Weekend Wire
September 20, 2020
WESTWOOD ROADRUNNERS
Roadrunners, We Are Proud of YOU!
DATES TO NOTE:
09/02-09/23--Dining for Dollars--Pieology
10/01--Students Return to Campus--SUBJECT TO CHANGE
10/01 - School Site Council - subject to change
10/12--Fun Run Kick-Off
10/23--Virtual Fun Run
News From Our Principal
Sept. 17, 2020 (School Reopening Oct. 1)
Hello Westwood Families!
I’m sure many of you have already read the district’s email regarding reopening elementary schools for on-campus learning for those who chose this option. This letter is a follow-up to the communication shared by PUSD including Westwood as one of 10 elementary schools returning for on-campus learning. All students who chose the Virtual Learning option will remain virtual learners. For those who are our on-campus learners, I wanted to follow up with some more site-specific information.
We are excited that we will be welcoming Roadrunners back onto campus on Thursday, October 1! We will have our AM group of students here from 8:00-10:45, and our PM group here 11:45-2:30. The hour in between groups will allow us to clean and sanitize classrooms and high touch surfaces around campus. On campus students will work virtually for the balance of their day when students are not on campus. All K - 5 students can expect to receive a total of 250 synchronous and asyncrounous instructional minutes per day.
A sample schedule for Westwood can be found here (final schedules will be sent by teachers when finalized): Sample Schedule
Staff is currently working on creating our AM and PM groups following these parameters:
All students currently enrolled in ESS will be placed in AM sessions so they can go directly from class to ESS (ESS will be open from 10:50-6:00).
Students requiring district transportation will be placed in AM sessions
Siblings will be placed together
While working within these parameters, we are doing our very best to balance the AM/PM classes with regard to factors such as academic and social/emotional needs, services, and interventions. We understand that you need to plan your schedules, and we will let parents know what session their child will be in early next week.
The WWES staff is also working to set up classrooms to ensure appropriate distancing and safety measures. Specific protocols will be in place for arrival, dismissal, and walking around campus. More detailed information about these pieces will be coming as we finalize plans. For now, please keep the following in mind:
PUSD is requiring all students Preschool through 12th grade to wear masks at school, to provide increased protection for staff and students and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Students will have a mask break outside during the 2 hours and 25 minutes they are learning in class.
All students and staff will be screened with temperatures checked before entering the campus.
School meals will continue to be free for students, and more information about meal distribution will be coming.
While preparing for our reopening, you can review the PUSD Reopening Guidebook 2.0 for health and safety protocols, including symptom screening, handwashing, physical distancing, face coverings, sanitizing, and what happens in the case of COVID-19 symptoms or exposure.
We also ask for your assistance in preparing your children for a successful return to campus. Please review the following CDC resources with your children and have them practice washing their hands properly and wearing a mask for longer periods of time:
We know school reopening is exciting, but it can also be an anxiety producing event. Please know we will be ready to welcome your children into a safe learning environment, and we are here to answer your questions and support each of our Roadrunners. Our Westwood staff is amazing, and we will have our campus, classrooms, and schedules ready for October 1. You may not see our smiles under our masks and things will look different, but we will be here excitedly waiting for our Roadrunners on October 1! For Further information regarding our reopening plans please review the following document.
Thank you all for your positive words and support as we work through the details of this transition.
Jennie Mikels,
Principal
Roadrunner News
School Site Council Election Time
Debbie Lackerdas
My name is Debbie Lackerdas and I'm super excited to have joined the West Wood Team! I am a Poway native and went through the PUSD school system and graduated from Poway High. I later went on to earn my BA in Liberal Studies at Point Loma as well as earned my masters in early childhood development through National University. I have been teaching for the last 13 years. My first two years of teaching were abroad in Central America, Honduras, where I taught second grade at a private bilingual school. Since returning to the states I have worked at Rolling Hills Elementary teaching TK, First Grade, and Kindergarten. I'm looking forward to a wonderful school year and getting to know you all better!
Tene' Williams
Hi, My name is Nyrtistene (Tene) Williams. I have two awesome children: Porscha, who just graduated from college in Marketing and Connor who is an Aeronautical Engineering student. I recently got engaged and we are having a destination wedding in St. Lucia this summer. In my free time, I enjoy working out, hiking, cooking, and writing. I also love sports, especially basketball and tennis.
