Wildcat Weekly

10/4/26

Dear Wildcat Families,

October is here, and I want to celebrate the hard work happening throughout Westview! Our teachers and staff pour their time, energy, and hearts into planning meaningful lessons and supporting students. Our students are working hard, too—tackling challenging material, building new skills, and learning to persevere. I am proud of the effort and dedication of our Wildcat community.

October can be one of the most demanding months of the school year. The work has been underway for several weeks, and everyone begins to feel the weight of busy schedules and growing expectations. As students become more comfortable at school, they sometimes need reminders that feeling connected to our community also means staying focused, showing kindness, and making choices that support everyone’s learning. Thank you for reinforcing these expectations at home.

Fortunately, a well-deserved fall break is almost here! Students’ break begins Friday, October 9, and they will return to school Monday, October 19. I hope our students and families enjoy time together, take a breather, and return refreshed. Our teachers and staff are also looking forward to catching their breath and spending time with their loved ones.

Before we leave, our eighth-grade students will take the PSAT on Thursday, October 8, in the morning. Please help your child prepare by getting a good night’s sleep, eating breakfast, and arriving at school on time, ready to give their best effort.

The PSAT gives students an early opportunity to become familiar with the types of questions and skills they will encounter on future college entrance exams. Their scores will not be sent to colleges or used for college admission. However, taking the assessment seriously provides valuable information about their strengths and areas for growth. Once scores are available, we will help families understand the results and identify ways to support continued progress.

Students will have additional testing opportunities in high school, including the PSAT in tenth grade and the PSAT/NMSQT, typically in eleventh grade, which can qualify eligible students for National Merit scholarship consideration. Later, students may take the SAT or ACT based on their college application plans and scholarship opportunities.

Thank you for partnering with us and supporting the students and staff who make Westview special. We have much to celebrate—and a welcome opportunity to rest before continuing our work together!

With Wildcat pride,
Dr. Emily Delgado
Principal, Westview Middle School

Our nine-week assessments help teachers understand how well students are learning the skills taught this grading period. For the first nine weeks, our Reading Language Arts (RLA) and Math classes will take STAAR Interim Assessments as their benchmark exams.

These assessments provide an early picture of students’ readiness for STAAR and help us estimate how they may perform. While no single assessment can predict final results with certainty, the results give us valuable information to guide instruction.

Teachers use this information to identify students who need targeted interventions, determine which skills need additional practice, and plan enrichment opportunities for students ready for a greater challenge. Each student’s best effort helps us make these decisions accurately.

Please encourage your child to approach these assessments with the same preparation and focus they would bring to STAAR:

• Get a good night’s sleep and eat breakfast.

• Attend school and arrive on time.

• Read carefully, use strategies learned in class, and check their work.

• Give their best effort and persevere through challenging questions.

Thank you for helping your child arrive prepared and confident. Together, we can use these assessments to support every Wildcat’s continued growth!

Friday was Custodian Appreciation Day, and we were delighted to celebrate the hardworking team that keeps Westview clean, welcoming, and ready for learning! Their care and dedication make a difference for our students and staff every day.

Our wonderful PTO gifted our custodians with Westview swag, and we proudly recognized their work with a banner of appreciation and goodies to share our gratitude. Thank you to our PTO for helping make this celebration special!

Please join us in thanking our custodial team. We appreciate all you do for our Wildcat community!

Tuesday, October 6, is Instructional Coach Day! Please join us in thanking Dr. Victoria Ginsburg for helping our teachers be at their best and feel supported each and every day. Her guidance, encouragement, and dedication strengthen teaching and learning across Westview. We appreciate all she does for our teachers and our Wildcat community!

Celebrate culture, spread kindness, and support student wellness! Our Counseling Department is hosting a Candy Gram Fundraiser, featuring Oeegly Popping Candy, Bocadín, Pelon Mini, and Vero Tico Mix Lollipops.

For $1 each, students and families can send a sweet treat and a personalized note to a friend, classmate, or favorite teacher. All proceeds support Counseling Office Wellness Initiatives.

Order your Candy Grams here! Choose your candy and write a short note. Candy Grams will be delivered to classrooms toward the end of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Thank you for helping make our Wildcat community sweeter and healthier!

Bring the family to Westview Middle School on October 29 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. for a fun-filled evening of entertainment, connection, and community!

Enjoy performances by our theatre, dance, and jazz band students, explore helpful community resources, and join in games and more. We look forward to celebrating with our Wildcat families!

