Bulldog Breakdown 1/2 - 1/7

GovDelivery2 months 2 weeks ago

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Good Evening Bulldog Families–

I hope that everybody is doing well and had a phenomenal break!

We are looking forward to welcoming everybody back. As we return, we get right into the class advising season. Below is a lot of information on the process. You will consistently get messaging around this process, and I want to explain the purpose behind the policy. The classes that we run and the sizes of those classes are determined by how many students sign up for classes. We set these classes up by the end of the year, and try to run as many classes as possible while maintaining reasonable class sizes (in alignment with School Board policy). To do this, we have to maintain consistency once students are scheduled. As you will see below, we will have a hard deadline of registered classes at March 17th, with the only class changes allowed after that point being for a changing of levels (i.e. between on-level, Honors, Advanced Placement/Dual Enrollment, etc.). It is vital that you talk with your students about which classes they are taking and make sure that they are comfortable with their schedule when they submit. This will help ensure that everybody gets the classes they are looking for and that we have the staffing available and in the best places. We greatly appreciate your support.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me with observations, suggestions, questions and celebrations. You can do that through e-mail, call, or  through the form located here: https://forms.gle/4eW9rgPRVBF2a5gd8. Please remember that if you do not include your information on the form, I will not be able to follow-up. 

I wish your family a great week! Go Bulldogs!

Tony DiBari 

Proud Principal

Westfield High School

 

Academic Advising for the 23- 24 School Year

As we head into the month of January, we are also beginning the Academic Advising Season. This is the time in which students and families begin learning about course offerings for the 23- 24 school year, and meet with school counselors for an academic advising session.

Please save the following dates:

Date

Time

Event

Audience

January 10th 

3rd Period

Electives Fair

Students, Grades 9 - 11

January 11th 

6:30 - 8:30 pm

Curriculum Night

Students and Families

January 30th - February 10th

Through Social Studies 

Academic Advising with School Counselor

Rising 12th Graders

(Current 11th Graders)

February 13th - February 23rd

Through Social Studies 

Academic Advising with School Counselor

Rising 11th Graders

(Current 10th Graders)

February 24th - March 9th

Through Social Studies 

Academic Advising with School Counselor

Rising 10th Graders(Current 9th Graders)

*Dates may be altered due to inclement weather.

Staffing for the next school year is based on the courses requested during academic advising, and therefore it is important to engage in these opportunities before making final course selections. This year’s deadline for student course requests will be March 17th. After this date, only level change requests (e.g., Standard to Honors) will be reviewed, and based on  availability, made until the last day of school on June 16th, 2023.

Course descriptions can be found at: https://insys.fcps.edu/CourseCatOnline/frontPanel/522/nocourselist/0/0/0/1 

More information will be provided throughout January through Schoology, the Bulldog Breakdown and more. 

 

AVID Tutors

Attention families - looking for a flexible and part-time position at Westfield HS? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2022-2023 school year.  AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $18.42 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to Lisa Shields at [email protected].

 

Class of 2023 News

We are getting close to turning the calendar page to 2023 and June 5th will be here before we know it. 

Here is information to prepare for the big day on June 5th: 

  1. Every Senior needs to pay Senior Dues. The amount is $80. 
    1. Pay on MySchool Bucks
    2. Pay Cash/Check (payable to Westfield High)  in Subschool 3 (SS3) (Room F224)
    3. Payment can be made in installments. Please see Mrs. Park or Mrs. Waterman in SS3. 
  2. Fill out the Cap and Gown Order form which is located on the Class of 2023 Schoology page. This form needs to be filled out to ensure that the correct size of gown is ordered for your student. 
  3. Save the Date for February 23, 2023, for a 100 Days meeting for Senior parents and students. It will be held at Westfield High School in the evening. 
  4. Make plans to attend Graduation on Monday, June 5, 2023, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena at 9:30am. Students will be required to attend two rehearsals at Westfield to prepare for the ceremony on June 1 and June 2. 

A comprehensive calendar of events and activities is on the Class of 2023 Schoology page. 

Lastly, the Senior Panoramic Photo is available for purchase: https://vando.imagequix.com/s1857335123

Thank you for your support of the senior class!

