Accountability Pillar Survey

As an annual check-up on the education system, the Accountability Pillar provides an opportunity for Alberta Education and school authorities to ensure that we are equipping students for success.

The Accountability Pillar uses a set of 16 indicators consisting of surveys of students, parents and teachers on various aspects of quality; student outcomes such as dropout and high school completion rates; and provincial assessments of student learning.

The Accountability Pillar Survey will be conducted from January to the end of February:

• In January, parents/guardians of students in grades 4, 7 and 10 will receive a survey in the mail from Alberta Education. 
• In February, students in grades 4, 7 and 10 and all teachers will be completing their surveys online at school.

All surveys are anonymous and ask questions about experiences with the school. All parents/guardians receive the English version of the survey in the mail, but Alberta Education also provides it in Arabic, Blackfoot, Chinese, Cree, French, Korean, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog and Urdu. If you would prefer to respond to the survey in one of these languages, please tell the principal of your child’s school and a copy will be sent to you.

It is very important that parents/guardians complete the survey and return it to Alberta Education. Alberta Education and the public use the results of the Accountability Pillar Survey to assess satisfaction with the quality of education in our schools. In addition, the Calgary Board of Education uses the information to improve teaching and learning for your children.

When you complete the survey: If you “Don’t Know” the answer to a particular question, please skip that question and go to the next one, unless you want your response to count as a negative one.

Your participation in the survey helps provide important information on the quality of education your child is receiving, so we encourage you to return your survey promptly.

Survey results will be available to school authorities in May 2017, and will be reported publicly as part of their 3-Year Education Plans and Annual Education Results Reports, posted November 20, 2017.

The Week Ahead: January 30 - February 3, 2017

Monday, January 30
8:30 - 2:20 Glenbow Museum - French Grade 1, Rms. 2 & 30
2:40 Grade 4-6 Calgary After School Program

Tuesday, January 31
8:30 - 2:20 Glenbow Museum - French Grade 1, Rms. 33A & 33B
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 3, 5, 6 & 7)
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 4-6 Guitar Program
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 3/4 Science Club

Wednesday, February 1
Alberta Winter Walk Day
8:15 - 11:40 Clay for Kids - Grade 1, Rms. 2 & 30
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 4-6 Guitar Program
2:40 Grade 4-6 Calgary After School Program 

Thursday, February 2
Young Actors Project Program - Spanish Grade 2
8:15 - 11:40 Clay for Kids - Grade 1, Rms. 33A & 33B
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 4, 25 & 27)
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 4-6 Guitar Program
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 3 Art Club
1:15 - 2:00 Skating  - French Grade 4, Rms. 15 & 17

Friday, February 3
Non Instruction Day - No School

Westgate School Council Parent Survey

We need your valuable input! Please take five minutes to complete an important Westgate School Council parent survey at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/V53ZN62.

The survey is anonymous and can be completed on any device: phone, tablet or computer. The feedback collected will be shared with the School Council Executive as well as Mr. Fehr, Sra. McCruden and the school community. One of School Council's roles is to represent the views of parents and create a culture of collaboration and respect. By gaining a better understanding of what matters most to parents, we hope to build a stronger, more vibrant school community at Westgate.

The survey will remain open until Wednesday, February 8th.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please email us at westgateschoolcouncil@gmail.com.

Thank you!

Sheri Bolitho
on behalf of the Westgate School Council

Message from Administration

Du bureau de M Fehr/Desde el escritorio del Sr. Fehr

Buenos dias/Bonjour:

We had an exciting afternoon on Tuesday at Westgate!  Our students assembled in the gym and we revealed our new logo!  Here it is:

We arrived at this design after collecting more than a hundred entries from students and others.  We narrowed them down to approximately 20 based on the criteria set out in the contest: represents Westgate, includes the Gator, simple and versatile.  Teachers provided feedback about the entries and from that we used ideas to create designs that students voted on.  Two designs received an equal number of votes so we combined ideas from each and the end result is what you see above.

At yesterday's assembly we recognized five students whose entries were particularly inspiring to us.

Left to Right: Joshua T., Michael T. Aiden M., Lise D., Victoria D.

Congratulations winners! What a great job! I would also like to recognize Katelyn G. - a Grade 7 student in Houston, Texas, who collaborated with Joshua and Michael on their design.  Each winner received a free t-shirt or hoodie and a $5.00 gift certificate to Dairy Queen. Congratulations to everyone that participated in the contest.

Just a quick word about the meaning behind the logo. First of all, we are Gators! We kept the old version of the Gator because we wanted to keep a connection with the past.  The green and blue world represents bilingualism and our openness to the world. We want our Gators to be thoughtful global citizens when they leave Westgate!  The"W" represents Westgate.  The heart represents how we learn: with a happy and healthy heart!

I would like to thank Sheri Bolitho for her really significant support in moving this forward. Sheri is responsible for the graphic art work, for managing the contest, for ordering the t-shirts and hoodies and for contributing ideas throughout the process.

