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Hello, Westview families,
While our bellies are full of the delicious Cajun Mardi Gras lunch, it seems the perfect time to say "thank you" to POW! Today's Staff Appreciation Luncheon was a delicious treat. As the Westview calendar ramps up for Spring on-campus activities, POW also is gearing up for several upcoming events. POW-hosted Parent's Night Out and Family Fun Day are coming soon, so make sure to scroll to the POW section of the Westview Weekly to see ways you can support, help, and show up to connect with other members of the Westview community. Thank you, POW, for planning and coordinating many great events for our families.
POW awarded the first Giving PAW Project Recipient this afternoon at the Staff Appreciation Luncheon. The Giving Paw Project is a new POW Committee created to provide additional funding for specific grant requests from parents, students, faculty, staff, and administration of the Westview. The project aims to improve the school in the following areas: Wildcat Enrichment, Student Educational Enhancement, Student Wellness, and Community. Congratulations to Teresa Taeger, Westview Librarian, who was awarded a grant to fund a visit from local author Melanie Chrismer. Thank you to POW for finding new, creative, and enriching ways to support our school.
Thank you,
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Thank You POW for the Cajun Cuisine! | |
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Calendar at a Glance
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023
- Go Texan Day (Students are encouraged to wear their best western wear.)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023
- Re-enrollment Contracts due
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2023
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Westview EDU: Preparing Your Teen for Next Steps (RSVP)
MARCH 13-17, 2023
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 2023
- CAMP Smile Day Camp (Upper Elementary)
THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 2023
MARCH 29-31, 2023
- CAMP Smile (Middle School)
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Re-Enrollment Deadline is Friday, February 28 by 4PM | | |
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This is an important reminder that
Re-Enrollment Contracts and ACH forms are due by by 4pm on Tuesday, February 28. Any contracts received after 4pm on Tuesday, February 28 will be assessed a $375 late fee.
Also, we cannot guarantee your child’s spot for the 2023-2024 school year after February 28. We will begin enrolling new students on Wednesday, March 1.
Have questions about re-enrollment contracts and ACH forms? Please contact Becky Mattis, Admissions Director.
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Please join us on Thursday, March 2, in Largent Hall at 9:15 AM for our next Westview EDU: Preparing Your Teen for Next Steps. Westview will welcome Brandi Timmons, M.Ed, BCBA, LBA, Education Director at Social Motions Skills. Brandi will share some strategies and programs available for students transitioning into high school and young adulthood, and why it’s never too early to prepare. With 20 years of experience working with children with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities, Brandi knows that independence plays an essential role in the success of young adults looking to achieve independent living, competitive employment in the community, and a successful future specific to their goals.
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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Chess Wizards is Coming to Campus this Spring | | |
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Join Chess Wizards this spring 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 7 sessions beginning on January 17. The cost is $147 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. | |
2023 Westview Fundraising Luncheon | |
It has been one week since our Fundraising Luncheon, and we are still basking in the joy of gathering together with our people. We are so thankful for our community's generous support, which helped make our luncheon a huge success. We had a total of 203 RSVPs and 21 tables, and we raised over $110,000 for the event. Thank you to all of our Westview friends and families for hosting a table, inviting your friends, and attending our event supporting our wonderful school! We appreciate you! | |
Promoting Independence - Parents' Input Need | | |
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Shelby Haller is a student at Texas Woman’s University in Houston. She is completing her capstone project for her doctorate in occupational therapy at Westview. Her project is to develop a parent education program to support children with autism in developing independence in their everyday lives. As a parent of a child with autism, you have valuable insight to share.
Please take a few minutes to complete this anonymous survey to help Shelby develop her program. If you have questions, you can reach out to Shelby directly via email.
Thank you for helping Shelby, our students, and their families!
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The Stewart Center: Top Tip of the Week | | |
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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. This week our "Top Tip of the Week" comes from Carlie Krueger, Speech-Language Pathologist Clinical Fellow. Thank you to The Stewart Center for sharing their words of wisdom with our community. | |
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THE LANGUAGE STAIRCASE
Language development can be pictured as a staircase. At the very bottom are the steps of regulation and engagement. The middle steps are language, and the top steps are higher-level language, such as abstract language, figurative language, and reasoning or negotiating skills. For a child to reach the middle steps, we first strengthen engagement and regulation through play and building a trusting relationship. Ideally, these foundational skills lead to increased intrinsic motivation for the child to communicate. It’s important to remember that the journey up the staircase isn’t always linear. A bad night of sleep or an unexpected change in schedule can change a child’s (or adult’s!) regulation, engagement, and motivation to communicate.
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Have You Registered for Westview Summer Camp? | | |
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Registration is OPEN for Westview Summer Camp. Join us for Westview's Summer of Fun at Westview Summer Camp. We will have two sessions available for the summer of 2023 - June 12-30 and July 10-28
Give your student a fun, structured summer filled with activities that help maintain the academic and social skills learned throughout the school year. Westview Summer Camp is open to current students and their siblings.
*Recent former and incoming students may also apply.
Camp is staffed by Westview teachers and assistants, as well as area high school and college student volunteers and former Westview students. Two three-week sessions help students to maintain skills while having fun in an engaging learning environment.
For our younger participants, the days are filled with water play, music, art, science, sports/motor activities, and much more. For older campers, our program offers engaging educational activities and social skills practice.
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**IMPORTANT: If you do not receive a confirmation email after registering, please contact Candi Pettit to confirm registration. | |
Message from POW: February Meeting Minutes | | |
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FEBRUARY MEETING MINUTES
Thank you to everyone who attended today's February POW meeting. We chatted about upcoming Spring events, a recap of the Fundraising Luncheon, and 1830 building secretary Michelle Chapa shared her Westview story with the group. Thank you so much to everyone who made time to join in on today's meeting.
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 at the next meeting scheduled for March 30!
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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POW PARENTS' NIGHT OUT
Save the Date for our first (and long-awaited) Westview Parents' Night Out. The date is Saturday, March 4, 2023, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at Joystix Classic Games and Pinballs. This is an adults-only event.
Get a chance to bid on four front-row seats to next year's holiday program in our silent auction. We hope to see you there!
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FAMILY FUN DAY
Let the countdown to Family Fun Day began. WE have so much fun in store for our families, so make sure you save the date for Saturday, April 1, 2023. Do you still want to volunteer? POW could use your help!
We are still collecting items for our raffle. Planning on eating out this Friday night, going to a birthday party this Saturday, or having a pedicure on Sunday? It's as easy as printing the donor letter and handing it to a place of business. Have a vacation home? Does your business want to contribute?
Questions about the event and how to volunteer? Email Stefanie Rugaard.
Click here to print the donor letter.
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BE A MOVIE MERCHANT
Don't miss the curtain call! We need movie merchants for POW Family Fun Day!
WHO: All Vendors
WHAT: Please sign up this year to open up shop at our school's Family Fun Day! Booths are $50 for a 10x10 area. We have space outside to showcase your incredible talent and functional products. Bring your own table & chairs.
WHEN: Movie merchants will take place at the same time as our Family Fun Day on Saturday, April 1st, from 1-3 pm. You may set up Saturday at 11:30 am or earlier. We are asking for all cars to be removed from set up and over to the church for parking by 12:30 to ensure the safety of all of our AUDIENCE members and superstars!
WHY: To show off your creativity and have some fun while earning some $$$.
Applications and fees are DUE by Monday, March 27th! Questions about how to be a vendor? Email Stefanie Rugaard.
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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. | | | | |
