DECEMBER 2024
|
|
DECEMBER EVENTS | |
| DAY |
DATE |
EVENT |
| MON |
2-Dec |
Events Committee Meeting: 2 PM – 3:30 PM |
| TUE |
3-Dec |
Board of Directors Meeting: 6 PM – 8:30 PM (Conference Room & Virtual) |
| THU |
5-Dec |
Future Family Information Night (RSVP Only): 6 PM – 7 PM (Virtual Only) |
| MON |
9-Dec |
HS - FRCC End of Term |
| Holiday Shop: Lunch & 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM | ||
| TUE |
10-Dec |
Holiday Shop: Lunch & 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
| WED |
11-Dec |
Holiday Shop: Lunch & 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
| THU |
12-Dec |
Holiday Shop: Lunch & 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
| FRI |
13-Dec |
Holiday Shop: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM |
| SAT |
14-Dec |
Drama Club Performance: 2 PM – 4 PM (Legacy High School -2701 W 136th St, Broomfield, CO, 80023) |
| TUE |
17-Dec |
Board of Directors Meeting - Virtual Option Only (use Teams link) : 2 PM – 3 PM |
| WED |
18-Dec |
Your Pie Spirit Night: 5 PM – 8 PM (14342 Lincoln St., Thornton) |
|
|
7-8 & HS Environmental Career Fair | |
| THU |
19-Dec |
SAC Meeting: 5:30 PM – 7 PM |
| FRI |
20-Dec |
4th Grade Field Trip |
| 1st Grade Field Trip | ||
| DEC 23 | JAN 10 | WINTER BREAK - NO SCHOOL |
DECEMBER ADVOCACY FOCUS: GREATER GOOD
Our advocacy theme for this month is gratitude for the greater good! Giving back to our community is a key aspect of our school. We will be encouraging students to think beyond themself and ways they can work for a better, inclusive community and society. It involves cultivating kindness, cooperation, and a sense of belonging.
REFER FAMILY AND FRIENDS - ENROLLMENT STARTS DECEMBER 1ST!
It's already that time of year! You are our best source for recommending Westgate to new families! Please let any of your family/friends know:
- 2025-26 school year application opens December 1st.
- Invite them to one of our many Enrollment Events for new families, such as a Future Family Night or School Tour. Share our Enrollment Events page.
- Contact Rochelle Goforth or email Enrollment with any questions you might have.
Enrollment Dates for NEW Westgate Families
- December 1st, 2024: Future Family Applications for K-8 and High School are open online
- January 31st, 2025: All completed applications due to be included in the lottery pull
- February 7th, 2025: Lottery results emailed for completed applications received by the deadline
After Initial Lottery: All completed applications will be added to the grade appropriate wait pools and seats will be offered if/when available
CURRENT Westgate Families: Intent to Return for the 2025-2026 School Year
We’d like to see all our K-11th grade students return next year, but we know plans and situations change.
- Look for and respond to an email on January 13th asking if you are planning for your student(s) to return to Westgate for the 2025-2026 school year.
- Responses will be due by January 24th.
LOST & FOUND
Our Lost and Found area at the front desk is here to help reunite you with your belongings! Whether it’s a cherished personal item, a comfortable winter coat, an expensive water bottle, or something else you have lost and can’t quite seem to find - we’re committed to getting it back to you.
PLEASE, visit the lost and found area next to the vestibule in the front office and see if your items might be there before winter break!
The Funniest Play You've Ever Seen! (As performed by our drama club students)
Join the Drama Club on December 14th! They've worked hard over the past two quarters to bring you a funny and relatable performance of a father who can't quite remember how some classic bedtime stories go.
WHAT: Bedtime Stories (As told by our Dad) (Who messed them up)
WHEN: Saturday, December 14th, 2024! Doors open at 1:30pm, start time is 2pm
WHERE: Legacy HS Auditorium
TICKETS: Check the payment portal for tickets! $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 2-17 years old, Children under 2 are FREE!
WHEN: Saturday, December 14th, 2024! Doors open at 1:30pm, start time is 2pm
WHERE: Legacy HS Auditorium
TICKETS: Check the payment portal for tickets! $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 2-17 years old, Children under 2 are FREE!
All proceeds will go to the Drama Club Department! We can't wait to see you there!
DONATIONS STILL NEEDED
We could really use your help! Any families willing to donate costumes, props, or crafty set pieces, time, etc.. we would love to have your help! Bring items to the front desk as soon as possible as we will be running dress rehearsals Monday and Wednesday next week. Sign up here: Westgate Community School: Drama Club Costume Donations
Q2 BAND CONCERT - DECEMBER 19th
Join the 7th & 8th grade band as they showcase their talents and skills!
