April 7, 2022
Hello, Westview families, 
 
April is World Autism Month. It is a month dedicated to raising awareness and increasing the understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder. Here at The Westview School, we see every day, in big and small ways, how exceptional our students are. We think our students are some of the most unique and amazing children, and any month that brings awareness that aligns with this way of thinking is something we wholeheartedly support.
 
This week's Westview Weekly showcases some of the most recent ways our students are showing up, making an impact, and brightening the lives of those around them. For March, we have four Wonder Wall Winners who have really stood out to our staff. This morning, we hosted our Annual Spelling Bee with our 1830 Students. We had 16 participants who stood up on stage, waited their turn, followed the competition rules, and handled disappointment with poise and grace. We are so proud of these students. But, we all know that autism has its share of challenges. We tagged in our Support Specialists, Michael McKee and Jessica Guerra, for our latest Westview Blog post, Ask the Experts: How to Manage Meltdowns. We think this will offer great advice and insight to our parents. Also, we are very excited for tonight's Westview EDU via ZOOM: Is it ADHD or ASD? Learning the Differences. There is still time to register if you would like to attend.
 
Finally, this weekend we will celebrate our school and community with POW Family Fun Day. POW has been working hard to prepare for the day, and it is sure to be a fun event for everyone. We hope to see you there!

Best,
Head of School
The Westview School
Calendar at a Glance
 
Friday, April 8, 2022
  • Wildcat Pep Rally - 1:30 PM | Largent Hall / On Fridays We Wear Blue
Note: Pep Rally location is updated to Largent Hall.

Saturday, April 9, 2022
  • POW Family Fun Day - 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | The Westview School

Thursday, April 14, 2022
  • POW Meeting - 9:15 AM to 10:15 AM | Largent Hall
  • Middle School Hang Out - 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM

Friday, April 15, 2022
  • Good Friday (No School)

Monday, April 17, 2022
  • School Holiday (No School)

April 19-21, 2022
  • Spring Lifetouch Pictures

April 25 – 29, 2022
  • Westview's Celebration of Learning

March Westview Wonder Wall Winners
Our Kindergarten friend Cooper is pretty super! Cooper has made so much progress this year. He’s able to transition to new environments and situations with confidence. Cooper has made great friends this year. He always greets others in the hallway and gives the best hugs! Cooper is kind and always makes us laugh with his silly jokes. He is a great role model and a fun and caring classmate. Cooper is truly out of this world! Congratulations to Cooper for being a March Westview Wonder Wall Winner! 
Congratulations to our Lower Elementary friend, Parker, for her Heart of Gold! Parker is eager to learn every day and always tries her best no matter what! Parker, without fail, has a positive, kind, loving attitude with all her friends and teachers! If you’re feeling down, Parker will make you feel better with the sweetest smile you ever saw! Congratulations to Parker for being a March Westview Wonder Wall Winner!
Hooray to Kaden in Upper Elementary! His heart of gold has earned him a place on the Westview Wonder Wall! Kaden’s determination and thoughtfulness are to be admired and celebrated. He has a positive outlook on most everything he is working on and knows how to see the bright side of things. He is kind to his peers, and it shows by the kind words and actions he uses. We are all so proud of Kaden’s hard work and dedication! Congratulations, Kaden, for being a March Westview Wonder Wall Winner! 
Mikah in Middle School is a really Great Friend! Mikah is the type of student who is always ready to lend a helping hand to others. He is sensitive and caring. Mikah will stand up for the underdog when a wrong has been committed. He is kind to everyone he meets and greets his friends and teachers with the biggest, best-smiling face every day. He deserves to be acknowledged as a great friend because he truly is! Way to go, Mikah! We are very proud of you for being a March Westview Wonder Wall Winner!
Congratulations to Our Spelling Bee Winners!
The Annual Westview Spelling Bee was held this morning at The Westview School. Our 16 finalists from Upper Elementary and Middle School met in Largent Hall, where the event was held in person and live-streamed to families at home and students in their classrooms.

