Westchester Weekly
All-Star Newsletter December 9, 2021
Dear Westchester families,
It seems as if the days are even longer but the weeks are zipping by us. Our students are buzzing with enthusiasm and their excitement is contagious. We are excited for our 1st and 2nd grade teams who are wrapping up their fall expeditions and are preparing amazing Celebrations of Learning to share with their community. We look forward to sharing them with you virtually. As well, students have or are completing their winter MAP test and demonstrating tremendous growth. Their perseverance and collaboration this year is and will be memorable to say the least. We have begun reflecting on this past year and how far we all have come from returning to the building last January to where we are today. We definitely are proud of our students and staff and their commitment to excellence in education.
Additionally, we are eager to meet our three finalists for principal next week and become one step closer to hiring the right person for Westchester.
Sincerely,
Spotlights
Staff Spotlight on : Hillary Seides
Position at WE: Kindergarten teacher
Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
Education/Background: I have my bachelor's and master's degrees in Early Childhood Education from the University of Tennessee.
Family: I live in Kirkwood with my husband Justin and our dog Hoagie. My parents, 2 sisters, niece, and nephew also live in Atlanta.
Hobbies: I like yoga, walking my dog, and going to concerts.
Favorite thing about Westchester: I love Westchester because it's truly a community of people who care about each other!
Gratefulness around WE
Teacher Thanksgiving Lunch
Reading with Beanie Babies
Excelling on the MAP test
Upcoming Calendar Events
December 8th-10th, & 13th- 2nd MAP Testing
December 14th- 2nd grade Celebration of Learning 8:30am
December 14th- BOE meeting @ 6:30 pm
December 17th- CC with Ms. Montgomery's Crew
December 20th-January 3rd- December Break- No School
December 25th- Merry Christmas
December 26th- Boxing Day
December 26th-January 1st- Joyous Kwanzaa!
January 1st- New Year's Day
MAP Testing
Dear Westchester Families,
During the weeks of November 29th through December 17th, we will be administering the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test. MAP is a computerized adaptive test which helps teachers, parents, and administrators improve learning for all students and make informed decisions to promote a child's academic growth. Students take the MAP test in the fall, winter, and spring. By taking it 3 times a year, teachers and parents are able to see how their student is growing in the areas of reading and math throughout the school year. We will use this data to help us make informed instructional decisions for our students.
The tests will be administered by classroom teachers and proctors in their classrooms. MAP reports will be shared after the Winter Break..
Times below include device set-up, logging in, and breaks.
December 8th/9th (Reading), 10th/13th (Math)
2nd grade students- 8:30-9:30
December 13th-17th
Makeups as needed
If you have any questions please reach out to our Instructional Coach, Christie Manasso cmanasso@csdecatur.net
Family resources::
Counselor's Corner
December Counseling Update and Strategies to Support Students' Resilience: Throughout December, classroom counseling lessons revolve around teaching students about self-compassion. Self-Compassion takes kindness to the next level! It includes self-kindness, common humanity and mindfulness. Introducing students to these concepts can help decrease anxiety and bolster confidence, especially during challenging times. HERE is more information about self-compassion in children ages 3-8 to help parents and caregivers continue the conversation at home!
PTA News
WE SPIRIT GEAR POP-UP SHOP
Swing by the back of school this Friday, December 10th during afternoon pick-up for a PTA spirit wear sale! We will also have PTA membership forms available for you to fill out to join.
SWEETEN YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH JIMELLA’S BAKERY
10% of all orders placed will be donated to the Westchester PTA! Support the PTA and take care of all your dessert needs! Share the fundraiser with colleagues, friends and family and they can also support the school. Order online at jimellasbakery.com and put WEST in the notes section. Or you can also order by calling 404.290.8725 or email info@jimellasbakery.com and mention WEST.
CSD ARP ESSER LEA PLAN
CSD is reviewing its current CSD ARP ESSER LEA Plan. We are extending a period of stakeholder feedback and input on our current plan through December 10, 2021. You may view the current plan on the CSD Website at the URL listed below. You will also find a Stakeholder Feedback Form there to provide any feedback or input that you may have on our current Plan. If you have any questions, please contact Willie Washington at wwashington@csdecatur.net. Thank you.
CSD Federal & Title Programs Coat Drive
CSD Community Members, We Need You! As the colder months are approaching, and as we are moving into the holiday season, the CSD Federal & Title Programs Department is kicking off a Coat Drive during November and December to help our families in need to stay warm this winter!
We will have a drop-off bin at each CSD school and at the Elizabeth Wilson School Support Center to collect coats and will collect coats beginning Monday, November 8 - Monday, December 13. We ask that all donations be NEW items to help us maintain the integrity of our families.we’d love your help! Please click here to apply: https://forms.gle/LoiZxoi6WvSe6WEr6
Decatur High School Alumni – the next alumni newsletter is coming soon, are you on the email list? If not, you can sign up at www.decatureducationfoundation.org/alumni. And you can update your profile at any time if you’ve got some exciting accomplishments to share with your classmates. Go Bulldogs!
