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 Volume 1, Issue 19
Leadership Ledger
Westlawn Families,
It’s been wonderful to have our students back in the building and learning alongside their teachers and classmates! We've all missed the energy and laughter that fill our hallways.
Thank you to all our families able to join our PTA meeting on Tuesday evening. It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with our community, and we thank the folks at Be Safe for their enlightening and sobering presentation regarding the importance of firearm safety.
We are excited to kick-off another new year together!
Sincerely,
Christoph Hill, Stephanie Carpenter, and Erin Theiss
Proud Principals
 Third grade students learned about the Navajo Code Talkers this week in the library, and then had a chance to use binary code and two colors of plastic beads to make a necklace featuring their initial.
2025 Westlawn New Year’s Checklist
Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to stay more organized? We can help! Here’s a checklist to help you stay on top of all things Westlawn:
Snow and Recess: Be Prepared!
Students will go outside for recess even when there is snow on the ground. Staff will ensure that students are only playing in areas cleared of snow, such as the blacktop. Please make sure your child is wearing clothes that will keep them warm when they are outside for daily recess or transitions to classes in the quads.
Free Webinar: Help Children Understand that AI is Not Human
Sophisticated artificial intelligence programs are designed to mimic people. Adults understand the difference between artificial intelligence and human beings, but children’s emotional reserves are not as deep, and they may have trouble distinguishing between the two. This webinar recording shares the dangers of anthropomorphizing AI and what adults can do to help children distinguish between people and robots.
Reminder: Westlawn Clothing is Available for Purchase for a Limited Time!
The Westlawn Spirit Wear Store is now open! The shop closes on January 24, and all orders will be printed at that time and delivered shortly after that.
FCPS News
Are you curious about what’s happening more broadly in FCPS? This week’s In Case You Missed It (ICYMI) FCPS roundup covers:
- National Merit Commended Scholars
- Celebrating the Best of 2024 in FCPS
- Cell Phones Off, Learning On
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
January 13-17: Family Math Week
FCPS families are invited to do math together during Family Math Week, and FCPS is collectively trying to collect 3,000,000 minutes spent on ST Math during that period. Learn more about how your family can participate.
January 20: No School (MLK Jr. Day)
January 24: Bingo Night
Bingo Night will be held in the Westlawn cafeteria! Stay tuned for more details and a chance to sign up and volunteer.
January 29: No School for Students (Teacher Workday)
January 30: Luther Jackson Middle School Curriculum Night
Rising seventh grade students and their families are encouraged to visit Luther Jackson MS to learn about different classes, programs, and opportunities for students in middle school. More information can be found on the Luther Jackson MS website.
February 4: Family Literacy Program First Meeting
English classes for adults will be offered at Westlawn again this spring, from 6-8 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Adults can sign up by contacting Ms. Reyes via email, TalkingPoints, or calling 703-241-5100.
To see more schoolwide and community events, remember to check out our website calendar! You can also subscribe to our calendar to make it even more convenient.
Reminder: Warm Winter Clothing Drive!
Students are collecting new or gently worn adult-sized winter gear for our senior friends at the James Lee Community Center! Please consider donating to this worthy cause! Some of the students will be able to go to drop them off directly and see firsthand the positive impact they have made. Donations of hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens can be dropped off to the collection box in the main office between January 6-24.
Join a Community Conversation
Join us on Wednesday at 11 AM on Zoom to hear the important news from the school from Principal Hill! Community Conversations happen weekly barring school holidays or weather closures. If you miss a Community Conversation, you can catch up with slides and recordings on our website.
Understanding Giftedness
Have you ever noticed something in your child that you don’t quite understand and wondered if perhaps it was linked to giftedness? First, it helps to figure out what “giftedness” is. One way to define it is people that perform—or have the capability to perform—at exceptional levels compared to others of the same age, experience, and environment. In FCPS our gifted services are part of an academic curriculum (Advanced Academic Program, or AAP) that all students access, and therefore it does not focus on talents in non-academic areas such as arts or sports.
The NAGC, or National Association for Gifted Children, is the largest organization that supports the needs of gifted and talented children. Their website offers multiple resources, but one in particular is helpful to families looking to understand and nurture their potentially gifted child. Family Tip Sheets offer a variety of information such as Nurturing Creativity and understanding Perfectionism. We hope you find these short articles helpful!
Fun Fact: our own FCPS AAP Coordinator, Dr. Kirsten Maloney, was the recipient of the 2023 NAGC Coordinator of the Year award!
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is an important part of helping children develop the skills they need to succeed in school and life. This year, we are using Second Step, a research-based SEL program designed to teach students essential skills like empathy, emotional regulation, and problem-solving. Each focus for the week will share recommendations for conversations and activities families can do at home to promote SEL outside of school.
Kindergarten
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that a kind act is something they can do to help someone feel good. They’ll practice suggesting kind acts to do for people in different scenarios. Try This at Home: Encourage your child to think of a kind act they could do for someone, for example a sibling, grandparent, or neighbor.
1st Grade
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that a kind act is something they can do to help someone feel good. They’ll practice suggesting kind acts to do for people in different scenarios. Try This at Home: Encourage your child to think of a kind act they could do for someone, for example a sibling, grandparent, or neighbor.
2nd Grade
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that empathy means feeling or understanding what someone else is feeling, and that empathy can lead to kindness. Try This at Home: Ask your child to tell you what empathy means.
3rd Grade
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn how empathy—the ability to understand and feel how someone else is feeling—and kindness can help build new friendships. Try This at Home: Ask your child what kind things they could do to build a friendship with someone.
4th Grade
In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that people can have different points of view about the same thing. Try This at Home: With your child, discuss a time when you had a different point of view than someone else about the same thing. Describe how your experiences—what you’ve seen, heard, or done in your life—affect your point of view.
5th Grade
In this lesson, your child will describe how empathy can help someone identify and solve a problem in their community. Try This at Home: Point out something that has changed for the better in your neighborhood recently. Ask your child why they think that change is helpful. Point out how empathy might have helped someone decide to make that change.
If you have questions about these prompts or ideas, or social-emotional learning in general, please email Westlawn’s SEL Coach, Ms. Andrews. We can work together to create a positive and safe school environment!
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