Although this is my first year with the Poway Unified School District (PUSD), I have a lot of experience teaching in a virtual setting. Additionally, I have a lot of teaching experience as a general educator, adjunct, tutor and reading specialist. To illustrate, I have taught Kindergarten, second grade, fourth grade and High School Language Arts as a general education teacher. After going back to college to get my Master’s in Special Education, I taught college level courses in Ohio -- English, Essay Writing, and Developmental Reading and Writing. I have also taught English to English Language Learners and have tutored students in 3rd-12th grade in reading. In each of my positions, I have been recognized for my drive and commitment to every student and for being a results-driven educator. I am also a big kid at heart who believes that learning should be fun and not stressful.
I look forward to sharing my expertise in the PUSD.
Katie Holmes
My name is Katie Holmes and I'm the newest member of our wonderful RSP team! A fun fact about me - I'm a born and raised Roadrunner, I also attended this amazing elementary school! I consider myself a forever student - not only because I love teaching, but because I love learning. I love plants, anything French, and the arts, so don't be surprised if you see me in the neighborhood with a coffee and croissant in hand!
Ayesha Malhi
Hi, my name is Ayesha Malhi. I have been working for Poway USD for 3 years and have been living at Westwood for the past 5 years. I have 3 children - one in 3rd grade, one sophomore, and one senior. I’m excited for this school year and hope I will get to know you all!
Aenea Marmolejo
Loves to be with kids, loves to spend free time with family and friends.
I enjoy running outdoors , hiking and skydivingLana Patel
Leanne Sudduth
I’m Leanne Sudduth. I have been a School Psychologist with PUSD for the past five years, mostly at Black Mountain Middle School. I received my Bachelors Degree in Psychology, as well as my Masters and Ed.S. in School Psychology from Sacramento State University. When it was time to begin an internship my family moved from Sacramento down to San Marcos. We have been in San Marcos for 7 years now, and love living in the San Diego area. I have four adult children, two in college. I now focus my nurturing instincts on my two fur babies, Sargent and Hannah. I am thrilled with this year’s theme, Making Magic Happen, as I LOVE Disney – Disneyland, Disney World, Disney Cruises- whatever J I also love essential oils, rocks/crystals/gems and all things holistic, crafting with my Cricut, traveling with my family, dining out, and walking on the beach.
News From the Library September 2020
September 2020
I wanted to try something a little different to kick off this school year. So let’s celebrate your creativity! International Dot Day is on September 15th, but it’s worth celebrating all all year long. Think about ways to use your special talents to make our school community a better place. Is it an act of kindness, a word of encouragement? How are YOU going to make your mark to make this world a better place?
Enjoy this Youtube video clip from the author of The Dot, Peter H. Reynolds, celebrating the10th anniversary of the publication of his book and The Dot Movement that has been going on since.
Mrs. Whitelock’s Read Aloud of, The Dot
Create your own inspired dot and respond on Flipgrid. Tell your friends what inspired you to.
Welcome Back Video. Take a tour of the library and notice some of the changes that occurred during the shut down. We have new signage to make finding books easier and brand new furniture generously donated by the PTA! Students will love this redesigned space once it’s safe to reopen.
Just a friendly reminder to please return any library books you may have from when school shut down. A box will be placed in front of the library for easy curbside drop off on Monday - Friday from 8:00-2:00. Please contact Mrs. Whitelock if you have any questions.
Thank you and best wishes to get the school year off to a fantastic start!
Mrs. Nancy Whitelock, Librarian at Westwood
Yearbooks
September is more than halfway over!! Have you ordered your yearbook to get the 10% discount? That's right-10% discount if ordered by September 30th!
We may not know what the 2020-2021 school year will look like but we will have something to remember it all by! TreeRing yearbooks include 2 free customizable pages per student and for every yearbook ordered, a tree will be planted!
Order your 2020-21 yearbooks today through https://tr5.treering.com/validate Use passcode: 1015978769242468
Or scan here:
2019-2020 Yearbooks
If you ordered a 2019-2020 yearbook and didn't have the opportunity to pick it up please email Lisa at lducote8@gmail.com to arrange a pick up.
Scholastic Book Fair
Dining for Dollars--Pieology
About Us
Principal
Email: kholmes@powayusd.com
Website: https://powayusd.com/en-US/Schools/ES/WWES/Home
Location: 17449 Matinal Road, San Diego, CA, USA
Phone: 858-487-2026
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WWESRoadrunners