Westview is thrilled to announce our participation in UIL again this year! If you are excited to join the team and showcase your talents, please review the Student Interest Form to learn more. Only submit if you are interested in competing. There are 14 different events to pick from. Be sure to sign up soon—registration closes on October 1st!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeXrwpk9cnD7UIuWd3WxNjOvT55IcE-s7ctBg3GN7AQkoawbw/viewform

This week, Wildcats will learn about Student Council during DEN Time. Monday’s lesson will explain how the council works and how students can get involved.

Our Executive Cabinet will include a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer from 8th grade; a Public Relations Officer from 7th grade; and one Grade Level Officer from each grade.

Students will vote for all cabinet positions. Up to four students per grade may also serve as volunteer representatives, with spots filled on a first come, first served basis.

Key dates

• September 30: Applications open
• October 21: Applications due
• October 22: After school meeting for cabinet applicants and volunteer representatives, including campaign and speech guidance
• October 27–November 2: Campaigning for elected positions
• October 28: Presidential candidates record their required two minute speeches
• November 2: Speeches play during DEN Time
• November 3: Students vote during DEN Time; our newly elected Student Council officers are announced at the end of the school day

Along the way, students will learn how to campaign respectfully and support classmates who run. I look forward to working with our Student Council to make Westview an even stronger place of belonging for every Wildcat!

Encourage your student to become one of Westview’s new Student Council leaders and help shape the future of our Wildcat community!

For more information, please contact Mr. Gonzalez or Ms. O’Donnell.

Take a moment to review our Athletics WAG (Week at a Glance).

We are excited to welcome the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area to Westview! I met with the organization’s Chief Operations Officer last week and am looking forward to the enrichment opportunities this partnership will bring to our students and community.

Boys & Girls Clubs offers activities that support learning, leadership, health, and well-being while giving students a place to connect with caring mentors and friends. bgcaustin.org We are aiming to launch after school programming following fall break, toward the end of October. We are also working on additional transportation options to help students participate.

We will share program details and enrollment information in the next week or two. In the meantime, families can learn more at bgcaustin.org.

Upcoming Fine Arts Events

Our Wildcats have a busy stretch of music ahead! Please join us in supporting our band and choir students:

• Monday & Tuesday, 10/5 & 10/6: 6th Grade Fall Choir Concert, 6pm
• Wednesday, October 7, 3:35–9:45 p.m.: PfISD Pfestival of Bands at The Pfield

The Pfestival of Bands brings together bands from across the district for an exciting evening of performances. We can’t wait to cheer on our Westview musicians!

Join us at Westview Middle School on October 20 at 9:00 a.m. for a parent presentation, “Creating Healthy Technology Boundaries with Children,” presented by TCHATT. Explore ways to set clear expectations and support balanced technology use at home.

What is TCHATT? Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine is a statewide program that partners with schools to connect students with licensed mental health professionals through free, secure virtual services. It provides mental health assessments, focused support, and referrals to additional resources when needed. Westview and Pflugerville ISD partners with TCHATT to help support our students.

We look forward to learning together and supporting the well-being of our Wildcat families!

Please RSVP using the following link: https://forms.gle/9oNrQcpGKoxr9XFM7

Please remember the following Westview lunch procedures:

• Students may not receive outside lunch deliveries, including restaurant meals or food-delivery services.
• The only permitted lunch delivery is a parent or guardian bringing the student a lunch from home.
• Parents and guardians are welcome to join their student for lunch outside with restaurant food at our shaded picnic tables.

Thank you for helping us keep lunchtime safe, orderly, and enjoyable for everyone!

Tuesday, October 6th

• Fall Picture Day
• After School Tutorials & Clubs
• Instructional Coach Day
• 7th & 8th Grade Football A-Team

Wednesday, October 7th

• Pfestival of Bands 3:35 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.

Thursday, October 8th

• 8th Grade PSAT Testing (AM)
• Tutorials & Clubs After School
• 7th Grade Volleyball vs. Kelly Lane @ Home 5:30 pm
• End of the 1st Nine Week Grading Period

Friday, October 9th

• No School - Teacher Planning & Prep Day

• No School: Fall Break

October 20th

• 1NW Science Exams (AM)
• 7th & 8th FB A-Team vs. KLMS @ 5:30 p.m.
• After School Tutorials

October 22nd

• 1NW Social Studies Exams (AM)
• After School Tutorials

October 24th

• District Band Auditions
• 7th & 8th Grade Volleyball Tournament
• Choir Regional Auditions

October 26th - 30th

• Red Ribbon Week
• Library Book Fair

October 27th

• STAAR Interim Reading Exams (AM)

October 29th

• STAAR Math Interim Exams (AM)
• Harvest Fest 5pm - 7pm

October 30th

• 1st NW Awards Ceremony (6th @ 9:15 a.m., 7th @ 10:15am, 8th @11:10am)

October 31st

• Regional Band Auditions

We look forward to an exciting and eventful September at Westview!