I am sure many students will want to order t-shirts or hoodies. There are limited quantities available for sale now.  If the demand exceeds the supply on hand another order will be placed and sent home with students once they arrive.

Please send cheques only (payable to Westgate School Parent's Society) along with your order form no later than February 2, 2017.  Hoodies are $25 and t-shirts are $10 each.

If you have any questions or concerns please email or call Sheri at 403-249-8431 or mikesher@telus.net.

Have a great day everyone,

Scott Fehr

The Week Ahead: January 23 - 27, 2017

Sunday, January 22
Deadline to order Kernel's Popcorn

Monday, January 23
2:40 Grade 4-6 Calgary After School Program

Tuesday, January 24
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 3, 5, 6 & 7)
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 4-6 Guitar Program
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 3/4 Science Club
1:00 Logo Assembly (Students Only)

Wednesday, January 25
8:30 - 2:30 Telus Spark Science Centre - French Grade 2, Rms. 6 & 25
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 4-6 Guitar Program
2:40 Grade 4-6 Calgary After School Program 

Thursday, January 26
8:30 - 2:30 Telus Spark Science Centre - French Grade 2, Rms. 7 & 27
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 4, 25 & 27)
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 4-6 Guitar Program
1:15 - 2:00 Skating  - French Grade 4, Rms. 15 & 17
1:30 S4 Police Visit - French Grade 1, Rm. 33
7:00 School Council Meeting

Friday, January 27
Kernel's Popcorn Day
11:40 - 12:05 Festival Chorus
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Art Club

The Week Ahead: January 16 - 20, 2017

Monday, January 16
8:30 - 2:30 Telus Spark Science Centre - Spanish Grade 2, Rms. 3 & 5
2:40 Grade 4-6 Calgary After School Program

Tuesday, January 17
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 3, 5, 6 & 7)
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 3/4 Science Club

Wednesday, January 18
2:40 Grade 4-6 Calgary After School Program 

Thursday, January 19
8:30 - 2:30 Telus Spark Science Centre - Spanish Grade 2, Rm. 4
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 4, 25 & 27)
1:15 - 2:00 Skating French Grade 4, Rms. 15 & 17

Friday, January 20
Last day of Tennis
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Art Club

Scholastic Book Fair

Thank you to all our parents, students and teachers for your support at the Scholastic Book Fair during Parent Teacher Conferences in November. Due to everyone’s generosity, sales were over $12,000 of which Westgate will receive $6,577.39 to support our library collection.

Our next Book Fair will be in March, 2017!!

Message from Administration

Du bureau de M Fehr/Desde el escritorio del Sr. Fehr

Buenos dias/Bonjour:

Happy New Year to all students families and staff!  It's  another bone-chilling day today!  Although Canadians are tough and we can handle it, the temperatures do have an impact on the school.  The CBE guideline for allowing students to go outside is - 20C with the wind chill.  We have been colder than that several times already this year and so we have to keep students inside before school, at recess and at lunch.  Please ensure that your children are dressed warmly with winter coats, snow pants, mittens, scarves and toques.

Roads are also often a problem, especially on mornings like this morning when it has snowed.  We would ask parents that drive their students to allow for poor road conditions and traffic so that students arrive at school on time.  Our busses are also affected by cold weather and road conditions.  Again, please ensure that your children are dressed warmly when they are on the bus in case there are problems with the bus.

Kindergarten/Grade 1  Registration 

Just a reminder to families that Kindergarten/Grade 1 registration starts this morning at Westgate for French Immersion and at Rosscarrock for Spanish Bilingual.  We were pleased to see large numbers of parents turn out for our Kindergarten/Grade 1 Information Night last week.  We welcome all of our new and current families to our school communities and look forward to working with you!

Have a great day everyone,

Scott Fehr

The Week Ahead: January 8 - 13, 2017

Sunday, January 8
Special Lunch Order Deadline

Tuesday, January 10
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 3, 5, 6 & 7)
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 3 / 4 Science Club

Thursday, January 12
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 4, 25 & 27)
1:15 - 2:00 Skating French Grade 4, Rms. 15 & 17
6:30 - 7:30 Screens and Tweenz Engagement Session at Rosscarrock School

Friday, January 13
Subway Special Lunch
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Art Club

Grade 3/4 Science Club

The Grade 3/4 Science Club begins Tuesday, January 10th.  Applications are due this Friday, January 6th.

All grades can join in the excitement when our young scientists share their discoveries at the Westgate Science Fair on March 9, 2017.  Mark you calendars!

Westgate Community Shinny Hockey Program

The Westgate Community Association is running an annual shinny program for boys and girls, ages 5 - 12, from all communities.  For more information please click here.

The Week Ahead: January 2 - 6, 2017

Monday, January 2
Winter Break - No School

Tuesday, January 3
Classes Resume
Tennis begins
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 3, 5, 6 & 7)

Thursday, January 5
11:40 - 12:28 Grade 2 Choir (Rms. 4, 25 & 27)
Kindergartem & Grade 1 Information Night 6:00 pm

Friday, January 6
Report Cards go home