W.E.stchester Weekly
News from the Principal
Dear WE Families,
I hope this letter finds you safe, well, and happy. It is hard to believe that summer will soon slip away from us. It is time to begin our preparations for the 2026-2027 school year. Westchester Elementary is a special place, and the staff and I are looking forward to welcoming back our returning and newest wolves to the pack.
I want to share some updates from this summer.
Our facilities team has been working hard to support the maintenance projects at Westchester. A big Thank You goes to our custodial team for their hard work this summer. We appreciate the hard work of our team, Ms. Lacretia Chambers, Ms. Cynthia Howe, and Ms. Candace Morton. Special thanks go to Ms. Cynthia and Ms. Candace. They will be moving to other CSd schools next year. We appreciate all that they have done for our school.
Our PTA board is in place and ready to support our staff and families throughout the year. The board is always looking for willing volunteers to help make this the best year ever. More information is in the section below. Click here to learn more about the PTA!
Community Circles are a special tradition at WE. We come together as a community to see our little learners become the leaders of their learning. The dates are located on our school calendar. They typically fall on the last Friday of the month at 8:20 AM. Please plan to attend and see our students share their school pride.
Here is a link to a Back-to-School Checklist to ensure that your child is ready to start school.
The school doors open at 8:00. We will begin our Crew meetings promptly at 8:20. It is always great to start the year with new habits of arriving at school early to get settled for the day. Students need time to prepare themselves for daily learning. I encourage students to arrive prior to the morning announcement time.
As a Credentialed EL School, we are one of fifty schools nationwide that have earned this recognition. The EL Education School model is grounded in the Three Dimensions of Student Achievement, which create a learning environment that promotes the development of Character, High-Quality Work, and Mastery of Knowledge and Skills for all students. This credential recognition means we are an exemplary school that sets the bar for schools nationwide.
Great schools make great communities, and great communities make great schools. You can not separate the two, and this is certainly true for Westchester ES and our community. There is much to look forward to in the coming year.
From your grateful principal,
Christine C. Knox
Class Assignments
Parents will be able to log into the Parent Portal on Thursday, July 29, 2026, after 4:00 p.m., to see who their child's teacher will be. Class placement is a high priority for our staff, and we are very intentional about this process each year. Class changes after this date will only be made under specific circumstances.
Infinite Campus
For parents new to CSD, you will need to set up an account in the Parent Portal which is in our information system, Infinite Campus. Please click here to learn more about how to set up an account. Please reach out to Patrice Moore, District Registrar Enrollment Specialist, with any questions.
Westchester Family Handbook
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with our school handbook. It is full of information on attendance, PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), the progressive discipline policy, EL Education, etc.
Meet & Greet
Come see your classroom and meet your teachers! We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, July 30th from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. This is a drop in visit!
First Day of School
We will welcome students on Monday, August 3, 2026. Our school hours are 8:20-2:50. Students may be dropped off in the mornings beginning at 8:00. Breakfast will be offered between 8:00 and 8:15 each morning. We will begin our morning Crew Meetings promptly at 8:20. Please plan for your child to arrive as close to 8:00 as possible so they are ready to start their school day.
New State Law: Personal Electronic Devices
Westchester School Leadership Team (SLT)
Our SLT is an important team created and guided by CSD’s charter. SLT members serve as an advisory body to inform school-level decision-making. Parent representatives serve a two-year term. It is important to have our community voice included. This year, we will hold an election as all members have completed their second year.
Reminders
School Lunch Policy: Please be sure to maintain a positive lunch balance for your child. This will help us avoid any unexpected lunch changes for students. Check your Parent Portal frequently to make sure your child has adequate funds for the cafeteria. You may also find the Parent Portal app (for Apple or Android) to be more convenient.
