Westwood Community Update
News and Information for Distance Learning - Feb. 2021, V. 1
#WildcatPride
Dear Westwood Families,
February is here, along with lots to keep us busy: Black History Month, Groundhog Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Lunar New Year, President's Day, Valentine's Day....and, of course, our academic program! Teachers have been working together to review "High Leverage Standards" in English Language Arts and Mathematics in order to continue to refine our instructional focus during Distance Learning. This collaborative work, outlined by our student achievement partners at Achieve the Core, helps us to continue to identify rigorous content and develop engaging instruction for our students that is aligned with schools across the district, and beyond. In order to determine the effectiveness of these efforts, it is necessary for us to monitor student progress in these identified areas, especially as we approach the end of our 2nd trimester. Your children have already started taking assessments to help us identify where our students are doing well, and in which areas they need more support. Please encourage your child to do his/her best (resisting the urge to provide direct support in answering questions) and follow-up with your teacher to learn more about the test results.
Along with the ongoing effort to provide high quality virtual instruction, we are also gearing up for what we hope to be the eventual, safe return of students to the school campus. Superintendent Clark sent out information on February 3rd (read it here) and he will be providing an update on reopening plans at the Board meeting on February 10th. Please be sure to join the meeting, or watch the recording of the Superintendent's Report following the meeting, to stay up-to-date. At this time, we still need to meet the Red Tier criteria for 20 consecutive days, or Red Tier or better for 14 consecutive days (whichever comes first) in order to welcome small groups of students onto campus for instruction. At Westwood, we want to be ready when the time comes! We are starting to identify staff and students for participation in Small Group Support Hubs (SGSH), preparing the physical environment (setting up classrooms and hallways for social distancing, purchasing and distributing supplies, including PPE, decluttering learning spaces, etc.) and updating our safety protocols to keep everyone safe while on campus (student drop-off and pick-up, screening, hand-washing, mask wearing, contact tracing, movement around campus, etc.). Fortunately, we have the opportunity to learn from the experiences of schools across the country who have already been providing in-person instruction during the pandemic. We will be ready!
As always, if you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly at klinknern@mdusd.org.
Stay well and be safe,
Ms. Klinkner, Principal
Mark Your Calendars!
FEBRUARY (Check the calendar on our website for event details)
-Black History Month
-Life Skill of the Month: Friendship/Allyship
Weekly Virtual Recesses:
K/1st - Wednesdays; 11:15-11:30; Zoom
2nd/3rd - Fridays; 11:10-11:30; Zoom
4th/5th - Fridays; 11:15-11:45; Zoom
Weekly Social Clubs:
4th/5th Grade Girls - Mondays, 2:00, Zoom
4th/5th Grade Boys - Fridays, 2:00, Zoom
2/9
-Dine-Out Fundraiser at Mountain Mike's Pizza (5358 Clayton Rd.) - Be sure to mention Westwood when you order!
-Parent eTraining: Mental and Emotional Awareness (5-6 pm)
2/10
-TK-5 Intradistrict Transfer Request Window Opens for 21-22 (through March 10th)
-Parent eTraining: Resilient Teenagers (5-6 pm)
-MDUSD School Board Meeting (6:00 pm, Information)
2/11 - English Learner Parent Meeting (2:30-3:30 pm, Zoom)
2/12 - NO SCHOOL; Lunar New Year
2/14 - Valentine's Day
2/15 - President's Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL
2/16 - MDUSD Mental Health Panel Discussion (5:30-6:30 pm)
2/17
-Parent eTraining: Influence of Social Media on Teenagers (5:00-6:00 pm)
-MDUSD Board Meeting (6:00 pm, Information)
2/18 - District English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting (5:30-7:00 pm, Zoom)
2/22 - School Site Council Meeting / Safety Plan Review Public Hearing (3:00-4:30 pm)
2/23 - Parent eTraining: Healthy Eating Habits (5:00-6:00 pm)
2/24 - Parent eTraining: Resilient Teenagers (5:00-6:00 pm)
2/26 - End of 2nd Trimester
Coming Soon!
-Read-a-Thon Fundraiser (hosted by the Parent-Faculty Club)
Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten Registration
Is your child age-appropriate for TK or K for the 2021-2022 School Year?
- Date of Birth: Sept. 2, 2015-Sept. 1, 2016 = Kindergarten
- Date of Birth: Sept. 2, 2016-Dec. 2, 2016 = Transitional Kindergarten
If so, you can start your enrollment process now with by submitting an application online. Click here for more information. Westwood Registration Packets will be available soon. Check our website for updates or email us with your questions at westwoodregistration@mdusd.org.
Academy Awards: Call for Nominations
In one of the most challenging academic years in history, members of our community are accomplishing amazing things and going above and beyond to help their colleagues and their community. Now more than ever, we need to focus on positive contributions and recognize everyone for their hard work and sacrifices.
On Thursday, May 6, the MDUSD Community will gather virtually to honor everyone in our communities by calling attention to some examples of the many stars among us at the Ninth Annual Academy Awards Event.
We are seeking nominations in the following categories:
Awards for Teachers
Leadership & Courage
Creative Curriculum
Most Inspirational
Community Involvement
Lifetime Achievement
Awards for Non-Teachers
Outstanding Classified Employee
Outstanding Administrator
Outstanding Parent Volunteer
Outstanding Volunteer Organization
Outstanding Collaborating Team
Awards for Anyone in the Community
Social Justice - NEW award this year! - individual or small team acting to improve equity, racial justice, diversity and inclusion in our MDUSD schools
Think about the people you work with, the people who go out of their way to provide excellent service to our students and our school communities.
