Westchester Weekly
All-Star Newsletter December 10, 2020
Principal's Corner
Greetings Westchester Families,
As 2020 comes to a close, I'd like to reflect on a few shared accomplishments. We have become masters of virtual communication. We have dominated the art of pivoting. We learned that we can learn much more than ever imagined in such a short period of time. Also, we allowed our love for Westchester to drive our connection to one another during the most difficult of times. 2020 was quite a year, but we're still standing strong as a community. I'm so excited to see what 2021 will bring!
The district recently announced the Learning Decision for 2021. We will enact Hybrid Learning Plan B on January 19, 2021.Therefore, pre-k - 5th grade students will have an option to return to in-person learning. Please complete the Learning Choice Survey to indicate your preference for your child(ren) by Sunday, December 13th. Your timely submission of the survey is critical as we make plans for January. Instructions for the survey are available in this video. You will log into the Parent Portal to make your selection.
In addition, here is the Westchester StudentsIn-Person Procedures and Processes for you to look over concerning returning to school.
You have proven to be a kind and supportive community. I appreciate that. Now, I look forward to continued growth and connections as we transition into this next phase of the school year. Whether I see your child(ren) in Westchester or in virtual classrooms, I am committed to providing the best learning experience possible.
"I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship." - Louisa May Alcott
As always, thank you for all you do. Please have a wonderful and joyous holiday break. May the new year bring peace, joy, and prosperity for all of us.
Kindly,
Kimberly R. Watson, PhD
Principal
Westchester Elementary School
(404) 370-4400 Phone
(404) 370-3844 Fax
Where's Super Chester Scavenger Hunt
We hope you all have fun looking for Chester and please remember to take pictures to add to your students slide deck in their Google Classroom- "Where's Super Chester". Go outside and have some fun together! Here is a pdf copy ready for printing if you like. There will also be hard copies outside the school in the art paper bin on Friday until they run out.
Please contact Brooke Nation if you have any questions but she will not tell you the answers:)
Book Fair! LAST DAY is Friday
Click on the image below for book suggestions and more!
Yo-Yo Sales! Last day is TOMORROW
Cognia Accreditation
Greetings Westchester Families,
Cognia offers accreditation and certification, assessment, professional services, and consulting to help schools drive continuous improvement. The organization focuses on innovation to provide more agile solutions for school improvement and to drive better outcomes for all students. Every 5 years the City Schools of Decatur completes the accreditation process and uses findings from this endeavor to inform our planning for continued development.
As an important stakeholder in the Westchester Community, we value your input. With this in mind, we are asking each household to take a few minutes to complete the Culture & Climate Parent Survey and the Community Engagement Survey. Links to both surveys can be found below. The survey will open through December 11. We appreciate your participation and feedback. We look forward to continuing a dynamic partnership with you and your student.
Westchester Culture and Climate Parent Survey 2020-2021
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/148309/13600
Westchester Community Engagement Survey 2020-2021
https://eprovesurveys.advanc-ed.org/surveys/#/action/149471/13600
Returning to Westchester
Community Circle Dates- New Video
Staff Shoutouts!
From the Clairemont PTA
The 2020 Decatur Holiday Marketplace will be virtual this year and held from November 27th at 8 am through December 11th at 5 pm! We are so excited to carry on the tradition of this wonderful community event which is in its 29th year. In light of the current COVID pandemic, we have decided to make this year's event virtual. During this time, all of the artists' sites will be available for shopping online and will be conveniently located on our www.clairemontpta.org website. A description of the shop and owners along with a few wonderful photos of their craft will be available to preview. If the artist is able to ship their wares after purchase, they will do so, and if not, for our local customers, we will have a special pick up day at the school on December 12th from 10-12. Meaning Clairemont is bringing the marketplace straight to your house! To shop Clairemont's Holiday Marketplace, just visit www.clairemontpta.org.
