November Advocacy Focus

This month, our focus is on gratitude. Students will be able to identify gratitude and people and things they are grateful for. In school, we will reflect on personal and academic growth and how to deepen student relationships. Here are some key things to think about:

• Students will look at their skills, abilities, accomplishments, loved ones, and many other things to identify what they are grateful for. 

• Students will increase their well-being and happiness with activities that promote a sense of togetherness and belonging with their advocacy and families. 

• Students will reflect upon their successes and improvements using a self-reflection tool, consider how they’ve changed, and reflect on the people who made their progress possible. 

We are looking forward to a great month of gratitude and thankfulness! 

The Rockin' Run to support the Music Department will be held on the morning of October 18th. There is still time to get those sponsorships in. We want to help raise as much as we can for the Music Department!

Funds raised will go toward purchasing the following items to help students make beautiful music: 

• Marimbas/xylophones, acoustic guitars, keyboards, music stands, etc. 

Fun Run Donation QR Code can be found here. Checks and cash can be dropped off in the vestibule mailbox or turned into the front desk. Checks should be made out to Westgate Community School with the student's name in the memo. Cash should be in an envelope with the student's name on it and sealed.K-8 students will receive a prize based on the amount of money they are able to raise.

ALL DONATIONS MUST BE IN BY OCTOBER 18th! 

Event Details:

• Make sure your students bring their water bottles! 
• Parents are invited to come and cheer! Please drop off your student in the car line. Then, if you decide to wait for the event, park in the designated areas. Parking is available on the side or back of the building and walk up 
  • Do not park in the front parking lot (this is where the run will take place)
• Parents will be able to stand on the playground side of the fencing to cheer for their students.  
• The event will be set up as soon as students are in the building and the car line is cleared

Run times are as follows:

5/6: 8:40 -9:00

3/4: 9:05 - 9:20 (this is our timeslot)

7/8: 9:25 - 9:50

K: 9:55 - 10:10

1/2: 10:15 - 10:30

• A focus on preventing bullying is important, as is promoting positive actions such as kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
• Bullying affects witnesses as well as targets. Those who witness bullying often report feeling unsafe, helpless, and afraid that they will be the next target.
• Students who bully others can also be negatively affected by the behavior with higher rates of physical and emotional health issues.
• Bullying is not only devastating while it’s happening; research shows that the negative effects can last a lifetime.
• Students can be especially effective in bullying intervention. It’s important for adults to encourage youth to be supportive of anyone experiencing bullying and to educate youth on how to advocate for themselves and for others.

Get ready—the Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our school! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. And fostering a love of independent reading leads to a wide variety of benefits—including academic success and improved mental health. 

Here’s everything you need to know about the Book Fair: 

Dates:

• September 23-24, 3:30-5:00pm
• September 25, 3:30-5:30pm
• September 26, 11:30am-12:30pm
• September 27, 8:00am-12:00pm and 1:00-4:00pm 
• Students will also be able to shop during their lunchtime September 24-25

Location: Teacher’s Lounge, Downstairs at Westgate 

There’s even more info on our school’s Book Fair homepage: 

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/westgate2023 

While you’re there, set up a Book Fair eWallet, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash. Then share your eWallet link so friends and extended family can add funds. We will also be accepting cash, check (payable to Westgate), and debit/credit card. 

• Emotional Awareness: Recognizing and understanding their own emotions, which helps in managing reactions and building empathy for others.
• Self-Reflection: Developing the habit of thinking about their actions, decisions, and behaviors, and how these affect themselves and others.
• Strengths and Weaknesses Identification: Recognizing their strengths to build confidence and understanding areas for growth to set realistic goals.
• Goal Setting: Learning to set personal and academic goals based on their self-assessment, and developing a plan to achieve them.
• Self-Regulation: Developing the ability to manage impulses, stay focused, and persevere through challenges.
• Personal Values Identification: Understanding what they value and how it influences their behavior and choices.