W.E.stchester Weekly
News from the Principal
Greetings WE Families,
Well, August is a wrap! Thank you for helping to make this a very smooth school opening. We are on our way to having a terrific school year. We all deserve a long weekend to have an extra day to rest. School is closed on Monday for Labor Day. Enjoy!
We look forward to seeing everyone at Curriculum Night tonight at 6:00 p.m. We will meet in the auditorium and then transition to the classrooms. The teachers will share with you news and information to help make this school year the best ever.
Parent-teacher Conferences are just around the corner. After Fall break, we will have a two-week window in which your child's teacher will be scheduling a time to meet. Look for a conference sign-up from your teacher. Conferences will be held sometime between September 29th - October 11th.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming events.
August 29th: Community Circle - all are welcome
Monday, September 1st: Labor Day - No School
September 18th: Dine-out Community Que
September 19th: Community Circle - All invited
September 29th - October 10th: Parent-Teacher Conferences
From your very grateful principal,
Christine Knox
Important Information about Gifted Review
Each fall semester the gifted review team looks at existing student data to discuss students’ needs and determine if further evaluation for gifted identification is needed. If you are interested in having the team discuss your child’s needs, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (found at the website below) and turn it in to the Gifted & Talented Specialist at your child’s school before Wednesday, October 1. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialist for Westchester Elementary is Jennifer Querubin. For more detailed information about the review process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialist for your school at jquerubin@csdecatur.net or visit the following website: https://www.csdecatur.net/our-district-5f/departments/teaching-and-learning/gifted-and-talented-services
1st Grade CogAT Testing Starts September 3
From September 3-5, all 1st-grade students will be taking the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). Unlike traditional achievement tests, which measure how well a student has learned the curriculum, the CogAT assesses a child’s ability to reason abstractly and recognize patterns and relationships in the world around them. Teachers can use CogAT scores to better understand a child’s pattern of cognitive strengths and weaknesses. Our school district also uses CogAT scores to screen for cognitively gifted students.CogAT reports will be shared at Fall family conferences.
K-5 Students Invited to Submit Art for 25-26 Fire Safety Calendar Contest
The Georgia Office of the Commissioner of Insurance and Safety Fire and the Georgia Fire Sprinkler Association invite students in grades K-5 to submit a poster of original artwork related to fire safety to be featured in the 2025-2026 Fire Safety School Year Calendar.
Posters must be 17" x 11" and in landscape format. Please include the following information on the back of the submission: student name/grade, school name, teacher name/phone/email, and principal name/email. Mail posters by Friday, September 19, to Amanda Jones, 2 MLK Jr. Drive, West Tower, Suite 707, Atlanta, Ga 30334. After mailing, email safetyed@oci.ga.gov with your name, school name, number of submissions, and the date you mailed them. Email safetyed@oci.ga.gov with questions.
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.