Family News

This week at WCCS

We will be starting our fire drills this week.

Tuesday - Parent Advisory Council Meeting - 5:00 PM ZOOM Meeting

Friday - DRESS DOWN DAY FUND RAISER - $2 due classroom teacher by Thursday

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81948339148?pwd=iFqubYk1Dmj7rFuM4bP94z3bxvSqQj.1
Meeting ID: 819 4833 9148
Passcode: 709069

Parent Advisory Council

The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of Westminster Community Charter School parents and guardians who partner with the school to strengthen communication, family engagement, and the overall school community. PAC provides families with a voice in school programs, activities, policies, and decisions that impact students and families.

The council meets the third Wednesday of each month at 5:00 PM on Zoom, to share feedback, discuss school priorities, identify family needs, and help plan activities and events. PAC also provides opportunities for families to learn more about academics, student support, attendance, school programs, and community resources.

All WCCS parents and caregivers are welcome to participate. Whether you attend every meeting or join when you can, your ideas and involvement are valued. Together, we work to make Westminster a school where every student and family is a valued member of the Pride.

If you are interested in joining just attend a meeting.

Lions are unique because they live together in groups called prides. Members of the pride depend on one another for protection, support, and survival. Each lion has a role, and the strength of the pride comes from its members working together and looking out for one another.

At Westminster Community Charter School, our Lions Pride works the same way. We are a community of students, staff, families, and partners who depend on and support one another. Every person belongs, every person matters, and every person contributes to the strength of our Pride.

Our three schoolwide expectations guide how we take care of ourselves and one another:

Be Safe – Make choices that protect yourself and others.
Be Respectful – Treat people, our school, and our community with kindness and respect.
Be Responsible – Take ownership of your choices, your learning, and your role in our Pride.

Just like a lion pride, we are strongest when we work together. When one member needs help, others provide support. When one member succeeds, the Pride celebrates. When each of us does our part, our entire community becomes stronger.

At Westminster, you are never just one Lion—you are part of the Pride.

School Safety Drills – Keeping Our Lions Safe

The safety of our students and staff is one of our highest priorities. In order to make sure are students are prepared we will practice various types of drills, throughout the school year.

Drills are intended to prepare students, not scare them.

Fire Drill - 8 per year, 6 before Winter Break
Students practice leaving the building safely and quickly. Evacuation may be necessary because of a fire, gas leak, unsafe condition, or another situation requiring everyone to leave the building.

Lockdown Drill - 4 per year, 2 before Winter Break
Students practice what to do if there is an immediate safety threat inside the school. Students and staff move to or remain in a secure location and follow established safety procedures.

Shelter/Shelter-in-Place - 1 per year

Students practice remaining safely inside the school when conditions outside or elsewhere make it safer to stay indoors. This could be used during severe weather or another environmental emergency.

Emergency Dismissal Drill - 1 per year, Oct. 9 is our scheduled date. Dismissal will start at 1:45, instead of 2:00 pm.
We practice our procedures for dismissing students early during an emergency.

Other Safety Responses that Students may experience.

Hold/Hold-in-Place -Students remain in their classrooms while hallways are temporarily kept clear. A hold might be used, for example, while staff respond to a medical emergency in another part of the building.

Secure/Lockout -The outside doors of the school are secured because of a potential concern outside the building. Students and staff generally continue normal activities inside the school.

Busing 2026-2027

School Transportation

📅 Start Date: September 2025

🕖 Bus Hours: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM
🏫 School Hours: 7:25 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Eligibility: Students must live more than 0.7 miles from the school to qualify for bus transportation. BPS determines eligibility based on the address on file for your student(s).
🏡 Required: Families must have a current proof of residence for bus registration. If you move during the year, we need an updated proof of residency to change your bus route. The bus requires 2 weeks for a change, so please provide up-to-date evidence of residence as soon as possible.

Registration with home district, if you live outside of Buffalo you must request transportation from your home district.

All bus communication comes from the Buffalo Transportation department, please reach out direct to them with questions. Transportation Hotline: 716-816-4895, Depot numbers below:

200 Buses -716-874-0544

300 & 400 Buses - 716-835-5410

500 Buses - 716-826-4771

600 Buses -716-896-1171

700, 800 & 900 Buses -716-894-4778

🦁 NEW for 2026–2027! $2 Dress Down Day Fundraiser

FIRST DRESS DOWN DAY IS 9/18, Please send in your students $2

]New this school year, Westminster Community Charter School will hold a $2 Dress Down Day Fundraiser on the third Friday of each month.

Students who bring in $2.00 may dress down for the day. 100% of the money collected will be used to support student events and activities throughout the school year. This is a fun way for students to enjoy a dress-down day while helping us provide special experiences for our Lions!

How It Works

Participation is optional.
The cost to participate is $2.00.
Students should bring their $2 in and give to their homeroom teacher anytime during the week of the scheduled Dress Down Day.
Dress Down Days will be held on the third Friday of each month.
Clothing must be school appropriate.
Students who do not participate should wear their regular WCCS uniform.
All funds raised will go directly toward monthly student events and activities.