Dear Westview Families,
As our Westview Fund enters it's third week of fundraising, and with the generosity of our families and community filling our hearts, this week's Westview Weekly weekly focuses on philanthropy.
The word philanthropy is defined as "the desire to promote the welfare of others." Philanthropy comes in many forms: giving the gifts of "time, talent, and treasure" to improve life for others. One thing that distinguishes philanthropy from simply charity is that the focus goes beyond merely helping but encourages the longevity of continuous support over time. The Westview School receives much philanthropic support from community partners on not just a local level but also national and even international.
LOCAL: Westview is gearing up for the year's much-anticipated first Middle School Social! Westview Socials present an opportunity for students to interact with peers from nearby Houston schools. This year, we are thrilled to welcome students from The Grace School and The Emery/Weiner School to dance and socialize with our students. Westview uses this typical middle school experience to continue fostering social skills and social communication in our students. Friday should be a festive and fun fall evening, and we are thankful to all volunteers attending!
Westview partners with the Junior League of Houston yearly for a pen pal program. This program allows our Upper School students to build relationships and practice letter writing with an authentic audience. Throughout the year, Junior League volunteers join our students to connect face-to-face. Junior League volunteers visited the campus this past Wednesday for the first luncheon. Students gathered in Largent Hall and met their pen pals over lunch and crafts.
Later this month, we are welcoming back to campus The HUBCaps. They will be performing at POW's Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday, October 28. The HUBCaps are a musical group of students from The HUB that perform rock tunes throughout the community. We will likely spy some former Westview students as part of the band. Make sure to scroll down to the POW section of this newsletter for all the details on the upcoming event.
We also lend our support to many local charitable organizations during the year. One, Hope for Three, has a mission that closely aligns with ours, and Westview recently participated in a golf tournament to support their cause.
A consistent supporter of The Westview School has been Alex's 5K. Alex's 5K celebrates the life of Alex Jamrich, promotes autism awareness, and raises funds for research and services in Houston. All race profits from Alex's 5K benefit Houston charities, and we are thankful that Westview is included as a beneficiary. This year's event is coming soon, and all the details about when, where, and how to sign up are in the Westview Weekly.
NATIONAL: This past weekend, Westview hosted the first Music for Autism concert of the school year. Music for Autism is a national organization that hosts autism-friendly, interactive concerts developed specifically for individuals with autism and their families. For over 14 years, Music for Autism concerts have been held on the Westview campus. We are so thankful for this partnership with Music for Autism and to the artists who share their time and talent with our community.
INTERNATIONAL: In April of 2021, the Embassy of the State of Qatar, selected several autism organizations to receive support, and Westview was one. A three-year scholarship fund for Westview students was established. In the Fall, Westview will be recognized at the Embassy of the State of Qatar annual Autism Gala in Washington, D.C. This past week, a videographer representing the Qatar Embassy was on campus for interviews and classroom footage to highlight Westview and the work we do among the autism population to share with supporters at their upcoming Gala. We are proud to be recognized and supported by the State of Qatar in this way.
One thing these organizations have in common is that they recognize the value of a school like Westview and that lending support to our students is a worthy philanthropic endeavor. We are so thankful for the support and recognition these organizations give our school and mission.
With heartfelt gratitude,
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Head of School
The Westview School
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Calendar at a Glance
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9
NOVEMBER 20-24, 2023
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Astros Spirit Day - Friday, October 20 |
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In lieu of wearing blue this Friday, let's root, root, ROOT for the home team, and wear your favorite Astros tee. |
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There are a couple of ways to support this fundraising effort. First, donate. You can access our online giving via our website or use the donate link found in the email. Secondly, share. We would love for you to share our Westview Fund information with any family or friends who might be interested in supporting our school. Here is the link to our email, or you can direct them to The Westview Fund page on our website. A print mail-out of our Westview Fund letter will be sent in the mail this week for those who like to write checks instead of using our online giving.
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Camp For All Costume Drive | Oct 30 - Nov 10 |
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Another partnership that Westview is proud to recognize is Camp For All. This year, Camp For All, a nonprofit that transforms the world for children and adults with challenging illnesses or special needs, is seeking eerie-sistible Halloween costumes for donation.
Between October 30 - November 10, please drop off your new or very gently-used Halloween costumes in either Westview lobby during this time. All of the costumes donated will be added to the costume closet at Camp For All for campers to enjoy for years to come.
Specific costume needs include:
- Boys costumes
- Teen costumes
- Adult costumes
- Superhero costumes
- Fun Props
Please no blazers, slacks or prom dresses.
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Save the Date: Dads' Day is Thursday, November 2 |
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Hey there, Westview Dads! This November, Dads' Day will be back on campus at The Westview School. We can't wait to celebrate our Westview Dads! Please save the date for Thursday, November 2, 2023. All dads are invited to campus for a very special morning with their students. Activities and times will vary between grade levels. More details to come, but for now, please make note of your child's grade level and time below:
ECD + PREKINDERGARTEN
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
KINDERGARTEN,
LOWER ELEMENTARY,
+ MIDDLE SCHOOL
8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
UPPER ELEMENTARY
9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
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Westview EDU | Safeguarding the Spectrum: Internet Perils and Autistic Children |
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This event will be held in person in Largent Hall on The Westview School campus. Zoom attendance will be available by request. All attendees, both virtual and in-person, should register for the event.
Any questions? Having an issue with the online registration form? Email Sarah Chauvin for assistance.
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Order Your 2023-2024 Westview Yearbook |
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The 2023-2024 Westview Yearbooks are on sale in the Balfour store. The link to purchase can be found on the Balfour website. Below are some easy-to-follow instructions for reserving your copy today. The cost per book is $50, and the price for dedications is a Full Page - $100, 1/2 Page - $50, 1/4 Page - $25, and 1/8 Page - $15.
- Click on the Balfour School Store link
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Scroll down and across to the Yearbook Products & ADS and click "Shop Now"
- Enter student info & click "shop for this student"
- Then choose yearbook and what size dedication you would like.
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Help Us Grow Our Substitute Teacher List |
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The Westview School is looking to increase our substitute teacher list. We have found that Westview parents are a perfect fit for this role. As a Westview substitute, you will primarily work as the class assistant for the day. We are so appreciative of all our parents who have dedicated time to support our school by being a part of our sub-list. We would love to include YOU too! The pay is $15 per hour. If you are interested in substitute teaching on a preschool, elementary, or middle school level or if you know someone who would be, please contact Michelle Chapa to complete the necessary paperwork and background check to be added to our list.
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Message from POW: All the Details on Trunk-or-Treat |
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POW TRUNK-OR-TREAT
POW will be hosting the 6th Annual POW Trunk-or-Treat on October 28 from 10 AM to 12 PM. The Trunk-or-Treat will remain a free event for kids to partake in trick-or-treating, bounce houses, games, and a photo booth. To help make our event a huge success, we are looking for vendors, sponsors, and trunks!
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Save the Date for Alex’s 5K Run/Walk & Kids' K |
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The Westview School provides a unique, specialized, and nurturing learning environment offering outstanding educational and social opportunities for children on the autism spectrum. |
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