Weekend Wire
August 20, 2023
WESTWOOD ROADRUNNERS
Welcome to Westwood!
DATES TO NOTE:
08/24--XPloration
09/01--Friday Flag
09/04--Labor Day--NO SCHOOL
09/05--Running Club kick-off
09/14--XPloration
09/15--Friday Flag
09/18--Professional Growth Day--No School for Students
09/22--Art Corp Orientation
09/28--XPloration
09/29--Friday Flag
09/29--PTA Open Association Meeting
Welcome to Westwood
I hope this message finds you well and relaxing after a busy week. As we embark on this exciting journey into the new school year, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the fantastic beginning we've had together. Your enthusiasm, dedication, and support have truly set the tone for what promises to be an outstanding year of growth and learning.
First and foremost, I want to extend a sincere thank you to all the parents, guardians, and family members who joined us for the Back-to-School Night. Your presence and engagement highlight the strong partnership we share in shaping the educational experience of our students. It was a pleasure to see so many familiar faces and to have the opportunity to discuss our goals and aspirations for the year ahead.
Furthermore, I want to applaud our remarkable students for their exceptional behavior, eagerness to learn, and the positive attitudes they bring to school each day. Your energy and curiosity inspire us all, and we are committed to providing you with the best learning environment possible.
Our first Friday Flag Patriotic Celebration was a resounding success, thanks to the collective efforts of our wonderful teachers, staff, and students. It was heartwarming to see our school community come together to honor our nation, fostering a sense of unity and patriotism that makes us proud.
As we move forward, I encourage all of us to maintain this spirit of collaboration, engagement, and dedication to excellence. Together, we can create an environment where each student's potential is nurtured, and their dreams are supported.
Please remember that my door is always open, and I am here to listen to your thoughts, feedback, and suggestions. Let's continue to work hand in hand to make this school year an extraordinary one.
Once again, thank you for your unwavering commitment to our school community. Here's to a year filled with learning, growth, and memorable moments!
Warmest regards,
Jennie Mikels,
Principal
Recess Roundup
The students did a wonderful job this week at recess! They are freezing at the whistle, and waiting for the second whistle/bell before walking to line.
Playground Game FOCUS for the coming week: 8/21
4 Square
As a reminder, we are asking teachers to explicitly teach each of the playground games following the schoolwide schedule .
Week 1: 4 Square
Week 2: Wall Ball
Week 3: Tetherball
Week 4: Grass area
Week 5: Play structure
There will be a little video on RRTV that shows how 4 square is played. We discussed the rules and common fouls. We have signs posted on the playground. The sign for 4 square is attached to one of the tetherball poles facing the courts.
Each week we will focus on a playground game. This week’s game is 4 square. 4 square is played with 4 players at a time. The ball should be hit with an open underhand only. The person in square A is the server. The server is the person who has been in the game the longest. The last person to enter the game is in square D. The server serves square B. The person in square B can hit it to any player. All of the rules can be found in our handbook!
High Heat Precautions
When in the low 90s degrees blacktop is closed. Lunch recess will be in the MPR; PE and other activities will be modified - no running or strenuous activities.
Mid-nineties and above no outdoor PE or held under a shade structure, Blacktop closed to all, indoor or shade options available for students during recess and lunch.
100+ treat like a rainy day and have indoor lunch/recess: eating outdoors may be an option based on conditions.
HURRICANE HILARY
We wanted to let you know about some important news regarding the weather this weekend. Hurricane Hilary in the Pacific Ocean near Baja California is expected to bring severe weather this weekend and early next week. While experts think it might become a less strong storm before it comes to us, it could still bring heavy rain, strong winds, and even thunderstorms to San Diego County.
We're keeping a close watch on the storm and will share updates if anything changes for our school. Our main concern is to keep everyone safe. If you haven't already, you can join Alert San Diego and check the County of San Diego website for tips on what to do in case of storms and flooding.