- 7th & 8th Grade Music Concert
- Thursday December 19th
- 5:30 - 6:30 PM
- In the high school pod
Performing students should meet for set up at 4:00PM
ART IN THE COMMUNITY
As part of giving to our community, the middle school art students are sharing their artwork with the people living in at the Innovage Senior Living center down the street at 1121 Washington Center Parkway, Thornton, CO. The art will be on display for the residents and visitors to enjoy from November 22 - December 13th!
DECEMBER FUNDRAISER EVENTS
Wondering what events are happening at Westgate? Visit the Happenings Hub for the latest Events newsletter!
December 9-13: Holiday Shop
It's time for the annual Holiday Shop! Students will have the opportunity to shop for holiday gifts for their friends and family during lunch and/or after school. Cash and gift voucher will be accepted (No credit cards).
To purchase a gift voucher for your student to use, please visit SNOWBALL EXPRESS VOUCHERS
Want to volunteer? We need people to help supervise the shop all next week, and for set up and take down. Sign up: Westgate Events: 2024 Holiday Shop
- HOLIDAY SHOP!: December 9th - 13th Students will be able to shop for small gifts for friends, family, teachers, pets and more!
- Monday is Preview Day - Teachers will be bringing students down to see what is available in the shop during classes. Purchasing will be open at 3:30 on Monday
- Tuesday - Thursday the Holiday Shop will be open during lunchtimes from 11:15 AM -1:00 PM and after school from 3:30 - 4:30 PM with an hour extention to 5:30 on Wednesday
- Friday the Holiday Shop will be open from 11:15 AM - 1:00 PM
Your Pie Community Night: December 18th
- Order a pizza to go or eat in and 20% of your order will go back to Westgate!
- Make sure you mention Westgate Community School in the comments of your online order, or before you pay. Or show a copy of the flyer.
- 14342 Lincoln St. Thornton, CO
- December 18th
- 5:00-8:00 PM
Download the flyer below!
Teacher of the Month (December & January): David Rowan
For the months of December & January we would like to honor Mr. Rowan, an amazing teacher in our 7/8 pods! We asked him a few questions about his life and teaching and here's what he shared with us. Get to know Mr. Rowan a bit better and let him know what a great job he's doing!
What or who inspired you to become a teacher?
Within a month of each other back in 2007 our son was born, and my best friend was killed in a car accident. Because of this I went through a period of self-reflection on the things that were most important to me: how I could be the best husband and father, how I could honor my friend, and how I could make a difference in the world in the time I had. My mom and dad were both teachers and I knew without a doubt that teaching was the path forward to fulfilling those things that were important to me.
What do you love about Westgate?
What attracted me to Westgate, and what I continue to love, is our whole-child approach to education where social-emotional learning is coupled with academic learning. When students learn the skills of managing their emotions, building relationships, developing empathy, and making responsible decisions, they thrive both personally and academically.
If you could time travel, what year would you visit?
As a historian this is such a hard question for me to answer. While I’m passionate about the Civil War era and I would have loved to have been part of the Civil Rights movement and heard Dr. King speak, the period I would most want to visit would be the time when Jesus was alive to experience first-hand his life and teachings.
What one idea do you hope to inspire your students with?
Each student has within them infinite potential, the rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness apply to all people and when self-doubt starts to creep in repeat this mantra: you’re smarter than you think, braver than you seem, stronger than you feel, and you can do hard things.
CLUBS, CLUBS,
CLUBS
- As a reminder, please plan to arrive at Westgate for club dismissal at 5pm.
- The last day of Quarter 2 clubs will be: 12/13/2024.
- Quarter 3 clubs will run from 1/21/25 - 3/5/25. Q3 Club registration will open up on 1/10/25.
- Please be on the lookout for more information regarding Q3 Clubs over Winter Break.
______________
Thornton Parks, Recreation, & Community Programs is Looking for Your Feedback
Do you access any of the Thornton bicycle or pedestrian trails? If so, you can help them with their planning study.
Fill out a survey to tell them what needs to be improved or what is most important for the Thornton trails system, whether it’s unconnected trails that need to be linked; more lights, restrooms, garbage cans; cracks or potholes that need fixing; or anything else.
It can be as easy as filling out their one-time survey, or you can help further by downloading a free ArcGIS Survey 123 app and traveling the trails you use to add photos of the areas you think need improved or fixed.
This is a great way to participate in what fixes, improvements, and new developments happen within the Thornton trail systems.
Check out the flier below for more information.
_______________
DON'T FORGET YOUR SPIRIT WEAR!
Want to support Westgate and show your school pride! Get items from out Spirit Store! It's more than T-shirts. You can get a variety of cool items like hoodies, stickers, aprons, backpacks, and toys! Great for holiday gifts!