Hello / Bonjour / Welcome Back! / Bonne rentrée!
I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome returning and new families to the Westgate School Community. I sincerely hope you've all had a wonderful summer spending relaxing and enjoyable time with friends and family. It has been a very busy summer for Westgate School as all hallways, gym and Learning Commons have been beautifully and freshly painted. You will have a chance to see the amazing difference on Thursday, September 22nd, when you attend our “Meet the Teacher Night" (more details to come). We have had a busy week reorganizing and preparing classrooms after the work done this summer to get ready for students. We also took time to engage in professional learning for the new K-3 Math curriculum.
I would like to welcome new staff members to Westgate School! Natalie Vila, who was with us last year, and Michelle Biefer, who is was M.Mathieu's student teacher a few years back, have both joined our Grade 1 team. We also welcomed Laura Crosby in Grade 4 and Laura Nicholson in Grade 2. You can see an updated staff list with Grade teams at this link on our school website. We also have three new lunch supervisors joining us this year; Lily Heshmati, Carrie Ramage and Leanne Minton-Vodopija.
This year we are implementing new curriculums; Math for all K-3 students, ELAL (English Language Arts and Literature) in Grade 3, and (PE&W) Physical Education and Wellness for all K to 6 students. Also, in Kindergarten and Grade 2, we will be piloting the new FILAL (French Immersion Language Arts and Literature).
Our commitment to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Actions will continue to focus on strengthening the experiences of students and staff by establishing practices that make visible and address each element of the holistic lifelong learning framework in our learning environment. We are really looking forward to working with and Indigenous knowledge keeper to deepen our learning on, with and from the land. More information related to Indigenous Education for K-12 students can be found here.
Finally, we are all thrilled to see the return of clubs to Westgate School. There will be more information to come as we get prepared for club start-up in October.
I couldn't be happier to transition into my second year as Principal in this very warm and welcoming school community. I look forward to seeing and meeting you throughout the year at our monthly School Council meetings, school conferences and other school events.
Warm regards,
Julie MuhlbergerDirectrice/Principal, Westgate School
