Westlawn Elementary: Volume 2, Issue 10 Highlights

Get ready for two packed weeks at Westlawn! This issue celebrates recent community successes and details numerous upcoming opportunities for engagement, spanning social events, administrative updates, and resource webinars.

Key Community Events & Engagement:

• International Night of Celebration: Westlawn’s annual International Night is scheduled for October 24th, offering food, performances, and fun for the whole family. Families are invited to contribute a dish, join the parade, or participate in performances, with forms available via teachers or the school calendar.

• PTA Restaurant Night: Support the Westlawn PTA by attending the second Restaurant Night of the school year at Guapo’s on October 21st, where a portion of the proceeds will go directly to the PTA.

• Celebrating Veterans: The school is collecting photos and service details from community members who have served or currently serve in the military for a Veterans Day Banner.

• Recaps and Fun Days: The school celebrated a successful Westlawn Day hosted by the PTA, which included a moon bounce and staff members taking pies in the face. Upcoming themed days include Westlawn Color Days (Wear White on Oct. 23 and Wear Black on Oct. 29) and Book Character Dress Up Day on October 31st.

• Connecting: Families are encouraged to engage with the school community by setting up unique play dates, attending evening activities together, or simply showing their child they care about their school, emphasizing that engagement does not always require volunteering or a donation. Furloughed federal employees are welcomed as potential volunteers, provided they register and complete necessary FCPS background checks.

Administrative and Communication Updates:

• Digital Consent Portal: Westlawn is strongly encouraging families to use the new Parent Digital Consent Portal for completing all forms, including digital resource consent and opt-out forms, as this allows staff to prioritize student-facing roles over managing paper. Families needing a ParentVUE account to access the portal can contact Ms. Caballero in the main office for assistance.

• Field Trip Communication: The school staff, including Ms. Dushok, has successfully used TalkingPoints to request and receive photos from family chaperones during recent field trips (like Kindergarten to Cox Farms and 1st grade to the Jefferson Fire Station). Families can send photos via TalkingPoints or email to enhance the website, social media, and yearbook.

• Weekly Updates: Principal Hill hosts Community Conversations on Zoom every Wednesday at 11 AM to share important news, with slides and recordings available on the school website for those who miss the live session.

Resources and Opportunities:

• FCPS Family Resources: Families are directed to the FCPS Family Resource Center, which offers free webinars on topics such as college planning and support for students with disabilities. A specific upcoming webinar, "Reading Plans and Your Student," is highlighted, noting that translation is available on an as-needed basis if families register promptly.

• Digital Citizenship Week: During Digital Citizenship Week (October 20-24), families are encouraged to use conversation starter game cards from Common Sense Media, which are available in English and Spanish.

• Community Partnership Webinars: Westlawn partners with the Fairfax County Public Library, which is launching a series of educational webinars in Spanish focused on helping individuals learn how to start small businesses.

• Staff Hiring: The school is actively seeking candidates for a new instructional assistant position in a Category B Special Education classroom and encourages families to share the job opportunity.

• AAP Services Highlight: The newsletter details the support offered for Twice Exceptional (2e) students—those who are advanced in one or more areas but also require special education services—through collaboration between the SPED and AAP department chairs.