Thank you to our Middle School staff, Mrs. Spurger, Mr. Dawkins, and Mr. G for coordinating a fantastic event for our students. Westview is so proud of our finalists across all grade levels, and special congratulations to our winners: Third Place, Nicole - Middle School, Second Place, Preston - Upper Elementary, and First Place/Spelling Bee Champion, Chris – Middle School.
Westview Blog: Ask the Experts - How to Manage Meltdowns
We have all been there. You can hear the tone change in your child’s voice. You can see their face start to scrunch up. Your heart drops. “No! Please not now,” you scream in your head. But there is nothing you can do to stop it; your precious little cherub is about to enter into a full-blown, spine-tingling, cringe-worthy explosion of screaming, flailing, and flopping. Your child is about to have a meltdown, and you can honestly feel like you might also have one yourself. So, what do you do?

In our latest post on the Westview Blog, Michael McKee and Jessica Guerra, Student Support Specialists at The Westview School offer expert advice on best practices for How to Manage Meltdowns.

Join Us for WestviewEDU tonight Thursday, April 7 at 7:00 PM via ZOOM. The topic will be Is it ADHD or ASD? Learning the Differences. Chris Stewart, UH Ph.D. candidate will discuss what ADHD and Autism have in common, how they differ, and what are some strategies to help develop essential executive functioning skills that are affected by both.


Any questions? Having an issue with the online registration form? Email Sarah Chauvin for assistance.
Message from POW: Family Fun Day + Spring Raffle
FAMILY FUN DAY
Here's the Scoop! THIS Party is going to be so SWEET! Join us to celebrate POW Family Fun Day this Saturday, April 9th from 1 PM to 3 PM. Family Fun Day is a long-standing POW tradition. It is such a fun event for our families. You may be wondering, "what is Family Fun Day?" Family Fun Day is a super fun, carnival-type event for our families. In honor of Westview's 40th Anniversary, our theme is a Westview Birthday Bash. What to expect? Here are some of the FREE activities to keep the kids busy. We will have a zip line, rock climbing wall, trackless train, Bach to Rock Karaoke, Bounce House, Miss Dee Hair Color and Braiding, games and prizes, plus so much fun! Howdy's Ice Cream will be available to purchase, and POW will be selling Westview t-shirts and hats. We can't wait to see you and your family!
The POW Spring Raffle sales will close TONIGHT, Thursday, April 7th. If you want to purchase tickets online, make sure to visit the POW School Store! Online sales close at 10PM. You will be able to purchase additional tickets during Family Fun Day. Please bring cash or check.

We have so many wonderful teacher experiences and prizes that you won't want to miss. Ticket sales help pay for Family Fun Day which is a free event for our families. Winners will be announced on April 9th at Family Fun Day. You do not need to be present to win. Questions? Contact Ang Jennings.
Celebration of Learning - April 25-29, 2022
We are very proud of the latest addition to our spring calendar - WESTVIEW'S CELEBRATION OF LEARNING, the week of April 25 – 29. The development of student critical thinking and problem-solving skills is one of the top priorities identified by staff and families during our strategic planning surveys. The Celebration of Learning is an opportunity for families to see examples of their child's best work. Our homeroom teachers are curating a collection of work for each student and are very excited to showcase the great work of their students. As part of this one-hour visit, students and their families will visit the school art gallery and book fair. More details to come, but we wanted to make sure you saved the date and time for your student.
PLEASE SAVE THE DATE + TIME FOR YOUR STUDENT'S CELEBRATION

The date and times per grade level are listed below: 

MONDAY, APRIL 25
Early Childhood - 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

TUESDAY, APRIL 26
Prekindergarten - 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27
Kindergarten - 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Upper Elementary - 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM

THURSDAY, APRIL 28
Lower Elementary - 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM

FRIDAY, APRIL 29
Middle School - 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM