2/28/17 PTSA E-Blast

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KEY DATES (complete calendar at ptsa.westfieldhs.org):

2/28 – Class of 2017 Chick-fil-A fundraiser, 5:30-7:30 pm

2/28 – Orchestra Concert, 7 pm

3/8 – Partners for Safe Teen Driving, 7 pm (arrive before 7)

3/16 – Saturday Night in the Suburbs presentation, 7 pm

 Here are several updates from around the school:

1. PTSA Board Opening: The PTSA has an opening for the 1^st Vice President spot. This position supports the President and learns the role, with the anticipation of becoming the future President (2018-2019 school year). If you are interested or have questions, please contact Tricia Monroe at ptsa_president@westfieldhs.org 
2. 2017 Mulch Sale and Delivery:  The annual mulch sale continues and is over 75% sold out already for delivery orders and the spreading.  Delivery will take place on April 21st and 22^nd.  To order online, click here.  To download the order form, click here.   Bags are $5 each, with $2.60 of each bag ordered being tax deductible. The mulch spreading service is being sold and is available for customers who purchase mulch through the mulch sale.  Free delivery is available for orders of 15 bags or more to WHS boundary addresses and parking lot pick up is available at Westfield for orders under 15 bags and those outside WHS boundaries. 
3. Please join the PTSA if you haven’t already:  It’s not too late to join the PTSA! Please be part of the difference that the PTSA makes at Westfield!  Join online here or using the link online, print the form and send in to the main office.
4. Saturday Night in the Suburbs:  3/16 at 7 pm.  Come learn from a panel of current seniors about what’s happening in the area. The program is sponsored by the WHS PTSA and run by the United Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County. This is for adults only and we encourage middle school and high school parents to attend. For information, click here.
5. Honor Roll Magnets:  Sophomores, juniors, and seniors who qualified for the honor roll in either 1^st or 2^nd quarter who would like an honor roll magnet can stop by Student Services between 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm to pick one up. Freshmen should receive theirs in their 7^th period classes. (Thank you 7^th period teachers for distributing these!)
6. BITS Tutoring - Free!  BITS runs up to 3 Saturday mornings per month. Student tutors are needed and earn service hours for their time! To be eligible for tutoring, students must attend Westfield or any of the schools that feed to Westfield (elementary and middle). For information and to see the required forms, click here   Everyone must arrive on time. No late arrivals will be admitted. February 25th is the next BITS tutoring date.
7. Turbo-Tutoring: Next SAT prep class is March 8^th at Briar Woods High School, plus classes through the summer have been scheduled. To see the calendar and to register for a one-day seminar for SAT or ACT prep, click here.  
8. Fairfax Council of PTA’s Conference on Supporting Diverse Students in the Classroom, 3/2/17 from 6-9 pm at Annandale HS: Come learn about efforts to support students with diverse needs in the classroom. Guest speakers are Leticia Braga and Carmen Sanchez from the U.S. Department of Education Special Education department. The event is free but pre-registration is required. Click here to register.
9. Real Food for Kids Wellness Expo: On March 11^th from 10 am – 2 pm at Lake Braddock Secondary School come learn about healthy eating. Presentations include workshops and chef demonstrations. The PTA member discounted price is $10. For more information and to register (required), click here.
10. FCCPTA Scholarship deadline is April 7^th: For information, click here.
11. Partners for Safe Teen Driving: On Tuesday, March 8^th in the auditorium, WHS will hold one of the required PSTD seminars. This course is part of the driver’s education curriculum and a parent/guardian must accompany the student. Doors close at 7 pm. It is strongly suggested that you arrive by 6:40 pm, as no late arrivals will be admitted. For information, click here or here.
12. Senior Parent Meeting:  Senior Parents – please mark your calendars for the “70 Days Until Graduation” Senior Parent meeting on April 6^th at 7 pm. Come learn about everything related to graduation (June 15^th at 7:30 pm), including ticket information (yes, tickets are required), rehearsal information (required for all students who will be graduating), prom information (May 13^th), Mulch Day (April 21-22), All Night Grad Celebration, and much more! 
13. New for the 2017-2018 school year: WHS will be offering a new science course-Genetics and Biotechnology available for juniors and seniors! Please have your student talk to his/her counselor soon for more information and to sign up! 
14. Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters:  On March 11^th from 9-11 am at Oakton High School, College Access Fairfax will present “Make a Wise Decision: Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters”. Space is limited.  To register, visit here.
15. Westfields Triathlon: The Westfield Business Owner’s Association is sponsoring the 5^th annual Westfields Triathlon on April 30th! The WBOA is a fantastic business partner for our school!  Please consider supporting the triathlon as a participant or volunteer!  For information, click here.
16. College Partnership Program:  Applications for the College Partnership Program are being accepted now. The College Partnerships Program assists students who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education such as first generation, African American, American Indian, Alaskan native, Hispanic, limited English proficient, students with disabilities or economically disadvantaged students. See Mrs. Campbell, Maggie Craig, or Bobby Snyder, CPP advocates, for more information or to request an application. Or, visit here.   Applications accepted January 18 – March 31, 2017.
17. FCPS Parent Resource Center:  There are many resources available at the FCPS Parent Resource center. For information and to register for classes, visit here.   FCPS Summer Classes:  Information regarding a wide variety of summer classes through FCPS is available here.  Many registration windows opened February 1^st.
18. News You Can Use: If you haven’t already done so, please register to receive PTSA updates through the FCPS News You Can Use program. It’s a bit cumbersome to register but this is the main way the PTSA will be able to send messages (other than the eblasts and Facebook) in the near future.  To register: Go to FCPS.edu; Scroll to the bottom then click on the mustard yellow banner “Stay Updated with What’s Happening at FCPS with News You Can Choose; Click the “Sign Up Now box; Enter your email address and click “submit”; Find the button for “High Schools” and select “Westfield”; Choose first line “News and Announcements” then choose second line “PTSA” and click submit. You will see a green banner with a check mark and “Subscriptions Updated”.  While in the system, you can opt for other areas of interest as well.
19. Athletic Teams Calendar:  To see the games/matches/meets for all WHS athletic teams, click here!  
20. Amazon.com Ordering:  If you order from Amazon.com, please access the website through the link on the right side of the PTSA webpage   Every order placed earns the PTSA much needed funds, at NO cost to you! Thank you!
21. Silent Fundraisers:  We participate in several store school support programs, such as Giant’s A+ School Rewards and Harris Teeter’s Together in Education program. You DO have to relink your Harris Teeter card each year but you do not have to relink your Giant card (but please check to ensure that you’ve designated Westfield!)  Please check out this link for more information!
22. Have something about a club, team, or class at Westfield that you’d like in the e-blast? Send a request to cpisarcikptsa@cox.net