W.E.stchester Weekly
January 5, 2023
News from the Principal
Happy New Year!! I hope this finds each of you rested and ready to have the children back in the routine of school. It was a nice break but I am always glad to return to our regular schedule. I guess that is what happens after so many years of school vacations. I just love to see the children return with the stories of how they spent their time away from school.
It amazes me that it is January 2023. With that comes some updates for the second half of the school year.
All students that are riding the bus must have their student ID badge with them to enter and exit the bus. This is a safety protocol that will be utilized. Your child should have one that has been sent home with them. It is best to keep that on their bookbag so they do not leave the house without it.
All CSD schools will begin selling a la carte items at lunch to students. Here are the options at Westchester::
Bag of baked chips: $1.25 (Friday only)
Homemade cookie: $.50 (Friday only)
Ice Cream: $1.00 and $1.75 (Wednesday and Friday)
Students that order the items above must have a positive balance on their lunch account. So please keep track of your balance so there won’t be tears in the lunch line. Cash will not be accepted. If you do not wish for your child to order the a la carte items, please make that clear with your child. Our cafe staff can’t monitor this while juggling their other responsibilities. Students will proceed through the lunch line, get lunch and be seated at the table to begin eating their lunch. The staff that monitors lunch will encourage students to eat lunch before allowing them to go back through the line to get one of the extra items. It will be helpful for you to remind your child that they should eat their lunch before eating the extra item.
Student Progress reports will be available in the Parent Portal. Student Mid-year assessment Data will be sent home with your child today. This will include a MAP and Acadience report.
Mark your calendar for February 9, 2023 between 2:00-6:00 PM. We will send an electronic sign-up for a time slot to attend your child’s Student-led conference.
Welcome to 2023! We are off for a terrific second semester of the school year.
From your very grateful principal,
Christine Knox
Scenes Around WE
Talley Street Chorus!
Bingo Night was a Hit!
Thank you PTA for a fun evening and all the families that joined us.
Little Shop of Stories visits
Ms. Diane & Mr. Justin visited WE to explain our new CaldeMOCK contest!
Staff Spotlight- Ms. Jennifer Querubin
Job at Westchester: 1st grade teacher
Hometown: Decatur, Ga
Education: I have been teaching for 25 years. I absolutely love teaching and especially teaching at Westchester. First Grade is my passion, however, I have taught 2nd and 3rd grade as well.
Family: I love everything about my family. My husband and I have 2 children, Daniel, 4th grade, and Emily, 6th grade. We love spending time with each other and we love blending together both Filipino culture and American culture. It's who we are and we are proud to embrace all of who we are.
Favorite music/book/movie:I love 80's and 90's jams. My favorite book is Under Our Skin by Benjamin Watson. My favorite movie is Remember the Titans.
Hobbies: My hobbies are reading, writing and spending time with my kids.
Hero/role model/inspiration: My inspiration and personal hero is Harriet Tubman. She defied the odds, made a way when there was no way and she was a strength for her people. I hope to stand in the gap and fight for others like she did. She is heroic is every sense of the word.
What is your favorite thing about Westchester? I love the fact that we are CREW. When you are crew and not a passenger, you are supported and seen.
MAP mid-year screener assessment data
You will find your child’s mid-year screener assessment data in their blue folder today. Included is their winter MAP® Growth™ Family Report, Acadience Parent Report, and IRLA Home Report. These tests contribute to determining your child’s instructional level and measure their academic growth throughout the school year in areas of math and reading.
Westchester uses these assessments to measure student progress three times per year. We also use a variety of ongoing classroom assessments to plan differentiated instruction to help all students grow academically.
If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher or our Instructional Coach, Mrs. Manasso (cmanasso@csdecatur.net).
Picture Retake Reorder
You can login with your email and the password is your child's student id (which can be found Infinite Campus). http://roger-cannon-photography.hhimagehost.com/WestchesterElementaryFall2022Retakes
Student Led Conference Information
CSD News and Announcements
Good Troublemaker Award
The late Congressman John Lewis was known for his famous plea to all humans fighting for social justice. “Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.” Who in this district, or in your building, has actions that speak louder than their words when it comes to being a good troublemaker for equity? Honor them by telling us more about their actions as champions for equitable educational outcomes in CSD.
Nominate someone else or yourself for the Good Equity Troublemaker Award here by Sunday, January 8, 2023, at 11:59 PM. Contact Anthony Downer at adowner@csdecatur.net with any questions or for more info.
K-12 Winter Break Intersession
Winter Break Intersession will be February 13-15, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Students will be invited from their school by January 6, 2023. See flyer below for more information.
Community Partner Announcements and Updates
Register TODAY for Run With the Dogs (RWTD) 2023!
Join us on Saturday, January 28, 2023, for Run With the Dogs, a Decatur tradition now in its 19th year.
We’re back at Beacon Hill Middle School for the 5K and Pup Trot, and we are pleased to announce that this year’s race is an official qualifying event for the Peachtree Road Race!
We are also pleased to announce that our Face of the Race winner is Tuck the Pug! Thank you to everyone who submitted your dogs for the contest, and thanks for voting. Register TODAY to make sure you get a long-sleeved T-shirt with this adorable little guy.
Run With the Dogs is an annual fundraiser of the Decatur Bulldog Boosters and supports the athletic programs at Decatur High School and Beacon Hill Middle School. For more information and to register for the race, click here.
Decatur Education Foundation
Happy New Year! As we begin the second half of the 2022-23 school year, we are excited for what’s ahead! Mark your calendars: There’s Mead Road Mardi Gras Parade coming up very soon on Saturday, February 4, 2023, which is a FUN family event that raises money for music grants for City Schools of Decatur. Your family can march with your school in the parade, or you can organize a community krewe. Details at meadrdmardigras.org. Then on Saturday, March 11, 2023, there’s the Tour deCatur 5K and one-mile fun run, which is DEF’s biggest fundraiser. Registration begins soon, stay tuned.
At the beginning of each month, our BHMS snack pantry and weekend backpack lists are depleted and need to be replenished. You can help by donating directly to them using these links:
Beacon Hill Middle Snack Program: /a.co/d0HJHTr
Weekend Backpack Program: https://a.co/6Etc74W
Together, we make a difference for our kids!
Decatur Farm to School
Are you interested in growing your school garden program or improving student access to fresh fruits and vegetables? The Decatur Farm to School Committee is accepting new members for the remainder of the 2022-2023 school year. In addition to general volunteers, the committee is specifically looking for "School Garden Liaisons" from each CSD school. If this sounds like you or someone you know, learn more and sign-up here.
Reminders from Last Week
Visit past newsletters for answers to your questions🤗
Westchester Elementary School
Email: bnation@csdecatur.net
Website: https://www.csdecatur.net/Westchester
Location: 758 Scott Boulevard, Decatur, GA, USA
Phone: 404-370-4400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westchesterelementarycsd