Westgator News

Hello Westgate Families! We are full swing into the fall season. This month is loaded with various activities and opportunities to connect with your students and our Westgate staff. We have also listed some district and community resources that may be helpful as we approach the holiday season. Please take a moment to read the below information and plan accordingly...we don't want you to miss out. Thank you again for your continued partnership with our school community, we are thankful for you!

Monday, 11/4 - Friday, 11/8 - Scholastic Book Fair in library!

Monday, 11/4 - Parent Teacher Conferences - 3:45 - 7:15 p.m.

Tuesday, 11/5 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Development Day

Wednesday, 11/6 - PreK PD Day - NO SCHOOL - PreK ONLY

Wednesday, 11/6 - Parent Teacher Conference Day - 3:45 - 7:15 p.m.

Friday, 11/8 - Bagels & Books - 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. - library

Monday, 11/11 - 5K Fun Run/Walk - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, 11/13 - (World Kindness Day) - PTA Meeting @ 7:00 p.m. via Zoom

Thursday, 11/14 - Quarter 1 Awards Assembly

Monday, 11/18 - NCH Digital Media & Online Safety Presentation to 3rd Graders

Monday, 11/18 - Family Literacy Night - Camp Read S'more! - 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. - Cafeteria

Thursday, 11/21 - OSU Hands Only CPR training for 4th Graders

Monday, 11/25 - Friday, 11/29 - NO SCHOOL - Autumn Break

Thursday, 11/28 - Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃

Starting November 18th, we will no longer dismiss students early from class after 3:00 p.m. Also, we will not call students down to wait on their parents/guardians before appointments. We will gladly call the student up to the office upon parental arrival. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

This is a great time to get to know your student's teacher and discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Conference sign up forms went home with students in October. Please reach out to your child's teacher if you have any questions or still need to schedule a conference. Below is a quick list of helpful tips for parents to prepare for conferences.

Parents - as you find yourself in the building for conferences this week, please take a moment to look through Westgate's lost & found. It is located on a garment rack outside of the hallway leading to the cafeteria. It has grown into quite a collection these past few months. Also, if you think your student is missing something, please encourage them to check the rack. We donate any unclaimed items at the end of the quarter in order to make room for the next "lost" things. We appreciate your help.

Parents, you are invited to come check out the latest selection of books with your student(s) at our Scholastic Book Fair while enjoying a bagel & coffee/juice. Friday, November 8th, 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. in Westgate's library. All items will be available for purchase. Each parent that comes will receive one raffle ticket to enter their child into a drawing for a free gift from the book fair.

Harvest Day was a BLAST!! We would like to thank our awesome PE teacher, Ms. Marshall, for the amazing job in making our Harvest Day fun and successful. Also, special thank you to all of our parent volunteers and teachers for assisting our students in having a very organized, safe and fun time.

Tuesday, November 5th - Professional Development Day - All Students

Wednesday, November 6th - PreK ONLY

Monday, November 25th - Friday, November 29th - Autumn & Thanksgiving Break

Hello Parents,

We have a couple of health related events coming up this month. They are specifically for our 3rd and 4th graders.

• 3rd grade hearing and vision screenings will begin this month. Information letters will be sent home prior to starting.
• Nationwide Children's Hospital is going to present to our 3rd graders on 11/18 on Digital Media and Online Safety.
• OSU will be training our 4th graders on Hands Only CPR on 11/21 in the afternoon.

If you ever have any questions, please reach out to me.

Thank you,

Kim Minrovic MSN, RN, LSN

Licensed School Nurse

Westgate Alternative Elementary School

School: 614-365-5971

Fax: 614-365-5149

Westgate will host an all school awards assembly on Thursday, 11/14 (this is a change from the November calendar that was sent home!). The assembly will take place in our big gym/cafeteria, Pre K-2nd grades at 9:45-10:45 and 3rd-5th grades at 2:00-3:00.

Students will be recognized for various achievements such as perfect attendance, honor roll, Gator awards and Iready.

Parents will be contacted by their student's teacher if their student will be receiving an award, as parents are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Please join us in celebrating your child’s success!

Parents, come spend the evening learning different reading strategies and completing make and take activities to do at home to support your child's reading. There will be free books and chances to win games and prizes. Students will not be permitted to attend without a parent/guardian.

This month I will focus on career explorations and helping students to find a career they will like. There are so many choices! During this month, I will encourage students to think about pursuing a career that involves science, math, social studies, writing or something else they are passionate about. The opportunities are endless, and I will work towards connecting students to their future careers.

Ohio has a plethora of great colleges and universities!

I attended Ohio University and had a great experience. I will also talk to students about attending college and explain how colleges/universities support students.

Thank you,

Stefanie Gaddis, M.Ed.

Licensed School Counselor

Westgate Alternative Elementary School

Columbus City Schools

sgaddis9276@columbus.k12.oh.us

Check out these pictures from our October Family GLOW Run. Thank you to Ms. Marshall for planning a great event and for all of our staff, students and families that came out to illuminate the event!

Thanksgiving is about giving back! NBC4, Urban One, and the United Way of Central Ohio are teaming up once again to feed Columbus. CCS will be assisting in distributing FREE turkeys and sides to families as part of the 2024 Turkey Tour.

Date: Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024

Time: 11am-2pm

Ft. Hayes Metropolitan Education Center

670 Jack Gibbs BLVD (please use entrance address from Leonard Ave.)

Join Columbus City Schools’ Pathway Express for a day full of exploring STEM and Zoology!

Saturday, December 14, 2024

3 - 6pm

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium (4850 W Powell Rd., Powell, OH 43065)

Family Learning Experiences include:

• Free Flu Shots

• Marine Life Exploration with the Watters Aquatic Conservation Center

• Environmental Responsibility Awareness with Keep Columbus Beautiful

• Free Books and Giveaways (While Supplies Last)

• Experience the Magical Zoo Lights!

During December’s Pathway Express event, learning will be centered around Critical Thinking, a key quality in our Portrait of a Graduate. This means helping our students analyze and apply evidence-based reasoning to understand “big picture” challenges and how solutions affect other parts of a system.

Registration for the event opens Monday, November 18 at noon!

Families must register in advance for tickets by going to the link below.

Free transportation is provided! Buses will shuttle families from Northland, Walnut Ridge, South, and West High Schools to the zoo and back. Buses will depart from each school at 3:00 p.m. and will depart the zoo at 8:00 p.m. to drop families back off at the school that evening.

Registration for School's Out Fall is now open!

Do your students need something to do during Wellness Week? Look no further than your local community center! School’s Out Fall opens community centers for extended hours during Columbus City Schools’ Wellness Week, Nov. 25-29 from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Registration is now open! Please use the link below to register.

Stepping Stones Is a free six-week group designed specifically for parents/caregivers of children ages 0-12 with developmental delays or disabilities. Throughout this group, parents/caregivers will learn strategies to help them manage their child’s behavior and get more of the behaviors they want to see.

The first session is November 7th at 6pm on Zoom.

Participants will be eligible for up to a $90 gift card at the end of the six-weeks.

Call: 614-355-8099 or email:TripleP@NationwideChildrens.org to register.

Join CCS JROTC Cadets and MILVETS for the 1st Annual Columbus Veterans Rally

Sunday, November 10, 2024

11:30 am – 3:30 pm

National Veterans Memorial and Museum (300 W Broad St Columbus, OH)

The event is open to all Veterans and those who did not serve but would like to show support. It will feature entertainment, meals and Veteran-related vendor tents. All attendees can also take advantage of the Dog Tag Discount Program and enjoy discounted or complementary admission to NVMM and COSI.

Join for:

• Free food
• Free admittance for everyone to the museum
• Free parking – and easy drop off area close to event
• Activities for adults and kids – face painting and magic show
• Key information tents for Veterans and their dependents

Please note: The Rally is outdoors in a tent city environment in the museum parking lot.

Bring a new toy to support of “Toys for Tots”. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be making their first appearance in Columbus!

Support CCS!

Fort Hayes Red Tails are the ONLY JROTC unit featured this event! Cadets will present the National & State colors, lead the pledge of allegiance, and act as community liaisons and VIP escort.

Remote Area Medical Services will provide FREE dental, vision, and medical services on a first-come, first-served basis:

November 16-17

East High School (1500 E. Broad St)

Clinic doors typically open at 6 a.m. All services are free and open to the public. No ID required. Please arrive early to secure an spot. Due to time constraints, be prepared to choose between DENTAL and VISION services. Medical services are offered to every patient attending the clinic.

For more information, please visit the link below.

WAV workshops are open to the public at no cost and encourage participants to come as they are required with no art skill. They are a great opportunity to find community through creative expression!

• When: Ongoing, Mondays and Wednesdays 3:00-5:30 PM

• Where: We Amplify Voices Studio, 1327 Sullivant Ave.

• What: Drop-in program with social emotional learning activities including freestyle, dance, music, and art

• No registration required.

Free Thanksgiving Meals & Offerings in Franklinton & Hilltop. All of them are first come, first serve, while supplies last.

• Glenwood Community Center (1888 Fairmont Ave, 43223):
• Hot Meal @ 5:30-7:30PM on 11/21/24
• (Eat-in or take-away)
• Sullivant Gardens Community Center (755 Renick St, 43204):
• Hot Meal @ 5PM on 11/22/2024
• Activities for kids like face painting
• Holton Community Center (303 N. Eureka Ave, 43223):
• Hot meal buffet @ 6:30-7:30PM on 11/22/24
• Highland Youth Garden (67 S. Highland Ave, 43223):
• Free produce market @ 11AM-1PM on 11/23/24
• Dodge Community Center (667 Sullivant Ave, 43215):
• Take-away hot meal @ 5:30-6:30PM on 11/25/24
• St. Aloysius Community Outreach (Behind 2165 W. Broad St, 43204):
• Free Thanksgiving Day Dinner @ 11AM-2PM on 11/28/24
  
• Crossroad World Outreach Ministries (165 S Cypress Ave, 43222):
• Hot meal @ 12-2:30PM on 11/28/24

• Volunteer Sign up: https://www.westsidethanksgiving.org/cook-a-turkey/

REMINDERS:

• School hours are 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• CCS provides FREE Breakfast and Lunch for all students.
• Students are able to eat breakfast each morning in the school cafeteria at 8:35 a.m.
• Students not eating breakfast are allowed to enter the building at 8:50 a.m.
• All students arriving to school on time or to eat breakfast, should be entering through the doors at the back entrance (by the staff parking lot).
• Please do not drop your student off at school earlier than 8:35 a.m. as there is NO supervision on the playgroud before that time.
• Only students arriving to school after 9:00 a.m. should enter the front doors to sign in at the office.
• If your child will be absent from school, please call our office to let us know.

Email: attendancewestgatee@columbus.k12.oh.us

Website: ccsoh.us/WestgateES
Location: 3080 Wicklow Road, Columbus, OH, USA
Phone: 614-365-5971