MTSS dept. presents CSD Super Saturdays for K-5
Please complete the form to register your K-5 CSD student(s) for a Super Saturday session. CSD teachers and highly recommended staff will conduct engaging hands-on enrichment activities with small groups (1:10) of students on one (1) Saturday per month. The instructional focus will change from month to month (Math, STEM, ELA/Reading, etc.). All sessions will run from 9:00am- noon. This is FREE to all CSD K-5 students, but space is limited based on teacher availability. Registration will close at noon on the Friday before the session OR when all spaces have been filled. You will receive a confirmation email from Google upon successful registration.
REGISTER HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfYbU9CnNyx9e-u_qgoCTzjpS2cizbb2IkpppQJaWcitw8n0g/viewform
Register TODAY for Run With the Dogs 2022!
The race is Saturday, January 29, 2022, with a new course in MAK and Oakhurst that starts and finishes at Renfroe Middle School. This year's race will be chip timed for the first time and all 5K participants will receive the coveted long-sleeved T-shirt with original artwork by Adam Pinsley.
Thank you so much to everyone who voted for the 2022 Face of the Race. We are pleased to announce that Trout is our winner, and his adorable face will be featured on the race T-shirts, posters, and water bottle stickers.
Run with the Dogs 5K is an annual fundraiser of the Decatur Bulldog Boosters and supports student-athletes on 45 sports teams at Decatur High School and Renfroe Middle School.
For more information and to register for Run With the Dogs, click here!
Nurse Notes
COVID-19 Vaccination
If your child has completed their COVID-19 vaccination series (both shots), please email me (ngarrison@csdecatur.net and Ms. Campbell (lcampbell1@csdecatur.net) with a copy of the vaccination card. Once we receive the email, we can update the information in Infinite Campus. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out through email or by calling the school at (404)370-4400.
Thank You,
Nurse Nancy
Health Update
COVID-19 Information
Update Vaccination information in the annual data update:
We are so excited that now all students above the age of 5 can get vaccinated. Once your child is fully vaccinated for COVID-19 with two shots, please go into the annual data update and update your child’s vaccination information. You will have to click through all the questions, but the original information you entered is there. You can check yes and upload your child’s vaccination card. This is important information to have at the school level when there are active COVID cases. Thank you for your help in this important matter.
Georgia Student Health Survey
This year we will administer the Georgia Student Health Survey to students in their classrooms, and parents and guardians can complete the Georgia Parent Survey at this link https://gshs.gadoe.org/parents.
The Georgia Student Health Survey is an anonymous, statewide survey instrument that identifies school safety and climate issues that impact student achievement. In order to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for your child, the Georgia Department of Education collects survey information from students during the school year. The survey takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and covers various topics such as school climate and safety, alcohol and drug use, and mental health. If you would like to examine the survey questions, please find the survey questions here at the GSHS webpage on the right side of the web page under related documents.
All student survey data is anonymous and self-reported. The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) gives you the right to opt your child out of participating in the survey. The survey will be given to all students. If you do NOT wish for your child to participate in the Georgia Student Health Survey, please complete this Opt-Out form by December 17th.
Decatur Education Foundation
In this season of giving, DEF has several ways in which you can donate your time:
As a Virtual Pals tutor -- we need tutors to be paired with a 2nd- 8th grade Decatur student for a one-hour weekly session. Click here to apply: https://forms.gle/LoiZxoi6WvSe6WEr6
As a Virtual Pals Coordinator -- we need one person who checks in with the tutor pairs on a weekly basis - easy peasy! Time commitment is 1 hour per week. Email muslimo@decatureducationfoundation.org to apply.
As an AIM Mentor -- we need adult male and female mentors to be paired with a third-grader to have new experiences and find their passions. The time commitment is just 2-4 hours per month.
As a REACH Mentor -- we need just one more adult male to mentor an 8th-grade student who has been nominated by his teachers for the REACH GA program. REACH mentors help their mentees through the rigors of high school and college applications. Time commitment is just 2-4 hours per month.
If you've got a little extra time to share your life wisdom with a Decatur student, we've got opportunities! Please visit www.decatureducationfoundation.org/mentoring to learn more and apply. Together we make a difference for #ourkids!
Reminders from Last Week
City School of Decatur Transportation
All riders must register to ride the bus through Bus Planner. This will let us know who is riding and also how we communicate with parents. If you are interested in tracking the bus, please sign up for Here Come The Bus. The weather is changing and if your transportation plans have changed. You must register and provide your Operation ID card when riding the bus.
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