Westchester Weekly
All-Star Newsletter February 11, 2021
Principal's Corner
I'm so proud of the celebration of Black History which is underway at Westchester. Our faculty and students are uplifting Black History at Westchester in so many ways and it's absolutely amazing. Teachers have embedded Black heroes in every facet of instruction. Additionally, our faculty has worked together to record read-alouds of books with Black characters, authors, and illustrators. Also, our community circles are centered around the contributions of Black people in America and across the world. I'm very proud of what I'm witnessing at Westchester and I hope you feel the same about the work your children are doing at school, in-person or virtually. Here's a list of options for celebrating Black History Month around Atlanta.
I really enjoyed my first lunch bunch with students and I'm so excited to do it again on March 2! Please click here to register your child. It will be a fun 30 minutes of games while the students enjoy their lunch. There will be a limit of 20 participants in the lunch bunch, but don't worry. I plan to continue the lunch bunches through the end of the year. I want to spend time with every student. Parents and students will receive email confirmation of participation by Monday, March 1.
Next week is winter break. There is no school for students. Classes will resume on Monday, February 22. I hope you and your family have a great time over the break as you celebrate the time off in your own way. We have persevered through a year unlike any other. Now, it's time for us to rest and recuperate. Please remember to mask up and social distance over the break. I know it's your personal time, but I really want us to return to school after the break and find each other healthy and well.
WE have an incredible school community and I'm so happy to work with you. Have a lovely day!
Kindly,
Kimberly R. Watson, PhD
Principal
Westchester Elementary School
(404) 370-4400 Phone
(404) 370-3844 Fax
Upcoming Calendar Events
February- Black History Month is celebrated
February 11th- WE Parent Lunch 12:00pm-1:00pm
February 12th- King of Pops 3:00 pm-4:30pm
February 14th- Valentines Day
February 15th-19th- Winter Break- No school
Winter Break 2/15-2/19
Picture Retakes
Community Circle Dates-
Here are the upcoming dates:
2/26- Mrs. Querubin
Important Information about Gifted Review
Each year 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 your child reviewed and possibly evaluated for gifted services eligibility, you may complete a Recommendation for Review Form (found at the website below) and turn it into the Gifted & Talented Specialist at your child’s school before March 8th. No additional information is needed. The Gifted & Talented Specialist for Westchester Elementary is Ms. Nesbitt . For more detailed information about the evaluation process and to obtain a copy of the Recommendation for Review Form, please contact the Gifted & Talented Specialist for your school at wnesbitt@csdecatur.net or visit the following website: https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/581.
STAR Assessment Family Information
Hello Westchester families!
In January, your student took the STAR reading assessment. Today, you will receive the Parent Report with information about your child’s reading progress. The information below will help explain what this test is and how it will be used. Please reach out to your teacher or to Mrs. Manasso (cmanasso@csdecatur.net) if you have any questions.
Young Georgia Authors Contest 2020-2021
We’re looking for poems, short stories, narratives, informational writing pieces, or any other original student writing that highlights your amazing skills as a writer.
PTA Announcement:
The PTA Board will be voting to fill 2 vacancies - Tuesday March 2nd
Hello everyone! I hope you’re all doing well and staying healthy. Even though this year has not been a conventional one, the PTA board members have held regular board meetings, and we have continued to work together with Dr. Watson and staff to meet the needs of the school wherever we can. We’re also working toward hosting a membership wide PTA meeting for this semester, so stay tuned for that.
Unfortunately, we have lost 2 of our board members this year, and we will be voting to replace them on March 2nd. The PTA bylaws require the Board members to fill the vacancies by a majority vote of the Board members, but in the spirit of transparency, we’d like to take this opportunity to let our community know when the vote will take place. We also want our PTA members to consider nominating themselves or another PTA member to fill these positions. Open positions include the office of Co-President and the Vice President of Outreach. If you are interested in serving in either one of these positions, please reach out as soon as possible to M.J. Blakely, our PTA President, at mjblakely@pmkm.com.
Thank you so much for your consideration and for your support.
Sincerely,
PTA Board Members
Counselor's Corner
This week is National Play Therapy Week! (February, 7-13)
Play is a child's first language and how children learn so many skills such as positive communication, emotional regulation, social relationships and creative problem solving.
This winter break, take 30 minutes to intentionally play with your child. Find a safe space for them to fully express themselves and allow them to lead, enter their metaphors, provide encouragement, and only set limits if someone could get hurt.
Dine out/in Fundraiser
Have you tried Jimella's cookie sandwiches and treats? If you have, time to order more! First timers, get ready for yum!
Take care of all your Valentines by ordering AND give back to the Westchester PTA at the same time.
Emily Holden
Owner
PTA Update
Start Winter Break with a POP!