 

WHS Food Pantry

Donations to the PTA Food Pantry have remained steady for the most part helping to keep snacks and other essentials on the shelves and available to our students.  In addition, with the coordinating help of Pam Watson, her church youth group donated 650 pre-packaged meals that our students can take home for evenings/weekend/ holidays to not just help them, but their families as well.  I will be putting the wish list on pause until after the new year to avoid deliveries trying to be made to the closed school.  Thank you to all who have donated, and I hope you will consider continuing to support our Westfield Family in the new year!!

 

Staff Recognition

FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. Please visit the following link to recognize staff members who have done impactful things: FCPS Cares

 

Volunteer Call-out

We are still looking for your help! We value you as community partners and want to invite you to become more involved at Westfield. One way to do this is to volunteer and substitute teach. If you’re interested, the first step is following the links below. Thank you for your willingness to help!

FCPS Volunteers:  https://www.fcps.edu/get-involved/volunteer-fcps 

Substitute Teachers:   https://www.fcps.edu/careers/career-opportunities/substitute-teaching-opportunities/new-applicants

Westfield Volunteer Interest Form:  https://forms.gle/go7B58zdT1cz5Km9A

 

Tech Updates

Need Tech Support? CLICK HERE

 

Calendar

A comprehensive schedule of events can also be found at www.westfieldathletics.org and on Schoology.

Tuesday, 1/3

Girls Varsity Gymnastics (Away)

Starts at 6:00pm

@ Oakton High School

Wednesday, 1/4

Varsity and JV Wrestling

(Away)

JV starts at 6:00pm

Varsity starts at 7:00pm

@ Oakton High School

Saturday, 1/7

Varsity Wrestling

(Away)

Starts at 9:00am

@ Chantilly High School

Saturday, 1/7

Varsity Track Polar Bear Meet

(Home)

Starts at 9:00am

@ Westfield High School

4700 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151  | Main Office: 703-488-6300
Attendance: 703-488-6316 | Web | Twitter

Bulldog Breakdown 12/11 - 12/17

GovDelivery3 months 1 week ago

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Good Evening Bulldog Families–

I hope that everybody is doing well and had a great weekend!

We are entering the final week before winter break! We have a spirit week for our students starting with the masked singer tomorrow. And while we are planning on a festive week, please talk to your students about understanding the importance of staying focused As a school, we stay away from work over the break and part of that is making sure that we can still get work done this week. Thank you!

As always, please feel free to reach out to me with observations, suggestions, questions and celebrations. You can do that through e-mail, call, or  through the form located here: https://forms.gle/4eW9rgPRVBF2a5gd8. Please remember that if you do not include your information on the form, I will not be able to follow-up. 

I wish your family a great week! Go Bulldogs!

Tony DiBari 

Proud Principal

Westfield High School

 

AVID Tutors

Attention families - looking for a flexible and part-time position at Westfield HS? FCPS is hiring AVID tutors for the 2022-2023 school year.  AVID tutors work with small groups of approximately 5-7 students during the school day in an academic elective class called Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID). These groups use questioning strategies to help students develop a variety of college preparatory skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. Tutors earn $18.42 per hour and should either be a college graduate or currently enrolled in college. If interested, please email your resume to Lisa Shields at [email protected].

 

From our Substance Abuse and Preventions Specialist

Mental Health, Coping & Addiction

One in four Americans suffers from a mental illness. Almost 3 in 5 people with mental illness will receive no treatment or medication. In 2019, an estimated 47.6 million adults (19% of the country) had a mental illness, but only 43% received any kind of mental health care (Johns Hopkins). There are many reasons why a person may turn to drugs or alcohol initially, including using these mind-altering substances as a coping mechanism for stress, difficult emotions, physical ailments, and other issues. Drugs and alcohol can provide a temporary respite from reality and everyday life. They can enhance pleasure and decrease inhibitions and anxiety.  Drug use can be an unhealthy coping mechanism. Coping mechanisms are habits formed over time that serve to help a person manage situations or stress levels. Not all coping mechanisms are maladaptive or destructive; however, addiction is both.

Before using drugs as a coping strategy here are some recommendations for a healthier mindset. The goal is to identify the “void” or issue and work towards healing. In the meantime, experts recommend diet and exercise as great places to start. See your Primary Care Physician and a therapist if needed. Quality sleep is also a major factor in a healthy mind. Surround yourself with good people and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270.

