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Principal's Message
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Greetings Westwood Heights Elementary Parents, Community Members, and all Invested Stakeholders,
We are especially excited to welcome everyone back to another school year of cultivating the optimal learning environment where our scholars can strive academically, socially, and emotionally! Thanks for your continued partnership, commitment, and support as we work collaboratively to ensure all students achieve at their highest potential this school year.
WHE Vision, Theme, Performance Data
Our vision this school year is to maintain a laser focus on the work of closing achievement gaps by delivering high quality TIER 1 Instruction tailored to meet the diverse learning need of all our scholars. To achieve this goal, priority will be placed on early literary development in K-2 to ensure scholars are ready for a successful transition to the intermediate grade levels. Additionally, an emphasis on building foundational skills will ensure our scholars are prepared to master on grade level standards. Equally important, our work this school year will be grounded in the Science of Reading research-based knowledge of how children learn to read and read to learn. “The Opportunity Myth” best practices will continue to serve as Pillars in our pursuit of educational excellence at WHE: Teachers with High Expectations; (2). Strong Instruction; (3). Deep Student Engagement; and (4). Alignment of Grade Appropriate Assignments. Furthermore, our work this year will be guided by “Leverage Leadership” high impact strategies for closing the achievement gaps: Data driven instruction; effective lesson planning, quality professional development; and a laser focus on building positive student and staff culture. Finally, we will also engage in WHE Book Study: “What Great Teachers Do Differently” to sharpen our tools.
Providing timely support for our teacher task force will be a vital component to achieving our SIP proficiency targets this school year: ELA 50%; Math 60%: Science 45%. Therefore, priority will be placed on providing on-going data driven professional learning opportunities to build teacher pedagogy, ensuring our practitioners are well equipped to meet the diverse learning needs of all students. We will also promote authentic teacher led PLCs and hands-on coaching support. Finally, positive staff and student culture will be fostered this school year as we work to create the optimal learning environment!
2023-2024 Theme
For the 2023-2024 school year the theme is: Level Up! Game On! WHE Taking Learning to the Next Level! We are excited about this year’s theme: It will ignite enthusiasm, commitment, set the tone for the positive energy and efforts we will bring into the new school year, ensuring student achievement skyrockets to proficiency and beyond!
WHE FAST PM 3 2023 performance results
Our 3-5 grade student performance data indicates that we are moving in the right direction as a school. The data will also highlight opportunities for continuous improvement. ELA: improved from 26% to 37% proficiency; Math Improved from 37% to 53% proficiency; There was an eight percent reduction in our 5th grade science performance, 25% to 17% which we will own, reflect, and make the necessary adjustments to ensure we meet the target 2024. As you are aware, this year is a baseline year. Therefore, while the performance results will not change our current school grade of a “D”, it does provide meaningful data that will inform our strategic plans and action steps to ensure WHE is on track to achieving the “A”. During our upcoming SAC Meeting in September, we will take some time to do a deeper dive into our overall school performance data K-5 and review WHE Blueprint for Success 2023-2024.
Uniform Colors, School Hours, and Arrival/Dismissal Procedures
Westwood Heights is a mandatory uniform school. Therefore, all students are expected to come to school dressed in the approved uniform colors each day of the week. Uniform tops: red, dark blue, and white polo shirts. Unform bottoms: Blue and Khaki.
School hours remain 8:15am – 2:15pm. Please ensure students do not arrive to school before 7:30am since there will be no adult supervision. Breakfast and lunch are free for all Westwood Heights Elementary scholars this school year. Breakfast begins at 7:30am – 8:00am. Instruction starts promptly at 8:15am and dismissal is 2:15pm. Early release dismissal is 12:15pm. Students who arrive late for school, after 8:15am must report to the front office for a late pass and will be escorted to class by a support staff. Parents please be informed that due to transitional preparation for regular dismissal, the latest you can pick up a student for early dismissal is 1:30pm. Please inform the office or your child’s teacher in advance if there is a change in how your child will be getting home on a particular day. Please complete the “How Home” form in your child’s first day packet and return it to your child’s teacher. All parents and visitors to the school campus must be checked in at the front office. Identification badge is required for all students, staff, and district employees to gain access to the building each day.
Meet & Greet & Aftercare Information
Parents are invited to attend Meet & Greet: Friday, August 18th at 2:00pm. We are excited to welcome Ms. Anitra Fleming, new assistant principal for the 2023-2024 school year. First day of School for Students is Monday, August 21st. We will continue to provide free school operated aftercare program to families. For more information on aftercare, please call the school or visit the front office.
Home-School Connection & Communication
Timely communication will be vitally important to best coordinate learning support services for your child. Therefore, your child’s teacher and other support staff will be contacting you regularly to ensure we are delivering optimal learning experiences for your child. Likewise, you are encouraged to reach out to your child’s teacher as needed for guidance and support. Furthermore, to keep informed and engaged in WHE school events, please visit our school website for up-to-date information. If you have any questions or needs, do not hesitate to call the office between the hours of 7:30 am – 3:00 pm. We are looking forward to continued partnership with our stakeholders for students’ academic success this school year!
It is an honor to serve as your child’s principal. Please know that I am always just a phone call or email away if you have a need.
Respectfully
Dr. Georgia A. Stewart
Proud Principal, Westwood Heights ElementaryContact Number: 754- 323-7900