Standards Based Grading/New Report Cards: Please check your child/student’s backpack for an important informational packet on Standards Based Grading and a sample new report card. 

Fall Picture Day: Fall Picture Day is Monday, August 26th. This will be a uniform picture day, not free dress. Click HERE to order online. Picture packets will come home in backpacks this week. For parents with 3 or more children, please call the Excel office at 916-565-1620 to pay for your third child for a 50% off discount. 

Enrichment Sign Ups: Enrichment sign-ups for the 2019-2020 school year are live! Feel free to sign up now for any or all of the sessions offered this school year. Click HERE for the enrichment class offerings. The link at the top of the document will take you to the sign-up form. Email [email protected] with questions.

Call for Coaches: Our fall season of Explorer Athletics launches Monday, September 9. We are looking for 6 adults to coach or referee co-ed flag football and 6 adults to coach or referee co-ed volleyball. Click HERE for the detailed fall schedule, and click HERE to sign up to coach or referee. Thank you for demonstrating what’s possible when school and community collaborate through athletics. Email [email protected] with questions.

After School Site Updates: Click HERE to see our updated After School page with information for the 2019-2020 school year. To access the After School page use the drop down menu at the top of our school website. Documents and information are on the right-hand side of the page. Email [email protected] with any questions.

In Case You Missed It: 

Dismissal Update:  4th – 8th grade students who are labeled in School Dismissal Manager as walking students will be dismissed by their teacher at the end of the day to exit campus from either the Maybrook Walking Gate or the Bike Path Gate.  1st – 3rd grade students who are labeled as “Walking with an Older Sibling” will be dismissed from their classroom when their sibling arrives at the classroom to pick them up. 1st – 3rd grade students will not be dismissed from class to meet their sibling. 

Walking School Bus: Our Walking School Bus is back! Westlake has a daily Walking School Bus in the morning from Burberry Park and back in the afternoon. This program is a great way to connect with other families, get fresh air, avoid the school traffic and get some exercise. In the morning we meet at 7:50AM and begin walking promptly at 8AM . In the afternoon students (grades 1st-8th only) meet by the cafeteria and arrive back to Burberry Park by 3:40PM. 

Free and Reduced Meal Application: Each year, we ask families to complete a Free and Reduced Price School Meals (FRPSM) application. Students received the application, as well as a cover letter in their backpacks on Friday. We need every student to return the letter with a parent signature and the appropriate check-box selected by Wednesday, August 21st. Even if you choose not to complete the FRPSM application, we still need a letter back for each student so that we can ensure every family had the opportunity to complete the application.

Back to School Night Details: We are looking forward to seeing all of our families at Back to School Night is this Wednesday, August 21st! 

• Distraction Free: This is a parent-only event to allow for teachers and families to connect in a distraction free environment. Our BASE program will be open for FREE for all WCS students during back to school night. Click HERE to RSVP for BASE at Back to School Night. 
• Food Trucks: Chandos Taco, Kona Ice and Good Dog food trucks will be in our parking lot from 4:45-7:10 pm so families have a food option for this busy evening.  
• Kinder through 5th grade families: We have two identical sessions, you only need to attend one. Session one is 6:00-6:30 pm, session two is 6:40-7:10 pm. Specialty teachers will be in their classrooms from 6:00-7:10pm – please stop by! 

6th-8th grade families: We have two identical sessions, you only need to attend one. Session one is 5:00-5:40 pm, session two is 6:00-6:40 pm. During these sessions, you will meet with your student’s core teachers and specialty teachers.

Walking School Bus Surprise: Please join us on Thursday, August 22nd at 7:45 for a special Walking School Bus treat at Burberry Park. This is a fantastic way to begin your day, meet new friends, socialize on the way on school, get the wiggles out before lineup and get some exercise. We meet 5 days a week, rain or shine! Parents are always welcome to walk with us or drop off to skip the traffic. We hope to see you there!

Spirit Store: The Westlake Charter Spirit Store is open and we have many new items to choose from including sweatpants, hats, polos, coffee mugs and more. Just Click HERE to browse our selection of WCS gear and place your order today. The store closes August 25th and items will be delivered to your student’s backpack starting September 16th. Please note: sweatpants cannot be worn as part of the school uniform.

Volunteer Opportunities & Logging Hours: WAVE is looking for volunteers in many areas including: Fireworks Booth, Fall Festival, Olympic Triathlon, International Festival and more. Please contact Jess Wilson, VP of Parent Participation, at [email protected] for more information or to get involved today! You can also visit our Volunteer Page to learn more about opportunities or to log hours for the 19/20 school year. We know many of you worked at the Fireworks Booth, volunteered at the BBQ or volunteered in another way. Please be sure to start logging those hours today! 

Kudos: An enormous number of Explorer families have been assisted in the drop off line, pickup line or at a crosswalk by Kal Patel. He has not only been helping to keep our students safe for over three years but he has worked with WCS Administration to improve procedures to help make our system safer and more efficient. Thank you, Kal, for all you have done for Westlake families!