Resources:

Substance Use Disorder info

FCPS Social Work

For further Information & support:

Stacey King, MSW

Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist

Email: [email protected]

 

Class of 2023 News

We are getting close to turning the calendar page to 2023 and June 5th will be here before we know it. 

Here is information to prepare for the big day on June 5th: 

  1. Every Senior needs to pay Senior Dues. The amount is $80. 
    1. Pay on MySchool Bucks
    2. Pay Cash/Check (payable to Westfield High)  in Subschool 3 (SS3) (Room F224)
    3. Payment can be made in installments. Please see Mrs. Park or Mrs. Waterman in SS3. 
  2. Fill out the Cap and Gown Order form which is located on the Class of 2023 Schoology page. This form needs to be filled out to ensure that the correct size of gown is ordered for your student. 
  3. Save the Date for February 23, 2023, for a 100 Days meeting for Senior parents and students. It will be held at Westfield High School in the evening. 
  4. Make plans to attend Graduation on Monday, June 5, 2023, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena at 9:30am. Students will be required to attend two rehearsals at Westfield to prepare for the ceremony on June 1 and June 2. 

A comprehensive calendar of events and activities is on the Class of 2023 Schoology page. 

Lastly, the Senior Panoramic Photo is available for purchase: https://vando.imagequix.com/s1857335123

Thank you for your support of the senior class!

 

WHS Food Pantry

PTA FOOD PANTRY is looking for donations to help kids in need.  We have seen a huge increase in snack requests since last year.  Please consider checking out our wish list and adding an item to your cart.  It will ship directly to the school.  We are also accepting similar items (individually wrapped snacks, new sweatpants, book bags and water bottles) at the bin on my front porch if you would rather not purchase online.  Please reach out to me with any questions about donating.  

Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com/wfhsfoodpantry

Donation Bin: 5445 Tree Line Dr, Centreville VA

Questions: [email protected]

Thank you!

 

Staff Recognition

FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. Please visit the following link to recognize staff members who have done impactful things: FCPS Cares

 

Volunteer Call-out

We are still looking for your help! We value you as community partners and want to invite you to become more involved at Westfield. One way to do this is to volunteer and substitute teach. If you’re interested, the first step is following the links below. Thank you for your willingness to help!

FCPS Volunteers:  https://www.fcps.edu/get-involved/volunteer-fcps 

Substitute Teachers:   https://www.fcps.edu/careers/career-opportunities/substitute-teaching-opportunities/new-applicants

Westfield Volunteer Interest Form:  https://forms.gle/go7B58zdT1cz5Km9A

 

Tech Updates

Need Tech Support? CLICK HERE

 

Calendar

A comprehensive schedule of events can also be found at www.westfieldathletics.org and on Schoology.

Monday, 12/5

Boys Basketball (Home)

Vs. Washington-Liberty 

Freshman start 4:30pm

JV Start 5:45pm

Varsity start 7:30pm

@ Westfield High School

Monday, 12/5

Girls Basketball (Away)

Vs. Washington-Liberty

Freshman start 4:30pm

JV Start 5:45pm

@ Washington-Liberty

Tuesday, 12/13

Orchestra Concert

Starts at 7:00pm

@ Westfield HS

Wednesday, 12/14

Boys Basketball (Away)

Vs. Falls Church HS

Varsity start 7:30pm

@ Falls Church HS

Thursday, 12/15

Band Concert

Starts at 7:00pm

@ Westfield HS

Thursday, 12/15

Gymnastics (Home)

Vs. Multiple Teams

Starts at 6:00pm

@ Westfield HS

Thursday, 12/15

Boys JV Wrestling (Away)

Jamboree

Starts at 6:00pm

@Woodson HS

Thursday, 12/15

Boys Basketball (Away)

Vs. Colonial Forge HS

Freshman start 4:30pm

JV Start 5:45pm

Varsity start 7:30pm

@ Colonial Forge HS

Friday, 12/16

Swim and Dive (Home)

Vs. Oakton HS

Starts at 6:30pm

@ Cub Run Rec Center

Friday, 12/16

Girls Basketball (Home)

Vs. James River

Varsity start 7:00pm

@ Westfield HS

Saturday, 12/17

Varsity Indoor Track (Away)

Starts at 10:00am

@ Chantilly HS

 

From FCPS

 

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! 