City Schools of Decatur Updates
Please read this update concerning CSD'S LEARNING DECISION FOR 2021
This page as a new landing spot for information regarding the January 19 move towards In-person Learning- https://www.csdecatur.net/domain/1754
From CSD Equity and Student Support Department:
Wellness Wednesday
December 2020 Kindness Calendar for #DoGoodDecember
For Students and Parents:
CSD will be offering 6 weeks of the Grounded Yoga Kids program as part of Wellness Wednesdays. The structure of this program creates a safe space for children to freely express themselves and learn lifelong practices that intentionally create thoughts, emotions, actions, and habits leading to more positivity. The program has a framework of 84 signature poses. The Grounded Kids Yoga program has collaborated with City Schools of Decatur to create a six-week sequence that supports and strengthens the social-emotional learning skills that are being taught through the SEE Learning program.
Class 1: Self-Awareness: PDF of video explanation
To view the GroundedKids Yoga Self-Awareness video, click here.
Class 2: Grounding: PDF of video explanation
To view the GroundedKids Yoga Grounding video, click here.
Class 3: Resilience: PDF of video explanation
To view the GroundedKids Yoga Resilience video, click here.
Class 4: What Matter Most: PDF of video explanation
To view the GroundedKids "What Matters Most" video, click here.
Class 5: Balance: PDF of video explanation
To view GroundedKids Yoga Balance video, click here.
Class 6: Balance: PDF of video explanation
To view GroundedKids Yoga Interdependence video, click here.
Parent/Child: Family-friendly Cardio Workout: https://youtu.be/5if4cjO5nxo
Attachments area
Preview YouTube video Have a Blast With This Family Fun Cardio Workout!
News from Decatur Bulldog Boosters
The Bulldogs have a lot to cheer about – even in the midst of a pandemic. Go to DBB News for all the latest information on our undefeated football and women’s flag football teams, DHS swag and the annual Run With the Dogs 5K. And, don’t forget to follow us on social.
Meal Service to Continue:
Meal Delivery Reminder: There will be no meal deliveries during the Holiday Break from, Monday, December 15 through Tuesday, January 5, 2020.
Decatur Education Foundation
DEF has a brand new look – we just launched our new website! We hope you’ll go to www.decatureducationfoundation.org and check it out! And while you’re there, you can support Decatur students with a year-end donation!
Special Year-End Promotion from DEF Partner Mathnasium: Now until the end of the year, Mathnasium is offering a great deal: For every new Decatur family that registers with Mathnasium using the code DEF_Math until 12-31-20, Mathnasium will provide a free assessment and waive the $149 registration fee! And for every 10 families who enroll, Mathnasium will offer an additional DEF scholarship for a Decatur student in need! Click here to schedule your free online assessment. Your participation can help another child in the community – what a gift during this season of giving!
Decatur Strategic Plan 202s
The roundtables process included 800 registrants who contributed thousands of comments. Many of these comments about Decatur’s future were in agreement, but some topics revealed conflicting perspectives about how Decatur should chart its course for the next 10 years.
The 202s will allow for a deep dive on these topics. After hearing from subject matter experts, we will join together in virtual discussion groups to help understand tradeoffs and find balance among differing perspectives. Input will be used to form recommendations on how the Strategic Plan should address these issues. The 202s will seek to answer the question: “What does success look like in a community of 25K people within a metropolitan region of nearly 6 million people?”
Here’s the line-up:
Housing:
Thursday, Dec. 10, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Equity & Racial Justice:
Thursday, Jan. 14, 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Climate Change:
January 2021, Date TBD
Speakers will be announced closer to the event. All events will occur on Zoom and will be recorded and available after the meeting. Visit decatur2030.com for details.
Decatur Farm to School
Looking for some awesome Decatur Farm to School SWAG? Look no further! We have freshly designed t-shirts, caps, face masks, and tote bags ready for purchase. All proceeds from merchandise sales will benefit the Wylde Center’s Decatur Farm to School program which includes CSD garden maintenance, CSD mini-grants, DHS summer internships, scholarships to attend conferences, twice-a-year vegetable taste tests, and educator-led programs in the classrooms and gardens.
Pre-order your merchandise before November 23 at the link below and pick up at the Wylde Center’s Oakhurst Garden in Decatur the week of December 14. Customers will be contacted via email with additional instructions when products are ready for pick up. Interested in having your order shipped? Let us know by responding to your confirmation email following your purchase. Thank you for your support!
https://wylde-center-online-shop.myshopify.com/collections/decatur-farm-to-school-merchandise
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