The Westchester Elementary PTA invites students and parents to stop by the King of Pops stand in front of the school from 3 - 4:30 pm on Friday, February 12th to jump start Winter Break. The PTA recognizes the students for their hard work and perseverance during the recent schedule changes. Please make a quick stop to pick up a pop and take it with you to enjoy as you start Winter Break!
What: King of Pops
When: Friday, Feb. 12th 3pm to 4:30pm
Where: In front of Westchester Elementary
Why: Westchester Wolves ROCK!
From Safe Routes to School!
February is Love your Bus Month!
February is Love your Bus Month! You can celebrate by creating cards or telling your bus drivers how much you appreciate them! Look for more details coming soon on how to celebrate our bus drivers- including a fun video from Westchester's Bike Dudes and Media Specialist Brooke Nation!
Decatur Strategic Plan for 202s..
From the hundreds of residents who participated in our in-person and then virtual Citizen Roundtables over the course of 2020, to the Virtual Forums collecting opinions and ideas of all types, to the more recent, topic-specific Decatur 202 sessions that drilled down on issues of mobility, housing, racial equity, and climate action, Decatur residents have been hard at work voicing their vision for the city’s next decade.
These front-end input opportunities for the 2020 Strategic Plan will be wrapping up soon, but it’s not too late to get your ideas on the table. Share any remaining thoughts online in our Virtual Forums which can be accessed at http://bit.ly/300tKT6.
Calling All Decatur Youth. We want to hear from YOU!
The Strategic Plan will help guide the City in deciding what’s most important to Decatur residents like YOU in the next 10 years.
Visit https://decatur2030.com/resources/ and look for the Youth Input section to share your ideas by March 15, 2021. Choose your response type and email your ideas to childfriendlydecatur@gmail.com. If you drew a picture, please take a photo and email it to us.
Once input has completed, recommendations will begin to emerge for public review and comment so stay tuned for that as we move further into 2021.
From the CSD Special Education Department...
IEP 101 for Parents
The CSD Special Education team will give an in-depth look at key sections of the IEP document. The Special Education team members will give clear examples to help families with understanding the IEP. This is a great way for families new to this process to learn about the IEP or for families who may need more clarity.
Our special education staff members look forward to connecting with you and guiding parents through the document.
IEP 101 For Parents (Virtual Meetings)
Date: February 24, 2021
Time: 6pm to 7pm
RSVP to Cheryl Grant cgrant@csdecatur.net
From College Heights
Registration for “New Families” to College Heights began on February 1, 2021. The child must be four (4) years of age on September 1, 2021, to be eligible. Parents/Guardian must complete an online application prior to submitting supporting documents to College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center located at 917 S. McDonough. If you are in need of assistance to complete the enrollment form online, parents may email Patrice Moore at pmoore@csdecatur.net
Step One: Parents/Guardians need to complete this online registration form.
Step Two: Parents/guardians need to bring the following documents to College Heights Early Childhood Learning Center on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday during the month of February between the hours of 11:00-1:00 pm. Documents must be submitted by February 25th no later than 1:00 pm in order to be considered for the Pre-K lottery.
- Proof of Residency (lease, deed, payment/coupon book, property tax or settlement statement, and a current utility bill). If providing a lease the student’s name must be listed as an occupant.
- Birth Certificate (certified original)
- Immunization (Form 3231)
- Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition (Form 3300)
- Student’s Social Security Card
- Picture ID of a guardian
Note: Tables will be set up on the front porch. Staff will meet individually with parents to review and copy their documents. No visitors will be allowed into the building. Please come prepared with all documents. All individuals must wear a mask. Individuals will be socially distanced while waiting to meet with staff for their document review.
Timeline for Pre-K registration and lottery process…
Registration: February 1 – 25
Days: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Time: 11:00-1:00 pm for the month of February
Lottery: Electronic lottery will be conducted on March 5th, 2021
Notification: Parent/Guardian of students on the waitlist will be notified
via a phone call no later than March 8th.
City of Decatur News
WATCH NOW!
Decatur Education Foundation News
Load Up with New Books for Winter Break!
DEF is hosting a Covid-safe book sale at Legacy Park’s Cochran Building (the gym) just in time for Winter Break. There’s a large selection of gently used children’s books from toddler to high school at bargain prices! You can sign up for 20-minute shopping slots here.
The Tour Must Go On!
Due to Covid-19, DEF can’t host its annual Tour deCatur 5K and Fun Run in its usual in-person form. This year, we are offering a “Run Where You Are” 5K and Fun Run on the weekend of March 27th. 5K participants can register at www.tourdecatur.com where you can also order an event shirt. We hope this event will encourage the community to go outside to celebrate our health and the onset of spring. For some participants, this year’s Tour could be a goal to achieve or a fun family activity, and for others, it might just be exciting to have something to put on the calendar! 5K participants can submit a photo of their tracked time, and race results will be posted on the race website and on the DEF Facebook page in the week following the race.