Also, we want to share some changes to our schedule for next week should it become necessary. We'll have a different plan for lunch and recess to make sure everyone stays safe during the stormy weather. If the wind is blowing the rain sideways and students are unable to eat outside in our covered lunch area, like on a typical rainy day, we have made a plan to utilize the MPR for eating indoors. With a school our size eating indoors, it will require a shift in lunch times.
If we are able to use the lunch area, we will follow regular lunch times.
And for parents dropping off and picking up their students, please remember that it might take a little more time than usual because of the rain and wind. Safety is our priority, so please take your time and be careful. We do not know if our parking lot will be ready on Monday or Tuesday.
Thank you for working together with us to keep our school community safe and prepared.
Best regards,
Jennie Mikels, Principal
Xploration
We are excited to once again host the Xploration program at Westwood. This is an enriching opportunity for our elementary school students through a special PUSD program. This program is designed to provide our students with a well-rounded education, focusing on the arts, physical education, and science.
Guest teachers, all veteran PUSD teachers, will be joining our school to lead engaging sessions that will ignite curiosity and creativity in your children. In the arts segment, students will have the chance to explore various forms of creative expression, including visual arts, music, drama, and more.
The physical education component aims to promote a healthy and active lifestyle. Our guest teachers will lead students in fun and interactive physical activities, helping them develop physical skills, teamwork, and a positive attitude towards fitness.
In the science sessions, students will delve into hands-on experiments and educational activities, fostering a deeper understanding of the world around them. Our guest teachers will spark their interest in various scientific concepts and encourage them to ask questions and explore.
We believe that this Enrichment Program will not only complement the core curriculum but also provide students with a broader perspective on learning. The diverse experiences offered in these sessions will help develop well-rounded individuals who are curious, confident, and open-minded.
We look forward to seeing the positive impact of this program on our students' overall growth and development. Thank you for your continued support in providing the best educational opportunities for our children. This also allows our grade level teams extended time for collaboration.
Approximately twice a month we welcome the Xploration Program, beginning this Thursday. Each grade level participates in a one hour 45 minute session. We also have an alternate schedule on this day. Please be sure to ask your students what they learned during the Xploration program after school.
COUNSELING CORNER
Hello Westwood Families,
Happy first week of school! I am excited to start a new school year with all of you! It has been so nice seeing so many familiar faces and meeting new additions to our Westwood community. I have some information for you regarding our school counseling program.
First, students who saw me last year for group and individual counseling do not automatically see me again this year. For a new school year, I am required to collect new parent/guardian permission slips for counseling services and gather updated information from teachers or staff.
Second, I am spending the first few weeks of school doing 15-minute check-ins with students that were on my caseload last year or if parents/staff reach out and am not starting group or individual counseling just yet. If your child speaks with me for a check-in, you have already been informed that this will occur, or you will be informed shortly.
Third, I plan on doing a family education workshop this year in fall and I'd like to gather some information from you regarding what that would look like. Please click THIS LINK to answer a few short survey questions.
YEARBOOK
2023-24 Yearbooks are on sale already! 10% off through the end of September!
About Us
Principal
Email: kholmes@powayusd.com
Website: https://westwood. powayusd.com
Location: 17449 Matinal Road, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: 858-487-2026
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WWESRoadrunners
Twitter: @RoadrunnersWwes
Nondiscrimination Philosophy and Policy Statement
The Poway Unified School District (PUSD) is an equal opportunity employer/program and is committed to an active Nondiscrimination Program. PUSD prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, immigration status, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For more information, please contact: Title IX/Equity Compliance Officer, James Jimenez, Associate Superintendent of Personnel support Services, Poway Unified School District, 15250 Avenue of Science, San Diego, CA 92128, 1-858-521-2800, extension 2121, jjimenez@powayusd.com. For students, you may contact Title IX Coordinator/504 Coordinator Jamie Dayhoff, Director of Attendance and Discipline, Poway Unified School District, 1-858-521-2840, jdayhoff@powayusd.com.