekly
Greetings, WE families,
My hope is that you have an enjoyable long weekend. The teachers were very productive during our Teacher Workday on Monday. These days are greatly appreciated by teachers and staff, as they help them get caught up and prepared for teaching and learning.
Come one, come all to our Westchester Fall Fest on Saturday, October 17, 2026, from 2:00-4:00. This is a wonderful afternoon of fun for all. Thank you to our PTA and all who work to make this special event happen. I am looking forward to seeing everyone. Most importantly, I am excited to find out who will be the Principal for a Day. Be sure to purchase your raffle tickets and see who the lucky students will be.
We are pleased to share that your child's first Progress Report is now available in the Parent Portal. We encourage you to review the report with your child, celebrate their accomplishments, and discuss any areas where additional support may be helpful. If you have questions or concerns about your child's grades, please don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher. We are committed to partnering with you to support your child's growth and learning.
Directions for accessing grades in the Parent Portal are on page 24 of the Grading and Reporting Handbook.
Don't forget to mark your calendars for these upcoming Westchester events:
October 19th- 30th: Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 21st: School Leadership Team (SLT)
October 22nd: Wheelhouse Dine-out
October 28th: 12:50 Early Release; Parent/Teacher Conferences
October 30th: Community Circle - All invited
From your very grateful principal,
Christine Knox
This month is National Bullying Prevention Month and next Wednesday 10/21 is Unity Day: Wear and share orange to come together in one giant message uniting for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to visibly show that no child should ever experience bullying.
📚 Come Visit the Westchester Book Fair!
We’re stocked with something for every reader—board books, picture books, graphic novels, non-fiction, activity kits, adult reads, and so much more!
🗓 Book Fair Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Saturday (Fall Fest): 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
⚠️ Last Day to Shop: Tuesday, October 20th — Closes at 11:00 AM!
Stop by, browse the shelves, and stock up on your favorite reads before we pack up. A huge thank you to Little Shop of Stories for partnering with us to make this fair possible!
You came to shop but left empty, no worries, you may still support Westchester! Families can shop online at www.littleshopofstories.com, and the school will get credit for the sale -- yay! Shoppers should use the coupon code WESTCHESTER at checkout.
If you purchased Book Bucks- here is an updated on where the unspent money goes too...
FUSS-FREE FUNDRAISER
The PTA's FUSS-FREE FUNDRAISER kicks off at Fall Fest on October 18! This is an easy-breezy fundraiser, and all we ask is that you donate what you can. This fundraiser helps us keep event admission (like Fall Fest!) free. Our goal is to raise $10,000, which comes to about $85 per family.
At the end of the fundraiser, kids get to THROW WATER BALLOONS AT MS. KNOX!!! We'll celebrate the end of the fundraiser after Community Circle on October 30. That gives us less than two weeks to reach our goal, so expect a few friendly reminders along the way!
Each year, we rely on Fuss Free to Cover:
Fall Festival $1,000
Field Trips $1,300
Year Books $2,370
Staff Luncheons $1,300
Teacher/Staff Development $750
Celebrations $250
Classroom set up $1,070
Dates: October 15-18
Location: Decatur High School Performing Arts Center
For the 2:00pm matinee on Saturday, October 17th, use promo code SAVE5 at checkout for $5 off up to two tickets!
Make the Season Brighter – Apply, Sponsor, Donate!
A Season of Giving is a neighbor-led effort bringing holiday joy to our local children and seniors through personalized gifts.
Apply for Gift Assistance — Deadline: October 31
We're thrilled to support kids through 12th grade again this year!
Want to Give Back?
Sponsor – Choose a wish list and shop for a child or senior.
Donate – Let us do the shopping with your contribution.
Volunteer – Lend a hand and help spread the joy!
Questions? Email us at aseasonofgivingdecatur@gmail.com
DHS Clothes Recycling Bin. (Attached is the photo and the message regarding the new DHS Clothes Recycling Bin)