The Joe’s Fund Challenge
Decatur Education Foundation and Decatur City Church are excited to announce they have joined forces to launch the Joe’s Fund Challenge! Decatur City Church’s Be Rich Campaign recently donated $25,000 to DEF’s Joe’s Fund which supports our kids’ behavioral health. Joe’s Fund, initiated by the family of Joe Bodine after his death in 2016, has been instrumental in the creation of the Decatur Student Center at Decatur High, as well as the recent expansion of services to Renfroe Middle School.
Together, DEF and Decatur City Church is challenging our community to help us raise an additional $25,000 to double the impact we can make collectively. Your contribution to Joe’s Fund today will help expand the behavioral health programming at the high school and middle school and will allow us to offer behavioral health grants to every K-5 school. Early intervention can help arm our students with the coping skills they need to face future challenges. Help us help our kids. Gifts to Joe’s Fund will ensure that we can continue to react to address the wide and varied needs of all of our kids. To take part in the challenge, please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/joesfund. Together, we make a difference!
Staff Shoutouts!
Each month, the District Dispatch features shoutouts from parents and students to our excellent teachers and staff at one of our schools. This month we are featuring Westchester Elementary School teachers and staff.
If you would like to shoutout your child’s teacher or a staff member, send an email to Sarah Jones at sjones1@csdecatur.net. Also, at the end of the school year, nominate your child’s teacher for the Extra Mile award. Keep an eye out for more information on how your student can nominate a teacher or staff member as we get closer to the end of the school year. You can find the past shoutouts on this page https://www.csdecatur.net/shoutouts.
Take Action Tuesdays!
Take Action Tuesday is a new weekly spotlight where CSD spotlights our students for their good deeds in our community. #OurKids are truly making the world a better place in so many ways and each Tuesday we will salute one student for their fantastic work. We need your suggestions! Do you know a CSD student who is working to make the world a better place in small or big ways? Let us know! Complete this form (https://forms.gle/WJaPFJZ8ojTtNCVK8) and they may be highlighted next week! Please be sure to include a photo!
CSD Nutrition
If your child is eating with us and requires vegetarian meals OR has a special dietary need, please fill out this google form: https://forms.gle/eyo5veaaAN8iBczp6
Vegetarian students are required to fill out this online form, and no further action is necessary. For our in-person students: we will have your child's meals labeled with their name at the front office/desk of their school. For our virtual students: we are prepared with the required amount of vegetarian meals at our TakeOutSpot at Decatur High School. Please pick-up meals on MWF between 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM.
Students with special dietary needs are required to return the completed form "Medical Statement for Accommodating Disabilities" to our Food and Nutrition Supervisor at sblack@csdecatur.net. Please note that a healthcare provider must fill out & sign the form. We must receive this completed paperwork before we can begin to make menu accommodations. Only filling out our google form or emailing our department is not sufficient documentation. In the past food allergies have been handled more so by individual schools and nurses, however, we are moving towards having all food allergy documentation come through the School Nutrition Department. If you have a student who is only requesting lactose-free milk, note that the paperwork "CSD Milk Substitution Form" can be filled out by a parent/guardian OR a healthcare provider. Please see our Special Diets webpage for more details: https://www.csdecatur.net/Page/1403
Students with special dietary needs who are learning in-person: we will have your child's meals labeled with their name at the front office/desk of their school. Students with special dietary needs who are learning virtually: we will have your child's meals labeled with their name at our TakeOutSpot at Decatur High School.
Our menus for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year will be pork-free. Thank you for your patience as we work through new processes this school year.
Important CSD Contacts
Here are few other webpages that might be helpful to parents are:
Important CSD Contacts: https://www.csdecatur.net/domain/1658
www.csdecatur.net/opening - a repository for all documents, announcements, and communications about how CSD is handling the 2020-2021 school year.
www.csdecatur.net/nutrition - How to order meals
www.csdecatur.net/transportation
www.csdecatur.net/bustracker - How to sign up for the new Predictable Ryde Bus tracking app used for meal delivery, soon for the Fly-brary, mobile book delivery and when in-person learning resumes to track students on their buses
https://virtual.csdecatur.net/tech-help (how parents and staff can put in a tech support request)
https://virtual.csdecatur.net/students - classroom login information
https://virtual.csdecatur.net/parents - Virtual Learning Handbooks
********************************************************Please check our weekly newsletters, emails as well as your student's Google Classroom for all upcoming news and events.
Westchester Elementary School
Email: bnation@csdecatur.net
Website: https://www.csdecatur.net/Westchester
Location: 758 Scott Boulevard, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4400