 Show Your Westland Spirit!
Please note that the flannel pajama pants and shorts may not be worn at school. But they're a fun (and comfortable) way to show your school spirit outside of school. They make great holiday gifts too! Click here for an order form. Pre-orders only. All orders due September 24 (date extended!) Items will arrive in early October. Questions? Contact Alysa Emden. |
Calendar
9/23 NEW Final Day - Sally Foster Fundraiser
9/23 8th Grade Parents - Learn About 10th Grade IB Projects. 7:00pm B-CC cafeteria.
9/24 Westland Spirit Wear Orders Due!
9/24 Softball Game vs. Hoover MS. 3:15pm Girls home; boys away. Co-Ed Cross Country Meet vs. Hoover MS. 3:15 at Westland.
9/25 6th Grade Parent Welcome Coffee 9:00-10:30am La Madeleine (7607 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814)
9/29 Early Release Day. 12:10pm dismisal.
9/30 No School. Rosh Hashanah. |
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Crucial Contacts!
Wondering about a PTA activity? About Westland-net? Who to contact? How to get involved? Just click here for an up-to-date list of PTA board members and activity chairs!
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THANKS TO OUR WILDCAT SPONSORS!
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Last Thursday, Principal Danny Vogelman, B-CC Cluster Reps Pattie Friedman and Karen Lippold, and I attended the first B-CC Cluster Meeting of the school year. All of the elementary school principals spoke, as did Danny and B-CC's new principal, Karen Lockard. It's an impressive group! Across the board, schools reported increases in enrollment. Amidst all the good reports, however, came news of the MCPS hiring freeze. The bottom line is that schools are going to be asked to do more with less.
And that makes the support offered by the PTA all the more vital.
I'm delighted to announce that we currently have 398 members of the PTA from 254 families! We are especially grateful that those families also donated $10,240 to support PTA projects. That's fantastic, but well short of the 100% participation we hope to achieve. Please, if you haven't already done so, join the PTA today. Over 900 individuals receive this on-line newsletter. If you are one of those who hasn't yet joined the PTA, please consider doing so.
One of the most popular programs supported by the PTA is the After-School Activities Program. It's off to a great start this year. In case you missed it, click here for the activity bus schedule. Many thanks to Missy Reingruber and the many parent volunteers who've made these after-school offerings possible. |
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What's New for Lunch???
MCPS Division of Food and Nutrition Services will be participating in Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week September 22-26. During the week, cafeterias will be promoting Maryland agriculture through school meals by featuring various Maryland homegrown seasonal fruits and vegetables daily on the lunch menu. Morning announcements will inform students of the menu items that are being featured each day as Maryland Homegrown Products. Please ask your kids about this!
 Also, myLunchMoney.com is a new service being offered which allows parents to make prepayments to their child's cafeteria account with a credit/debit card using the Internet. Once your myLunchMoney account is established, you can check balances, view student purchases, set up recurring payments, and receive low balance e-mail notification. Prepayments will generally be available at the school the next day. |
To date, just 83 people have enrolled in the Giant program. We  certainly appreciate that support, but it's not a very high percentage of the 700+ families at Westland! In this era of increased demand and decreased funding, the Westland community needs to take full advantage of funding sources such as these. Please take a moment and register your cards.
Click here to register for the Giant program. Westland's ID is 00660.
Any questions? Contact PTA program coordinator Pam Gibson. |
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PTA Academic Support Committee Makes Grants
Every year, the PTA sets aside funds to underwrite special projects suggested by faculty and staff. At the start of the year, staff submit requests for projects to the Academic Support Committee, chaired by Susan Gutenberg. To date, the following projects have been funded:
- Renewal of Brainpop (Emery)
- Renewal of Gizmos license (S. Lee & Katz)
- TI - 83 Emulator Software licenses (Katz)
- Interactive Inquiry Based Teaching Methods/Novels (LaFlamme/Johns)
The PTA is delighted to support these exciting projects that will certainly enhance the classroom experience of many Westland kids! |
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Sally Foster Extended - But Just a Little!
 Due to popular demand, the Westland Media Center's Sally Foster sale has been extended until Tuesday, September 23rd. So you have a few extra days to shop to benefit Westland! Click here to get started. Westland's group id number is 501418. The Media Center relies on proceeds from this fundraiser to keep its technology resources up to date and adequate. To date, we've sold approximately $2,000 in merchandise, of which 50% is credited back to the school.
Any questions, please contact Westland's library media specialist Sarah Salnick. |
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What's Happening Down on the Farm?
WHO: All Westland families and staff.
WHAT: Please help us fight hunger in Montgomery County by joining us for a fun day of produce-picking (apples, squash, tomatoes) to help stock area food banks! Pumpkins will be available too! WHERE: Homestead Farm, near Poolesville, MD.  WHEN: Sunday, October 5th; please check in at our table near the pond between 10am and 2pm to purchase apple-picking bags. Homestead is offering us a very generous deal: for $10, you can buy a bag that holds 22 pounds of apples. Pick one bag for yourself and at least one more to donate! WHY: Earn SSL hours, do something positive for your community, have fun, meet other Westland families. Please let PTA Community Service Co-Chairs Carrie Hurd or Andrea McCarren know if you can make it! They need to have a rough estimate of the number of people who plan to come. Thanks and we look forward to seeing you for Westland's first, family-oriented community service event of the school year. |
6th & 7th Grade Parents - Coffee & Conversation!
On Thursday, Sept. 25th from 9:00-10:30am, 6th grade parents are invited to join 6th grade PTA vice presidents, Ari Antonelli & Pooh Shapiro for coffee and conversation at La Madeleine (at the corner of Old Georgetown & Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda). Principal Danny Vogelman has also promised to stop by, so this is your chance to say hello. Come share first impressions and questions! 
On Wednesday, Oct. 22nd from 7:30 a.m. - 9:30am, 7th grade parents are invited to join 7th grade PTA vice presidents Sally Boulter and Nancy Dana at the Red Dog Cafe, 8301 Grubb Rd # A, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Chat with old friends and welcome new parents! | |
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