Every year, absences increase in the weeks before and after winter break. Give your child the gift of education and help build a habit of attendance. Visit our website for more attendance resources

 

COVID Diagnostic Testing in JanuaryMark your calendars! COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS teachers, staff, and students at five locations across the county January 3-5 from 5 to 8 p.m. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID. Appointments are not required, but registration must be completed before testing. Visit the COVID Testing webpage for more information

 

ESSER III Community Conversation on December 13A Community Conversation on ESSER will be hosted on Tuesday, December 13, at 6:30 p.m. The event will be hybrid, offered both on Zoom or in-person at the Gatehouse Administration Building in the café. All are welcome. Please register to attend. 

 

Strategic Planning

Beginning in late January 2023, FCPS will host a series of community forums as part of our strategic planning process. View the schedule on our Strategic Planning website. We will add more details as they become available.

4700 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151  | Main Office: 703-488-6300
Attendance: 703-488-6316 | Web | Twitter

Bulldog Breakdown 12/4 - 12/10

GovDelivery3 months 2 weeks ago

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Good Evening Bulldog Families–

I hope that everybody is doing well and had a great weekend!

This was certainly a busy week at Westfield. We had our first Principal’s Coffee, as well as a visit from School Board Member Mrs. Stella Pekarsky and State Delegate Ms. Irene Shin. We also had the first week of our new hall pass system. Your students were fantastic! The hallways were definitely more clear and it seemed like the bathrooms were as well. Please thank your students for me!

There is not a lot of new information in this breakdown, but there are a lot of events this week. Please take a second to check out the calendar portion.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me with observations, suggestions, questions and celebrations. You can do that through e-mail, call, or  through the form located here: https://forms.gle/4eW9rgPRVBF2a5gd8. Please remember that if you do not include your information on the form, I will not be able to follow-up. 

I wish your family a great week! Go Bulldogs!

Tony DiBari 

Proud Principal

Westfield High School

 

Science Fair Judges Wanted

Do you keep a garden? Have you baked sweets? Do you have a science degree or work in a scientific field? If you answered yes to any of these questions you qualify to be a judge for science fair! We are once again looking for judges for Westfield’s Science Fair. If you have any interest in being a judge for our school fair on February 2nd, 2023 after school please fill out this form. No experience in judging necessary! If you have any questions please reach out to Becca Darr ([email protected]).

 

Class of 2023 News

We are getting close to turning the calendar page to 2023 and June 5th will be here before we know it. 

Here is information to prepare for the big day on June 5th: 

  1. Every Senior needs to pay Senior Dues. The amount is $80. 
    1. Pay on MySchool Bucks
    2. Pay Cash/Check (payable to Westfield High)  in Subschool 3 (SS3) (Room F224)
    3. Payment can be made in installments. Please see Mrs. Park or Mrs. Waterman in SS3. 
  2. Fill out the Cap and Gown Order form which is located on the Class of 2023 Schoology page. This form needs to be filled out to ensure that the correct size of gown is ordered for your student. 
  3. Save the Date for February 23, 2023, for a 100 Days meeting for Senior parents and students. It will be held at Westfield High School in the evening. 
  4. Make plans to attend Graduation on Monday, June 5, 2023, at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena at 9:30am. Students will be required to attend two rehearsals at Westfield to prepare for the ceremony on June 1 and June 2. 

A comprehensive calendar of events and activities is on the Class of 2023 Schoology page. 

Lastly, the Senior Panoramic Photo is available for purchase: https://vando.imagequix.com/s1857335123

Thank you for your support of the senior class!

 

WHS Food Pantry

PTA FOOD PANTRY is looking for donations to help kids in need.  We have seen a huge increase in snack requests since last year.  Please consider checking out our wish list and adding an item to your cart.  It will ship directly to the school.  We are also accepting similar items (individually wrapped snacks, new sweatpants, book bags and water bottles) at the bin on my front porch if you would rather not purchase online.  Please reach out to me with any questions about donating.  

Wishlist: https://tinyurl.com/wfhsfoodpantry

Donation Bin: 5445 Tree Line Dr, Centreville VA

Questions: [email protected]

Thank you!

