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Hello, Westview families,
As we count the days to Thanksgiving break, let me be the first to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving. Psychologists say that the practice of gratitude can lead a person to greater happiness. It is truly a form of self-care to take time and reflect on the positive things in our life. Sometimes this expression of gratitude can be a challenge for our students, but this week our teachers have really been encouraging thoughtful reflection about what are the things they are most thankful for. While many of our sweet kiddos rank pumpkin pie, Pokeman, bugs, and lizards at the top of their gratitude list, just as many lists include mom, dad, siblings, and The Westview School as things that bring joy to their lives. As a school, we are so thankful for you and your children. Our students are an absolute gift and bring us joy, hope, and inspiration every single day. We thank you for putting your trust in us to educate, nurture, and grow your child.
With love and thanksgiving, we wish you a safe and healthy week with your families.
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Our Halls are Decked with Gratitude and Thankfulness | |
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Calendar at a Glance
NOVEMBER 21-25, 2022
DECEMBER 1, 2022
DECEMBER 8, 2022
DECEMBER 15, 2022
- Westview Holiday Play | New Life Church @ 9:30 AM
DECEMBER 16, 2022 to JANUARY 2, 2023
JANUARY 3, 2023
- Westview Staff Development Day | Student Holiday (No School)
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Save the Date for the Holiday Play | Thursday, December 15 | | |
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The holidays are coming, and we are overjoyed to invite our families to join us for the return of the in-person Westview Holiday Play. Save the date for Thursday, December 15, 2022. The all-school performance will begin at 9:30 AM at New Life Church, directly across the street from The Westview School. There will be no early seating, and doors will open at 9:00 AM. Music classes are very busy preparing for the production, and we can't wait for you to see your student take the stage.
Also, please note that there will be no school or extended day following the performance, so your student should be picked up from their classroom immediately following the program's conclusion. More details to come, but mark your calendar and invite your family to as well. We can't wait to see you!
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Parents face many challenges when deciding whether to move their children from a “special needs” environment to a “mainstream” public or private school setting. Please join us on Thursday, December 1 at 9:15 AM in Largent Hall for final Westview EDU of 2022, Westview EDU | Mainstreaming 101.
Michael McKee, Ed.S., LSSP, NCSP, Westview Support Specialist, will share the differences between
private and public schools, plus some tips, tricks, and tools for navigating either setting with your transitioning child. This presentation will help you
better understand when your child is ready to mainstream, and how best to prepare them and help them succeed in a mainstream classroom.
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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.
REGISTER HERE
Any questions? Having an issue with the online registration form? Email Sarah Chauvin for assistance.
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Thank You for Your Support of The Westview Fund | | |
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We had a great start to The Westview Fund last month and are making good progress toward our goal of $150,000. We’re about 1/3 of the way to our goal, so keep up the great work. Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to this year's Westview Fund. If you haven’t made your gift yet, please click here to make your tax-deductible donation!
It is not too late 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. Thank you for your continued support.
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Did you know that many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees? To find out if your company has a matching gift policy, visit our matching page online. | |
Way to Give - Simple Everyday Giving | |
Did you know that Westview also has some easy ways to donate just by doing what you do every day? You can donate your spare change to The Westview School through RoundUp App. Enrolling in Kroger Community Rewards® and supporting The Westview School each time you grocery shop is easy. Plus, Amazon Smile is a simple way to support your The Westview School every time you shop, at no cost to you! Click the logos below for more information and to set up for easy giving. | |
New Sign-Ups for Extracurriculars Coming in 2023 | |
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CHESS WIZARDS
Join Chess Wizards in the new year for challenging chess lessons, exciting tournaments, fun, team activities, and more! If you’re brand-new to chess, you will learn the basics and get playing right away. If you’re a seasoned checkmate artist, you will learn new ways to let your creativity show on the chessboard. Classes will be Tuesdays from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM for 8 sessions beginning on January 17. The cost is $168 per student. Chess Wizards enrollment is for Upper Elementary and Middle School students only. Register at www.chesswizards.com. See the flyer for more details.
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JASNA'S YOGA
Westview is welcoming Jasna's Yoga back again to The Westview School beginning in the new year. Classes will be moving to Wednesday afternoons. Yoga classes are fun, non-competitive, and go at your own pace. Students in Kindergarten through Middle School are eligible to participate. The cost is $120 per student or $240 for student and one parent/guardian. The session will run for eight 45-minute classes beginning on Wednesday, January 8, through March 8, 2023. Times are for Kindergarten + Lower El: Tuesdays at 2:30 PM to 3:15 PM and for Upper El + Middle School: Tuesdays at 3:30 PM to 4:15 PM. Email thouart5@thouart.com to register before January 12, 2023. See the flyer for more details.
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The Stewart Center: Top Tip of the Week | | |
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This week's top tip is from Lizzy Simon, Occupational Therapist at The Stewart Center. Thanks for sharing this week, Lizzy.
The Stewart Center at The Westview School is our on-campus therapy clinic staffed with qualified professionals ready to meet the needs of families and students at Westview and the Houston community. The Stewart Center team is always ready to go above and beyond to support a child. We are thankful to The Stewart Center for sharing their words of wisdom with our community.
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SUPPORTING A CHILD'S SUCCESS USING A STRENGTHS-BASED APPROACH
Autism can make learning and performing an activity more challenging, specifically because an autistic child’s brain is developing and processing information differently than neurotypical children. If their brain is developing and processing differently, their response to a difficult task will most likely also be different. When a child is distressed in response to an activity, here are some questions that can pinpoint why the response is happening and support an action plan to help the child regulate and feel successful: How regulated was the child’s mind and body prior to the activity? Does the child understand the meaning of the activity? Do the child’s strengths meet the requirements of the activity? How can I change this activity to meet this child’s strengths? No matter what, it is important to let the child regulate their bodies and emotions in a different space with kindness first before coming back to the activity and trying to adapt it to the way that will support their strengths!
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Message from POW: Meeting Minutes + Cookie Exchange | | |
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NOVEMBER MEETING MINUTES
Thank you to everyone who attended today's November POW meeting. We recapped fall events, Trunk-or-Treat, and Dads' Day, plus discussed all the things ahead for the holidays and end of year. We heard from Dr. Koch about the school's standard response protocol, plus got an update on The Westview Fund and passive ways to give from Roger Browning. Thank you so much to everyone who made time to join in on today's meeting.
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If you couldn't make the meeting but are still interested in getting the info on what POW discussed, you can find the minutes from today's meeting here.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the next meeting scheduled for December 8!
POW Meetings are held once a month, typically on the second Thursday. Dates will be added to our digital calendar, posted in the Calendar at a Glance, and in the Westview Weekly each month. A reminder and ZOOM link will be sent the week before the meeting.
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STAFF APPRECIATION COOKIE EXCHANGE
The holiday season is upon us, and it is almost time for the most wonderful day of the year! Help POW spread holiday cheer to our teachers and staff by donating to the Westview Staff Appreciation Cookie Exchange. If you’re a baker, bake up some treats. If you’d rather buy, that’s awesome too. Sign up here and help give all our staff a sugar high. Thank you in advance for making the holiday season special.
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ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK
The deadline to order your 2022-2023 Westview Yearbook and dedication pages is January 2023. The link to purchase can be found on the Balfour website. Below are some easy-to-follow instructions for reserving your copy and dedication space today. Dedications are due January 2023.
- Click on the Balfour School Store link
- Scroll down to Yearbook Products & ADS
- Enter student info & click "shop for this student"
- Then choose yearbook and what size dedication you would like.
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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. | | | | | |