If you know of someone deserving of recognition, nominate them for an Academy Award.
Nominations are due Friday, February 26.
Please take a few minutes right now to think about what is going well and who you might want to thank for their help and contributions.
ParentSquare - Activate Your Account and Download the App Today!
We are excited to let you know that this year we’ll be using Parent Square to communicate with you at the school, and in your classrooms and groups. Parent Square provides a simple and safe way for everyone at school to connect.
With Parent Square you’ll be able to:
• Receive all school and classroom communication via email, text or app
• View and download photos
• Easily sign up to volunteer and/or bring items
Please check your email for your invitation to activate your Parent Square account.
Thank You, Mr. Ruefenacht!
Friends and Allies!
February Birthdays
3 - Liya Abraham
4 - Beau Venegas
5 - Elizabeth Eskander
9 - Evan Quichocho, Daniel Ure
10 - Maya Gomez
11 - Jude Baldomero, Daniel Htut
12 - Noah Webb
13 - Andi Richardson
14 - Gianna Ramos, Damian Solano
19 - Jaden Chao
20 - Oliver Dury
22 - Angela Delgado-Hidalgo
23 - Julian Barajas
24 - Robert Price
26 - Chisom Edoka, Rylan Loitz
27 - Nate Middleton
Help Support Our Small But Mighty School!
Get Your Wildcat Spirit On!
Dine Out Fundraiser - Tuesday, 2/9
Farm Fresh to You!
Counseling Corner
John Muir Health Webinars on Anxiety, Grief and Parenting During COVID:
- https://youtu.be/UvE1sQr3ceg -- View a webinar on Coping with Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Times of Crisis presented by the John Muir Health Behavioral Health Center.
- https://youtu.be/TuFaU_5MD3U -- View a webinar on Helping Teens Cope with Grief and Loss During COVID-19 presented by the John Muir Health Behavioral Health Center
- https://youtu.be/oJFLrDnogWI -- View a webinar on Parenting Challenges during COVID-19 presented by the John Muir Health Behavioral Health Center.
Education Foundation Launches “Give 10” Giving Campaign
Dear MDUSD Families,
The MDUSD Education Foundation is launching our “Give 10” annual giving campaign in February. We will be raising money to fund STEAM programs for our students throughout the month. We are asking families to please donate a minimum of $10 per student. If you cannot contribute $10, we hope you will donate 10 minutes of your time to like, share and follow us on social media. Some of the wonderful STEAM programs we have already helped fund for elementary school students are:
- Mystery Science
- Bridges Math
- Art in Action
- Chalk Art with Mark Wagner
- Young Audiences
- RAFT science kits
- Garden Education Program
- Consumables and tools for Life Science
Please share our messages and follow us on Facebook, Twitter@MtDiabloEF, Instagram@MtDiabloEF, LinkedIn
Together we can do so much more in providing our students with the educational opportunities they deserve! Thank you in advance for your support.
MDUSD Education Foundation www.mdedf.org
Give 10, STEAM 4 students
T-Mobile Project 10 Million
Now that T-Mobile has merged with Sprint they are using their network to provide free internet and bridge the digital divide with Project 10Million. Eligible families are those who don’t have an internet connection and are enrolled in the National School Lunch program. If selected, the family will receive 100GB of mobile data per year and a FREE mobile hotspot, plus the opportunity to purchase devices at a low cost.
COVID-19 Testing
Contra Costa Health Services resources regarding COVID-19 Testing
Please refer to these linked flyers for Contra Costa Health Services resources regarding COVID-19 Testing. The flyers are available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Attendance & Reporting Absences
If your child is unable participate in Distance Learning activities for any reason, please email our attendance secretary:
or, call the school office to report his/her absence:
- Call 925-685-4202
The following codes are used by teachers during Distance Learning to report attendance. These codes represent the highest level of student participation for that day:
P=Present: online 'live', 1:1 office hours6=Support Service Provided: Speech Therapy, OT, PT, Counseling
4=Online Activity: completed an online assignment/activity
3=Communication with Teachers: 2-way communication with student or parent via email or phone regarding learning activities (reporting absences is not counted as a 3)
A=Absent: None of the above engagement.
In the Case of a Power Outage
- read (silent reading, read aloud, and/or audio book)
- write (engage in a writing activity in any form - creative, journal, etc.)
- practice math facts
- complete unfinished assignments
- play board or card games
- engage in physical activity
Campus Safety Reminders
- if you are supposed to be under quarantine, DO NOT come to the campus.
- contact the office first by calling 925-685-4202 so we can effectively monitor the number of individuals who are in the office at one time.
- wear a mask at all times.
- maintain at least 6 feet of distance from others.
- sign in - if you have to connect with a staff member, you must report directly to the office. Do NOT walk through the hallways or go to the classrooms.
- minimize your time on site. Take care of as much business as possible through email.
Important Links
Nancy Klinkner, Principal
Westwood Elementary, established in 1958, is a K-5 public school in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, with an enrollment of 280 students. In addition to our 9 General Education classrooms, we also host 3 classes for students enrolled in our Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing program, and 2 classes for students with moderate/severe disabilities. We are a diverse and caring community, with a dedicated staff and amazing students!
Email: klinknern@mdusd.org
Website: westwood.mdusd.org
Location: 1748 West Street, Concord, CA, USA
Phone: 925-685-4202
Facebook: facebook.com/WestwoodElementarySchool
Twitter: @MDUSD_Wildcats