 

Staff Recognition

FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. Please visit the following link to recognize staff members who have done impactful things: FCPS Cares

 

Volunteer Call-out

We are still looking for your help! We value you as community partners and want to invite you to become more involved at Westfield. One way to do this is to volunteer and substitute teach. If you’re interested, the first step is following the links below. Thank you for your willingness to help!

FCPS Volunteers:  https://www.fcps.edu/get-involved/volunteer-fcps 

Substitute Teachers:   https://www.fcps.edu/careers/career-opportunities/substitute-teaching-opportunities/new-applicants

Westfield Volunteer Interest Form:  https://forms.gle/go7B58zdT1cz5Km9A

 

Tech Updates

Need Tech Support? CLICK HERE

 

Calendar

A comprehensive schedule of events can also be found at www.westfieldathletics.org and on Schoology.

Monday, 12/5

Boys Basketball (Home)

Vs. Washington-Liberty 

Freshman start 4:30pm

JV Start 5:45pm

Varsity start 7:30pm

@ Westfield High School

Monday, 12/5

Girls Basketball (Away)

Vs. Washington-Liberty

Freshman start 4:30pm

JV Start 5:45pm

@ Washington-Liberty

Tuesday, 12/6

Girls Varsity Gymnastics

Starts at 6:00pm

@ McLean HS

Wednesday, 12/7

Boys Basketball (Away)

Vs. Robinson HS

Freshman start 4:30pm

JV Start 5:45pm

Varsity start 7:30pm

@ Robinson HS

Wednesday, 12/7

Girls Basketball (Home)

Vs. Robinson HS

Freshman start 4:30pm

JV Start 5:45pm

Varsity start 7:30pm

@ Westfield HS

Wednesday, 12/7

JV Wrestling Jamboree

Vs. Multiple Oponents

Starts at 6:00pm

@ Herndon HS

Wednesday, 12/7

Choir Concert

Starts at 7:00pm

@ Westfield HS

Thursday, 12/8

Orchestra Pyramid Concert

Starts at 7:00pm

@ Westfield HS

Friday, 12/9

Boys Basketball (Home)

Vs. Alexandria City

Freshman start 4:30pm

JV Start 5:45pm

Varsity start 7:30pm

@ Westfield HS

Friday, 12/9

Girls Basketball (Away)

Vs. Alexandria City

Freshman start 4:30pm

JV Start 5:45pm

Varsity start 7:30pm

@ Alexandria City

Friday, 12/9

Swim and Dive (Home)

Vs. Centreville

Starts at 6:30pm

@ Cub Run Rec Center

Friday, 12/9

Varsity Wrestling (Away)

NOVA Classic

Starts at 10:00 am

@ Fairfax High School

Saturday, 12/10

Varsity Wrestling (Away)

NOVA Classic

Starts at 10:00 am

@ Fairfax High School

Saturday, 12/10

Swim and Dive (Away)

Vs. South Lakes HS

Starts at 7:00pm

@ Herndon Center

 

From FCPS

 

Preparing for Winter Weather

Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made

FCPS’ inclement weather procedures will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will use the flexibility provided by the Virginia General Assembly to have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction, following the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule (includes a two-hour delay).

FCPS’ website is generally the first mode of communication during emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated

Be sure to plan ahead for the winter season. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date in [email protected], bookmark the FCPS website, plan for childcare, if appropriate, and know what items your child may need to take home before a weather event.

 

Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities

We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.

If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. The multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and healthcare.

 

ESSER III Community Conversation on December 13

Thanks to everyone who provided input in October on ESSER III funding–federal funding which was allocated to FCPS to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on students and student learning. Community feedback indicated that there is a general unawareness of the impact of ESSER funding and a perceived lack of communication around how the funds are being used. 

To help address this, Superintendent Reid and Sloan Presidio, chief academic officer, will host a Community Conversation on ESSER on Tuesday, December 13, at 6:30 p.m., at the Gatehouse Administration Building in the Café. Please stay tuned for more details. Visit BoardDocs for a detailed update on ESSER.

4700 Stonecroft Blvd, Chantilly, VA 20151  | Main Office: 703-488-6300
Attendance: 703-488-6316 | Web | Twitter

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