February 4, 2021
Hello, Westview families, 

While planning to get our students back on campus for the 2020-2021 school year, there were quite a few moving parts. The Westview School leadership team stayed in an intensive learning mode for most of the summer. We studied and evaluated everything from air filtration systems and PPE to civics and jurisdiction. We were delighted to turn to our newly created Westview COVID-19 Medical Advisory Board for guidance on all things medical. The advisory board is comprised of Westview parents and former parents with experience on the front line during this pandemic. These highly-trained professionals work in many different fields of medicine, such as epidemiology, pulmonology, and critical care. This work group continues to be an invaluable resource to our school leadership team. Once again, the Westview Medical Advisory Board has collaborated to share important information with our community in a factual and knowledgeable way. I hope you find our most recent blog post by our Medical Advisory Board on COVID-19 vaccines to be helpful to you and your family.

All the best,




Head of School
The Westview School
What are the COVID-19 vaccines available? How do they work? Are the vaccines safe? What are the common side effects?

Do you have questions on the COVID-19 vaccines? The Westview School COVID-19 Medical Advisory Board breaks down some of the most frequently asked in our most recent post on the Westview Blog.

Calendar at a Glance

February 4

February 11

February 15
  • Presidents' Day (No School)

March 12

March 15-19
  • Spring Break
January Wonder Wall Winners
Our PreK friend, James, is Out of this World! James was awarded a January Wonder Wall Award for all his PreK growth this year. He has made tremendous progress in communication and using his tools to stay safe. James is following instructions when asked right away, staying with the group, and doing all of his work! We are so incredibly proud of the strides James has made in just a few short months and cannot wait to see him continue to shoot for the stars!
Kudos to Diego in Lower Elementary for being a Super Flexible Wonder Wall Winner. Diego has consistently shown us how  flexible he can be in different situations at school and in class. Diego never gets upset when there is a change in schedule or routine. Diego is happy and adapts well to changes. He welcomed a student to class by being open to switching book buckets. Diego has done an amazing job this year showing how flexible he can be in class with schedules, routines, and where his materials are put in the classroom. Way to go, Diego!
Congratulations to Richard in Upper Elementary for being an Out of This World Wonder Wall Winner. Richard is a hard-working student with a fun personality. He has done well this school year and has adjusted to all new safety protocols incredibly well. He is social with his classmates and follows all classroom rules. Richard has made so much progress, and we are excited to see him continue to succeed this year! Congratulations, Richard!
Next Thursday is Virtual Moms' Day
Hey, Westview Moms! Save the date for February 11. You're invited to an extra special ZOOM call to celebrate YOU! Your student's teacher will email the ZOOM link and any activity details by Monday, February 8. Moms' Day Virtual Event will be a 20-30 minute time commitment per class. If Mom can't make it, we encourage you to invite another female role model to attend. We can't wait to see our Moms online!


Please save the date and time for your Mom's Day ZOOM.
The times per grade level are listed below:
 
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM – ECD + PreK
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM – K
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Lower El
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Upper El 
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Middle School 
Notes from Nurse Ana
Beginning next week, Nurse Ana will start administering both hearing and vision screenings for our students. These state-required screenings will be conducted on campus in the Westview Health Clinic. There will be no charge for the screenings.

If you do not wish for your child to participate in the state of Texas mandated school screening, a physician-signed hearing and vision evaluation for the student must be submitted to Nurse Ana. 
As required by Texas State Law, the following must be screened for both vision and hearing: 
  • All children who were four years old as of Sept. 1, 2020
  • All kindergartners, first, third, fifth & seventh graders
  • All first-time entrants from another Texas school who are not in the above categories unless he/she can bring written documentation from the other school
  • All first-time entrants (4 years through 12th grade) from an out-of-state school

If your child fails the vision or hearing screening and rescreening, a referral letter will be sent home. Please do the following: 
  • Have your child evaluated by your pediatrician or vision/hearing specialist
  • Have your doctor complete the referral form and return it to Nurse Ana

All screen results will be sent to the state of Texas as required by law. 

If you have any questions or require additional information about the upcoming screenings, please contact Nurse Ana in the clinic.
RSVP NOW: The Fundraising Luncheon Goes to the Movies
Check your Tuesday inbox for your invitation to The Westview School Fundraising Luncheon Goes to the Movies. We have opened our RSVP to our families first, so make sure to RSVP now. Spaces are limited, and we want to see you at the movies! Mark your calendars for Friday, March 12 at Moonstruck Drive-In Theatre located at 100 Bringhurst Street, Houston, TX. All families, children included, are welcome and encouraged to attend this free event to raise money for The Westview School. Families and friends of The Westview School can expect dinner delivered to your vehicle while viewing Disney's new release "Raya & The Last Dragon." We are so excited to be hosting this in-person but socially distanced event. If you are interested in attending, RSVP here.
Make The Westview School Part of Your Summer Plans
Registration is currently OPEN for Westview Champs Summer Camp, Summer Intensive Clinics and Summer Tutoring.
 
We are excited to be once again able to offer several options for students over the summer break. Visit our website to learn all the details and register your child. Need help deciding which of our programs is the best fit for your child over the summer? Contact Crystal Irvin or Trey Clark to discuss summer options.

Westview EDU: Dealing with Anxiety
Join us tonight, Thursday, February 4th, as The Westview School welcomes University of Houston Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences researcher, Dr. Sarah Mire to WestviewEDU. Our February topic is Dealing with Anxiety.

Anxiety can be crippling and affect every aspect of one’s life. Adding autism to the mix can make it even more of a challenge. Dr. Mire with the University of Houston SPARC program will discuss ways to effectively manage anxiety and stress in your life and strategies to mitigate anxiety for your child.

Please RSVP and a ZOOM link will be emailed to you prior to the event. Have questions? Email Penelope Khuri.

Westview is Hiring!
Westview is looking to increase our substitute teacher list. Applicants for a substitute teacher at Westview must be over 18 and a high school graduate. Experience working with children is a plus. References are required. As a Westview substitute, you will primarily work as the class assistant for the day. If you or someone you know may be interested in substitute teaching on a preschool, elementary, or middle school level, please email a resume to Russell Avery.
 
Any additional questions/inquiries regarding job opportunities at The Westview School can be directed to Russell Avery.
Resources


Please refer to COVID-19 tab on The Westview School website for the most up to date information regarding our Child First Reopening Plan.


For the Kids